Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy

Tai Ji Men Hosts Lunar New Year Gathering

The Joyful Rabbits of Conscience Herald Spring with Prosperity & Peace

Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in Los Angeles held its Lunar New Year Gathering on February 4, 2023, with the theme "The Joyful Rabbits of Conscience Herald Spring with Prosperity & Peace.” At the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit, it brought together guests and friends from local communities as well as foreign countries, allowing them to experience the richness and joyful energy of the Tai Ji Men culture while consolidating their kind thoughts and well wishes to safeguard the Earth and transform the world.

As soon as the guests arrived at Tai Ji Men, they could feel the joyful energy of the New Year. In addition to the Lucky Rabbit that greeted people at the entrance, there were also traditional activities such as stomping on broken peanut shells (symbolizing removing bad luck), picking red envelopes, writing Chinese New Year characters and couplets, sipping Kung Fu tea, making origami, and paper cutting. At the beginning of the event, young ladies of Tai Ji Men performed an elegant lantern dance, symbolizing a bright lantern guiding the way and warming people’s hearts, in the hope that everyone will move forward to a brighter future.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the zhang-men-ren (leader) of Tai Ji Men, delivered welcome remarks, emphasizing, “The balance of yin and yang contains the deepest wisdom of the universe. In a fast-changing world, people may find it hard to feel secure and stay calm. The wisdom of balance is crucial for maintaining one’s physical and mental health as well as living a happy and full life. The key to finding equilibrium lies in each person’s heart. The heart is the foundation of life. Human thoughts and actions are all the manifestations and reflections of the heart, and conscience is the purest source of energy that is inherent in everyone’s heart, guiding us to make the right decisions and sail towards a bright future. Conscience activates kind thoughts and good deeds and can create a peaceful world of genuine truth, goodness, and beauty.”

Former California State Senator Bob Huff and Mrs. Huff attended the event. He expressed his thankfulness to Dr. Hong: "We’ve had the privilege of knowing him for a long time, 23 years now.” "We appreciate everything he’s doing not just here in Walnut, but around the world to foster good feelings within ourselves, athleticism, spirituality, but most important peace," he added.

Dr. Allen Wu, mayor of Walnut, and Council Members Linda Freedman and Ritchie Cajulis honored Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men, with a certificate of recognition. Mayor Wu expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to meet Dr. Hong for the first time and to celebrate the Lunar New Year with everyone. He also expressed his gratitude and delight that Tai Ji Men is located in the City of Walnut. He stated that, despite his hectic schedule, it was critical that he attend this event. He believes that qigong is very important and beneficial for health.

Walnut Council Member Linda Freedman stated, “I also am very honored to have met you, Dr. Hong. The joy I felt walking into this academy was unbelievable. I am so blessed to have come today and experienced all that you have to offer in a very short time, but it was truly joyful and I can feel it. I feel the love. I feel the support. I feel the good consciousness. I feel the kindness. So I appreciate everything you are doing around the world."

Walnut Council Member Ritchie Cajulis said, “I’m glad to be here in this gathering. May we continue to have a blessed New Year, and let’s keep our world progressive as it should be.”

Ms. Sophia Siqueiros, on behalf of Congresswoman Norma Torres, presented to Dr. Hong and Tai Ji Men each a special Congressional Certificate of Recognition for their hard work and dedication in organizing this event and also in gratitude for all of their work promoting peace and friendship.

Mr. Jacob Wolak, representative of Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, on behalf of the congresswoman, presented a certificate to Tai Ji Men in recognition of its Lunar New Year celebration. "May the Year of the Rabbit bring us all good fortune and prosperity," said Wolak, wishing everyone a happy New Year.

Other distinguished guests included Ms. Mary Ng, Board Director of Chinese American Association of Walnut; Prof. Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions; Marco Respinti, director-in-charge of Bitter Winter magazine; Prof. Lukas Lien, Taiwan contact professor of Osnabrück University, Germany; Mr. Kun-Kuang Huang, former official of the National Taxation Bureau of Taiwan; and Rev. Dr. Agorom C. Dike, president and founder of the Caribbean and African Faith-Based Leadership Conference.

Dr. Hong presented to the distinguished guests meaningful gifts, including the Compass Clock of Conscience, Conscience Scarf, and a book titled Embodying the Wisdom of Tai Ji: Achieving Inner Peace and Balance, hoping that everyone will follow the guidance of their conscience at all times and do the right thing.

Several leaders who were unable to attend send their video messages in celebration of the event. California State Senator Bob Archuleta stated, "I want to thank you all and everyone at the academy for promoting physical and mental health through qigong, for bringing people together, young and old.” “I want to thank you for coming together and bringing us together in this celebration of New Year."

California State Senator Anthony Portantino, stated, "I want to extend my well wishes for everyone to have a very happy healthy Lunar New Year."

Ted Alejandre, County Superintendent for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, stated, "The Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy promotes hope, spiritual help, love, peace, and conscience not only locally but internationally. One of the ancient beliefs is that a good beginning is essential for a successful year. I hope that you can obtain boundless joyful positive energy. Here at SBCSS, we focus on transforming lives through education. Today you all have the opportunity to learn how to transform your lives in just five minutes, using the ancient practice of Tai Ji Men. What a great way to start this New Year!"

Stan Liu, mayor pro tem of the City of Diamond Bar, stated, "I would like to wish everyone a very happy Lunar New Year and may this be a year of health."

Tai Ji Men also received certificates of recognition or congratulatory messages from other influential leaders, including U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein; Dr. Zaw Linn Maung, Consul General of Myanmar in Los Angeles; Congresswoman Young Kim; Congressman Ted Lieu; California State Senator Josh Newman; California State Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez; the City Council of Alhambra; Javier John Dutrey, mayor of the City of Montclair; Cory C. Moss, mayor of the City of Industry; Cynthia Sternquist, mayor of the Temple City; Paul P. Cheng, mayor of the City of Arcadia; and others.

The event also included a video presentation featuring the highlights of the speeches of two Tai Ji Men dizi (disciples): Dr. Mu-shen Sheng, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, and Suka Chen, a former CEO of a bank. Dr. Sheng emphasizes the significance of mental health, stating that 90 percent of illnesses are caused by stress, according to the World Health Organization. He also underscores the importance of finding a regimen that one can stick to in one’s older years for long-term health.

Suka Chen stated, “If you believe you have a true self, you’ll work for it and make decisions to help the world altruistically, without expecting anything in return. You’ll gain from that in the long run.” “We practice qigong at Tai Ji Men. Our Shifu (master) wants us to know our true selves well and understand the meaning and purpose of life. We should cherish our own lives and make the most of our brief existences here on Earth to create our infinite value. We should seize the present moment, make plans for the future and work hard for our future visible or invisible," he added.

Tai Ji Men dizi Rui-chin shared her touching story. Shortly after she was admitted to the bar, her father suddenly died of a heart attack, and then a few months later, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer herself. Her doctor told her after treatment that she would have to take thyroxine for the rest of her life. Because of her friend’s recommendation, she joined Tai Ji Men to practice qigong. Her health improved quickly, and before she knew it, she was no longer on thyroxine prescription. After restoring her health, she volunteered her time to provide free legal services in several organizations, and she went on cultural exchange trips with her Shifu and other Tai Ji Men dizi to promote love and peace.

Tai Ji Men dizi also performed martial arts, projecting prosperity, health, and happiness. A Tai Ji Men dizi who is Hakka sang a Hakka song, encouraging everyone to be kind and cultivate their hearts and moral character. The event concluded on a high note with Tai Ji Men’s youth and children performing an uplifting dance titled “Happily Giving Away Five Treasures” and a “celestial official” bestowing blessings on everyone, wishing everyone to have the five treasures: health, wealth, wisdom, happiness, and joy, as well as safety and the best of luck!