Deception was clearly employed. This is how influence and endorsements from powerful people enabled masters to fill huge stadiums. The credulity of these officials and their willingness to support these activities resulted in unquestioning support from the media, which they control. This fueled the public support and fervor. From the education he received as a youth and from what he had since learned, Sima Nan could no longer accept the masters' rationalizations.
Deception is wrong.
At a 1990 symposium held at the Chinese Technology Convention Center he first acted on his convictions. In order to prove my point, I will give a performance for the benefit of your expert evaluation. If my demonstration fails, you must agree never to offer this as proof that 'special ability' qigong does not exist. But if my demonstration withstands your scrutiny, I demand that you publicly accept the reality of 'special ability' qigong . All of the experts who witnessed his charade agreed to the terms and he began his performance.