Falun Dafa and the New Age Movement in Malaysia: Signs of Health,Symbols of Salvation

Abstract

Falun Dafa entered Malaysia in the mid-1990s as a spiritual movement for the mind-and-body development market that attracts middle-class consumption-oriented Malaysians. Its self-presentation as a New Age product tends to obscure its connections with Chinese popular religion. The movement’s similar profile to other Chinese sectarian groups is accompanied by claims to absolute difference from these groups. Development of Falun Dafa during the phase of persecution and exile since 1999 has involved an ongoing encounter with new symbols and signs. The symbols of human rights, democracy and salvation are transacted with the Western media and the signs of New Age lifestyle products. These address identity needs within the diverse Malaysian Chinese community.

Keywords

Chinese Falun Dafa Malaysia New Age

References

Ackerman, S. E. and Lee, R. L. M. (1988) Heaven in Transition: Non-Muslim Religious Innovation and Ethnic Identity in Malaysia. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press .

Baudrillard, J. (1983) Simulations. New York: Semiotext(e) .

Clart, P. (2003) ‘‘Confucius and the Mediums: Is There a ‘Popular Confucianism’?’’ , T’oung Pao 89: 1–37 .

Edelman, B. and Richardson, J. T. (2002) ‘‘Falun Gong and the Law: Development of Legal Social Control in China’’ , Nova Religio 6(2): 312–331 .

Falun Dafa Practitioners in Malaysia (2001) A Powerful Ancient Practice to Improve Body, Mind and Spirit. Kuala Lumpur: Falun Dafa .

Fisher, G. (2002) ‘‘Resistance and Salvation in Falun Gong: The Promise and Peril of Forbearance’’ , Nova Religio 6(2): 294–311 .

Lee, R. L. M. and Ackerman, S. E. (1997) Sacred Tensions: Modernity and Religious Transformation in Malaysia. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press .

Li, H. Z. (2000) Zhuan Falun. New Delhi: Health Harmony .

Li, H. Z. (2003) ‘‘Explaining the Fa During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference’’, www.clearwisdom.net/2003/3/21.

10.

Overmyer, D. L. (1976) Folk Buddhist Religion: Dissenting Sects in Late Traditional China. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press .

11.

Overmyer, D. L. (1999) Precious Volumes: An Introduction to Chinese Sectarian Scripture from the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Asia Center .

12.

Ownby, D. (2002) ‘‘A History for Falun Gong: Popular Religion and the Chinese State Since the Ming Dynasty’’ , Nova Religio 6(2): 223–243 .

13.

Palmer, D. A. (2003) ‘‘Modernity and Millennialism in China: Qigong and the Birth of Falun Gong’’ , Asian Anthropology 2: 79–110 .

14.

Topley, M. (1957) ‘‘The Great Way of Former Heaven: A Chinese Semi-Secret Religion in Malaya’’ , The New Malayan 2: 13–23 .

15.

Zurcher, E. (1980) ‘‘Buddhist Influence on Early Taoism’’ , T’oung Pao 66: 84–147 .

16.

Zurcher, E. (1982) ‘‘Prince Moonlight: Messianism and Eschatology in Early Medieval Chinese Buddhism’’ , T’oung Pao 68: 1–74 .