overseas media on Falun Gong

Xinhua News Agency released a signed article on Monday exposing the major deceptions used by the notorious Falun Gong cult group to control its believers for evil purposes.

The three methods are "xiaoye," "shangcengci," and "yuanman," the article says.

Li Hongzhi, the cult leader, has forbidden his followers to go to the hospital when they fall ill. They must practice Falun Gong so as to "xiaoye," which means curing yourself by practicing Falun Gong.

However, the article presents several examples to show that many patients have died of "xiaoye." So far, over 1,500 people have lost their lives practicing Falun Gong, it says.

It also exposes the fact that the cult leader and his daughter went to the hospital when they were sick. "He did not dare risk his own life with 'xiaoye,' the articles says.

"Shangcengci," the third method, asks people to move up to a higher level of the cosmos by advocating and safeguarding Falun Gong, the article says.

Mankind, who are now extremely evil, are living on the lowest level of the cosmos, and they have to go up one level at a time, according to the cult leader.

Li has fabricated many stories about those who have avoided death by practicing Falun Gong, and asked his followers not to spread anything against Falun Gong.

Believing in Li's words, a large number of Falun Gong followers beleaguered the central and local governments. Li called these illegal activities the best way for his believers to "shangcengci, " or ascend to a higher level.

"Yuanman" is an expression the cult leader has stolen from Buddhist scripts, which means accomplishment of religious training.

"If you reach 'yuanman,' you will become a giant god and can easily hold the Earth in your hand," says the cult leader.

However, no Falun Gong follower has so far become god or made space journeys with his body or his soul. To the contrary, several Falun Gong practitioners have died in traffic accidents, the article says.