
Mr. Li Hongzhi, founder of the spiritual discipline Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, speaks at a conference in Los Angeles, in this file photo. The Epoch Times
For many years, Mr. Hongzhi Li, the founder of Falun Gong, has remained very low-key in the public eye. However, recently, The New York Times published biased and misleading reports about a series of companies founded by Falun Gong practitioners, such as Shen Yun Performing Arts and The Epoch Times, once again placing him in the spotlight.
Yet the picture they paint of Mr. Li is very fragmented, and what specific glimpses they do offer bear no resemblance to the spiritual leader I know and have worked with for almost 20 years. And I’m not alone, so I embarked on an effort to talk to others who, like me, have spent years working alongside Mr. Li so that we may offer some of our observations.
A Grand Vision Takes Shape in New York
In 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a nationwide campaign of mass detention, violence, and vilification of Falun Gong—a persecution that has now lasted more than a quarter of a century. Countless Falun Gong practitioners in China have lost their jobs, property, freedom, or even their lives, with some subjected to forced organ harvesting. Many children have been left orphaned.
In 2001, to provide a safe place for Falun Gong practitioners who fled China, especially orphans, Falun Gong practitioners in North America built Dragon Springs in a remote mountain area more than 80 miles northwest of Manhattan. The grounds were developed largely by volunteers.
Since its establishment, Dragon Springs has been registered as a religious temple. In the subsequent years, Fei Tian Academy of the Arts, Fei Tian College, and Shen Yun Performing Arts were established at Dragon Springs to revive China’s authentic culture that was almost destroyed by the CCP, to teach this culture to the next generation, and to share its treasures with the world. These institutions are all religious in nature and provide Falun Gong practitioners with a means to express and live by their faith. Furthermore, Shen Yun plays a key role in exposing the persecution of Falun Gong in China and pays tribute to the resilience of people there who peacefully stand up to tyranny. As a result, Dragon Springs became a place where Falun Gong practitioners lived, worked, studied, and practiced their faith.
A Simple Life of Spiritual Guidance
As the founder of Falun Gong and the artistic director of Shen Yun Performing Arts, Mr. Li guides the spiritual practice of Falun Gong practitioners worldwide (mostly through written teachings, published online) and provides the artistic vision for Shen Yun. However, Mr. Li holds no administrative position in any of the organizations or projects established by Falun Gong practitioners, nor does he run their daily operations.
“And honestly,” Mr. Xu added, “it’s not uncommon for him to skip some meals altogether because he’s just so busy.”
Always Working
Mr. Kaijin Liang, who has been working at Dragon Springs for almost 20 years and serves as one of its engineers, said it’s common to see Mr. Li doing manual labor around campus.
A Balanced Environment
One thing that has struck me over the years is that, while Mr. Li maintains a rather austere lifestyle, the environment for the students, staff, and volunteers at Dragon Springs is well-balanced, and intentionally so.
“It’s all quite refreshing.”
Setting the Record Straight
Mr. William Shi, who has led the campus security team for more than a decade, is frustrated by the allegations in the media.