Federation of World Peace and Love

 

“I believe that these kinds of ceremonies are so critically important. And for me personally, I will never forget this,” said Prof. Kenneth Jacobsen, practice professor of law at Temple University in Philadelphia during a ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love hosted by Tai Ji Men in Washington, D.C. on July 27, 2022. 

Prof. Jacobsen made a wish for “peace, love, tolerance, understanding and compassion in this world,” adding, “I am deeply grateful, but incredibly humbled to have had the privilege and honor of ringing this bell to see the dignitaries that have come before me and hold that hammer, that mallet, and hit this bell is a very moving experience for me, which equally moving though, is the symbol of what this bell means.”

 

He also noted, “We live in a world where love and peace is absolutely necessary. We live in a world where love and peace can overcome some of the problems we're seeing not only globally, but within my own country, which is being torn apart, politically and otherwise, and that breaks my heart. And I think that to the extent that we have moments like this, where we remind ourselves that we're all human beings on this earth, and that we can disagree but disagree respectfully and civilly but always come from a place in the heart and in the soul then I think we would have less conflicts.” 

 

 

Prof. Jacobsen and Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men, have been working together for peace, human rights, and justice for many years, but this was the first time they met, and they embraced each other happily, cherishing the friendship. Prof. Jacobsen presented replicas of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution to Dr. Hong, highlighting the importance of their ongoing and collaborative advocacy of justice and the rule of law. Jacobsen shared his feelings about Tai Ji Men: “An organization is really only made up of those people. You know, a corporation is people, association is people, Tai Ji Men is people. And I've never met an organization anywhere, corporate, philanthropic, anywhere where the people are so warm, and compassionate, and friendly and sincere and earnest. And I think that the fact that they're not just members, but they're really a family is something that struck me even before the presentation.” “I am glad to be a small part of that family in any way that I can.” 

 

Prof. Jacobsen is the 424th ringer of the Bell of World Peace and Love, which has been rung by leaders in all fields from 128 countries, including 49 heads of state, seven Nobel Peace Prize laureates, UN ambassadors, and other visionary leaders. The ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love is an ancient solemn ritual in which ringers make wishes for peace with a reverent heart toward Heaven and Earth, spreading them with the sound of the Bell and praying for all living things. The bell ringers are encouraged to exert their positive influences to advance global peace and sustainability.

 

During tumultuous times, it is particularly important to invite influential leaders to ring the Bell in order to awaken the conscience of everyone and infuse the Earth with positive energy to safeguard it and promote world peace. Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze presented to Prof. Jacobsen some meaningful gifts, such as a Compass Clock of Conscience, a “Love of the World, A Declaration of Peace Scroll,” and The History of International Day of Conscience. The clock serves as a symbol of time, direction, and purpose. It guides people toward the right path of life and reminds them to seize every moment to apply conscience and do good deeds. The declaration was engraved on the top of the Bell of World Peace and Love, encouraging people to spread love and peace around the globe and return to a peaceful world where there is no pain, no fear, no war, and no suffering. The History of International Day of Conscience documents the crucial cooperation between Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze and the Permanent Missions of various countries to the UN that made it possible for the UN to designate April 5 as the International Day of Conscience.

 

For more than 20 years, Dr. Hong has led his dizi (disciples) to visit 101 countries at their own expense, tirelessly promoting the ideas of conscience, love, peace and sustainable development. In addition to organizing bell ringing ceremonies and other activities to connect the conscience of leaders in all fields, they have been inviting global citizens to sign multiple declarations on peace and conscience. To date, the Declarations for Human Rights of World Citizens and Peace have been endorsed by over 3.7 million people in 197 nations, and a CD with two million signatures was submitted to the UN in 2004; the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience and the Declaration of International Day of Conscience have been endorsed by people in 200 nations. 

 

Tai Ji Men urges everyone to endorse these declarations and put into practice the spirit of love, peace, conscience, and human rights expressed in the declarations, as Dr. Hong emphasized, "With conscience comes a peaceful world; with happiness come joyful families!”