Tai Ji Men, Religious Liberty, and the COVID-19 Crisis

Dr. Hong’s teachings on the primacy of conscience additionally impressed Tai Ji Men’s marketing campaign of prevention and consciousness through the pandemic.

by Tsai Cheng-An*

*A paper introduced at Session 12, “New Religious Movements in Taiwan,” of the 4^th annual assembly of EASSSR, the East Asian Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Taipei, August 13, 2022.

Introduction

In 2015, the United Nations indicated the pursuit of peace and justice amongst its Sustainable Development Goals. They recognized sustainable improvement, peace, and human rights because the three predominant axes of the United Nations’ work.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a disastrous influence on folks’s lives and sustainable improvement efforts. The COVID-19 pandemic is the best problem to humanity because the 1918 epidemic of influenza. The United Nations’s 2021 SDG report states: “As we enter the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that this is a crisis of enormous proportions, with disastrous effects on people’s lives and livelihoods and on efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of July 10, 2022, there had been greater than 551 million circumstances of COVID and 6.35 million deaths worldwide.

Studies have proven that COVID-19 causes 5 kinds of related misery: (a) concern of the hazards of COVID-19, (b) concern of the socioeconomic prices of COVID-19, (c) xenophobia towards foreigners allegedly spreading the illness, (d) traumatic stress signs related to direct or oblique publicity to COVID-19, and (e) compulsive testing and seek for reassurance related to COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced not solely bodily struggling, but additionally financial and psychological misery.

On the opposite hand, pandemics present a possibility to replicate on transcendent life. Because of the concern, panic, and uncertainty related to them, pandemics make it simpler for folks to hunt faith or perception as a supply of reliance. The hope and belief that society locations in spiritual or perception communities makes these the last word establishments in instances of epidemic, offering consolation to hundreds of thousands of individuals affected by the pandemic, and asking questions that scientists and politicians can not instantly reply.

COVID-19 additionally had an influence on the work of Tai Ji Men, a religious motion headquartered in Taiwan. Tai Ji Men can also be well-known for its worldwide efforts selling a tradition of peace and love, and emphasizing the centrality of conscience. Tai Ji Men was the sufferer of a politically motivated crackdown in 1996, which continues to our very days as tax harassment and the issuance and the enforcement of ill-founded tax payments. While the COVID disaster restricted a few of its actions, Tai Ji Men dizi (disciples) continued their predominant efforts each to unfold internationally a tradition of peace, love, and conscience, and to collect worldwide help for his or her battle towards the injustices vested on them.

In this paper, I’ll first focus on the muse of what Tai Ji Men name their “culture of conscience, love, and peace,” then present the way it was at work through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tai Ji Men’s Culture of Yin and Yang Wisdom, Love, and Peace

What dizi name “Tai Ji Men’s Culture of Yin and Yang Wisdom, Love, and Peace” is a crucial pillar of cultural ecology. Tai Ji Men’s Movement of An Era of Conscience hyperlinks cultural ecology to environmental ecology, and believes it may well create a greater surroundings for the world. The undertaking “Tai Ji Men Advocates Conscience to Be Safe in the Pandemic” hyperlinks cultural ecology and environmental ecology to the ecology of human life, placing into observe “yin and yang wisdom, love, peace, and conscience” in each day life.

Because of its personal dramatic experiences, Tai Ji Men additionally more and more sees itself as a watchdog of human rights and freedom of faith, that are enshrined within the United Nations’ basic paperwork. Tai Ji Men thus advocates for transitional justice and tax reform in Taiwan, in a context the place human rights are nonetheless steadily violated, significantly within the tax area. By doing this, dizi consider they affirm the precept of widespread good and justice for all generations.

Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical letter, “Laudato Si’: Caring for Our Common Home,” additionally focuses on the environmental dimension of sustainable improvement. The Pope states that probably the most pressing problem is to guard “our common home.” It additionally factors out the three dimensions of integral ecology: environmental ecology, cultural ecology, and the ecology of human life. This imaginative and prescient of integral ecology is additional linked to the precept of the widespread good and the justice of all generations.

Tai Ji Men is an historic menpai (comparable to a college) of qigong, martial arts and self-cultivation, organized as a world non-profit cultural and religious group. The tradition of Tai Ji Men is deeply rooted in conventional Taoism, the philosophy of Yin and Yang, though it’s opened to dizi of all religions. The Shifu (Grand Master) of Tai Ji Men, Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, teaches his dizi put the tradition of conscience, love, and peace into motion, significantly when disasters strike.

After three main earthquakes in 1999 in Colombia, Turkey, and Taiwan, Dr. Hong held the “World Love—A Night of Prayer” occasion on September 25, 1999. Nearly 40,000 folks, together with spiritual leaders, prayed collectively. Dr. Hong issued a declaration of “World Love and Peace” to remind the world to respect life and shield nature, and launched a worldwide sign-up marketing campaign. The declaration states that the world will quickly return to a peaceable state of affairs freed from sorrow, concern, conflict, and struggling.

Dr. Hong additionally introduced the thought of the “Bell of World Peace and Love.” He made it clear that bells have a particular which means in each Western and Eastern traditions. He mentioned, “The bells in Western churches and Eastern temples remind people to listen to their inner voices. The bells represent the true heart of people, social harmony, the success of a nation, and world peace.”

At the center of the Tai Ji Men worldview is the concord between yin and yang, heaven and earth, and thoughts and qi (power) that was a part of the unique purity of humanity. Although it was later misplaced, it may be restored along with peace. Ringing the Bell is a part of a motion to revive the world and humanity to its authentic purity.

Tai Ji Men’s grasp and disciples constantly journey to the 5 continents to interact in cultural exchanges for peace. Dr. Hong shares with international leaders the knowledge of the Tai Ji philosophy of yin and yang and their steadiness. For instance:

• In 2000, Tai JI Men was invited to conduct a cultural occasion on the Sydney Opera House through the Olympic Games, and introduced the “Night of Ancient Cultures” cultural exhibition. The Governor of New South Wales, Gordon Jacob Samuels, rang the World Love Peace Bell and made a peace want.
• In 2001, the 54th Annual United Nations DPI/NGO Conference was held in New York. Dr. Hong was invited to talk and introduced his disciples with him to go to the United States. After witnessing the 9/11 terrorist assaults, New York was plunged into excessive concern; many have been determined and tried to flee. Dr. Hong led his disciples to ask company from all around the world to come back and ring the Bell and pray for the world. For three consecutive days in September, 16 ambassadors and NGO leaders, together with Dr. Dinesh Ramjattan, former minister and advisor to the Prime Minister of Mauritius, and Mr. Abuzaid Omar Dorda (1944–2022), the ambassador of Libya to the United Nations, rang the Bell. Tai Ji Men consider this helped stabilize folks’s hearts at this important second.
• On June 15, 2005, when Pope Benedict XVI took workplace, Dr. Hong was amongst these greeting the Pope in St. Peter’s Square. Dr. Hong introduced the Pope with the “Universal Declaration of Love and Peace” and different materials that had been despatched to many heads of state and to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
• By July 2022, Dr. Hong’s World Tours of Love and Peace had visited greater than 100 completely different nations, making them one of many largest citizen diplomacy campaigns on the earth at present. Tai Ji Men dizi will not be skilled diplomats, however they work as citizen diplomats by means of friendship and tradition.

At the sixtieth Annual United Nations DPI/NGO Conference in 2007, Dr. Hong introduced a paper on “The Key to Change the Destiny of the World: How One Good Thought Can Improve the World.” He mentioned that, “The good qi brings the opportunities for change and this is the key to change the world. If everyone turns to good thoughts, then we can change the world. If everyone is committed and gathers the positive energy of good intentions and positive thoughts, we will have a safety net.”

On May 18. 2008, Dr. Hong wrote an open letter to the heads of state of a number of nations and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He said, “It has been a painstaking endeavor to lead Tai Ji Men dizi (practitioners) and people towards betterment and enlightenment in a world of materialism. I have tirelessly committed myself to this goal over the past forty years. It is my wish that all the world citizens can be inspired with never ending patience in the world. I believe more world citizens will pass down the true heart to world citizens of the next generation when they receive and understand this message. I firmly believe that ‘the strength of heart is stronger than steel; the function of heart is beyond limit.’ If we don’t think something is difficult in our heart, then there is no such thing as difficulty.”

Dr. Hong additionally referred to as on the United Nations and heads of state to encourage the world to develop edible meals and to cease feeling anxious about meals shortages.

In 2014, Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy, the United Nations NGO World Citizens Association, and the World Peace Federation collectively launched the worldwide public service marketing campaign “An Era of Conscience” (ANEOC), hoping that the world’s residents will cross the obstacles of race, tradition, and nationwide boundaries and pray and work collectively to steadiness the worldwide surroundings crises.

The 66th United Nations DPI/NGO Conference 2016 was held in Gyeongju, Korea, the place 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been introduced. Dr. Hong spoke on “Hope for Global Citizenship Through Conscience, Education and Culture,” stating, “Heart is the anchor of life. It holds the key to change the destiny of an individual and the world. As more global citizens have their conscience awakened, a safer environment will be achieved.

The more positive energy the world has, the fewer atrocities will be committed, saving the world from continued degradation of the natural environment. Conscience elevates humanity, as surely as yeast raises bread and is the key to save the world. Good conscience will continue to be fermented in our hearts, extolled and spread to benefit the world and its people (…) By placing ‘conscience’ at the apex on the top, ‘culture’ and ‘education’ at the base, a platform to sustainability is established with stability and balance.”

According to Dr. Hong, “conscience is the goodness in human nature, which through education and self-awareness can stop evil and spread goodness to benefit our society, country and the world. When conscience is awakened in our hearts and balance is restored, peace will not be far away. The ultimate clarity and goodness of the heart is a fountain of wisdom. Be it the clarity to deal with people, to live life, or the wisdom to run a government and manage a nation, you will find it in the heart. Once the heart is anchored firmly, we will gain control in all circumstances.”

Dr. Hong’s efforts have been finally profitable and led to the proclamation of an International Day of Conscience by the United Nations. On July 25, 2019, through the 73rd United Nations General Assembly, by means of a decision submitted by the Kingdom of Bahrain, entitled “Promoting a Culture of Peace through Love and Conscience,” the United Nations formally declared April 5 as International Day of Conscience.

In April 2022, in commemoration of the United Nations decision to determine an International Day of Conscience, Dr. Hong mentioned, “Conscience is the lighthouse of the soul, providing hope and direction to sailors sailing on a dark sea. A society with an awakened conscience will have a stronger unifying force to break through the current darkness.”

As of July 30, 2022, the International Day of Conscience Declaration has been translated into 53 languages and signed by folks in 200 nations.

Tai Ji Men’s Campaign for Conscience and COVID-19

When SARS ravaged Taiwan in 2003, Dr. Hong instructed his disciples to compile a “Health Handbook for Prevention of the Epidemic,” with “three no’s”: no anger, no worries, and no stress; and “five more’s”: extra hand washing, extra heat water, extra train, extra pleasure, and extra precautions. The then Taiwan’s Director of Health, Chen Chien-jen, who turned the 14th Vice President of the Republic of China, said, “I think it’s great that Tai Ji Men can cooperate with the Department of Health to organize this activity of a ‘New Concept of Health and Prevention of Disease’!”

During the 2 years of COVID-19, Taiwan’s efficiency has been praised as specifically efficient. and has contributed to the world’s epidemic prevention. Despite the persevering with tax harassment and persecution, Tai Ji Men contributed to this effort. It introduced into play the knowledge of yin and yang, primarily based on the precept that “the best vaccine is conscience.”

During the pandemic, Tai Ji Men insisted that individuals ought to reside first with conscience and honesty, and this is able to strengthen their bodily and psychological immunity. Tai Ji Men referred to as to work collectively to beat the epidemic, with the compassion to atone for sins and do good. Dizi consider that Tai Ji Men’s actions created a butterfly impact of goodness all through the world, because the optimistic power of life they transmitted crammed nations and cities with hope.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, Dr. Hong referred to as for “a global consensus to be saved from the epidemic; we all come together and unite to fight the virus; we spread the tips to prevent the epidemic; we pray for God’s mercy and an early end to the epidemic.” Dr. Hong led his disciples to do extra good deeds, beginning with themselves, and to make use of optimistic power to boost the immunity of the group. “The vaccine is the remedy, conscience is the root; do the right thing with conscience, respect all living things on earth, and face the difficulties together with love and solidarity. We will guide people to live with conscience and honesty to strengthen the immunity of the body, mind and soul, and to join hands to overcome the epidemic with the compassion to atone for sins and do good deeds.”

Since February 8, 2020, Tai Ji Men has revealed a full-page epidemic prevention e-newsletter in Taiwan’s New Life newspaper, bringing collectively 74 Tai Ji Men disciples, Western well being care professionals, and consultants from varied fields to publish 26 newsletters, providing epidemic prevention recommendation to the nation, in addition to the idea of “Three No’s, Five More, and Six Best Tips,” a 123-part epidemic prevention animation. The epidemic prevention and well being care e-newsletter has been despatched to village leaders, public opinion representatives in any respect ranges, and county and township leaders all through Taiwan.

For World Day of Conscience 2020, April 5, Tai Ji Men fastidiously compiled a “Health Care Handbook” and shared the “Three No’s, Five More’s and Six Best Tips” to the world, together with to heads of state and the governors of the 50 U.S. states, as a part of the response actions.

In 2022, viruses are altering quickly, and the Tai Ji Men trilogy of movies on immunity, prevention, and anti-viral warfare continues to be launched, emphasizing the knowledge of balancing thoughts and physique, and particularly the significance of conscience. To at the present time, Tai Ji Men continues to name on the world to behave with conscience to create well-being for ourselves and others. To date, greater than 200 nations and areas all over the world have obtained well being movies from Tai Ji Men, combining Eastern well being knowledge with Western medical data to assist folks create a complete well being defend for thoughts, physique, and spirit.

The predominant ideas of Pope Francis’ encyclical letter on ecology are centered on the accountability to guard the earth and to make sure its fruitfulness for future generations. Francis mentions that concern for the surroundings should be accompanied by concern for social points. The letter then turns to the query of governance, discussing potential methods to interact in dialogue and motion on the international and native ranges.

The encyclical letter was written earlier than COVID-19, however its core ideas may additionally assist in confronting the pandemic. My analysis on Tai Ji Men and COVID-19 has demonstrated that Dr. Hong and his dizi continued to be energetic within the three or maybe 4 fields of ecology talked about by Pope Francis: environmental ecology, cultural ecology, ecology of human life, and ecology of political establishments for the widespread good.

They have promoted a wholesome surroundings for resisting and overcoming the pandemic, however have additionally emphasised the central position of conscience and a tradition of care and accountability to reply to COVID-19. And they’ve insisted that, whereas at first sight the Tai Ji Men case arising from the unjust persecution of the motion and COVID-19 are two separate fields, actually a connection exists. An integral ecology entails sanitizing the establishments as effectively. Corrupt establishments don’t shield their residents from injustice and won’t be able to guard them from COVID-19 both. Conversely, selling justice and establishments actually working for the widespread good may even profit the battle towards COVID.

Tai Ji Men grasp and disciples proceed to expertise these joyous and painful processes in a really private means. They are persuaded they battle for the world, for society, for Taiwan, for justice, and, extra broadly, for a greater surroundings.