To the editor of Washington Post and Mr. John Pomfret: As active members of the Chinese civil societies, we have long been critical of Falungong even before the group's massive protests in April 1999. Your article (China's Steadfast Sect, August 23, 2000, p a18) missed an important theological point of Falungong. The Falun (Wheel of the Law) is not a "born-with" energy wheel, but an instrument that Li claims that he plants in the bellies of the disciples. It is a "gift" that represents the Master's personal intervention in their salvation. The distinction is significant: what Li gives, Li can take back. This serves as an instrument of "mind-control." The function of the Falun is not only an "energy gathering" device in Falungong, if so, the loss of it would not be harmful; rather, it is also a "cure-all" that purifies the bodies of the disciples, so that they can be "healed" or even be protected in case of catastrophe. The disciples are led to, or encouraged to risk their lives with this kind of beliefs. And each act of protest will eliminate their past "karma" (which is a black material according to Li). While we strongly oppose any police brutalities anywhere, including those in China, we would assign most of the blames on Li since the drastic increases of the dreadful incidences including deaths, occurred with his permission and encouragement. In fact, he calls those died in jail as "great lives, gods" as if they had achieved the "consummation" and reached the Falun Paradise. On the other hand, he threatens those more realistically minded followers with curses and damnations. It is clear that Li is willing to up the ante for his own sake, not for the safety or health (as the trademark that he uses to market Falungong in the United States) of the disciples. It is unfortunate that the public here is often deceived by this group's apparently benign claims to the health effects, disguised as a branch of qigong. If such a tendency is unchecked, Li would, as they did in China, push his belief system through public libraries (as they do now in Houston, San Diego and LA areas) and public schools in the name of "mind-body exercises" and "multicultures." It is time that the public should be warned of Li's racist and anti-human teachings. Shi-min Fang President of New Threads Chinese Cultural Society, Inc. (http://www.xys.org) P.O. Box 26194 San Diego, CA 92196-0194 Zixian Deng Graduate Student of Department of Political Science University of North Texas Denton, TX 76203