In Support of International Day of Friendship
Ark of Conscience Promotes Good Friendship, Solidarity and Righteous Action
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze
President of Federation of World Peace and Love
Vice-President of Association of World Citizens
Zhang-men-ren of Tai Ji Men
July 30, 2022
Distinguished Guests, Dear Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good day!
Like-minded friends are close even if they are physically far apart. Today is the International Day of Friendship, and our shared sense of mission has brought us together, transcending time and space, to fulfill our responsibility as Earth residents, to work towards Earth’s sustainability and humankind’s harmony, as we pray for those who are suffering from natural or man-made disasters or human rights violations, hoping that everyone will be safe, healthy, and free to pursue happiness.
At present, our world is facing many challenges, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, an unresolved war between Russia and Ukraine, raging global climate extremes, as well as poverty, violence, and human rights violations, all caused by human factors threatening the peace, security, development, and social harmony of the world and its citizens. As we have passed through the first half of 2022 in the midst of frightening and terrifying events, the need for global solidarity and cooperation is all the more urgent in the face of various existential crises and challenges. On this International Day of Friendship, let us remember the reason for its creation, which is to transform war and violence into a culture of peace and non-violence through friendship. The world is a big family, and global citizens are brothers and sisters, so let us unite with our friends around the world and take concrete action to protect our common home.
Friendships are established through serendipity, a word that represents an invisible and intangible thread that connects people across generations, time, and space and creates every opportunity for encounters and mutual influence between people. Each interaction has the potential to generate good karma as a result of an individual's self-cultivation and good deeds. A friendship founded on virtue positively impacts the world, fostering a culture of conscience and peace for humanity to maintain global stability.
Over the years, as I have led my dizi to visit 101 countries, we met people of different races, cultures, languages and beliefs from six continents. Despite our differences, we believe that "kindness is the foundation, and the heart is the root of everything." We believe that only through a sincere and kind heart, can we touch the depths of people's hearts and souls, inspiring similar aspirations and responses and generating more forces of goodness. A good friend is like a mirror. Through friendship, we build bridges of the heart to know ourselves, to recognize and connect the world, to realize equality as everyone is born equal, and to realize the basic human rights of survival, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness that Heaven has given to each person. On our trips, we have witnessed examples of how understanding, tolerance, and respect among people are the cornerstones of international friendship and an important factor in sustaining a culture of conscience and peace among humans.
Tai Ji Men shifu and dizi have forged precious international friendships through cultural exchanges while also embarking on a path of truth-seeking to safeguard the principles of human dignity, freedom, equality, and fairness for all in order to fight for human rights and justice of the world. My dizi and I firmly believe that conscience reflects the law of Heaven and that as human beings, if we violate our conscience and commit injustice, Heaven will not tolerate us and there will be consequences. In dealing with people and things, we must distinguish between yin and yang, true and false, as well as right and wrong, so that we will have a clear conscience. Along the way, my dizi and I, with one heart, have pledged to uphold the truth with our lives, even though there are thorns everywhere and many obstacles, we remain determined to move forward. Maintenance of security and justice in the world is a continuous process. As long as someone is treated unjustly, the whole world is treated unjustly, and no one will remain unaffected. A virtuous person is not isolated, as they will inspire and draw in others who share their values. With more and more people who have the same beliefs walking side by side, a strong and powerful thread is woven that connects every citizen of the world. Like-minded people, regardless of borders, are led by conscience to create friendship, cultivating good karma as they use the passion and love in their hearts for the benefit of the world to weave a safety net to protect all people.
Heaven, Earth, and humans are one. We should follow the law of nature and treat one another as family. We should learn to love ourselves and others. We sincerely hope that we can all meditate and reflect on ourselves daily, listen to the call of our conscience, find our pure conscience, cultivate and improve our hearts, and help others and ourselves with altruistic hearts, allowing more people to board the "Noah's Ark of the Heart" for humankind in the 21st century. As long as everyone is willing to work together for the same goal, the cycle of goodness will return to our lives and rebuild a warm and righteous society. May all friends of different faiths and races, rich and poor, men and women, young and old, have a pure, kind, happy, and peaceful heart, and communicate to help one another, with the goal of improving the well-being of global citizens, so that all people of the world can overcome the pandemic and create harmony and prosperity in the post-pandemic era.
May everyone be blessed with peace, safety, and happiness!