Photo :The young generations of Tai Ji Men disciples continue to follow Dr. Hung to five continents to promote love and peace.
September 23, 2021
〔International Love and Peace 〕Series Articles（1）
Peace needs love, and love needs to be balanced
What is human’s future in the twenty-first century? The current international situation is more chaotic than it was before World War II, the COVID-19pandemic is still going on, and global warming is accelerating. Looking back to the year 2000, when we celebrated the arrival of the millennium, the BBC (British Broadcasting Company) broadcasted the song "The Love of the World" by Tai Ji Men dizis on satellite radio in 76 countries around the world to welcome the new era with love and peace. The song was written and composed by Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, the Grand master of Tai Ji Men. He witnessed the incredible power of nature's retaliation in the 921 earthquake in Taiwan in 1999, so he wrote "Love of the World A Declaration of Peace" and the song, "The Love of the World," urging the world to treat all creatures on Earth with love and to live in harmony with nature. The song "Love of the World" has been sung on five continents by Tai Ji Men master and disciples when they travelled the world to promote love and peace, and the culture of conscience, and also has been sung at significant historical moments. Let us retrospect people's efforts toward love and peace through a series of activities held during "International Love and Peace Week" (9/15-9/21), as well as send out the aspiration of love together, and look forward to our return to a peaceful world without grief, fear, war and pain.
Remember 911
Resolve Hatred and Wars with Love.
The planes crashed into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon in the U.S.A. on September 11, 2001. As a result of the terroriss’ suicidal attack, the world fell into fear and anxiety. “Not only were New York's famous landmarks destroyed, but also was people's faith in peace.” Anna Chao, who witnessed the terrorist attacks on that day, recalled that they were scheduled to stay in New York for only 8 hours but were forced to stay for 5 days instead.
People from all over the world gathered in New York City on the eve of the United Nations DPI/NGO annual conference in 2001. Dr. Hong Tao-Tze was invited to give a speech, and a group of disciples went with him and planned to present cultural performances and hold the ceremony of ringing “the Bell of World Peace and Love” , both of which should have taken place in the UN Plaza. Due to the terrorist attack, they had to cancel the event. Despite the cancellation and the chaos in the city, Dr. Hong decided to relocate to the United Nation Plaza Hotel to proceed with both events. He also encouraged his disciples to actively contact the ambassadors of various countries to the United Nations to participate the ceremony to ring the bell and pray for blessings. There were traffic controls in many areas in New York at the time, but 16 United Nations ambassadors and NGO leaders managed to come. The chairman of the Pakistan Muslim Youth League even had to walk six kilometers to attend to the ceremony. A total of 16 United Nations ambassadors and NGO leaders, including the permanent representative of Mauritius and Libya, rang the bell, hoping to unite every peace-loving heart around the world together. Dr. Hong was also interviewed by the Manhattan Neighborhood Network TV station and invited to host the ceremony of ringing the bell of peace and praying on September 12. He addressed “People all over the world deeply grieve over the disaster. May the deceased rest in peace. Through the Grand Prayer Ceremony, myself and my disciples pray to God for turning hatred and war into a global harmony, happiness and love.” The four-hour ceremony was broadcasted with the blessings to every corner in the United States.
Despite the rumor that Hawaii was the next target of the terrorist attack, Tai Ji Men grandmaster and disciples still went to the airport every day in the midst of the global flight chaos to wait for flights to Hawaii. “For Americans, this is a national crisis; for non-American travelers, it is the fear of an unknown destiny.” There were many panicked people in the airport at the time, according to Anna Chao, but Tai Ji Men disciples decided to practice the cultural performance on the spot. “People were drawn to our singing and came up to us as soon as they heard us. We shared Shifu's belief in world love and peace with them and they started to feel more relaxed and even said they felt blessed and peaceful.”
Tai Ji Men shifu and disciples kept their promise, as any martial arts practitioner would, and flew to Hawaii in separate planes. The representatives from various religions and organizations were invited to pray together for Hawaii, the United States, and the world, during the cultural performance, “Tai Ji Men's Night of Ancient Culture” , and the praying ceremony for blessing held at the Palace Theater in the City of Honolulu. The Mayor of Honolulu Harris presented Award of Merit to Dr. Hong, recognizing him as an “Honorary Citizen of Honolulu” and proclaimed September 16, 2001 as “Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy and Dr. Hong Tao-Tze Day” to express gratitude for Tai Ji Men's contributions to world peace and to honor Dr. Hong Tao-Tze as an outstanding leader. The Cultural Goodwill Group, organized by Dr. Hong, is dedicated to strengthening relationships among countries and cultures through the cultural performances and exchanges.
On September 11, 2002, the 911 anniversary, a prayer meeting was held in a New York church in the morning. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and representatives of various countries, including those of Tai Ji Men and FOWPAL, attended the ceremony. “The Bell of World Peace and Love” kept ringing at the Millennium UN Plaza next to the United Nations from 3pm to 9pm on that day.
Ms. Wu Pei-Ling, a witness to the 911 terrorist attacks, accompanied the Grandmaster to New York City for the 911 commemorations three years in a row. "The song ‘Love of the World’ comforts all the families of the victims." Ms. We Pei-Ling mentioned “Thought of kindness is really important! Now I understand better why Shifu often reminds us that ‘In the age of technology, when you press a button, your good and bad thoughts will influence every creature in the world.’ “
International Love and Peace Week
Realize the Democracy and Freedom with Conscience
September 15th is the “UN International Day of Democracy”, as well as FOWPAL’s “International Love and Peace Day”. In 2005, to commemorate the UN’s 60th anniversary, FOWPAL held a series of activities called “World Leaders Summit of Love and Peace” at UN Plaza, New York. Witnessed by the President of the Dominican Republic, H.E. Leonel Fernandez Reyna, several UN ambassadors and NGO leaders, Dr. Hong Tao-Tze proclaimed the “Declaration of International Love and Peace Day” and designated 15th of September of each year as the "International Love and Peace Day”. It was hoped that world leaders would exert their influences and jointly create a world of freedom, equality, love, and peace. On that day, the President of the Dominican Republic, H.E. Leonel Fernandez Reyna, and Dr. Hong Tao-Tze turned the “Key of the World” together. President Fernandez Reyna rang the bell and made a wish, “I wish that people from over the world can understand each other, and that love and peace can prevail.” In 2008, he resolved a crisis among Columbia , Uruguay and Venezuela that had brought them to the brink of war due to his wish. He received international praise for to coordinate and defuse a war crisis with wisdom.
Dr. Hong Tao-Tze mentioned in the speech delivered on September 15th, 2020, “The true democracy is about love and peace. In view of the daunting challenges human beings face today, love and peace are urgently needed on both personal and global levels. Democracy is a process and a goal. Only when the international community, all governments, civil organizations, and individuals are fully involved in and supportive of the process, empower sincere kindness from the heart to stabilize the world, treat all people with love and peace, and act accordingly with conscience that guides people away from pain and suffering can we have a chance to achieve the ideal of democracy and freedom.” “Only when conscience, love, and peace coexist can we consolidate the forces of kindness to transform the world and resolve conflicts and global crises with wisdom.”
Peace needs love, Love needs balance
When you share love and peace in this way, will the world become peaceful?
For a long time, Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, the Grand master of Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy, has led his disciples to the United Nations and around the world to spread the seeds of peace, and he often encountered such questions from others. One of the disciples, Fabienne Jen mentioned, When the NGO volunteers saw that the younger generation of Tai Ji Men still carried on the same spirit, with more people involved and more successful activities, they no longer had doubt. “These angels of peace is the best answer!”. Fabienne witnessed many historical moments, including Dr. Hong's meetings with Pope Benedict XVI, the Dalai Lama, and former UN Secretary General Annan, and she was moved by each of them. In 2005, Dr. Hong met with Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. "In the Vatican, Dr. Hong held the Pope's hand and said, 'Without love there is no peace; peace needs love, love needs balance.’”. Through Dr.Hong’s meetings with the Pope and with leaders from all over the world, Fabienne realized that her master had efficiently transmitted the wisdom of yin and yang from the East to the West.
The mission of Tai Ji Men is to promote Chinese culture and to advance the physical, mental, and spiritual health of human beings. Dr. Hong and his disciples are committed to spreading the culture of peace with love and conscience around the world, allowing Taiwan to shine in the world and create "Cultural Miracle" one after another. Dr. Hong and his disciples have been working together, self-reliant and self-funded, and have not raised any money or accepted any donations from outside. They have visited more than 100 countries and 300 cities around the world, participated in more than 3,000 international cultural performances and promoted civil diplomacy to make Taiwan visible to the world, winning praise from all walks of life.
The praise of the leaders of various countries on Tai Ji Men
H.E. Gordon Samuels, Governor of New South Wales, Australia, said, “Tai Ji Men understands this and understands that our conduct must mirror our words, must match our sentiments. The examples today point us in the direction in which we should follow.” (2000)
Mr. Anthony A. Williams, representative of Mayor of Washington, DC, said, “Now, therefore, the Mayor of the District of Columbia does hereby proclaim March 22, 2000, as Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy Day in Washington D.C and praised Tai Ji Men as an international ambassador of goodwill and peace.” (2000)
Representative of Mayor Jeremy Harris of the City and County of Honolulu said, “Mayor Harris welcomes Dr. Hong and proclaimed September 16, 2001 as Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy and Dr. Hong Tao-Tze Day. Congratulations!” (2001)
H.E. Mr. Mussie Hailu, Ambassador at Large of the Republic of Burundi, said, “It's hard to move people's hearts, but Tai Ji Men can really move people's hearts. Tai Ji Men teaches us how to love, how to feel the transition from war to peace, and how to bring out the peace hidden in our hearts. You have really touched my life!” (2022)
H.E. Anthony Charles Rolle , Permanent Representative of the Bahamas to the United Nations, said, “Dr. Hong is something to be proud of, and Dr. Hong himself is also worthy of respect.” (2002)
H.E. Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes, President Sao Tome and Principe, said, ” Thank you for your sincerity and the effort you have made for world peace. Just as when I visited Taipei, I went to Tai Ji Men and promised to ‘make the children of the world smile.’ will strive to achieve this.” (2002)
Mr. Momodou Hydara, First Secretary at the Gambian Embassy in Morocco, said “Well, I think he is a great man, concerning the fact that he is dedicating his whole life to spread the message of peace with his resources, his energy, his time, to go into this noble activity” (2002)
H.M. King Mswati III of Swaziland said “Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy is the most important academy in the world. I want to join you to spread love and peace around the world. “ (2004)
H.E. Leonel Fernandez Reyna, president of Dominican Republic, said “Let me tell you, it’s very emotional. For me, it’s been a great experience. World Summit of Love and Peace is what the world needs. So, I want to commend you and I want to show you my support and the support from the Dominican people.”(2005)
Representative of the Mayor of Berkeley city, California said, “Tom Bates, Mayor of the city of Berkeley, hereby proclaim August 5, 2005, to be Federation of World Peace and Love Day in the city of Berkeley” (2005)
H.E. Elmi Ahmed Duale, Somalian Ambassador to the United Nations, said, “In this world, there is too much fights, too many wars, too much hunger, too much disease, and all these cannot be conquered unless, as the message of Dr. Hong delivered, there is love and peace.” (2007)
H.E. Laura Chinchilla Miranda, President of Costa Rica, said, “That is why we really appreciate this ceremony because it has to do with the most important values that my country has embraced.”(2012)
H.E. Jigme Thinley, Prime Minister of Bhutan, said, “The efforts of this organization is to inspire human into truly treading a path that will be sustainable and that will promote well-being for all life forms and happiness for the human being.” (2012)
Dr. Jagdish Gandhi, Founder of the City Montessori School (CMS), said, “Dr. Hong has done amazing things and has continued to bring peace and harmony to the world for so many years.” (2014)
Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee, said, “I enjoyed talking with Dr. Hong, and especially enjoyed his presentation. We have got significant messages especially we are able to do this over the Internet to reach out so many young people whose conscience can be inspired. His words resonated with me today.” (2016)
H.E. Taneti Maamau, President of Kiribati, said” It’s very simple. The arc-shape of the Bell can change the world. As long as our hearts follow the bell, it is the voice of the love and peace for the world ”(2018)
H.E. Shaikh Hussam bin Isa Al Khalifa, President of Prime Minister Court, Bahrain, said, “ I thank Dr. Hong. He has a place in our heart and in Bahrain. I will always support him behind his back.” (2018)
H.E. Mrs. Maria Cleofe Natividad, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations at Vienna, said, “It truly inspired me. I hope I will be able to follow the message that Dr. Hong brought to us.” (2018)
H.E. Justice Anthony Carmona, SC ORTT- Fifth President of Trinidad and Tobago, said, “Because of their sincere purpose and direction, they truly care about people and ensure that they take care of each other.” (2019)
Photo :In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Tai Ji Men performed "An Night of Tai Ji Men Ancient Cultures" at the Sydney Opera House, which embodied the essence of culture.