Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy

Tai Ji Men LA’s Lunar New Year Gathering 2022

“Conscience is the key to a successful life.” ~ Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, Zhang-men-ren (grandmaster) of Tai Ji Men

Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in Los Angeles held a joyful "Lunar New Year Gathering" online on February 20, 2022, featuring festive cultural performances, such as Celestial Officials Bestowing Blessings, rhythmic storytelling, and energetic dance to shower people with happy energy. At the beginning of the Year of the Tiger, Tai Ji Men members shared with everyone an abundance of good fortune and five treasures–health, wisdom, wealth, happiness, and joy. For this joyous occasion, Tai Ji Men received many congratulatory messages, including those from heads of state, U.S. Congress members, government officials, elected officials, experts, scholars, representatives from all walks of life, religious leaders, as well as leaders of cultural organizations and media outlets.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, Zhang-men-ren (grandmaster) of Tai Ji Men, stated, “According to a Chinese saying, spring is the key to a successful year ahead. Spring is the first of the four seasons, and it ushers in a new year full of hope as everything comes to life. Planning for ourselves at this time of year and setting goals for the year can help us get off to a good start and give the new year meaning and direction. Conscience is the key to a successful life. All of our actions must be guided by our conscience. We take steps to make our plans and wishes a reality, and we continue to work toward our objectives while reviewing and improving our plans and ourselves. The accumulation of good deeds will eventually allow us to progress in life in leaps and bounds, giving our lives immense and lasting value.”

Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in Los Angeles has been actively involved in its community for many years, organizing public welfare events and cultural exchanges, and has been highly praised by leaders in all circles. For this year’s Lunar New Year celebration, it has received certificates of recognition or congratulatory messages from Congresswoman Young Kim; Congresswoman Norma Torres; California State Senator Susan Rubio; California State Assembly member Phillip Chen; California State Assembly member Freddie Rodriguez; the Walnut City Council; the Diamond Bar City Council; the San Gabriel City Council; Temple City Mayor Vincent Yu; Montclair City Mayor Javier John Dutrey, the Alhambra City Council; the Rosemead City Council; the Chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley; the President of The Johns Hopkins University; Thakhin Kai Bwor, founder of the Myanmar Gazette; and Jeannette Santiago, programming director of Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN).

Through a video, California State Senator Connie Leyva sent her congratulatory message to Tai Ji Men: “I would like to thank you for your important work to spread kindness and joy in homes and communities across our region. The last two years have been very difficult for many people and families. So it is important that we all continue to come together in unity and friendship.”

California State Senator Josh Newman also sent a video message to Tai Ji Men: “Tigers are tenacious when faced with adversity, something each of us has been called upon to be, while enduring the historic challenges of the past few years. May your coming new year be filled with good fortune, health and prosperity as we not only celebrate another year of life, but the wonderful contributions of your community, to our district, to our state, and to our country.”

Walnut City Mayor Eric Ching stated that he is very grateful for Tai Ji Men's hard work and long-term contribution to the community, and that Tai Ji Men has been promoting love, tolerance, and health.

“It is extremely important that we are strong and resilient, just like tigers are,” said Pasadena City Councilmember Tyron Hampton, “May peace be with you wherever you go. Once again from the City of Pasadena, Happy New Year! ”

Ted Alejandre, the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, stated, “Thank you to all of you at the Academy for your dedication to preserve and promote the essence of traditional Chinese culture. Let's all take this new year to spread positive energy, advocate for our mental health and wellness, and inspire each other to make a difference.”

“Tai Ji Men has been doing so many good things for the community, promoting love and peace," said Dr. Tony Y. Torng, president of the Board for the Walnut Valley Unified School District, adding, “I'm here to congratulate you and it's an honor for me to join this event.”

Victor Hung, president of the Liok-Kui Foundation, stated, “Tai Ji Men Qigong is a positive energy which unites all ethnic members and becoming a powerful lighthouse to world peace. On the celebration of the Tiger Year, we all wish the pandemic season will end soon so we can enjoy our normal life. I also wish the Tiger Year, the Golden Tiger will deliver wealth, health, and happiness to all of you.”

Dr. Christine Che, the principal of Chinese School of San Marino, hoped that everyone embodies conscience, kindness, and sincerity, which Tai Ji Men has been promoting. She wished everyone safety, peace, health, good fortune, prosperity, and wealth in the new year.

Five Tai Ji Men dizi (disciples) shared what they had learned at Tai Ji Men. Brian Kung, who works in a hospital, said that practicing Tai Ji Men Qigong has helped him strengthen his body and calm his heart so that he is less fearful of COVID-19, and he encouraged everyone to listen to their conscience to overcome the pandemic. Chiwen Su, a visual artist, said, “Tai Ji Men Qigong has helped me stay calm and positive. The low impact exercises ensure better health and peace of mind.” She also volunteers her time to promote a culture of peace with love and conscience. “My Shifu taught me to help myself and help others and do the right thing,” she explained.

Carol Sun, a manager of her company, said that practicing Tai Ji Men Qigong helps her calm her heart and boost her energy, allowing her to overcome the challenges she faces during the pandemic. Kelly Wu said that she has learned to think positively as she realizes that “all kinds of experiences will ultimately become good learning experiences in our life.” Nwe Tun, an MRI technologist, said that she practices qigong every day, which helps her stay cheerful and healthy even though she is busy during the pandemic.

Tai Ji Men also shared an eye-catching, entertaining, and practical animation "Anti-Pandemic Battle," reminding everyone of three don’ts, five do’s and six tips for preventing epidemics, hoping everyone will be safe, healthy, and happy. The "three don’ts" are: Don’t be nervous. Don’t worry. Don’t be angry. The "five do’s" are: Wash your hands more often. Drink more warm water. Be happy. Exercise more often, and take precautions. The "six tips" are: Wash your hands regularly. Wear a face mask. Practice social distancing. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. And do breathing exercises.

The program came to a perfect end with the song "Conscience Pulls Us Through," which is full of positive energy, and Tai Ji Men encouraged everyone to follow their conscience, band together, and do good deeds to create a future of happiness.

Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy: Tai Ji Men is an ancient menpai (similar to school) of qigong, martial arts, and self-cultivation. It has carried forward the wisdom of Daoist philosophy, one of the highest philosophies of humankind. It is an international nonprofit cultural organization. Its contemporary zhang-men-ren (grandmaster), Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze established the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in 1966, and since then it has grown to 15 academies worldwide.

Dr. Hong teaches his dizi (similar to disciples) methods to achieve physical, mental, and spiritual balance, and tens of thousands of families have benefited from his teaching. At Tai Ji Men, martial arts and wisdom have been passed down from the shifu (master) to his dizi. Through this time-honored tradition, the shifu and dizi promote the Tai Ji Men culture and martial arts around the world while embodying what is true, good, and beautiful as well as spreading the ideas of conscience, love, and peace. Over the past half-century, the shifu and dizi have self-funded trips to over 300 cities in 101 nations to conduct more than 3,000 cultural performances and exchanges and have been recognized as “International Ambassadors of Peace and Goodwill.”