TORONTO (CP) - Every weekday morning and Saturday evening, at least 20 people gather outside the Chinese Consulate in Toronto, where they silently begin a series of slow, rhythmic movements.
Men, women and often children, mostly Chinese-Canadians, come to practise the meditative exercises of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that began a decade ago in China and has spread around the world.
Despite the tranquillity of those assembled, their presence has a more pressing motive, proclaimed by placards exhorting the Chinese government to "Stop Persecuting the Falun Gong," replete with grisly photos of alleged victims.
Adherents have accused China of torturing thousands of their members and killing more than 250 since 1999 when the Communist government began a crackdown on what it called an "evil cult." China blames Falun Gong for causing the deaths of 1,600 followers by encouraging them to forgo medical care and leading them to suicide.
Last week, it was disclosed that up to 14 female practitioners died in a Chinese labour camp in June. The movement says they were tortured to death. China's government says they hanged themselves.
News of the latest deaths came at a critical time. On Friday, the International Olympic Committee will announce which city - Beijing, Toronto or Paris - will host the 2008 Summer Games. Beijing has been seen as the front-runner but concerns over human rights in China may hinder its bid.
"The persecution is escalating," says Joel Chipkar, a Toronto practitioner who likens Chinese President Jiang Zemin's targeting of the Falun Gong to Hitler's persecution of the Jews. "We are out calling for an international investigation into the deaths and torture."
So just what is Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, and why is China so afraid of it?
Roughly translated, Falun Gong means "power of the wheel." Falun refers to a cosmic intelligence symbolized by the wheel. Gong refers to a practised skill - physical or mental. Through the exercises, meditation and a life of "truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance," practitioners believe they can connect with the cosmic entity and reach enlightenment after death.
Falun Gong owes its existence to one man, Li Hongzhi, who began disseminating his ideas in 1991 when China relaxed religious controls. Careful never to call it a religion, Li preached his philosophy - dubbed "McBuddhism" by one writer for its mixed bag of Buddhist, Taoist and other beliefs - to growing crowds.
The number of his adherents snowballed in China, reaching an estimated 100 million, including top-ranking Politburo members. Li, feted across China, was honoured even by the government.
But with his followers outnumbering Communist party members two to one, and his ability to mobilize them for rallies, the Chinese government began to view the sect as a powerful threat. In July 1999, Li was declared an enemy of the people and Falun Gong was outlawed.
Li fled to the U.S., where he is said to be living in New York. But his followers have continued the movement in China and abroad. There are groups across Canada, although membership is hard to determine.
Li Ming, a Chinese Consulate spokesman in Toronto, calls Falun Gong a dangerous cult led by a man who has "concocted a series of fallacies and heresies to deify himself and to deceive and control followers."
China accuses Li Hongzhi of defrauding adherents of more than $7 million Cdn and inciting them to besiege schools, the media and government offices.
"We adhere to the policy of educating, persuading and helping Falun Gong followers get rid of this kind of spiritual control," the consulate spokesman says. "The Chinese government isolates and punishes only those diehard, core members who have violated Chinese laws."
While adherents maintain there is no central organization, just groups coming together to practise and learn, many believe Li or his inner circle operate a well-oiled organization, communicating with members worldwide through the Internet.
"Everything in Falun Dafa is absolutely volunteer-based," insists Jillian Ye, who became a practitioner about six years ago when her family moved from China to join her in Toronto.
"How Falun Dafa has been spreading in China and around the world has always been family through friends, friends to colleagues . . ."
"We all feel . . . a kind of upgrade on the body, mind and spirit," says Ye, 35. "We take the tribulations in daily life more lightly. . . . so we have a more positive, kind and open-minded attitude."
Ye stresses there are no rituals, places of worship or godhead, and the collection of money is forbidden. Li's teachings can be downloaded from the Internet or purchased to lend to others.
Ian Adams, co-author of the book Power of the Wheel: The Falun Gong Revolution, dismisses the notion that Falun Gong is a cult. "There's no drive to create masses of wealth for the leader, the leader is not exhorting his people to go out and carry out terrorists acts."
"Our analysis was that he appeared to be at the right place at the right time with the right kind of stuff," says Adams, dubbing Falun Gong a "McBuddhism" that struck a familiar chord with the Chinese.
"Very simply, it came down to the fact that after 60 years of communism and Marxism, people were starved for a spiritual dimension to their lives."
But Adams doesn't buy the argument it's non-political.
"As soon as you tell people to stand up for what you believe in, that's a political act. I think it's a way to try and deal with a very repressive regime."
"I think (Falun Gong) is an incredible phenomenon," says Adams. "This anonymous guy becomes the leader of 100 million people. Li (Hongzhi) locked into something."
"The phenomenon exists, and after two years, the Chinese government has not been able to crush him."