Any Buddist or Taoist here?

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Trevor_Stamm

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Hello,

This is not a theological debate between Christianity and the eastern practices. Catholicism is my way now but I’m here for information to help a friend.

Short story, I was involved with an eastern practice for a couple of years called Falun Dafa (or Falun Gong) and while in this practice the teacher (Li Hongzhi) refers to his practice as the “Great Law” or “Great Dharma” and proclaims he is the Maitreya Buddha and “The King Who Turns Law Wheel” or “The Law Wheel King”. He proclaims all of his followers are all above the level of Tathāgata and states “no other religion can save people, only I am teaching dharma”.
  1. I’ve looked up and down Buddhist Scriptures, there is nothing referring to the “Law Wheel King”. The closest thing is the Nirvana Sutra but that even states that “all Buddhas turn the law wheel” and the Bodhisattva Maitreya is just the next Buddha that will postpone Nirvana to teach new dharma to all. Where in the world does he get the idea that this translates as “Law Wheel King”?
  2. How can one be above the level of Tathāgata, let alone all of his students? That’s like saying “I know more then an all knowing enlightened being!” And I thought a Tathāgata is one who has attained full enlightenment and obtained nirvana. On top of the fact, his students don’t portray the qualities of even an Arhat and they proclaim to have 100 million+ followers.
  3. What is the attitude towards Dafa (its teachings) and Li Hongzhi in the Buddhist and Taoist communities?
I hope all those in that practice well and desire that the persecution in China of them and all practices will end and hope the CCP will fall. Heck, if a war broke out I’ll be the first to sign up to help those people. But to what I’ve come to understand, he is teaching heresy when it comes to Buddhism/Taoism. If I’m mistaken, please share.
 
Short story, I was involved with an eastern practice for a couple of years called Falun Dafa (or Falun Gong) and while in this practice the teacher (Li Hongzhi) refers to his practice as the “Great Law” or “Great Dharma” and proclaims he is the Maitreya Buddha and “The King Who Turns Law Wheel” or “The Law Wheel King”. He proclaims all of his followers are all above the level of Tathāgata and states “no other religion can save people, only I am teaching dharma”.

Interesting. Is he claiming to be THE Maitreya? How old is he? Maitreya is viewed as a possible candidate for anti christ among some folk…peace 🙂
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Trevor_Stamm said:
none? 😦
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Rossum is a wonderful Buddhist. Send him a private message and ask him to join you on this thread.

Blessings,
granny

The human person is worthy of profound respect from the moment of conception.
 
Trevor_Stamm said:
Short story, I was involved with an eastern practice for a couple of years called Falun Dafa (or Falun Gong) and while in this practice the teacher (Li Hongzhi) refers to his practice as the “Great Law” or “Great Dharma” and proclaims he is the Maitreya Buddha and “The King Who Turns Law Wheel” or “The Law Wheel King”. He proclaims all of his followers are all above the level of Tathāgata and states “no other religion can save people, only I am teaching dharma”.
  1. I’ve looked up and down Buddhist Scriptures, there is nothing referring to the “Law Wheel King”. The closest thing is the Nirvana Sutra but that even states that “all Buddhas turn the law wheel” and the Bodhisattva Maitreya is just the next Buddha that will postpone Nirvana to teach new dharma to all. Where in the world does he get the idea that this translates as “Law Wheel King”?
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This is probably a Chinese translation from the Sanskrit, chakravartin. This is an Indian concept, often translated as “Wheel Turning King”. When the Buddha was born he was prophesied to become either a chakravartin, ruling a material empire or a Buddha, ruling a spiritual empire. In Buddhism the word transferred to the spiritual meaning, with the wheel, chakra, changing from the wheel of the king’s chariot to the wheel of the Dharma, the Law. It is just another title used of Buddhas, like Tathāgata.

There have been a number of claimants to the title of Maitreya. It sometimes seems that a fair proportion of New Age spiritual leaders claim to be, or to have some kinship with, the Maitreya. A quick google should turn up a few; Benjamin Creme is usually prominent in such searches. The use of the title of ‘Maitreya’, especially by a westerner, is usually an indication that this person has insufficiently understood Buddhism. In the East the attitude can be different. The ‘Fat Buddha’ is a Chinese monk who was considered by many to be an incarnation of the Maitreya, but not his final incarnation. It is possible that Li Hongzhi is only claiming to be such a non-final incarnation, but from what you say he is claiming rather more than that.
  1. How can one be above the level of Tathāgata, let alone all of his students? That’s like saying “I know more then an all knowing enlightened being!” And I thought a Tathāgata is one who has attained full enlightenment and obtained nirvana. On top of the fact, his students don’t portray the qualities of even an Arhat and they proclaim to have 100 million+ followers.
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You can’t. In Buddhism a Tathāgata is a fully enlightened Buddha. There is no higher level.
  1. What is the attitude towards Dafa (its teachings) and Li Hongzhi in the Buddhist and Taoist communities?
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I am not an expert in Falun Gong. It appears to be a new religion which has incorporated elements of Buddhism, and presumably Taoism, together with some new ideas. It is not Buddhism but it does contain some Buddhist elements derived from Chinese Buddhist practice.
But to what I’ve come to understand, he is teaching heresy when it comes to Buddhism/Taoism. If I’m mistaken, please share.
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Buddhism does not have ‘heresy’ as such. The Abrahamic religions tend to look for orthodoxy - right belief. Buddhism is much more interested in orthopraxy - right practice. Beliefs are not as important as the actions they engender. From what I can see Falun Gong’s actions are for the most part useful, correct and tending towards nirvana. Some of their mistaken teachings may confuse people, and I have not looked closely at the effectiveness of their meditation techniques.

HTH

rossum
 
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