The Culture of the Heart Ensuring Everlasting Life
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze
Zhang-men-ren of Tai Ji Men
President of Federation of World Peace and Love
Honorary Vice-President and member of Advisory Board of
Association of World Citizens UN/NGO/DPI/ECOSOC
May 31, 2017
There are plentiful rare treasures in the world;
the most precious among them is the heart.
How short a person's life is!
Human life starts with the first breath and ends with the last one.
There are countless people on the planet;
the dearest and closest to us are those
who have predestined relationships with us.
How much have things changed!
Wisdom remains the most marvelous and mysterious of them all.
Since the dawn of time, the sages of every era have been searching for the eternal home for the souls, exploring the true origin of all and where they will return. Throughout history, human beings have undergone numerous trials and tribulations caused by the flaws in human nature. In the midst of bewilderment and helplessness, humans shall listen to the call of conscience that lies within the soul in order to find the right path in life.
Crossing the boundaries of time and space, humans are pleasantly surprised to discover that the common memories in their life journeys contain the power that created the universe--the philosophy of yin and yang. Looking up to the sky, one learns from the broad, selfless sky and learns to care for all creatures; looking at the earth, one learns from the earth’s unlimited tolerance and learns to accept all matters. The ability for humans to accept and agree with the different ways of expressing love establishes peace within the self and marks the beginning of peace with others as well.
Practicing love and peace requires an understanding of the ancient wisdom, which advocates that heaven, earth, and humans are one. From others' life journeys, we can clearly see our real inner world. From the process of purifying our hearts, we can see others' pain and suffering in life. Through constant self-betterment, we understand the truth that people must eliminate their flaws in human nature and restore their "original hearts." People need to treat themselves and other global citizens with their "original hearts" and restore their pure conscience. By doing so, they can reverse moral decline and strive for a world of love and peace. Only when there are both love and peace can there be enough power to transform the world. A worldview based on love and peace will trigger the awakening of conscience and enable people to achieve balance economically, socially, culturally, and spiritually, enhance the welfare of humanity, and perpetuate peace.
In the universe, there are two kinds of energy, yin and yang (dark and light), which interact with each other and result in the formation of “tai ji.” Tai ji is a type of balance, a type of wisdom, and through the totem of tai ji, we learn to utilize natural resources in a balanced manner. As in the process of technological development, we should protect the natural environment while maintaining balance.
In ancient oriental culture, qigong philosophy is the precious wisdom of life handed down from the ancestors. To humans, qi, the act of breathing, is the key to existence. When one breathes blissful qi, one will attain good health, positively affect others, and make more people become happy and laugh, ultimately leading to their collective longevity. There is an ancient Chinese word “足爽” (tiong), which represents this highest level of happiness.
Human life is procreated by qi; the balance of the universe is also procreated by qi. What binds humans and the universe together is the interaction of qi. At the center of the human-universe interaction lies human “conscience.” When there is conscience, it brings forth positive energy and leads to happiness. When there is a lack of conscience, negative energy concentrates, which leads to catastrophes. Thus, conscience becomes the key to changing the world for the better. To activate the conscience is something that leaders must do and the only way through which leaders can guide their people towards happiness. May all people follow their conscience, so the world will be peaceful. May all people be happy, so all families are blessed.
Life perpetuates, and the cycle of the beginning and the end continues. Whether one's life is smooth-sailing or not is not entirely determined by one’s environment. People's thoughts are constantly changing, and it is easy for humans to become affected by the outside world and have different types of behaviors. Whether one's behavior is positive or negative, altruistic or selfish depends on the thoughts arising from the depths of one's heart in a split second. Human interactions among one another can be overwhelmingly complicated. Yet, one common desire we all share is that we want our lives to be happy and fulfilled, and we tend to look outward for happiness. We tend to see only our own strengths and others' weaknesses. Only through learning and education can we learn to reflect on ourselves and be self-disciplined. Ancient sages advocated the middle way and advised people to respect nature and exercise self-control. The core philosophies of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism are in line with the law of nature, which emphasizes loving and benefiting others, so they remain widely accepted even though cultures have changed with the passage of time.
The natural movement of the celestial bodies is a type of energy field and magnetic field. It may not be solely affected by humans' thoughts, yet it naturally respond to human behaviors. Today, the destiny of mankind is deeply connected to people’s hearts, depending on whether they are kind or not. We are at the crucial moment dealing with the counterattack of nature and survival of mankind. Not a single person, country, or region can be exempt from the global impact; therefore, merely seeking self-protection will not work. Only when we realize our interdependence may we achieve unity and take cohesive actions.
In the century after human beings first appeared, people followed the law of nature and noticed the changes and warnings in nature through observing their surroundings and the movement of the celestial bodies. Afterwards, with the conveniences brought forth by the advancement of civilization and technology, humans gradually lost their inner ability to listen to the messages from nature and the voices from the universe. The earth does not need humans, but the survival of other billions of species and living creatures hinges on it. As the planet is shared by billions of living things, these creatures are interrelated and interdependent. If humanity fails to realize this fact, then its future is worrisome.
An oasis in the desert is a place given by Mother Nature that supports human life. Land reclamation is a process that restores productivity or use to lands. How do we find the balance between our needs and greed when it comes to natural and man-made environment? Although economic development is a must, humans' depriving resources selfishly will eventually accelerate turmoil throughout the world if there are no love and peace in people’s hearts. What will be the destiny of the human race? Will it continue endlessly or become close to extinction? The answer lies in the decisions of heads of state.
Bahrain, strategically located in the Persian Gulf, is a blessed nation of tremendous power and influence. With abundant resources from the surrounding ocean, it enjoys economic growth and stability. However, natural resources will run out one day, so a visionary plan for the future is necessary.
The leaders of all nations were born with respective missions. While entrusted with power, they are also given responsibility. A leader can always benefit his people no matter how long he stays in power. To him or to the world, his influence will last more than a lifetime. Only when he understands and implements his mission regardless of the size of his national territory, can he be called a true world leader. The greatness of a person's heart determines the greatness of that person. A leader truly striving for his people’s benefits will earn the world's admiration forever.
An enlightened ruler's love and compassion comes from his broad-mindedness and wisdom. A leader is encouraged to influence his people with virtues. The ocean is vast because it holds all the water from thousands of rivers. The ability to accept and respect diverse cultures as well as listen to different opinions will blossom into more wisdom. Belief comes from the power within. The culture of the heart will teach us love and courage, bringing hope to the people. A leader’s governing his nation with love and peace will give his people hope too. The real essence of the principle of yin and yang as well as the philosophy of tai ji lies in balance. Only with governance based on balance and harmony, will a nation enjoy everlasting stability and the human race last forever.