Federation of World Peace and Love

International Day of Happiness
Creating Peace and Sustainable Happiness
with Love and 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
Mar. 20, 2022

 

Today we are gathered online to recognize the importance of happiness by celebrating the International Day of Happiness, and to unite our strengths to create collective happiness for all of humanity. In the midst of the turmoil around the world, happiness may seem to be out of reach. However, this is a time to cherish what we have, to love and respect one another’s rights, and to create opportunities for human happiness together. We should re-evaluate the meaning of so-called progress or development for all things on Earth and prioritize the happiness and basic rights of all human beings on the basis of love, conscience, human rights, and humanity.

When asked, "What is happiness?" Everyone's answer is different. Some people think that being well-fed and sleeping well is happiness; some people think that being successful and famous is happiness; some people are content with mundane pleasures in the human world; some people want to relax in nature; and some self-cultivation practitioners are happy to devote themselves to enhancing the wellbeing of all living creatures, believing that "to give is more blessed than to receive." According to ancient Greek philosophers, "happiness" encompassed good virtues, the realization of human potential, and a good life. The World Happiness Report measures happiness using six major variables: levels of GDP, life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom, and corruption. Happiness is clearly multifaceted, ranging from material to spiritual, from oneself to society, from humans to the environment, from the inside out, from oneself to others, all interacting with and complementing one another.

In a world full of temptations, happiness can easily be distorted and misled into merely sensory enjoyment or pleasure, which are short-lived, unsustainable, and fleeting. Such brief happiness often brings people more anxiety and uncertainty. True happiness is not only about personal satisfaction, but also about the well-being of the world we live in and other citizens of the world. Conscience is innate and exists in everyone's heart. Only by following the guidance of their conscience can people truly connect with one another and the world with empathy, allowing them to cooperate and live together in harmony. When people sincerely help others or act altruistically, they not only follow, but also apply their conscience. Conscience connects us with those around us, allowing us to care about, understand, tolerate, and trust one another, as well as become a positive force that supports one another. In this way, true happiness is attained, and such happiness is permanent and enriches the heart.

Conscience is essential to the creation of happiness. At a time when the globe is burdened by war, the pandemic, and political and economic crises, it is more crucial than ever to safeguard the sustainable happiness of all human beings. Sustainable happiness is closely related to human rights, and human rights are the foundation of happiness. Human rights are not only basic respect for an individual's right to happiness, but also a prerequisite for social harmony and world peace. In annual World Happiness Reports since 2012, the five Nordic countries--Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland--have consistently ranked in the top 10, mainly because of respect for the rule of law and human rights, reliable and universal welfare systems, high integrity of government officials, sound government systems, and well-functioning government institutions, while the least happy countries are concentrated in those regions plagued by war and poverty. It is obvious that it is the government's unshirkable responsibility to create an environment that respects human rights, and that the government's conscience-driven governance can be as effective in saving lives as individual conscience-driven actions. A head of state’s kind thoughts, in particular, may save tens of thousands of people from being slaughtered.

Satisfying self-interest and pursuing altruism may produce distinct outcomes. What decisions do people make to benefit themselves and others, their countries, and the world as they stand at a watershed moment? The most dangerous times are often critical moments to inspire the kindness of human nature to help others. Whether the future world will be a happy one relies on the thoughts and actions of every citizen of the world today. Maintaining global stability and harmony is not only the responsibility of the leaders of all countries, but also the obligation of all citizens of the world, who should put their hearts and souls into this worthy cause. The International Day of Happiness reminds us to act with a humanitarian spirit and conscience, to spread true love, to eliminate chaos and comfort all living creatures with peaceful energy, to promote a culture of peace with love and conscience, and to help more people achieve sustainable happiness and stability.

Let us all pray that both the pandemic and the war will end soon so that everyone will smile. Let us work together for our collective safety, harmony, and happiness! May the world be blessed with sustainable development and lasting peace!

Thank you all!

 

*Presented at the ICDAY’s virtual event in support of UN International Day of Happiness