Inspiring cultural performances touch people’s hearts. ANEOC connects the conscience in the world’s people.
Cultural performances that come from the heart can transcend national boundaries, touch the depths of people’s hearts, and inspire people to bring out the true, the good, and the beautiful in them. A group of international volunteers from different countries came together to present a series of heartwarming and inspiring cultural performances from June 4-14, 2015 to awaken the conscience in people’s hearts.
During the period of 11 days, the volunteers, consisting of members of three international peace organizations: the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy, Association of World Citizens, and Federation of World Peace and Love, visited many places in California, including Hollywood, Disneyland, Azusa Senior Center, Ghirardelli Square, Stanford University, California State Capitol, Culture Center of T.E.C.O. in San Francisco, etc. to promote the movement of An Era of Conscience (ANEOC). Wherever the ANEOC volunteers went, their sincere, cheerful, and peaceful performances of music, singing, and traditional Chinese martial arts touched local audiences and spectators as well as tourists from all over the world. When asked about her opinion of their cultural performances, Yolanda Castillo, a senior at the Azusa Senior Center, laughed heartily and said, “It’s very good. I’m happy. My heart is jumping and jumping. I like everything!” Katie Mitchell, assistant property manager of Ghirardelli Square, said “I think the whole culture of peace and love really speaks to everyone. It is a great way to connect people.”
The volunteers radiated happy positive energy and received a lot of encouragement and appreciation throughout the entire trip. They first hosted a grand event entitled “The Awakening of Conscience: World Citizens Supporting Love and Peace” in the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City on June 6, where Allan Jay Friedman, president of the World Film Institute, presented a humanitarian award to Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, zhang-men-ren (leader) of Tai Ji Men, in recognition of Dr. Hong’s lifelong contribution to world peace and love as well as his initiating and promoting the meaningful global movement of An Era of Conscience, which aims to awaken the conscience in the world’s people and encourage them to work together for global peace and unity.
On June 7, Tai Ji Men especially presented a cultural performance in the world-renowned Disneyland to celebrate the magic kingdom’s 60th anniversary and introduce the movement of An Era of Conscience to visitors to the theme park. The representative of Disneyland presented a Performing Arts Award to Tai Ji Men in recognition of its contribution to arts.
Additionally, Katie Mitchell, on behalf of Ghirardelli Square, presented a certificate of appreciation to Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy for bringing happiness to all. The ANEOC volunteers also showed their concern and love to the local communities. Lenore Gonzales, recreation supervisor of the center and the City of Azusa, especially presented a certificate of recognition to Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, in recognition of his promotion of love, peace, and the meaningful movement of An Era of Conscience across the planet. Ms. Tsei-Ping Wu, deputy CEO of Wisdom Culture & Education Organization, presented a certificate of appreciate to Tai Ji Men for presenting the cultural performances and promoting the importance of conscience and Chinese culture to young Americans and Chinese Americans.
During the grand event entitled “The Awakening of Conscience: World Citizens Supporting Love and Peace” held in the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City on June 6, 2015. Many visionaries also sent their best wishes for the event via mail or phone calls including U.S. President Barack Obama, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada, U.S. Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, U.S. Congressman Michael Honda, California State Senator Bob Huff, California State Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang, California State Assemblywoman Young Kim, Honorary Chairman of Microsoft Bill Gates, Mayor Gary Yamauchi of the City of Alhambra, California, etc.
During the trip, 6 prominent figures in the entertainment industry, academia, and politics rang the Bell of World Peace and Love: Diane Watson, former U.S. Congresswoman; Randal Malone, president of Southern California Motion Picture Council; Allan Jay Friedman, president of the World Film Institute; and Antonio Gellini, founder of the World Film Institute and Family Film Awards; Douglas Osheroff, winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physics; and Jose Esteves, mayor of the City of Milpitas, California. To date, 269 visionaries from 87 nations have rung the “Bell of World Peace and Love,” including 27 heads of state and heads of government agencies, 8 Nobel Prize laureates, UN ambassadors, and leaders in various fields. Randal Malone, a bell ringer, said, “You receive so many beautiful messages and positive energy from this room…I rang the bell. I felt like a positive energy soaring through me like a very, very good vibration….I felt ringing the bell sent out a positive energy to everyone in the room and hopefully even beyond that. I wished for peace within everybody’s heart.”
Tian-Tsi Hong, a Tai Ji Men member and ANEOC volunteer, who participated in this cultural goodwill trip said, “In order to promote ANEOC in the West Coast of the U.S. for the common good, we especially took more than ten days off from work and spent money out of our own pockets to make this journey. Under the leadership of Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, leader of Tai Ji Men, we spread the messages of love and peace through our music, dance, and martial arts. Wherever we went, we were warmly welcomed. We hope to make people understand that everyone is a leader of conscience and encourage everyone to jointly promote the movement of An Era of Conscience. The consolidated positive energy will help stabilize the planet and enable the world to return to a more peaceful state.”
Dr. Ming-Je Liu, another Tai Ji Men member and ANEOC volunteer, said, “During this 11-day trip, we shared the importance of conscience with prominent figures in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles and the high-tech industry in the Silicon Valley. As long as these influential people incorporate conscience-driven values in their decision making process, the world will change for the better more rapidly.”
Douglas Osheroff, winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physics, originally didn’t understand why Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze would put so much effort in promoting the movement of An Era of Conscience and the messages of love and peace around the world. After he realized the meaning behind the movement, he attentively watched the cultural performances presented by Tai Ji Men and listened to the music pieces given by the department of music at Stanford University. After the two-hour program, he said he admired Dr. Hong for leading Tai Ji Men members to inspire the world’s people to better themselves and bring out the best in them.
Throughout the trip, the ANEOC volunteers had a very tight schedule; they stayed at 5 hotels and visited many locations in southern and northern California to promote the movement of An Era of Conscience. They were always on the go and had to adjust themselves to new environments and situations. Because they had practiced Tai Ji Men Qigong for years and had accumulated a great deal of positive energy, they had the capability and stamina to accomplish what they set out to do. The Bell of World Peace and Love, weighing approximately 260 kilograms (573 pounds), also traveled with them on the journey. The clear and peaceful sounds of the bell have inspired leaders of conscience in various fields to work together for the world’s sustainable future.