May 15 (Xinhua) -- Xinhua News Agency released a  signed article today 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.