1999年8月1日，生病住院的全國(guó)政協(xié)副主席、中國(guó)佛教協(xié)會(huì)會(huì)長(zhǎng)趙樸初對(duì)中央果斷處理“法輪功”問題感到十分高興，他在醫(yī)院表達(dá)了對(duì)“法輪功”問題的看法。
趙樸初說，我堅(jiān)決擁護(hù)中共中央關(guān)于處理“法輪功”非法組織的決定。這個(gè)決定是十分必要，非常及時(shí)，完全正確的。這是一件大快人心的大好事，它為人民消除了一個(gè)大禍害，為國(guó)家清除了一個(gè)大隱患，為社會(huì)割掉了一個(gè)大毒瘤，為科學(xué)掃除了一個(gè)大障礙，也為佛教清除了一個(gè)最大最毒的附佛外道。這是我們黨和國(guó)家在思想政治戰(zhàn)線上的一個(gè)偉大勝利。
趙樸老說，對(duì)“法輪功”問題，中國(guó)佛教協(xié)會(huì)早有覺察，因?yàn)樗蛑鸱ǖ幕献?，竊用佛教的一些名詞術(shù)語，欺騙社會(huì)，蒙蔽群眾。對(duì)佛教來說，它是一種邪教，一種魔道。中國(guó)佛協(xié)的會(huì)刊《法音》雜志及佛教各地有關(guān)刊物，都曾陸續(xù)作過一些批判，也曾遭受到李洪志及其“法輪功”非法組織的恐嚇、誣告。在去年佛協(xié)召開的專題座談會(huì)上，大家一致認(rèn)定，“法輪功”不是佛法，不是正式宗教，也不是真正的氣功，而是一種道道地地的歪理邪說，它與佛教是根本對(duì)立的，是和宗教界根本對(duì)立的，同黨和國(guó)家的宗教信仰自由政策也是根本對(duì)立的。對(duì)這種歪理邪說，我們宗教界要特別提高警惕，絕不能讓它們興妖作怪。
趙樸老說，建設(shè)有中國(guó)特色的社會(huì)主義，必須加強(qiáng)社會(huì)主義精神文明建設(shè)，要看到精神市場(chǎng)的重要性，必須加強(qiáng)科學(xué)教育，提高全民素質(zhì)。若讓“法輪功”這種帶有邪教性質(zhì)的非法組織發(fā)展起來，對(duì)國(guó)家必將構(gòu)成一種潛在的危險(xiǎn)。通過對(duì)中央決定的學(xué)習(xí)，佛教界和宗教界都應(yīng)加強(qiáng)自身建設(shè)，發(fā)揚(yáng)愛國(guó)愛教的優(yōu)良傳統(tǒng)，與全國(guó)人民一道，自覺地維護(hù)來之不易的安定團(tuán)結(jié)的大好局面，把我們祖國(guó)偉大的社會(huì)主義建設(shè)事業(yè)全面地、健康地推向21世紀(jì)！
Zhao Puchu: Falun Gong is an evil cult and demon's teaching
On August 1, 1999, Rev. Zhao Puchu, Vice-chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and President of Buddhist Association of China, was pleased to hear the decision of Central Government to ban the illegal Falun Gong. He expressed his views on Falun Gong during his stay in hospital for treatment.
Rev. Zhao said that he firmly supported the ban on the Falun Gong. The decision was very essential and completely correct while it came at an extremely right time as well. It was a good news satisfactory to the people. He also said in the hospital that it was highly necessary for the government to get rid of this big disaster for the people and remove this "hidden peril" for the country as well as cutting off this big cancer for the society. The decision removed this "big obstacle" for the science and cleared away "the biggest and most harmful heretic adhering to Buddhism" for the right faith of Buddhism as well. It was a great victory by our Party and nation in the ideological and political front.
Rev. Zhao said that the Buddhist Association of China had been aware of problems of Falun Gong at early time before, because it deceived its followers by misusing Buddhist terminologies. Compared with the belief of Buddhism, Falun Gong was completely an evil cult and demon's teachings. He said that the publications of B.A.C., like "Voice of Dharmma" and some other Buddhist magazines in other parts of the country, had criticized Falun Gong's fallacies in the past few years, and the articles were attacked by Falun Gong devotees, headed by Li Hongzhi, and some other illegal organizations. During a symposium held by the Association last year, the participants said Falun Gong run counter to Buddhism and the Communist Party of China's policy of freedom of religious belief. He also said that the Chinese religious circle should be alert to false theories and evil sayings and never let it stir up trouble.
Rev. Zhao stressed the importance of promoting cultural and ethical progress in the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He urged the strengthening of science education and improvement of the quality of all the people. He called on religious circles to pay attention to self-building and unite with people from other walks of life, in an effort to help maintain social stability and soundly push forward the socialist cause into the new century.
(Chinanews, August 1, 1999)