Commemorating UN Charter Day
Making Every Day a Day of Conscience
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
June 26, 2021
Today is June 26, UN Charter Day. It has been 76 years since the United Nations Charter was adopted in 1945. As we honor this day, it is also important to examine why conflicts of all sorts are still so prevalent around the world. Why is it that our natural environment continues to deteriorate day after day? Why are human rights violations worsening by the day? There are a plethora of pressing issues concerning global harmony and development that demand our attention. As an example, consider the pandemic. The virus has had a significant impact and changed the way we live, work, trade, and conduct business. At this critical juncture in history, as global citizens, we must reflect on our past and identify the root causes of problems; we must also seize the moment, plan for the future, and explore what we can do to make the world a better place.
A nation is made up of its people. A person is the manifestation of his or her heart. The heart is the root of all things. Evil thoughts cause major problems all around the world. A thought of evil will have an impact not only on our physical, mental, and spiritual health, but also affect domestic and social harmony, as well as national decline and global chaos. If leaders in government agencies, key organizations, cutting-edge technology businesses, and other fields disregard their conscience for personal gain, it will be akin to opening Pandora's box in Greek mythology, releasing disaster and turmoil into the world. If people allow their arrogance and selfishness to grow unchecked and build "the Tower of Babel," believing they can reach Heaven on their own, and continue to blatantly or covertly ignore ethical codes and erode justice and human rights, violating natural law, they will harm not only others but themselves, causing many innocent people to suffer.
As the most intelligent species on the planet, we must understand and believe in cause-and-effect relationships. All the seeds we plant, good or bad, will sprout and bear fruits when the time comes. Heaven is watching us. All the occurrences in life are created by us. We reap what we sow. There is no fluke, and there is no need to complain. We must sincerely and promptly atone for our mistakes, whether intentional or unintentional, and not repeat the mistakes. Evil thoughts and actions, like weeds, grow quickly but are difficult to eradicate. It takes strong willpower and resolution to remove them and their roots. We must use our innate compassion and empathy to do good deeds and love the people of the world. To redeem ourselves, we need to practice more acts of kindness and amass virtues to make amends for our mistakes.
Evil desires are like a pair of tainted glasses we wear that prevent us from seeing or hearing the truth. Through this pair of glasses, we only see deception, anger, or misery, and our sentiments are intensified by the distortion effect of the glasses, which work like concave and convex mirrors, stimulating unpleasant emotions, strong discrimination, and stubbornness, and leading us astray into the world of illusions. Only the placid lake within our hearts can quench the fires of anger and desire. This tranquil lake represents the conscience in everyone’s heart. Conscience is our natural endowment and a precious treasure. With conscience, we can recognize kindness and eliminate evilness. Conscience is the soul’s eyes, helping us to illuminate our lives and the world. It is the positive energy stabilizing the world. Conscience brings genuine love, and genuine love makes human rights possible. When human rights are protected, we will have true peace and stability.
The UN Charter emphasizes that human rights and world peace are closely intertwined and aims to promote human rights protection and maintain international peace and security. The Charter of the United Nations, which embodies the principles and spirit of peace, equality, justice, and development, calls on nations to fulfill their commitments to sustainable development, environmental protection, peace, justice, and gender equality, and highlights the importance of multilateralism and international cooperation. The UN Charter is an institutional document drawn up by various nations after suffering from war, symbolizing people's aspirations for peace and their willingness to maintain international security. Only with the awakening of conscience can individuals, groups, countries, multinational organizations and the world as a whole make real progress after a painful experience. We, as global citizens, should also do our part. With the Internet, we can reach people in all corners of the world. Let us connect like-minded people who care about the world and are committed to doing good. Your good intentions, kind words, and good deeds have the power to transform yourself and your surroundings. When a single person sends out positive words to tens, hundreds, or thousands of people, the resultant butterfly effect will undoubtedly change the world and motivate more people to strive for a better future.
Conscience is essential to a successful life. People are always "kidnapped" by delusions in the slightest moment of inattention without realizing it. That can become a habit and have a profound impact. Therefore, it is crucial that we always maintain a just and positive frame of mind and distinguish right from wrong, good from bad, and true from false when making decisions. When our hearts are befuddled, the angel and devil on our shoulders wage war on each other. Only conscience can save our souls and lead us to brightness. It is hoped that everyone will discover their conscience and act with kindness through daily reflection and meditation. Let us continue to improve ourselves and help more people get on the Noah's Ark of the 21st century--the culture of conscience.
Let us put the spirit of the UN Charter into practice and inspire people’s conscience with real actions. Let us make every day a day of conscience. We pray that the pandemic will end soon and that the world will be free of war and chaos. We hope that all citizens of the world will work together to create a world of conscience, where everyone enjoys peace, security, respect, and mutual assistance, so that our common future will be bright and hopeful.
May you all be blessed with peace, health, and happiness. Thank you all.
*Presented at the ICDAY’s virtual event in support of the 76th Anniversary of UN Charter Day