一、李洪志的身世
李洪志一九九三年编造的个人简历中称："本人一九五一年五月十三日出生于吉林省公主岭市，童年开始由佛家全觉大师传授独传修炼法门，八岁时修炼圆满"，"十二岁时，道家师父八极真人找到我传授道家功夫"，"一九七二年又由道号真道子的师父传授大道所学"，"一九七四年又由佛家师父传授修炼大法直到出山"。在法轮功组织编写的《李洪志先生小传》中又称："李洪志八岁得上乘大法，具大神通，有搬运、定物、思维控制、隐身等功能……功力达极高层次，了悟宇宙真理，洞察人生，预知人类过去、未来。"这些荒诞离奇的"神迹"，欺骗了众多"法轮功"练习者。
李洪志到底何许人也？
经查，李洪志，男，一九五二年七月七日出生于吉林省公主岭市(原怀德县公主岭镇)，一九六0年至一九六九年，先后在长春市珠江路小学、第四中学、第四十八中学读书，初中毕业；一九七0年至一九七八年先后在总后二零一部队八一军马场、吉林省森警总队吹小号；一九七八年至一九八二年在森警总队招待所当服务员；一九八二年至一九九一年转业到长春市粮油公司保卫科工作；一九九一年停薪留职后从事"气功"活动，一九九二年五月起传播"法轮功"。
据长春市公安局绿园分局绿园派出所证明：一九九四年九月二十四日，李洪志将出生年月日由一九五二年七月七日变更为一九五一年五月十三日，并重新办理了身份证。经查公安机关"常住人口登记表"和李洪志原在单位保存的《专职保卫干部登记表》、《干部履历表》，李洪志的出生年月日也均被涂改为一九五一年五月十三日。但其《职工晋级定级报告表》、《入团志愿书》以及一九八六年十二月三十一日办理和一九九一年三月三十一日补办的身份证上，出生年月日仍为一九五二年七月七日。
李洪志为何要将生日由一九五二年七月七日改为一九五一年五月十三日呢？原来相传佛祖释迦牟尼的生日是中国农历的四月初八，而一九五一年五月十三日恰好是农历四月初八，李洪志将自己改为与佛祖同日诞生，其目的是称自己是"释迦牟尼转世"。
经调查走访，李洪志小时的同学、老师和邻居，都说李洪志就是个普通的孩子，学习成绩很一般，唯一的特长是吹小号。对其编造的"学法修炼"经历，纷纷说是"胡扯"，"不可能"，"没见过，也没听说过"。李洪志在军马场、森警宣传队期间的领导及同宿舍战友也都说，李洪志就是一名普通的文艺兵，性格内向、自负。当时紧张的排练、演出工作，严格的军事化管理、作息制度，使他根本不可能有时间去修炼什么功法。李洪志在粮油公司保卫科工作时的领导、同事同样反映，李洪志在一九八八年参加社会上气功学习班之前，根本不了解什么"功法"、"修炼"之类的事情。
李洪志早期的弟子们曾问他为什么编造自己的简历，李洪志称"不说大点没人信"。对弟子们提出的演示"四大功能"的要求，李生气地说："没有，哪能演？你们让我演示，就是要出我的洋相，耍猴呢？"
二、"法轮功"功法出笼的真相
受社会上"气功热"的影响，李洪志从一九八八年开始跟随气功师李卫东学练"禅密功"，并参加了两期学习班，后又跟随气功师于光生学练"九宫八卦功"。李洪志以这两门功法为基础，去泰国探亲时又摹仿其它舞蹈的某些动作，拼凑了"法轮功"功法。李洪志的早期弟子李晶超、刘玉清等证实："法轮功"的功法动作是李洪志与李晶超共同设计的，直至"出山前的一个月才初步成型"。办班的初期，是由李晶超在台上演示动作，李洪志作讲解。李洪志的早期合作者刘凤才还对功法讲义作了七十多处修改。李洪志打坐莲花"法像"，是其早期弟子宋炳辰将其照片拼接上莲花瓣剪纸，再画上背后的佛光，制版而成。李所穿的黄色练功服是在商店购买的戏装。
事实证明，李洪志自吹的"一九八四年起在师父们的指导下结合自身多年苦修的独传大法，悟创一种适合普及、最方便众生的真修方法，后经反复推敲、演练、生化，最后经上师认定后准予弘扬，取名为'法轮功'，一九九二年出山传出后，被师父们称赞为高德大法"，完全是子虚乌有的弥天大谎。
三、李洪志与"法轮功"组织
李洪志曾多次声称"法轮功没有组织，实行松散管理"。一些"法轮功"的骨干也多次声称，我们没有组织，是人传人，心传心。
事实并非如此。李洪志于一九九二年创立"法轮功"后，在北京就设立了"法轮大法研究会"，自任会长。此后，又陆续在各省、自治区、直辖市设立了三十九个"法轮功"辅导总站，总站下又分设了一千九百多个辅导站、二万八千多个练功点，自上而下形成了一个完整的组织系统。
"法轮大法研究会"负责领导和管理各地"法轮功"辅导总站一切事务，审批各地"法轮功"组织的机构设置，任免主要骨干分子的职务。还制定了《对法轮大法辅导站的要求》、《法轮大法弟子传法传功规定》、《法轮大法辅导员标准》、《法轮大法修炼者须知》等一系列规章制度，使"法轮功"活动组织化、规范化。
李洪志作为"法轮功"的最高头目，经常发布指令。今年三月三十一日，李洪志对"法轮大法研究会"起草的"关于严格清理私自流传非大法资料的通知"签署"同意，快发！"立即传到各辅导站、练功点执行。"法轮大法研究会"也以最高组织机构的名义经常向各地站、点发出通知、公告等，还设有专人，或者利用互联网、电话、传真等现代化通讯手段与各地站、点联络，传达李洪志及"法轮大法研究会"的指令，指挥协调各地的活动。今年五月以来，李洪志虽然在国外，但国内"法轮功"练习者却不断收到他"我的一点感想"、"安定"、"位置"等被称为"经文"的指令，传达速度之快、流毒之广、影响之坏，也都与其有一个组织系统有关。
"法轮大法研究会"及各地总站定期或不定期地组织"弘法"、"会功"、"庆典"、"纪念"等大规模活动，还针对各地新闻媒体报道、刊载揭露"法轮功"的文章及有关部门禁止出版发行"法轮功"书籍和音像制品，多次策划、煽动众多"法轮功"修炼者有组织地围攻新闻出版单位和党政机关，严重影响了这些部门的工作秩序和社会秩序，破坏来之不易的社会稳定局面。一九九八年五月，"法轮大法研究会"及北京总站的一些骨干煽动千余名"法轮功"修炼者围攻北京电视台。北京总站的一名骨干成员因对此次活动态度不积极而被免职。
由此可以看出，"法轮功"是以李洪志为首、体系严密、功能完备、未经登记注册的非法组织。
四、李洪志借"法轮功"敛财
李洪志在传播"法轮功"的过程中，不断标榜自己是超凡脱俗的"最高的佛"，但实际生活中的李洪志，却对金钱格外贪婪，靠传播"法轮功"，短短几年暴富起来。
早期弟子多人证明，李洪志在"传功"初期，是以祛病健身为幌子，靠"治病"吸引信徒。虽称免费治疗，却在家中设立"功德箱"，暗示弟子告诉患者每人应捐"功德"钱一百元以上。
"弘法"初期，李洪志通过举办培训班聚敛了大量钱财。据不完全统计，仅一九九三、一九九四年，李洪志在长春教功售书就收入四十二万八千三百元，在全国各地办班收入七十八万九千元，共计一百二十一万七千三百元。其中在哈尔滨办班时间只有几天，但听课证每张却高达五十三元，净收入达二十万元。
此后，李洪志又称"想学好大法就必须读书，看录像，听录音练功"，通过"法轮功"组织大量印制书籍、录音带、录像带、VCD等，以每套三百元的价格在练习者中出售，并极力吹嘘自己的"法像"和"法轮功徽章"有"灵气"，鼓动练习者购买。近年来，李洪志又"推出"练功服、练功垫，将原来出版的"法轮功"书籍印成价格更加昂贵的"精装本"，向练习者兜售。还宣扬"有施才有得"，以小施获大得，从众多练习者中骗得了数额不等的"捐款"。
李洪志敛财的详细情况，正在进一步调查。目前已掌握，李洪志以其亲属的名义在北京、长春拥有数处豪宅、多辆轿车。李洪志利用"法轮功"聚敛了巨额财富，偷逃了大量税款。
五、李洪志与"四·二五"事件
今年四月二十五日，一万多名"法轮功"练习者在中南海周围聚集，严重影响了中南海周围的社会治安秩序和人民群众的正常生活，在国际国内造成了极坏影响。
五月二日，李洪志在澳大利亚悉尼接受澳洲国家广播电视局、《悉尼晨报》、法新社等媒体记者采访时称，"北京发生的事，事先我一点也不知道，我当时在从美国来澳洲的路上"，"完全知道这件事情是在布里斯班"，极力回避他与事件的关系。四月底，李洪志在接受美国《华尔街日报》上海站记者史可雷的电话采访时，也否认其幕后操纵"法轮功"修炼者到中南海聚集，声称对此次行动全然不知。
其实并非如此。大量铁的事实证明，"四·二十五"事件的前一天李洪志就在北京，二十五日"法轮功"练习者到中南海周围聚集时，他也根本不在从美国去澳大利亚的路上。
四月十九日，天津师范大学校刊《青少年科技博览》刊登了中国科学院院士何祚庥撰写的"我不赞成青少年练气功"的文章，天津市部分"法轮功"练习者因对此不满到该校聚集、静坐。至二十二日人数已达三千余人，严重影响了学校师生正常的生活和教学秩序。
就在此时，李洪志突然以商业人员的身份，持回美证(号码：00一一0六七八七，中国签证号00三八二一)，乘美国西北航空公司NW0八七次航班于二十二日下午五时三十五分从北京入境，二十四日下午一时三十分又匆匆搭乘中国国际航空公司CA一0九次航班离境赴香港，在北京共停留四十四个小时，入境卡和出境卡均为李洪志亲笔所填。
也就在李洪志入境的第二天，四月二十三日，部分"法轮功"练习者聚集天津师范大学的事件迅速升级，人数猛增到六千三百多人。二十四日上午，在李洪志还没有离境时，北京等不少地方的"法轮功"练功点都纷纷接到通知，要求二十五日组织练习者到中南海周围"集体练功"。
二十五日，一万多名"法轮功"练习者在中南海周围聚集。当时，李洪志正在香港，直到二十七日晚十时十五分，才乘香港国泰航空公司CX一0三次航班，从香港飞往澳大利亚的布里斯班。
由此可以看出，所谓李洪志对"四·二五"事件"一点也不知道"纯属谎言。
六、李洪志歪理邪说的危害
李洪志在《转法轮》等书和多次"讲法"中称，"德"是一种白色物质，与其对立的是一种黑色物质，称为"业"力。胡说他"在讲法轮大法的时候，陆陆续续给大家腹部下了法轮"，"法轮正转时，会从宇宙中吸收能量，供给你身体各部分，即度己。反转时会放出能量，在你周围的人都能受益，就是度别人"。修炼"法轮功"就能够凭借这个"法轮"提高"德"修，降低"业"力，净化身体，最终达到"开功、开悟、功成圆满"，"灵魂不灭"，并将人度到"天国"极乐世界。李洪志还宣称，人生病是前世造"业"欠债的现世报应，"生老病死是有因缘关系的，人在以前做过的坏事而产生的业力才造成了有病或者磨难，遭罪就是还业债"。"练功吃药就是不相信练功能治病"，"你的心如果摆正的话，相信练功能练好，把药停了，不去管，不去治，就有人给你治了"。李洪志还把阻止练"法轮功"的人称为"魔"，胡说什么由于这些"魔"的存在而破坏法轮大法，不让人得法，云云。
一些"法轮功"练习者受李洪志歪理邪说的欺骗、迷惑，有的患病后拒绝去医院，不打针、不吃药，贻误治疗导致死亡。有的因练"法轮功"自杀身亡或精神失常。有的甚至采用残忍的手段杀害他人。因此说，李洪志不是在度人，而是在害人。"法轮功"对人们的身心健康造成的恶果不胜枚举。仅北京两所精神病院收治的因练"法轮功"导致精神失常的病例看，一九九六年九例，一九九七年十例，一九九八年二十二例，一九九九年上半年就有十六例，呈逐年上升趋势。
（新华社北京1999年7月22日电）
Li Hongzhi: the man, his deeds and fabrications
I. Experience of Li Hongzhi
Li Hongzhi wrote in a resume he fabricated in 1993: "I was born in Gongzhuling City, Jilin Province, on May 13, 1951. When I was a child, Buddhist Master Dajue gave me instructions for the initial approach to become a Buddhist believer. My mortification came to a satisfactory end when I was eight years old. At the age of 12, Taoist Master Baji Zhenren found me, and taught me Taoist practices", "in 1972, I received Taoist instruction from Master Zhendaozi", and "in 1974, I received training in Buddhist methods of mortification until I entered public life".
The Introduction to Li Hongzhi compiled by the Falun Gong organization says, "At his age of 8, Li Hongzhi learned the essence of Buddhism and obtained supernatural powers, such as the ability to move objects, fix articles, control thinking and make himself invisible. He understands the truth of the universe and has insights into life and can see the past and future." Such absurd "extraordinary abilities" have cheated many of his followers.
Then, who is Li Hongzhi?
Investigation shows Li Hongzhi was born in Gongzhuling City (former Gongzhuling Town), Jilin Province, on July 7, 1952. Between 1960-69, he studied in Changchun Zhujianglu Primary School, and finished his junior middle school studies in Changchun No. 4 and No. 48 middle schools. In the period 1970-78, he worked as a trumpet player at a PLA stud farm and Jilin Provincial Forest Armed Police Troop. In the following four years, he was an attendant at a guest house of the Forest Armed Police Troop. Li was discharged from military service in 1982, and went to work in the security department of the Changchun Cereals and Oil Co. In 1991, he quit the job and began practicing qigong. In May 1992, he began to propagate the ideas of Falun Gong.
According to a certificate issued by Luyuan Police Substation under the Changchun Public Security Bureau, on September 24, 1994, Li changed his date of birth from July 7, 1952 to May 13, 1951 and acquired a new ID card. The birth date of Li Hongzhi on other registration forms, including the "permanent resident registration" at public security stations, and the Security Cadre Registration Form and the Resume of Cadre kept by Li's former work unit, has also been changed to May 13, 1951. But the birth date on the Forms for Rank Definition and Promotion of Workers, the Application Form for the Youth League, and the ID cards of Li Hongzhi issued on December 31, 1986 and March 31, 1991 respectively, was July 7, 1952.
Why did Li make this change? In the Chinese lunar calendar, the eighth day of the fourth lunar month is the birthday of Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism, and May 13, 1951 happened to be the eighth day of the fourth lunar month. Thus, by changing his birthday, Li could pretend that he is "a reincarnation of Sakyamuni".
However, Li's former schoolmates, teachers and neighbors all say Li Hongzhi was an ordinary child with common marks in school. His only talent was an ability in playing the trumpet. To his fabricated story of "mortification", their answers were "nonsense" or "impossible", or "I have never seen or heard of that". Li Hongzhi's leaders and fellow servicemen at the stud farm and the forest police troop said he was a common solider and was introverted and conceited. The full schedule of rehearsals and performances, and strict military and work discipline would never have left him any spare time to practice his so-called qigong. His superiors and colleagues at the cereals and oil company all said that Li did not have any knowledge about "mortification" at all before he took part in the qigong training class in 1988.
When Li's early followers asked him why he made up his story, Li answered that "no one would believe me if I do not exaggerate". When asked to demonstrate his "four functions", he became angry. "I don't have any function at all, how can I demonstrate? Your request is designed to make me a laughing-stock. Are you making fool of me?"
II. The Emergence of Falun Gong
Influenced by the "qigong fever" among the mass, Li Hongzhi started to practice under a master named Li Weidong in 1988, with whom he studied a form known as Chanmi Gong. Li took part in two training courses, and then went on to study Jiugongbagua Gong from another master, Yu Guangsheng. Combining these two forms of qigong, along with some movements from Thai dance that he picked up on a visit to Thailand, he came up with Falun Gong. Li Jingchao and Liu Yuqing, early followers, have affirmed that the movements of Falun Gong were co-designed by Li Hongzhi and Li Jingchao and did not "take shape until one month before Li Hongzhi entered public life". At the early training courses, Li Jingchao demonstrated the movements on the lecture platform, while Li Hongzhi provided the explanations. Another early collaborator of Li Hongzhi, Liu Fengcai, made more than 70 revisions of the teaching materials. The portrait of Li Hongzhi sitting in meditation on a lotus throne was made by another early follower, Song Bingchen, who pieced together Li's photo with a paper cut of a lotus flower. The portrait was completed by the addition of the Buddhist aura in the background. The yellow clothes worn by Li, an opera costume, were bought in a shop.
Facts have proved that Li Hongzhi has perpetrated a monstrous lie in claiming the following: "I created a popular and simple method of cultivation for the masses in 1984, under the instruction of my masters, together with my years of mortification. After repeated deliberation, practice and evolution, the method was finally confirmed and approved by my masters for popularization, and it was named Falun Gong. After it was spread in 1992 with my entry into society, it was highly praised by the masters as a doctrine of high virtue."
III. Li Hongzhi and Falun Gong Organizations
Li Hongzhi has repeatedly claimed that "Falun Gong has no organization, but loose management". Some key members have also asserted that they do not have any organization, and they pass on the methods from person to person and from heart to heart.
But this was not the case. After founding Falun Gong in 1992, Li established the Research Society of Falun Dafa in Beijing, and became its president. Following that, he set up 39 Falun Gong teaching centers in various provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China. Under these were more than 1,900 places of instruction and more than 28,000 group exercise venues. This represents a complete vertical organizational structure.
The Research Society of Falun Dafa manages all the affairs of the teaching centers and rules on the setup of Falun Gong organizations, with the power to appoint or remove major leaders. A series of rules and regulations have been created for Falun Gong activities, including Requirement on Falun Dafa Teaching Centers, Regulations on the Passing On of Falun Dafa, Standard for Falun Dafa Teachers, and Rules for Falun Dafa Practitioners.
As the most important figure in Falun Gong, Li Hongzhi issued many orders. On March 31 this year, for example, he wrote "agree, distribute quickly" on the Notice of Strictly Clearing Out the Circulation of Non-Falun Dafa Materials in Private, which was drafted by the Research Society of Falun Dafa. His order was implemented in all teaching centers and exercise venues. As the highest organization, the research society often sent various notices and proclamations to its subordinate organizations. Special persons were assigned to take charge of the liaison work. Modern communications facilities, such as the Internet, telephone and fax, were also used to transfer the orders of Li Hongzhi and the research society to coordinate the activities in various parts of the country. From May this year, Falun Gong practitioners in China received instructions from Li, then living abroad, in the form of "scriptures". The quick transmission and extensive pernicious influences of these instructions are all due to the existence of an organizational system.
The Research Society of Falun Dafa and its instruction stations had organized large-scale activities to "spread the Falun doctrine" and "exchange experiences", and held various "celebrations and commemorative ceremonies" on a regular and irregular basis. On several occasions, when they were dissatisfied with news reports and articles that exposed the dark secrets of Falun Gong or when government departments banned its books and audio-video products, members were organized to besiege news agencies, publishing houses, and Party and government departments, disrupting the normal work and social order and undermining hard-won social stability. In May 1998, the research society and some key members of its Beijing center incited more than 1,000 Falun Gong practitioners to besiege the Beijing TV Station. A major member of the Beijing center was relieved of his post for not showing enough enthusiasm for this action.
All these demonstrate that Falun Gong was an illegal organization with no official registration status, but with a tightly organized administrative system and complete functions headed by Li Hongzhi.
IV. Li Hongzhi Accumulated Wealth by Falun Gong
In spreading Falun Gong, Li set himself up as the "highest Buddha" who had transcended all secular desires. But in real life, he displayed enormous greed, acquiring immense wealth in a few short years.
Li's early followers testified that, in the initial phase of spreading Falun Gong, Li attracted followers by supposedly "curing" their ailments and helping them improve their health. Although he asserted that he was giving free treatment, there was a special "donation box" at his home and he hinted to his assistants to tell every patient to donate at least 100 yuan for every visit.
Li also collected a large amount of money from training classes. From 1993 to 1994, he was reported to have earned 428,300 yuan in Changchun from teaching Falun Gong exercises and from book sales. Meanwhile, he earned another 789,000 yuan in other parts of China from classes. The admission fee to his class in Harbin was as high as 53 yuan, which made a net income of 200,000 yuan within a few days.
Afterward, Li Hongzhi said that "only by reading books, watching videos and listening to tapes can people learn Falun Gong well". Thus, he published a large number of books, cassette tapes, video tapes, and video CDs with his teachings and sold them to Falun Gong practitioners for 300 yuan a set. He boasted that his "portrait" and the "Falun Gong badge" with his image had a "miraculous and inspirational effect" and encouraged people to buy them. In recent years, he came up with new Falun Gong products like special clothing and cushions for Falun Gong practitioners and published his books in "deluxe editions" at higher prices. He also advertised "no donation, no gain" and small input for big benefits, thus obtaining various "donations" from countless practitioners.
Detailed investigations are going on. Preliminary findings show that Li has several luxury houses in Beijing and Changchun listed in his relatives' names, in addition to limousines. Through Falun Gong, he has amassed enormous wealth, on which he has evaded huge amount of taxes.
V. Li Hongzhi and the April 25 Illegal Gathering Incident
On April 25, 1999, more than 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners gathered outside Zhongnanhai, seat of the Central Government in Beijing, which seriously disrupted public order and the residents' normal life, and caused a malignant effect at home and abroad.
On May 2, Li Hongzhi was interviewed by the Australian Broadcasting Commission, the Sydney Morning Herald and Agence France Presse. He told the foreign correspondents, "I knew nothing in advance about the incident in Beijing when I was on the way from the United States to Australia." He added that "I didn't learn about it until I was in Brisbane", thus trying to evade any responsibility for the incident. In late April, when Li was interviewed by telephone by the Shanghai correspondent of the Asian Wall Street Journal, he also denied that he was a wire-puller of the Zhongnanhai incident, insisting he knew nothing about it.
But this was not true. There is considerable, ironclad evidence that Li Hongzhi was in Beijing the day before the incident. And, he was never on the way from the United States to Australia when the Falun Gong practitioners were gathering around Zhongnanhai on April 25.
On April 19, Teenager Science-Technology Outlook, a Tianjin Normal University journal, contained an article entitled I'm Opposed to Qigong Practice by Teenagers written by Prof. He Zuoxiu with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Some Falun Gong practitioners in Tianjin took offense at the article and staged a silent protest at the university. By April 22, the number exceeded 3,000, which seriously affected the normal life and teaching order on the campus.
Just at that time, Li Hongzhi sudden flew back to China as a businessman via Flight 087 of American Northwest Airlines, reaching Beijing at 5:35 p.m. on April 22. Then, after a stay of 44 hours, he left in a hurry for Hong Kong at 1:30 p.m. on April 24 by Air China Flight CA109. Both the entry and exit forms were filled in by Li Hongzhi himself.
On April 23, the second day after he entered China, the gathering of Falun Gong practitioners at Tianjin Normal University escalated, and the number of practitioners swelled to more than 6,300. By the morning of April 24, while Li was still in Beijing, Falun Gong group exercise venues in Beijing had received notices that practitioners should go to Zhongnanhai for a "group exercise" on April 25.
When more than 10,000 people showed up around Zhongnanhai on April 25, Li was in Hong Kong. He didn't leave there for Brisbane until 10:15 p.m. on April 27 by Dragonair Flight CX103.
Thus, it can be concluded that when Li Hongzhi alleged he "knew nothing" about the illegal gathering, he was lying.
VI. Harms of Li Hongzhi's Fallacies
In his books, including Zhuan Falun (Turn the Dharma Wheel), and in several of his "sermons", Li claimed that there existed a kind of white material, called "de" (morality), along with a mirror image that was dark, called "ye" (evil). He said that he "put the falun (Dharma Wheel) in the bellies of practitioners while teaching", and "when the wheel runs forward, it will absorb energy from the universe and supply it to your body, which means saving yourself from sin; when it runs backward, it will discharge energy to benefit all others beside you, that is, to save others from sin".
By practicing Falun Gong, he said, people could be helped by Falun. They could improve their "de" and reduce the "ye" force, purify their bodies and achieve final "enlightenment and immortality". Practitioners could ultimately attain salvation and reach the "heavenly kingdom" or paradise. Li also spoke of karma, or predestination, and said that "illness and other sufferings were retribution for evil deeds one has done in the past or in a past life, and by enduring this suffering one can repay his or her evil debt". He said that "taking medicine while practicing means one does not believe that practicing can cure the illness" and "anyone who believes in and practices Falun Gong need not take medicine to cure disease". Li called people who tried to persuade others not to practice Falun Gong "demons", saying that they have harmed the Falun Dafa and have prevented people from attaining "salvation".
As a result of Li's malicious fallacies and deceptive behavior, many Falun Gong practitioners refused to go to hospital or take medicine for their diseases, and some lost their lives because of delay in treatment. Some committed suicide or lost their sanity after practicing Falun Gong. Some even became homicidal. Li Hongzhi has not been bringing salvation to his followers, but leading them to a disastrous and miserable end. Falun Gong has done enormous harm to both the mental and physical health of people. Take the cases in Beijing's two mental hospitals. In 1996, nine patients were admitted with severe psychological problems after practicing Falun Gong. The number rose to 10 in 1997, and 22 in 1998. There were 16 in the first half of 1999 alone.
(The Chinese Press, Feb. 9, 2007, http://www.chinesepress.com/enzy/07.htm )