Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy

Global Prayer Ceremony for Love and Peace

Conscience Illuminating the World

With the ongoing pandemic, war, extreme weather events, and other natural and man-made disasters, the world urgently needs the consolidation of positive energy from global citizens to turn the corner. On Oct. 16th, 2022, Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy, in cooperation with Tai Ji Men Culture and Education Foundation, ECOSOC-accredited NGO Association of World Citizens, Federation of Word Peace and Love, and Ho Mei Charity Foundation, organized the "International Ceremony of Love and Peace” in Asia and the U.S., under the theme of “Conscience Illuminating the World." Over 500 organizations jointly supported the event, which was joined by over 10,000 people from 108 nations in person or online.

The prayer ceremony continued in Tai Ji Men’s academies in Los Angeles and San Jose, California on October 16 at 2:00 p.m., with participants joining the event in person or online to pray for world peace and sustainability. The event was supported by over 30 international organizations, including Soteria International in Denmark, International Youth Society, the Flame of Peace in Austria, Bitter Winter in Italy, ALL G100 Oneness & Wisdom, and others.

The organizers of the event received congratulatory and peace messages from leaders in all circles, including the UN Secretary-General, the President of the United States, the King of Belgium, the President of Colombia, the Prime Minister of Portugal, the President of South Africa, the President of France, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, former President of Montenegro Filip Vujanović, former President of Croatia Stjepan Mesić, and more.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL and leader of Tai Ji Men, delivered welcome remarks, highlighting the importance of conscience-driven environmental protection and acts of kindness to ensure global sustainability. He emphasized, “Through daily meditation, self-reflection, and repentance, all people are encouraged to awaken their inner conscience, do more good deeds to atone for their mistakes, use wisdom to resolve conflicts, gather good thoughts, and inspire good deeds. The good intentions that you and I spread will form a butterfly effect, like lights in the dark night to illuminate the hearts of those who are lost, and light up hope for the world. The consolidated bright positive energy can calm people’s hearts and allow them to overcome difficulties and turn the corner.”

Dr. Hong also issued the Declaration of World Prayer Day ( http://www.taijimen.org/1016Endorse/index.php?lang=eng), designating October 16 of each year as World Prayer Day. The organizers of the event encouraged global citizens to endorse the declaration. Everyone is urged to pray for themselves, others, and the world, to restore their pure hearts, to pray with their conscience, to do good deeds with sincerity, and to pray for the cessation of wars, epidemics and diseases. It is hoped that the collective prayers and actions will make the world safer and more peaceful so that all things can flourish together and that the positive energy of the universe will lead the Earth to the path of sustainable development.


The ceremony featured a "60-second silence," with participants meditating for one minute, praying together for global peace and security, quieting their minds, and lighting their inner lights to spread love and peace around the world.

Many influential leaders joined the event by sharing their thoughts and wishes through videos or letters. The Office of the UN Secretary-General sent a message to Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, stating, “Allow me to take this opportunity to convey the best wishes of Secretary-General for the success of this event.”

U.S. President Joe Biden sent a letter to Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, emphasizing, “We need your courage and dedication at this critical time, and we must meet this moment together as the United States of America. If we do that, I believe that our best days still lie ahead.”

Moncef Marzouki, president of Tunisia (2011-2014), stated in his letter to Dr. Hong, “Thank you for all your efforts. Of course, I will join this symbolic action hoping that peace would prevail in these tough times.”
President of Croatia Stjepan Mesić (2000-2010), stated, "Time is quickly running out. Opposed sides must sit together and make an agreement cause any further delay is leading our planet to cataclysm.”
Justice Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, former president of Trinidad and Tobago, stated, "If we are to be true proponents of peace, conscience and love, it must always be that overriding tenet of justice in the lives of each and every one of us. There is no peace without justice. And there is no justice without peace."

Dr. Shirin Ebadi, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2003, wrote, "I pray that all the people of the world be blessed by peace and love each other. "

Dominican Alternate Ambassador to the UN (Vienna) Roxanna De los Santos de Piantini shared her prayer: “I ask for the countries where there are conflicts, so that our supreme being help them bring down the barriers of hostility. Respect human dignity and fill them with blessings, so that love, peace and a wise conscience may be imposed on them.” She called for “peace and consciousness to reign in the hearts of all the men and women of the world. Peace! Peace! Peace!”

Herta and Sandor Hasburg Lothringen, the president and vice president of the Austria-based NGO Flame of Peace, wished “All people that they are met with sincerity and warmth and that they can pass it on."

Dr. Akkan Suver, president of the Turkey-based Marmara Group Foundation, stated, "The humankind is going through difficult times. Wars, involuntary migrations, the cruelty of the climate on us . . . In the face of all this, let’s pray for a better tomorrow. Let’s know that prayers made with a pure heart and good intentions will be the guarantee of our tomorrow. Let’s pray for beauty, for stability, for peace, for sharing prosperity together and for leaving a better planet for those who come after us."

Jonathan Granoff, president of Global Security Institute, stated, "Peace begins with the deepest intentions in our hearts. It has to come into action with the people we live with. It comes into action when we care about what brings them suffering and what brings them joy. Peace that’s founded in those relationships, and peace, that’s solid within our intentions, can then spread to our communities and our nation. In our nation, especially in nations that have democracy, we have to put leaders in, who truly care about peace with the natural world and peace with the entirety of the human family.”

Prof. Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist and the managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions, emphasized, “‘Praying’ does not necessarily refer to a specific religious tradition. Indeed, even atheists can meditate and ‘pray,’ asking that consciences will be awakened, so that we can all repent from mistakes whose global weight is putting the very existence of the planet at risk, and promise that we will amend our ways and turn to conscience as our true `moral compass.’”

Mayor of Cupertino Darcy Paul, Vice Mayor of Cupertino Liang Chao, Saratoga City Council Member Yan Zhao attend the prayer ceremony in Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in San Jose. Due to his busy schedule, Mayor Darcy Paul had to leave early, and on his behalf, the vice mayor of the city presented to Tai Ji Men a certificate of appreciation, which reads, "In appreciation of Your hosting on behalf of the Federation of World Peace and Love the event “International Ceremony for Love and Peace” which is designated to remind us that good will is infinitely expandable and, as such, it should be encouraged through consistent reflection.”

When interviewed, Vice Mayor of Cupertino Liang Chao said that as soon as she stepped into Tai Ji Men, she felt relaxed and felt that the whole atmosphere was different. She also mentioned that people often forget what they really need when trying to achieve their goals, and that through this event she encouraged everyone to follow his or her conscience, self-reflect, find his or her original heart, and always remember it.

Hung Wei, a Cupertino City council member, wished that people would spread love to the world and emphasized that they must start with loving their own neighbors and communities and take actions to spread this love.

Yan Zhao, a Saratoga City council member, expressed her gratitude to Tai Ji Men for organizing this meaningful prayer event. If everyone has the positive energy to love their communities, neighbors, all people of the world, and the Earth, then the world will be a really good place, she added.

Christine, a real estate agent, attended the ceremony with her 9-year-old daughter, Sophia and 11-year-old son, Christophe. She said, “I hope that my children and I can do our part to make the world a better place, and that we can be truly happy only when everyone is well and has a stable life.” Christopher prayed that everyone can get along. Sophia prayed that everyone would be happy and that there would be no loneliness.

Many other influential leaders participated in the event in person or online or through a video message, including former California State Senator Bob Huff and his wife, Mei Mei Ho Huff; Martin Hou, deputy director of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco; San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre; Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District Board Member Cynthia Chang; Bobby Hunter, retired Harlem Globetrotter and chairman of United Churches; Dr. Ada Okika, UN coordinator of Africana Women Working Group at the UN; Dr. Bernard Fialkoff, president of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, The Americas Chapter; Winston Chen, CEO of the Paramitas Foundation; Robert Ha, chief operation officer of Splashtop Inc.; Dr. John Mukhuta Muhiana, founder of World Peace Foundation in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and Keisuke Toyoda, an architect and professor at the University of Tokyo.

The event was also a cultural feast with music, drumming, martial arts, dance, and other cultural performances to pray for blessings and spread the message of conscience, love, and peace. Tai Ji Men members sang a song "A Prayer for Peace" to express their best wishes for the world and to encourage people to illuminate their inner lights and overcome challenges with courage and confidence. A celestial dragon dance, an auspicious peacock dance, and other performances signified blessings for the Earth and hope for sustainability and harmony on a worldwide scale.

Sincere and selfless prayers can awaken people’s hearts, allowing people to return to tranquility and peace, and creating a positive cycle. Everyone is encouraged to sign the "Declaration of World Prayer Day" (http://www.taijimen.org/1016Endorse/index.php?lang=eng) to pray for themselves, their families and countries, and the world, and to pray for global peace and sustainability.