Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy

2008 Lunar New Year's Gathering of Tai Ji Men

A Reunion of Diplomatic Corps from 21 Countries in Cold Winter

It is a tradition to pray to the God of Heaven on the 9th day of Lunar New Year for a year of prosperity without catastrophe. Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy held the 2008 Chinese Lunar Year's Gathering on that day. One hundred and forty four friends from 21 countries including diplomatic corps of Gambia, Swaziland, Paraguay, Guatemala, Turkey, Jordan, Slovak, Malaysia, Indonesia, Austria, Finland, Mongolia, Ghana, Tuvalu, Bangladesh, South Africa, Vatican, Nigeria and domestic friends in circles of literary and arts, martial arts, and legal profession attended the gathering. These friends with long-term friendships for more than 10 years with Tai Ji Men's big family gathered together at Tai Ji Men Nehu Academy to enjoy the spring tea and unique Chinese New Year traditions.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, Zhang-men-ren of Tai Ji Men, in his welcoming speech said that this winter is very cold. Abnormal climate change has become a global phenomenon and weather conditions become unpredictable. Let us warm up our society with a heart of gratefulness and convey our happiness and joyfulness to people everywhere. We should feel grateful for ourselves, families and friends around us because we still have the chance to stay together. A heart of goodness and the feeling of caring will kick off the field of purity and good energy.

A Chinese old saying goes ""God blesses those who make efforts."" The opportunity for everyone is equal. It means that we should encourage our future generation to take opportunities to do good deeds to make up for the prior mistakes. The treasure from Tai Ji Men grandmasters is a genuine heart of mercy. The world becomes more colorful because of you and me, and becomes warmer because of love.

Primer Chang also visited Tai Ji Men to say Happy New Year to the program attendants. He recognizes Tai Ji Men's long-term efforts in promoting public services and contributing to civil society. ""Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy was established by Dr. Hong in 1966. Tai Ji Men has long been preserving and promoting the traditional culture of Tai Ji. In addition to teaching dizi to practice qigong to stay healthy, Tai Ji Men pays special attention to the nourishment and cultivation of personal character. It has been actively engaged in public services and social caring. We also have seen many Tai Ji Men cultural performances in various occasions, including the New Year and the National Day. Tai Ji Men has set a wonderful example for other organizations to follow. Please send my best regards to Dr. Hong and Mrs. Hong. And I would like to convey my utmost recognition and appreciation for all the brothers and sisters in Tai Ji Men for your long-term contributions to our society.""

Ambassador Mawdo C. Juwara of Gambia said, ""Tai Ji Men has been spreading love around the world. We are glad that Tai Ji Men visited Gambia in 2002. If every country in the world joins the forces of Tai Ji Men and spreads the message of one world and that of love and peace, it will be very good for Taiwan. I'll continue to walk along with Tai Ji Men to spread the message of love and peace to different levels in families, societies, countries, some of aboriginal, original and international level, which include Gambia and to pass all over the world to understand the words peace and love.

Director Tzeng, NGO Affairs Committee, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that ""Tai Ji Men has been traveling around the world in the past 30 years promoting love, peace and friendship and has set a very good example of civilian diplomacy. In the future, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will support Tai Ji Men broadening its reach in the international arena.""

A program of cultural exchange from long time ago was quite interesting. The well-known Justice Bao, the seven heroes and five gallants from Sung Dynasty (999-1062 A. D.) cross time and space to greet the New Year. Justice Bao, through his life, was honest, loyal, and piety to his parents and the king, who represent all commons. Aided by the seven heroes and five gallants, Justice Bao encourages people to do their best and bring the world together to practice love and peace.

The drama of ""Golden Mouse Got Married"" was composed by teens. The interesting story won a roomful of applause. In the end of the play, the unexpected wireless laser mouse married the princess. The story wishes everyone to share smiles and happiness through Internet in the coming new year, and finally love and peace cover the planet.

Other performances in the program were rarely seen. The royal dance was only seen in the imperial court in ancient time and wished every family all the best every year. The Tai Ji Men Arhat Formation is to present the spirit of the eighteen arhats--compassion, benevolence and justice. The meaningful and creative rap sang by Tai Ji Men e-generation shared the idea of ""How One Good Thought Can Improve The World."" In addition, a Mongolian pop song presented by five students from Ulan Bator and a traditional African musical percussion with wonderful dance performed by Gambian students lead the night to a high note.

The decoration replicates the images of Taiwan's village in early times with fish container, mat raincoat, bamboo hats, and stone ground. We hope that everyone will be back to the original state of simplicity, happiness and carefree. It is great to be with good friends, having spring tea and a nice chat, especially at this time of cold winter. Meanwhile, many children learnt to sip Kung-fu tea in horse stance.

Many guests were very moved by the program. Mr. Lee Chi-Mao, president of Chinese Confucius Association, expressed that Tai Ji Men's big family is so big that can even accommodate the whole world. In today's program, no one is an outsider. It's just like we are spending a New Year holiday at home. When everyone singing and dancing without boundary, we all belong to one family. There is only one world, which must happily grow in great love and peace. I appreciate Dr. Hong and Mrs. Hong founded Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy. Let all world resources gather in Tai Ji Men which has good qi, a qi of justice. The qi of justice make the world peace, unity, and harmony. Because of your establishing Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy, everyone around the world, all 5.5 billion population of the world should acknowledge your contribution. The happiness you spread in the planet makes us happy, be with love and in peace. We will all live happily and with smiles. We will all have the happiness that Tai Ji Men has.

Mr. Abdullah Mohd. Salleh, Director of Malaysian Friendship & Trade Center, said that the warmth in the room is a warm current brought by principles and dizi of Tai Ji Men. Manger Hu of Grand Formosa Regent told that everyone has an innate love. I am happy that so many people with love get together at tonight's party to transmit the message of love. Now, I know to love and make peace with others is simple.

Deputy General Secretary Lin, Chun-Siang of Association of Chinese Taoist Groups said that he could feel people are kind to each other from heart. This is in fact a symbol of love and peace. Isaton Sowe, a Gambian student at the National Taipei University of Technology, expressed that he ""feel love and feel happiness in our heart wherever and whatever we are. Actually from my own heart, I see everybody as one, because if you got my blood, I am red. If you got your hand you see blood and blood is red. So my advice to the whole world is let's bring peace and unite, and help those who are in need.""

Mr. Wang of Visual & Audio Production Association (ROC) said that when every one of us applies Tai Ji Men's idea step by step in one's life and in family, community, society, this world will be more beautiful. I'll tell more people to visit Tai Ji Men website. Through the good news on website, our love to the world can be spread. Hostess Hsu-Fan of Fusing Radio Station also said ""I will share with my audience that I was in the Tai Ji Men Lunar New Year Gathering and felt love here.""

Mr. Shih is fifteen years old. He shared that ""I feel comprehensive, a sense of oneness. It reminds me to grace of whatever I am to do. I used to be negative to myself; now, I am changed. Because, what Tai Ji Men gave me is all about positiveness.""

Mrs. Mene M. Amin is the spouse of one FOWPAL Honorary International Member from Ghana. She felt the party was full of warmth. She said, ""All participants in the party enjoyed the sense of love and forgot any sadness that might have in life. I am happy to be in Tai Ji Men. I hope, throughout my life, I can spread the goodness of Tai Ji Men to the entire world with the help of Internet.""

Tai Ji Men cordially invites friends from Taiwan and abroad to get together at the reunion for the Lunar New Year's Gathering. It's like being back home. Friends far away from home will experience the warmth and happiness. The interaction of sincerity activates the button of happiness in our heart and the world will change for the better. We wish and invite you in the coming new year to light up the world and spread the message of love and peace to the society, Taiwan, and the world. How one good thought can improve the world!