Tuesday, December 29, 2009

EAST IS EAST, WEST IS WEST, HARMONY FAITH, ORDER OF UNIVERSE

East is East, West is West. Harmony Faith, Order of Universe
Tuesday, 29. December 2009, 23:39:46
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East is East, West is West. Harmony Faith, Order of Universe.

Peace is a static end state in its conception. The universe and life is not static. The universe is ever expanding according to modern physics. Our soul is eternal. There will not be lasting peace when there is no harmony. Harmony is dynamic balance and is not an end state. It is about eternity. It is the constant action and growth.

East and West culture represent two opposites. Just like male and female, electron and positron, Yin and Yang. Harmony is the invisible hand that keeps the opposites in dynamic balance but never equal. When there are no opposites the universe will not grow and there will be no life. Please see following attached "Harmony Faith, Order of Universe" in English and Chinese translation. English is the original.Western culture is more confrontational. But in Yin there is Yang and vice verse. The best representation is the Tai Chi double fish symbol. However, according to Laotze, ultimately the Yin contains the Yang. In the universe, invisible energy contains the Yang (visible matters). This is testified by modern physics.

Yang being more confrontational, aggressive, less patient and tend to use hard power. When this tendency is not in check, it will more likely to wear itself out. For dynamic balance between Yin and Yang within or without, Western culture ultimately must contain more Yin. This is the truth.

Right now Western culture has more system engineering and modern organizational infrastructure. But Eastern culture as Yin, tends to be more patient, use more innate soft power. Confucianism taught the practice of soft power. Laotze advocated the truth that soft overcomes the hard when aggression is over extended. East and West must attempt to reach harmony to avoid self destruction. They will ultimately not merge. Yin and Yang will coexist as unity in diversity. That guarantees life and continuing growth. In the same rational thinking mankind must reach harmony with nature. Mankind is part of nature and will never conquer nature according to Laotze. East and West have a lot to learn from each other. That is what world harmony is all about.

As modernized as Japan and Korea are, their societies are still more Confucian than Christian and Western. China will be more Confucian than Marxism. East and West can approach harmony but will never completely merge. The universe and life is about Yin Yang balance and growth.

Francis C W Fung, Ph.D.
Director General
World Harmony Organization
Info@worldharmonyorg.net



HARMONY FAITH, ORDER OF THE UNIVERSE
INTRODUCTIONThe major religions of the world as we know today all originated in Greater Asia which includes the Middle East and South Asia. This is no coincidence, as all monotheistic religions believe in the same God, Allah, Creator, Heaven or what other names we use. What makes religions different is cultural heritage. Each major religion’s man made image of God is thus inherently different. This fixation on the difference of each culture’s institutionalized and man made image of God is unnecessary and divisive. There can only be one creator for all mankind regardless of what name is used or what religion one believes in. Thus in time, all religions must converge into one faith by transcending each religion’s cultural fixations and universally accepting one creator without a man made image. This is the inevitable progressive development.The eminent contemporary Ying Yang master Ma Shuhai, in his book “Tong Dao”, classified the continuous development of human religions into four progressive stages. The following description bears significant additional explanation by the present author.1)The stage of primitive idols worship: This was the pure irrational superstition stage. When man was very much in awe of subject to nature’s destructive powers such as fire water and wind.2)The stage of trust in one communicative God: Monotheistic faiths that evolve around one all mighty and powerful creators that man could develop a relation with and turn to for help. These types of institutionalized faiths with a specific creator with man- made image include most of the major religions of today. Today mankind as a whole is suffering from the divisive forces of this culturally specific monotheism. The exception being Buddhism, which teaches believers to find inner peace and Buddha within oneself without the monotheistic creator. Chinese accept Dao as the force of universe creation which is distinct from the Judah-Christian tradition.3)The rational stage of scientific religion: When man believes in his rational power. In this stage man can turn to science to explain all aspects of life except the meaning of life. This ushered in the modern Bahai Faith, which upholds progressive revelation from God. Bahai faith as a modern religion also emphasizes unity of religion and science. These two important concepts possibly herald in the era of less dependency on one Monotheistic creator in a man- made image. 4)The final stage is Harmony Faith, Order of the Universe: This is the life study of a final and decisive faith that has confidence in the modern discovery of the all prevalent and infinite invisible dark energy of the universe. We are currently at the very beginning of this life study. To become a universal faith it must do without a man-made creator image. We can also call this the relative rational inductive stage.HARMONY FAITH, ORDER OF THE UNIVERSE In the following concise dissertation we will explain how this natural faith can reconcile science and religion once and for all. On top of that we will give the meaning of life a very achievable goal. In this stage the door is also open for continuing human progressive inspiration from the omnipresent and all prevalent Dao, the invisible dark energy that created the universe. Together with modern science this concept makes a creator with man made image unnecessary.Harmony is a universal common value; it is also a vision statement for all. It is the order of nature and the universe for all to emulate. Harmony is the dynamic balance that returns nature’s calamities to tranquility. Without harmony the universe cannot be eternal. In harmony we can find true belief that transcends all cultures and religions. The meaning of life is to seek harmony within our inner self. Humans are born with a spiritual soul that develops to seek self fulfillment and self salvation. Our soul has a conscience that elevates us from total animal selfishness. As our soul grows to its maturity we must achieve our own harmony. A person at the end of his journey reconciles with his own soul to achieve harmony and peace of mind. The difference between a tormented soul and a soul in harmony at our death is the difference between hell and heaven.The invisible energy in the firmament created the universe and all creatures. This is our creator regardless of our religion and belief. Our soul is an energy field that grows with our accomplishments on earth. With differing strengths embedded in our DNA Humans are not created equal just as sure our souls will not develop equally. Static equality is not what life is all about. Each soul attaining its own harmony with itself is the meaning of life. The achievement of harmony by nature and us is a dynamic process. The evolution of nature and life are dynamic processes and must not be considered as static phenomena. Harmony renaissance is a dynamic process and calls for proactive action.There is a fine line between a believer and non believer of any religion. A true creator will accept all because all humans attest to harmony. Cultural differences are only in form and not in essence. Harmony is the salvation of mankind and the king of unity in diversity. The universe and all living creations through evolution are created by the invisible energy and are sustained by energy. This theory without man made heavenly images does not contradict conventional religious beliefs. Furthermore it is a rational way of agreeing with modern sciences. Our soul is merely an energy field that contains our spirit, life time beliefs and experiences. It exists eternally and has a beginning and no end after our death. Each soul can accomplish harmony with itself but souls are not necessarily equal. We are here on earth to develop our own soul from its early immature conception.Religions begin with search of truth, goodness and beauty. This search will ultimately help us to reach harmony at death. All religions preach harmony because harmony is the most common value and the greatest common denominator of mankind. Conflicts in religion are caused by human corruption. Belief in harmony, the universal truth, does not need a man made image of creator. The invisible energy as the creator of the universe does not contradict with modern science. This imaging of the creator does not contradict any religious beliefs and is not divisive. In time this imaging of the creator without man made figure will reconcile all religions as the true scientific belief. According to modern science the invisible energy of the universe is all powerful and omnipresent. It is part of the paradigm of Faith in Harmony. Many religions believe in brotherhood of mankind. What has kept us from achieving unity in diversity are the differences in religious culture and the cultural centric creator figures conjured by different religions.The ancient harmony cultural philosophy promulgated by Lao-tzu and Confucius did not rely on man made images of creators. As an ancient culture China did not create a religion of its own. Modern Chinese are more accepting of outside religions. This is witnessed by the lack of major religious wars in China despite the importation of many outside religions. Over two thousand years harmony philosophy modified Chinese major beliefs and outside religions to suit China’s cultural heritage. China’s ancient harmony philosophy fulfills her people’s need for self fulfillment and spiritual tranquility. This harmonizing process of various belief systems can be a model for the future world harmony.A person who does not practice institutionalized religion can achieve inner peace through harmony practices. The universal belief in the invisible energy as the creator in the firmament reconciles all religions and faiths. Faith in Harmony is thus the most acceptable Faith that transcends mankind’s conflicts of fear and greed. Harmony on earth that promises unity in diversity is the promise of Kingdom on Earth and the Most Great Peace on earth by all sages and prophets. A person achieves self fulfillment has reached harmony in his own soul and his life is complete and his soul is eternal and everlasting without torment.We believe in harmony renaissance which is the pursuit of harmony as a way of life and a living faith. Harmony is a universal common value and renaissance is action. Harmony propagates by resonance, nature's preferred way of propagation. Faith in harmony gives hope of heaven on earth for all, regardless of any religion or creed. Faith in harmony as order of nature does not worship man made image of creators. For all mankind whether belonging to organized religion or not we can seek hope and brotherhood through soul searching harmony.Our search for harmony renaissance is multifaceted and all inclusive. Our perspectives include East and West culture, world civilization and history, harmony diplomacy, world religions, ancient philosophy and modern science. For harmony to be a true universal faith it must reconcile with scientific observations.We believe in self salvation through Faith in Harmony practices. Our actions shall encompass all human activities such as world affairs, commerce, education, cultural activities and religious or non religious functions. Specifically at this moment in history our action should enhance peace, reduce conflict, harmonize world religions, and activate harmony culture, pursuit harmony education. United Nation is at a cross road. It is time to advocate U. N. harmony civilization so all 193 nations can converse and consult with universal Harmony common value. 21st century is the beginning of Harmony renaissance. The world mission is to be ready for human's next creative wave to lead us to a higher level of common accomplishment. World Harmony Renaissance will bring the whole world into action for a new millennium of peace and prosperity with unfettered collective energy surpassing European renaissance.

Francis C W Fung, Ph.D.
Director General
World Harmony Organization














和谐信仰,宇宙的规律
作者:世界和谐组织总干事 冯忠华博士
说明
众所周知,世界各大宗教盖源于大亚洲地区包括中东和南亚。绝非巧合的是,
凡一神教皆必须信奉同一个上帝、阿拉、造物主、上天或任何其他名字。导致宗教
各异者,文化遗产也。各大宗教除了人为上帝偶像不同,本质上并无区别。因此,
无需制度化人为上帝偶像,亦能区分。不论你属何教派,全人类只能有一个造物
主。届时,所有宗教都必须接受一个没有偶像的造物主,超越所有宗教,融合为单
一信仰。大势所趋乃尔。
当代著名阴阳大师马树海,在其杰出著作【同道】中,把人类宗教的发展过程
归纳为四个渐进阶段,以下描述为笔者融会贯通后之外加诠释。
1. 原始偶像崇拜阶段:此阶段纯粹是盲目的迷信。其时人类对大自然的破坏力
如火、水、风万分敬畏。
2. 崇拜祈求上帝阶段:一神教信仰演进出一个万能造物主的偶像,号称与人类
息息相关并能为人类消灾解难。此类制度化信仰与特定造物主偶像,充斥着
今天大部份宗教。目前,全人类的苦难源于一神教文化对社会力量的分化。
只有佛教教导信徒寻找内心平衡、心中驻佛。中国人接受道为创造宇宙的能
量,与犹大-基督教的传统有别。
3. 科学宗教理性阶段:在人类认识到理性力量的阶段,人类才能科学解释生活
除生命意义以外的方方面面。现代巴哈依信仰的开创,坚持渐进式的启示来
自上帝。巴哈依信仰是一个强调宗教和科学团结的现代宗教。这两个重要概
念预示着不必依赖一神论造物主偶像时代的来临。
4. 最后是宇宙的规律,和谐信仰阶段:这是信仰的决定性最后探讨,对现代社
会发现的来自宇宙的无限隐形暗能量充满信心。这一研究正在起步。要成为
普世信仰,必须从没有造物主人为偶像开始。可称之为相对理性的诱导阶
段。

和谐信仰,宇宙的规律
在以下短论中,我们将解释何以自然法信仰可以一劳永逸地调和科学与宗教。
此外,我们将给生命一个有意义的实现目标。在此阶段,大门为人类进步之灵感敞
开,这种灵感源于无所不在的道,道乃创造宇宙万物的无形暗能。居于现代科学概
念,造物主人为偶像实无必要。
和谐为普世价值,人类之福,生灵崇拜。和谐是自然的规律,宇宙的定律。和
谐以动态平衡为自然消灾解难,恢复安宁。没有和谐,宇宙不会永恒。和谐超越一
切文化和宗教,是人类真正的信仰。
生命的意义在于自我和谐。人类天生一种精神,自我求生、自我完善。我们的
灵魂有个从动物的自私天性升华而来的良心。只有实现自我和谐,灵魂成长方为成
熟。人由自己的灵魂相伴和协调,祥和地走完人生旅程。死后灵魂或痛苦或和谐,
差别如地狱或天堂。
无形能量创造了宇宙万物,是所有宗教和信仰可接受的造物主。灵魂是人类与
生俱来一种能量场。因被植入不同的DNA 而优势各异,故人类生而未能平等,正
如人的心灵肯定不会有同等发展的待遇。静态平等并非人生的全部。每个灵魂实现
自身和谐,生命才有意义。
任何宗教,信徒与非信徒之间仅一线之隔。真正的缔造者接受众生,众生见证
了和谐。和谐拯救人类,是多元统一之金。宇宙和众生皆由无形能量创造并持续进
化。这一理论与传统宗教信仰缔造者的人造天堂形象并不矛盾,而是以一种理性方
式同意现代科学。灵魂不过是一个能源场,附着人的精神及有生之年形成的信念和
发展经验,有始无终,死后永存。灵魂能否完成自身和谐,端视修炼,无法划一。
一切中医药、气功、太极、瑜珈、祷告和忏悔等思考和行为模式,均强调通过和谐
达到内心的平静。这些行为与所有宗教和信仰殊途同归。在地球上自我开发尚未成
熟的灵魂是生命的目的,深具意义。心灵和谐,即为自救。
宗教始于找寻真、善、美,最终有助死后达成和谐。凡宗教概宣扬和谐,因和
谐为普世价值、是人类最大的共识。宗教冲突盖因人的腐败,背离真相。信仰和谐
真理,并不需要造物主的人为偶像。无形能量作为宇宙的缔造者,与现代科学并不
冲突。无形能源造物主形象与任何宗教信仰也不矛盾。没有造物主偶像的信仰,将
调和所有的宗教与真正的科学信仰。根据现代科学理论,宇宙无形能量无比强大,
无所不在。这是和谐信仰的重要范式。许多宗教以人类的兄弟情谊为信仰。和谐保
持不同宗教之多元统一文化, 协调来自不同宗教的文化。
老子和孔子所创立的古代和谐文化哲学,并不依赖缔造者的人造偶像。作为一
个古老的文化,中国没有独特地为自己创立一个汉家宗教,现代中国人更多接受境
外宗教。有目共睹的是,中国尽管进口了许多境外宗教,却鲜有重大宗教战争。二
千多年的和谐哲学,改造了中国的主体信仰和外来宗教,使其适合中国的文化遗
产。中国古代的和谐理念,适合人们自我心灵调适之需。中国的各种信仰体系通过
和谐协调的过程,可以成为未来世界和谐的模式。
任何人都可通过修炼和谐达到心灵的安宁,而不需经由制度化宗教仪式。以无
形能量造物主为普遍信仰,调解所有宗教和信仰。因此,和谐信仰超越人类因恐惧
和贪婪而导致的冲突,是最被众生接受的信仰。一个人能成功达到自我和谐,其心
灵是完整的,其灵魂是永恒的,永无痛苦。
对于地球上任何宗教或信条而言,和谐信仰是人类希望的天堂。和谐信仰作
为自然规律,并不需崇拜缔造者的偶像。全人类不论是否属于有组织的宗教,只要
通过和谐的自我反省,都能找到自救希望和兄弟情谊。
和谐复兴的追求包罗万象,视角包括东西方文化、世界文明、历史、外交、宗
教、古代哲学与现代科学等。以科学监测和谐,使之成为真正的普世信仰。
我们相信自律式自然法和谐信仰。和谐复兴行动包括所有人类活动如世界事
务、商务、教育、宗教或不具宗教功能的文化活动。历史到了此刻,我们的行动应
加强和平、减少冲突、协调世界宗教、激活和谐文化、追求和谐教育。联合国正处
在一个交叉路口。现在是向联合国倡导和谐文明的时候,让所有193 个国家都可
畅所欲言,共商世界大同的共同价值。廿一世纪是和谐复兴的开启。世界的共同使
命,是准备好人类第二个创新波的到来,带领我们进入下一个更高层次的共同修
养。世界和谐将带领整个世界进入和平繁荣新千年的行动,不受约束的集体新能
量,超过欧洲文艺复兴。
中文翻译:世界和谐组织理事林光前

Democracy's Demolition Derby

Robert J. Samuelson
Democracy's Demolition Derby
Why journalism is increasingly shortsighted, unreasoned and selfish.

It's been an education, my four decades in Washington journalism: an anniversary that prompts this personal reflection. In 1969, I arrived as a young newspaper reporter. Journalism appealed to me because it offered an excuse to learn about how things worked—to satisfy my curiosity—and provided an antidote to shyness. It was a license to ask people questions. I have never regretted my decision, in part because I always doubted I could do anything else. I wasn't smart enough to be an engineer and would have been a lousy lawyer, chafing at representing other people's beliefs. The pursuit of truth seemed a higher calling.
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This was a common conceit among journalists of my generation. We would reveal what was hidden, muddled or distorted. The truth would set everyone free. It sustained good government. We were democracy's watchdogs and clarifiers. One thing I learned is that these satisfying ideas are at best simplifications—and at worst illusions. Truth comes in infinite varieties; every story can have many narratives. There are always new facts, and sometimes today's indisputable fact qualifies or rebuts yesterday's.
I started with the naive notion that, by exposing and explaining how the world worked, I would in some small way contribute to better government and a saner society. What I discovered firsthand is what I already knew intuitively: Democracy is a messy, often shortsighted, unreasoned and selfish process. People have interests, beliefs and prejudices that, once firmly entrenched, are not easily dislodged—and certainly not by logic or evidence.
Good information does not inexorably lead to good government. "Never underestimate the difficulty of changing false beliefs by facts," the economist Henry Rosovsky once said. People do change their minds, but experience has more influence than argument. World War II convinced most Americans that the isolationism of the previous decades was mistaken. The high inflation of the 1970s (and not essays about inflation's evils) convinced most people that economic policy had gone disastrously wrong. And so on.
During my time in Washington, the quantity of information has increased but its quality has decreased. The explosion of advocacy organizations, interest groups and "think tanks"—along with the growth of cable television and the Internet—has bloated the supply of studies, factoids, sound bites and blog posts. The decline in quality reflects the polarization of political elites, of both left and right. More raw information flows through political or philosophical filters that screen out facts and arguments that do not fit the approved viewpoint or advance "the cause." (Note, however, that the polarization mainly affects political elites, not the general public. I agree with political scientist Morris Fiorina of Stanford University, who argues that most Americans are more "pragmatic" than "ideological.")
Journalism has evolved similarly. When I started, most print reporters were anonymous. They had bylines, not much more. With three television networks (ABC, CBS and NBC), the number of well-known TV journalists was small. There really was a "mainstream media" of top papers, newsmagazines and networks. Their ethos was "objectivity," even if most editors and reporters knew it was an unattainable ideal.
Now journalism is a jumble. Just who is a reporter and who is an advocate is often blurred. Some journalism is openly partisan. Hardly anyone values anonymity. Reporters and editors have become multimedia self-promoters. They blog and tweet; they do TV and radio. Although career advancement and political bias have always influenced journalism, their impact has increased. The "marketplace of ideas" often resembles a demolition derby—victory goes to the most aggressive.
I haven't escaped this. I never intended to become a columnist, but writing a column was part of my job at National Journal magazine in the 1970s, and the column later moved to The Post and Newsweek. I also do some radio and TV. A column is inherently analytical and opinionated. Offended by many liberal and conservative dogmas, I aspire to the "sensible center." Whether I succeed, I'm still trying to do what I've always done: Explain things to myself and my readers; provide enough information so that even people who reject my viewpoint and values will emerge knowing more.
In a democracy, information is power, but you can never know whether it will make us better or worse off. Journalism's contribution, though not always constructive, is essential. At our best, we do serve as watchdogs at all levels: Watergate is but one spectacular example. We do illuminate crucial facts and clarify popular confusions. But too often, our conformist and crusading instincts make us complicit in episodes of collective folly, delusion or vengeance.
For me, there remains the personal pleasure of discovery and a faith that the unfettered pursuit of truth—no matter how contentious or futile—has stand-alone meaning. It's called freedom.
Robert Samuelson is also the author of The Great Inflation and Its Aftermath: The Past and Future of American Affluence and Untruth: Why the Conventional Wisdom Is (Almost Always) Wrong.
© 2009

Obama, our Confucian president, goes to China

Obama, our Confucian president, goes to China
President Obama's trip to China could open a new era in United State's relations with China, writes guest columnist Wendy Liu.
By Wendy Liu
Special to The Times
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IN his 10 months in the White House, President Obama has been given many labels, from socialist to communist, from Muslim to Marxist. I would say he is Confucian, especially in world affairs.
President Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize not for what he had achieved in world peace, but for what he had been trying to achieve, with "extraordinary efforts," as the Norwegian Nobel Committee stated, in reducing the world's nuclear arms, easing American tension with Muslim nations, etc. Former President Jimmy Carter, another Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said Obama was awarded for his vision and commitment to peace and harmony in international relations.
Harmony. That's so Chinese, or rather, Confucian.
"He wei gui," or "Harmony is prize," are perhaps the three best-known words of Confucius, the ancient philosopher, among the Chinese speakers. They also best summarize the age-old Chinese belief that harmony was key to everything: harmony between nature and man, among people, between mind and body, etc. For social harmony, Confucius taught among other things that everyone, ruler or ruled, father or son, should know his duty and play his role well.
After being "banished" for decades in favor of revolution, Confucius' doctrine of harmony is enjoying a grand renaissance in China. Remember the giant character "harmony" the performers of the printing blocks formed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics? Harmony is also the policy goal Chinese President Hu Jintao has adopted for China since 2006: building a harmonious society at home and promoting a harmonious world abroad.
President Obama may not have said that harmony was a principal concept of his diplomacy, but one sees harmony written all over it.
To repair America's frayed relationship with Europe, President Obama admitted to the Europeans that America had at times shown arrogance. But now, he went on, America was looking to be partners, not patrons.
To show Latin America that the U.S. was re-engaging them as equals, President Obama showed willingness at the Trinidad summit to listen to them all, allies or rivals. Countries could disagree, he stated, respectfully.
To seek a new beginning with the Muslim world, President Obama declared in Cairo that instead of being exclusive, Islam shared with America common principles of justice and progress, and should tolerate differences and root out extremists together.
To have the U.S. lead by example in getting rid of nuclear weapons, President Obama signed an agreement in Moscow with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that the U.S. and Russia, which combined have 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons, would further cut their arsenals.
And of course, no world harmony would be possible without harmony between the United States and China, whose relations, President Obama said, would shape the 21st century.
One month after his inauguration, President Obama sent Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Beijing. The message was that issues with China such as human rights would not interfere on economic, climate and security cooperation. The president then further balanced his China policy with moves such as imposing a tariff on Chinese tires while postponing meeting the Dalai Lama.
With the first U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue held in Washington, D.C., last July, Obama expanded on President Bush's concept of China as a "strategic competitor" in a "constructive and cooperative" relationship with the U.S. He then put his own signature on America's China policy by announcing a new era with China: one of "sustained cooperation, not confrontation."
Now with Obama on his debut trip to China, birthplace of Confucius, and meeting with the Confucian-minded, capitalism-practicing communist leader Hu Jintao, a new era is about to take shape.
Challenging as U.S.-China relations are, Obama seems determined. At the July gathering mentioned above, he quoted Mencius, the second greatest Confucian philosopher:
"A trail through the mountains, if used, becomes a path in a short time, but, if unused, becomes blocked by grass in an equally short time."
Wendy Liu of Mercer Island is the author of "Everything I Understand about America I Learned in Chinese Proverbs" (January 2009, Homa & Sekey Books).

Saturday, December 26, 2009

SEASON'S GREETINGS AND HARMONY TO ALL!

Saturday, 26. December 2009, 17:04:10
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DEAR FRIENDS,

DURING CHRISTIAN NEW YEAR, CHINESE NEW YEAR, ISLAMIC NEW YEAR, HANUKKAH, TAT, WORLDWIDE SPRING FESTIVAL, AND NEW YEAR OF ALL FAITHS:

MAY YOU BE CONTEND WITH, HARMONY WITHIN, HARMONY WITH YOUR SOUL, HARMONY WITH YOUR LOVE ONES, HARMONY IN FAMILY, HARMONY WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR, HARMONY WITHIN SOCIETY, HARMONY IN NATION, HARMONY AMONG NATIONS, HARMONY AMONG RELIGIONS, HARMONY WITH NATURE, HARMONY WITH THE UNIVERSE. "TIAN REN HA YI" ACCORDING TO LAOTZE.

SEASON'S GREETINGS AND HARMONY TO ALL!

FRANCIS C W FUNG, PH.D.
DIRECTOR GENERAL
WORLD HARMONY ORGANIZATION
INFO@WORLDHARMONYORG.NET

Friday, December 25, 2009

World Harmony Organization launched in San Francisco

World Harmony Organization launched in San Francisco




www.chinaview.cn 2007-01-21 05:27:09



LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The World Harmony Organization(WHO) was launched in San Francisco on Saturday, with a call on all countries to promote world peace based on harmony.
WHO, a non-profit and non-governmental organization and the first of its kind in the world, is dedicated to the pursuit of World Harmony Renaissance study and research, the organization said in a press release.
"Harmony belongs to the world. The best social system for any country is its own harmony system for sustainable development," said the release.
It said the organization was formed on the basis of the harmony theory proclaimed by the Chinese leaders in 2006.
"A major social harmony renaissance movement is taking place in China today after the 2002 announcement of the scientific concept," said the release.
"We declare our theory 'World Harmony Renaissance' is the breakthrough mankind is waiting for the next level of accomplishment. When our common values rise above the current international conflicts through world harmony renaissance our accomplishments both scientific and cultural will soar."
"World religions and major human philosophies as we all know were developed about 2500 years ago," said Dr. Francis C. W. Fung,an American researcher who founded the organization.
"European Renaissance and Enlightenment period brought the second burst of human creative energy," Fung said. "We believe 'World Harmony Renaissance' will launch the third phase of human innovation and creativeness to herald a more harmonious and better world."
At its launch meeting, the organization will hold major global cultural events in San Francisco to advocate world harmony renaissance. It also plans future events which include World Harmony Renaissance Symposium, World Harmony Renaissance Calligraphy Contest, World Harmony Renaissance cultural performances, according to Fung, author of the China Harmony Renaissance - What the World Must Know.
He said for those who do not understand China's peaceful development, it is time to learn China's harmony renaissance. Special attention is given to Sino-American relations over the past 50 years.
"We believe 'World Harmony Renaissance' is hope for a more understanding world," he said.

Editor: Luan Shanglin

HARMONY RENAISSANCE FOR WORLD HARMONY

HARMONY RENAISSANCE FOR WORLD HARMONY
By Francis C W Fung
EQUITY, KINDNESS, CHRISTIANITY, BAHA'I, BUDDHISM, President Obama, multilateral world, ISLAM, UNIVERSAL COMMON VALUE, HARMONY RENAISSANCE, CONFUCIANISM, DAOISM, HUMAN PROGRESS, WORLD HARMONY, SOFT POWER, AMERICA, GENTLENESS, DEMOCRACY, HUMILITY, RELIGION, PATIENCE, CULTURE, ACCEPTANCE, FORGIVENESS, PHILOSOPHY, TOLERANCE, CIVILIZATION, GREEN ECOLOGY, HARMONY VIRTUES, RESPECT, NONVIOLENCE, INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRACY, CHINESE LANDSCAPING, EUROPEAN RENAISSANCE, INTERFAITH HARMONY, DAOISM RENAISSANCE, FENGSHUI, YIN AND YANG, CHINESE MEDICINE, CONFUCIANISM RENAISSANCE, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, HARMONY WITH NATURE, ANTHONY ALEXANDER, U. S. VALUES, TODD CROWELL, HARMONY VALUE, HARMONY CONSENSUS, HUMAN RIGHTS


INTRODUCTION

Confucianism and Daoism are both ancient philosophies that must move towards modernity to keep pace with human progress. Both have universal common values that must be distilled to be more appropriate for the modern world. For the same reason, religions of today must go through reform and evolution to be more relevant. Extremist fundamentalist movements can be harmful to their own religions, as we all can see. The invisible hand for the desirable changes for ancient human philosophy and religions is no other than harmony. For harmony can be practiced best in terms of the 12 virtues: TOLERANCE, ACCEPTANCE, RESPECT, KINDNESS, FORGIVENESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, PATIENCE, EQUITY, NONVIOLENCE, GREEN ECOLOGY, and CONSERVATION as discussed in separate articles. Harmony from this perspective is the fundamental law of the dynamic balance of extremes. We are beginning to understand that human attempts at unattainable development without consideration of environment can lead to self-destruction.

THE THREE MAIN CULTURAL PILLARS OF HUMAN CIVILIZATION

From the perspective of harmony, the three main cultural pillars of human civilization are religion, democracy, and harmony as discussed previously in separate articles. Harmony is the most inclusive of the three. Fortunately for the survival of mankind, both religion and democracy also teach harmony. (See blogsites www.scribd.com/fcwfung http://my.opera.com/fcwfung www.worldharmonyforum.blogspot.com)

Religion, Democracy, and Harmony are a human heritage that belongs to all mankind. They do not belong to any one single civilization. Religions began with the human desire to reach harmony with the creator; democracy has sought harmony between the government and its citizens. Both have gone through continuous development in recent centuries. Most commendable is America’s effort, as a dynamic young country, to advocate and propagate Christianity and Democracy her during recent history. However, harmony has been neglected due to human overconfidence in our ability to exploit and change nature. For our own survival, we now have learned that humanity must harmonize with nature.

All religions also teach harmony among mankind, but the institutionalized religions all have their own cultural image of the creator. These culturally unique images of the creator build barriers that are hard to surmount and thus become divisive. However, there have been frequent calls from different religionists for interfaith harmony, notably the Baha’i Faith and the Buddhists. President Obama, in his recent speech in Cairo also called for interfaith harmony (see Appendix A).

In the modern world, Democracy is widely regarded as a good choice for governance by new and old nations. Democracy can be defined as harmony between the government and its citizens, but the degree of citizen participation is a subject of continuing debate, with developing and ancient nations in various degree of development stage seeking their own national harmony. In time, various countries will achieve their own degree of democracy. However, it is certain that there will be no democracy if there is no harmony within a nation. Democracy must grow from a nation’s own fertile harmony soil.

Despite the worldwide progress toward national democracies, today’s unilateral world is very much in need of international democracy. International democracy can only come if the world is truly multinational, which heralds the coming of world harmony. The coming of world harmony will necessarily follow a global Harmony Renaissance. The tide of harmony renaissance is evitable. It is the next wave of creative energy that mankind is waiting for. Harmony Renaissance will lead mankind to a higher level of accomplishment beyond European renaissance.

DAOISM AND CONFUCIANISM RENAISSANCE FOR HARMONY RENAISSANCE

Daoism and Confucianism, as ancient cultures, predated Christianity, Buddhism and Islam faiths. Daoism (sometimes previously called Taoism) is a philosophy initiated by Laotze (in approximately 300 to 400 B.C.) to teach mankind to harmonize with nature. Laotze left us a 5000 word treatise named Dao De Jing (See Appendix B “A Daoist Renaissance”, author Anthony Alexander). The essence of his teaching is Dao. Dao is “the way” and also the invisible energy that created the universe (see Appendix D. Harmony Renaissance Preamble and Declaration). Since Dao is omnipresent and all prevalent, it was not necessary to contrive a manmade creator image in Daoist belief. Laotze and his disciple Zhungzi also taught man as part of nature in their famous philosophy “Tian Ren He Yi”, which means heaven and man in unity. The key Daoist belief is that all natural phenomena consist of two opposing forces, Yin and Yang, in dynamic balance. This dynamic balance belief extends to a broad spectrum of disciplines, including the practice of medicine, Fengshui and landscaping. The central theme in these practices is that man must harmonize with nature and his surroundings with minimal interference. These practices are directly in contrast to the Western belief that man, with his scientific knowledge, can exploit and conquer nature. For a comparison of East and West beliefs, see Appendix B, Daoist Renaissance by Anthony Alexander.

Confucius was a contemporary of Laotze and was supposed to have met with Laotze. He was regarded by his disciples as the master teacher. He travelled widely in China during the “Spring and Autumn” period to teach and advise rulers of many kingdoms in China. Spring and Autumn was the period when many philosophers flourished in what is called the period of “Let Hundreds of Flowers Bloom and Let Hundreds of Schools [of thought] Contend”. He is considered as the teacher who extended education to the poor. That is why China celebrates Teacher’s Day by remembering Confucius. He and his disciples left us with an abundance of writings, such as the Four Books, the Five Jings, and the Analect. (See Appendix C, The Confucian Renaissance by Todd Crowell)

Confucius taught morality and social order. As such, his teaching was adopted by all Chinese dynasties after Qin to maintain society order. The Ching emperors were invaders from the north, but they fully adopted Confucianism as the state philosophy to enforce control on the intellectuals. It was during the Ching dynasty that Confucianism teaching was carried to the extreme that invited criticism from within and without. During the late Ming Dynasty, the Chinese society was more liberal.

In moving towards modernity, Confucianism Renaissance must go through a distillation to become again a sublime modern philosophy. In this process, the most desirable result is to keep what is relevant and to discard what is not. No matter how good an ancient heritage is, it must not be allowed to become decadent and then extreme in practice. During Confucian times, it was said, “Citizens did not close their doors at night. People did not pocket what was lost on the street.”

Confucius’ teachings on harmony are sublime. There are abundant treasures on harmony teaching left by the master to us: such sayings as “Harmony is precious”, “Gentlemen prefer harmony over conformity. Petty people prefer conformity over harmony”. His teachings of Ren, universal love, include many virtues of Harmony Renaissance. His golden rule, “Do not apply to others what you do not wish” stands out among the other golden rules. His teaching of tolerance and acceptance can be summed up in a sublime saying, “The sea can accept hundreds of streams. It can only grow if it can contian.” This may explain why over her long history China accepted all major religions from outside. As big a nation as she is, China never felt the need to grow her own religion; as Confucius said, “Respect the supernatural but keep a distance”. As a result, there was never a major religious war fought inside China in her long continuous history.

China, as an ancient society, relied on its moral code as a gentlemen’s code of conduct. There was never heavy reliance on a system of laws for order. Morality was always above law in maintaining society order. There was an old saying “Hue Dei Wei Lao” which means one draws a circle on the ground as the prison to repent. Of course, in today’s complex and materialistic world with the multitude of temptations, a large nation must rely on law and a large police force to maintain order. Despite the extensive new laws modern China is writing, it will take time for China to adjust to a law-based society in her execution of the new laws that are promulgated so rapidly. A Chinese-American told me, “I have been very disappointed every time when I visited China. On street, people elbow their way; they do not obey traffic laws. The people are so impolite and unfriendly. Law to many people is only a noun with no context. It is a known fact that corruption in China is very common. I think the Chinese should learn from U.S. in many ways, not the other way around.” I can only say, be patient with the new China; 60 years is still very young. All cultures must learn from each other. That is the best way for each nation to develop.

CONCLUSION

In “A Daoist Renaissance”, author Anthony Alexander concludes, “But perhaps it is in the West that an appreciation of the Dao will bring the ripest fruit. This is primarily because Daoism is a philosophy of action that describes humanity as inescapably part of nature rather than in any way separate from it. The new paradigm of science, Gaia and systems theory remains a referential framework within the edifice of modern rationalist inquiry. It does not speak of individual ethical action with the same weight of experience as the millennia-old wisdom of Daoism. What the new paradigm of science offers is rational explanation for a model of nature that Daoism has built up by experience rather than analysis. They can be thought of as different paths up the same mountain, the view from which represents understanding of the natural world.”

In reviewing the modern history of the last three hundred years, one cannot help but come to a similar conclusion as Alexander. Religions from Middle East, Democracy from Greece, and Harmony from Far East all grew from ancient cultures. But America, the most endowed dynamic young country, is more rigorous in propagating Christianity and democracy around the world.

It may be more fruitful for America to combine U.S. values, such as human rights, with harmony components in Daoism and Confucianism that will be beneficial to a better ecology and lead to a more harmonious world. Judging by the past success of America in advocating and propagating Christiananity and Democracy, if history repeats itself, America can play a major role in spearheading Harmony Renaissance by leading China out of her current uncertainty in transitioning to a global power. In a multilateral world, all nations have a responsibility to practice Harmony Renaissance, especially major powers that are endowed with resources. What needs to happen is for President Obama, who claims himself as the first U.S. Pacific President, to continue his Harmony Diplomacy and exercise the Harmony value of soft power. Better yet, one can hope for America and China to reach a harmony consensus, as happened in the Copenhagen Climate Conference. That will certainly add needed momentum to the world Harmony Renaissance.

May Harmony Renaissance prevail in the world!

Francis C W Fung, Ph.D.
Director General
World harmony Organization
Edited by James C Townsend
info@worldharmonyorg.net
Appendix A
President Obama calls for greater inter-faith harmony

Posted: Friday, June 5, 2009 7:08 pm


US President Barrack Obama used his first visit to Africa to call for religious harmony and an end to Islamic extremism often expressed violently. In his speech in Cairo yesterday, President Obama emphasized that “the people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth.”People should come together regardless of religious and racial differences and root out extremists who threaten world peace, the President said.He declared that the US is interested in raising the economic, education scientific status of Muslim communities around the world through exchange programs.“I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles - principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.”His speech comes at a time that relations between the United States and the Muslim world are strained. After the September 9/11 continued efforts by extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some Americans to view Islam as inevitably hostile.President Obama acknowledged the fact that there are nearly 7 million Muslims in America and was happy that today they enjoyed incomes and education that are higher than average.The US President called for religious tolerance, recalling his childhood experience in Indonesia, where devout Christians worshiped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country.“That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways.”President Obama castigated the tendency among some Muslims to measure one's own faith by the rejection of another's. “The richness of religious diversity must be upheld - whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt. And fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well, as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.”The President also urged Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit - for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. “We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.”On the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East, President Obama expressed his deep desire for lasting peace.“Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed. All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear; when the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to minglepeacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.”Source: CISA


Appendix B
A DAOIST RENAISSANCE
Can China's ancient Dao philosophy help its current ecological crisis?
IN AUGUST 2005 the Chinese government formally commissioned British design consultancy Arup to create Dongtan Eco-city, a new urban development for 100,000 people just outside Shanghai. Opening in 2010, it will be a showcase for low-impact modern development and will be the largest of a number of projects China is undertaking to engage with sustainability.
China's environment has suffered many problems over the last half-century. In the words of Jasper Becker, writing in the National Geographic, "With 1.3 billion people the implications of its gallop towards Western-style consumer society are sobering." These are not just problems for China, facing a giant public health crisis, but for the whole world. The implementation of Western modernity at a rate and scale a thousand times greater than in the Industrial Revolution means China alone may conclusively tip global ecosystems to breaking point.
Professor Sir Peter Hall, president of the UK's Town and Country Planning Association and one of the consultants for Dongtan, describes China as full of contradictions: "On the one hand there are very deep beliefs in the harmony of the universe, as seen in their historic temples and gardens. On the other hand, there is this nightmarish worship of modernity." Today the Chinese Government is becoming aware that the nation's 3,000-year heritage should be a source of national pride. What is less apparent is the significance of their civilisation once being governed by the world's most sophisticated philosophy regarding human interrelation with the natural world.
The belief system we call Daoism dates back to at least 500 BCE and promotes long life, peace and the veneration of nature through understanding the Dao, or the Way of the natural world. Achieving harmony with the Dao is sought by understanding how qi energy flows through everything according to the principles of yin (yielding) and yang (asserting), and how these principles dynamically balance and interact. How is this ancient school of thought and practice relevant today? Can Daoism tell us anything today about our role in the world, and can it help either China or the West address the environmental crisis of the modern industrial world?
Daoism defies simple categorisation by Western academic method, as central to its approach to knowledge is personal experiential practice, as seen in the Daoist arts of wu-shu, better known in the West as T'ai chi and kung fu. Daoist ('traditional Chinese') medicine, increasingly familiar in the West, comprising herbalism and acupuncture, is known for its effectiveness, even if its explanations are at odds with modern science. Feng shui, too, far from being a guide to arranging one's furniture, was originally the sophisticated Daoist art of urban planning that would ensure that settlements lay in harmony with the landscape and would not be at risk from flooding, soil erosion and other similar natural calamities.
AN ORTHODOX DAOIST priesthood has existed since the 1st century CE. The height of its influence on the state was between the 7th and 14th centuries, when Emperors led Daoist rituals from the temple complexes that still perch on top of China's sacred mountains. Besides being global leaders in medicine, agriculture and urban planning they were also technologists who created countless inventions that we now take for granted, from wrought iron to gunpowder, folding umbrellas to paddle boats. The Daoist notion of spiritual technology, however, went so far as to imbue religious value to tools that benefited physical and spiritual development.
Yet the Chinese were unable to achieve a European-style Industrial Revolution, precisely because they did not pursue an objective or abstract conception of the universe independent from human subjectivity. In Europe, this abstraction permitted the mathematical modelling of nature that led to modern science and the mechanistic paradigm. It was this 'failure' that led to Daoism being suppressed as feudal superstition by the Qing (Manchu) dynasty in the early 20th century. However, the increasing persecution that followed the arrival of Mao in the 1940s led to a Chinese diaspora that has seen Daoist practices take root in the West. Meanwhile, longstanding Chinese communities in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan remained centres of Daoist culture.
Since the 1980s, under the auspices of the Chinese State Bureau of Religious Affairs there has been a revival of Daoism; the major sects of the Daoist priesthood have been steadily rebuilding their heritage, and the Chinese Daoist Association now includes some 45,000 priests and nuns in several thousand temples, monasteries and hermitages. They have been at the forefront of grassroots-level environmental work in China.
For nearly 2,000 years it has been the duty of Daoist priests to promote respect for nature and personal responsibility for the impact that one's actions have. Ordination rites once commanded priests to compel their congregations not to contaminate water, cut down trees unnecessarily or trap birds or animals. Universal peace was promoted not least because warfare involved a huge drain on natural resources, which often prompted further conflict.
The Daoist priesthood today encourages its millions of followers to cultivate new forest cover to repair denuded landscapes, to preserve wild habitats and to engage in social welfare and disaster relief. By directly working with their local communities, Daoists offer a practical bottom-up approach to counter the commendable, but poorly enforced, top-down environmental pronouncements from the central Government.
For Daoists, care for the Earth is religious duty as nature is sacred. Daoists pre-empt modern holistic scientists who know our atoms are born in the hearts of stars and our biology is inescapably linked to an interdependent ecosystem, as they see humanity as inseparable from Earth (nature) and Heaven (the sky and the universe). Their principal belief is that human intellect makes us uniquely capable of deviating from the natural order of the Dao for reasons of greed or ignorance; hence the need for Daoist teaching.
This profoundly practical insight makes Daoism greatly relevant today. At a fundamental level, Western thought seeks truth by what can be shown to be logically valid and is supported by experimental evidence. As such, it has a referential relationship with nature, founded on an idealised, abstract view that is external to the physical world it refers to. Daoist knowledge, by contrast, always perceives the natural world as something that can only be understood by experience, and as something that can be acted on only with due humility. Thus it has a 'deferential' view towards nature. The Chinese language itself does not give the same degree of certainty to words or names as Western languages do; hence specific reference is weaker and potential metaphorical association stronger. The Daoists' aesthetic approach to nature never escapes from the perspective of the individual, and the perception of nature is essentially an aspect of one's spiritual understanding.
ALTHOUGH DAOISTS PLAY an important and a growing role in modern China, on the surface they remain at the margins of society. The Daoist priesthood clearly sits in the role of a religious institution in a secular state, and it is concerned with preserving and practising an ancient tradition. Yet the broader philosophy of Daoism is so central a root of Chinese thought that it is as ubiquitous as, say, the Protestant work ethic is in the West; its deep influence is maintained despite the rise of secularism.
Paradox and contradiction are constructs of Western logic, and so the two intellectual and cultural ideologies of traditional Chinese metaphysics and industrial modernity remain in a strange but workable juxtaposition in modern China. Is a synthesis between the two possible? For China, a newly found respect for its heritage and an understanding of the role it played may open a new awareness of the natural world and an understanding of the consequence of human action that does not respect the power of the Dao. Daoism is finding a new role, and has wisely pronounced its compatibility with the socialist status quo by highlighting its role in promoting moral behaviour, altruism and personal responsibility. The focus on balance as a spiritual virtue means restraining from greed and wasteful (bourgeois) extravagance whilst promoting basic material welfare and reduction of poverty. Wealth is something that it is right to seek, but not if it creates disharmony. The Chinese government is currently looking at how it can interpret economic growth in a new way. The China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development is considering economic frameworks for clean, green growth. Whether Daoism will be considered in processes such as this or in projects such as Dongtan is hard to say.
But perhaps it is in the West that an appreciation of the Dao will bring the ripest fruit. This is primarily because Daoism is a philosophy of action that describes humanity as inescapably part of nature rather than in any way separate from it. The new paradigm of science, Gaia and systems theory, remains a referential framework within the edifice of modern rationalist inquiry. It does not speak of individual ethical action with the same weight of experience as the millennia-old wisdom of Daoism. What the new paradigm of science offers is rational explanation for a model of nature that Daoism has built up by experience rather than analysis. They can be thought of as different paths up the same mountain, the view from which represents understanding of the natural world.
Just as chaos theory shows that the universe can never be fully comprehended by human intellect, the Daoist classic Daode Jing begins by stating that the eternal Dao is beyond human definition. The Dao can be thought of as essentially describing the laws of science in action. The principles of yin and yang describe how systems behave, mirroring aspects of positive and negative feedback, where one amplifies and strengthens and the other weakens and dissipates.
Any Westerner learning Daoist arts aids the renaissance of a belief system that is radically different from that of the modern world. As China reopens to the outside world - for only the second time in the modern era - the West is encountering a civilisation built on profoundly different beliefs from those of the Semitic and Greek traditions. Today, China is looking to the West for advice on solving its environmental problems, from the Dongtan Eco-city to William McDonough's cradle-to-cradle sustainable village in Huangbaiyu.
If it is these projects that are scaled up to accommodate the 350 million people expected to move into urban developments in China over the next twenty-five years, and if sustainability can spread throughout urban China, then there is hope for a better future. Daoism shows that only by living in harmony with nature can humanity avoid misery. We must hope that an appreciation for the upper limits of acceptable human impact on the ecosystems on which our lives depend can be achieved and acted upon. Fortunately the philosophy of Daoism offers some hope that the latest understandings of environmental science can be balanced with an ancient environmental wisdom to offer a harmonious future for the East and the West. o
Anthony Alexander is a writer, artist and film-maker. www.greenmanproductions.co.uk
Appendix C
The Confucian renaissance
> By Todd Crowell
> "It is clear the success of Japan and the "Four Tigers" (Korea, > Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore) owe much to such essential Confucian > precepts as self-discipline, social harmony, strong families and a > reverence for education."
> In his 19th-century classic, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of > Capitalism, German sociologist Max Weber argued that Asian values were > incompatible with the development of a modern economic system. He saw > in the brand of Christianity practiced in northern Europe the only > ethical system with the attributes needed to make capitalism work.
> At the beginning of the 20th century, many Asian intellectuals might > have agreed with him. Commenting on Confucianism, the Chinese leftist > thinker, Chen Duxiu, said in 1916, "If we want to build a new society > on the Western model in order to survive in
> the world, we must courageously throw away that which is incompatible > with the new belief, the new society, the new state."
> History, of course, has proved Weber and Chen wrong. It is now plain > that the most dynamic practitioners of capitalism at the dawn of the > 21st century are to be found in Asia. More strikingly, all of them are > located within what might be called a Confucian cultural zone.
> It is clear the success of Japan and the "Four Tigers" (Korea, Taiwan, > Hong Kong and Singapore) owe much to such essential Confucian precepts > as self-discipline, social harmony, strong families and a reverence > for education. That has led to unprecedented - and increasingly broad- > based international interest in the creed. Yet the Confucian > renaissance may only be in its early phases.
> For most of the last century, Confucius (or Kongfuzi - Master Kong) > has been under a cloud in his homeland. Everyone from late Qing > dynasty reformers to revolutionary communists blamed his teaching for > a host of ills, ranging from feudal oppression to economic > backwardness. But recently, Beijing's leaders have begun to > characterize the sage's philosophy as a national treasure that will > benefit today's Chinese.
> September's official celebration of the birth of Confucius was the > biggest since the People's Republic of China was established in 1949. > The state-controlled television broadcast festivities surrounding his > 2,556th birthday on September 28 on a scale never before seen in > China. More than 2,500, including many fairly high-ranking Communist > Party cadres, made a pilgrimage to the philosopher's birthplace at > Qufu in Shandong province.
> The latest government line is that Confucianism can serve as a moral > foundation to help build a more "harmonious society" in keeping with > President (and Communist Party General Secretary) Hu Jintao's efforts > to address social problems such as the polarization of society and a > wide spread "money first" mentality.
> It is little surprise that Chinese leaders are seeking to rehabilitate > their country's most famous and influential thinker. In the moral void > opened by the decline of Marxism and the abundance of material > temptations, Confucianism can help provide the nation with a much- > needed ethical anchor. And success in these endeavors would allow > China's leaders to strengthen their hold on another Confucian bequest > - the "mandate of heaven", or the right to rule.
> What is the relevance of Confucianism in modern times? Which tenets > have served East Asia well - and could help other nations and > cultures? What are the pitfalls to be avoided? Of all the world's > great canons, Confucianism is the most practical. What concerned him > most were people's relationships with one another and with the state. > He also focused on social justice and good government. Ren or > benevolence was the pillar of the master's thought.
> Another was learning. Whether East Asian countries include The > Analects (sayings of Confucius) in their social curriculums, they all > understand that education is the root of national strength and > prosperity. The ingrained respect for knowledge - and for the teacher > who imparts it - is the key factor in the outstanding academic > performance of East Asians on a global basis.
> One can see Confucianism alive in a modern way in Singapore when a > secondary student is reprimanded for blogging about his teacher in a > negative light. For that matter, the Pennsylvania court that upheld a > school district for expelling a student who, ranting on the Internet, > called his teacher a range of bad names and displayed a picture with > her head cut off was also, knowingly or not, upholding Confucian > values.
> Yet the long-time preoccupation with reciting the Nine Classics > (ancient musical pieces) has also produced educational systems in Asia > that stress memorization at the expense of creative thinking. This is > a distortion of Confucian philosophy, which emphasized both knowledge > and thought. The master said: "He who does not think is lost. He who > thinks but does not learn is in great danger."
> To the master, the family was fundamental to the social order. "If the > family is properly regulated, the state will be too," he reasoned. No > amount of legislation, Confucius taught, could either take the > family's place or perform its function as the linchpin of a well- > ordered society. In the master's world, children defer to parents, > wives to their husbands and subjects to rulers in a natural > progression.
> He tended to relegate women to the margins of public affairs, though > he may merely have been reflecting the prevalent values of his time. > Today a nation shortchanges itself if it does not follow a saying of > another Chinese thinker, Mao Zedong, "women hold up half the sky".
> In return for the loyalty of subjects, Confucius demanded that a ruler > display benevolence and unstintingly serve their interests. If he > didn't, citizens had the right to remonstrate. Mencius, the second- > most influential Confucian philosopher, later developed the concept of > a "divine right of rebellion". If an emperor became a tyrant, he would > lose the mandate of heaven and people would overthrow him. Today they > might simply throw the leader out of office in an election. Confucius > and democracy are not incompatible.
> Throughout history, the rigid and unthinking application of Confucian > principles repeatedly produced complacent closed societies that were > unable to make progress. They paid a terrible price: foreign > subjugation and internal upheaval. Modern Confucians must guard > against repeating such mistakes. If they succeed in adapting their > time-tested heritage to contemporary challenges, Master Kong's > teaching may blossom beyond East Asia to enrich all mankind in the > next century.
> Veteran Asia correspondent Todd Crowell comments on Asian affairs.

Appendix D
Harmony Renaissance Preamble & Declaration


HARMONY RENAISSANCE PREAMBLE

In the East harmony as a social science theory was evolved from natural science observation by Lao Zi. Human in harmony with the universe is called Tian Ren He Yi.
Einstein was also quoted as saying the order of nature is not accidental. Harmony is the order of nature. Harmony belongs to the World and to the Universe.


HARMONY RENAISSANCE DECLARATION
Harmony is the highest common value. Renaissance is action. Together they have life. Harmony is the order of natural science and the fundamental law of the universe. Harmony is dynamic energy balance and is also the principle of universe creation. From the very beginning, the Universe is created by the infinite invisible energy in the firmament. The invisible energy that created the universe can also be called DAO.
Lao Zi said "Dao created one, one created two, two created three, three created all things. All things carry Ying and embrace Yang. Dynamic balance creates harmony." Lao Zi's harmony theory of universe is in unison with modern quantum physics. Harmony renaissance is the guiding principle to be applied to natural and social sciences. It is the break through that will take us to the next level of human creativity andaccomplishment beyond European Renaissance.


WORLD HARMONY ORGANIZATION
SPRING 2006, SAN FRANCISCO

世界和谐复兴序言
作为社会科学理论,东方和谐源于老子对自然科学的观察。
人类与自然和谐,为天人合一。
爱因斯坦说过,自然有其规律,而非偶然。和谐是自然的规律。
和谐属于世界,属于自然。
世界和谐复兴宣言
和谐是人类最高的共同价值,复兴是行动。和谐复兴,赋予新生命。
和谐是自然科学的规律,是宇宙的基本定律。
和谐是动态能量的平衡,是创造自然的法则。
混沌于始,广袤无边的无形能量创造了宇宙。
这种创造宇宙的无形能量,为道。
老子曰:“道生一、一生二、二生三、三生万物。
万物负阴而抱阳,冲气以为和。”老子的自然和谐理论与现代的量子力学异曲同工。
和谐复兴是自然科学和社会科学的指导纲领。必将突破现状,使人类的创造力提高到一个新的水平,超越欧洲文艺复兴的成就。

World Harmony Organization
Spring, 2006, San Francisco

Monday, December 21, 2009

HARMONY DIPLOMACY CONVEYS ULTIMATE UNIVERSAL SOFT POWER

HARMONY DIPLOMACY CONVEYS
ULTIMATE UNIVERSAL SOFT POWER

INTRODUCTION

U.S. President Barrack Obama used his first visit to Africa to call for religious harmony (see Appendix A). On his October, 2009 visit to Asia, he was practicing Harmony Diplomacy. He treated Asian nations big or small as equals with America and with respect. For this, he was blamed by some U.S. media and politicians as weak and not preaching enough of our values. But, Harmony Diplomacy advocates the value of universal harmony. It has a mutual cultural attraction when practiced. In Harmony Diplomacy, there is no need for any nation to preach its values. Just set an example, as President Obama did.

Harmony as a universal common value has been taught by ancient philosophers and major world religions (see the Golden Rules of world religions and philosophy in Appendix B). As a world common value, it has been practiced since time memorial. The Twelve Harmony Virtues consist of TOLERANCE, ACCEPTANCE, RESPECT, KINDNESS, FORGIVENESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, PATIENCE, EQUITY, NONVIOLENCE, GREEN ECOLOGY, AND CONSERVATION (See Appendix C). The understanding of harmony as a world culture is deep rooted in that it includes all human relations in the family, in society, within oneself, between countries, and with nature. It is also commonly expressed in art and music. Harmony in music is the highest form of expression, which reaches a crescendo in symphonic composition. In the union of men and women, the highest climax is achieved when both physically resonate together. This is when men and women reach the highest state of harmony. We are all born with innate souls attuned for harmony.

HARMONY DIPLOMACY CONVEYS ULTIMATE UNIVERSAL SOFT POWER

Harvard Professor Joseph Nye first coined the phrase “soft power” in foreign relations a decade ago. He proposed it as a foreign policy tool to complement the inadequacy of hard military power during the Iraq war. Since then, soft power has been widely discussed and adopted by various governments as an essential part of national foreign policies. The U.S. is a prime example of a nation that has vast soft power because of its economic, cultural, and political accomplishments. However, less endowed developing nations are also tuning in to national soft power by virtue of their cultural heritage.

The practice of diplomacy by means of harmony virtues will inevitably restore the true meaning of diplomacy. In its most simple form, Harmony Diplomacy means giving respect to other nations and treating them as equals. By giving others dignity, Harmony Diplomacy makes friends and not enemies. We need to understand that our Moslem brothers are yearning for the dignity to which all men are entitled.

Harmony Diplomacy can convey universal cultural soft power to rally the world around our cause without resorting to war. In this concerted way, any extremist movement can be neutralized and eventually vanish due to lack of support by any of the world’s peoples. Harmony advocates non-violence, but it is not passive. Harmony is a natural force that keeps opposing forces in dynamic balance to avoid extremes. The whole universe is expanding and is in a dynamic balance of all the invisible energy. Without harmony, the universe will self-destruct. Harmony is the order of nature.

Harmony Diplomacy advocates a dynamic balance of the extremes. It is definitely not passivism, as some may think. As an ultimate universal soft power, it will rally the world to neutralize the extremists. When harmony reigns, the cause for extremism self-evaporates. Harmony Diplomacy will win the support of the world to generate the necessary momentum as the most effective soft power in a multilateral world.

In practicing Harmony Diplomacy, there is no need to preach our own values. Harmony is the most universal common value and an attractive world cultural value. Harmony regulates all human relations plus our relation with nature and the universe. Harmony Renaissance propagates best by resonance, nature’s preferred way of propagation.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER FORMS OF SUCCESSFUL DIPLOMACY IN THE PAST?

The most notable diplomacy of the past was the Gun Boat Diplomacy, by which the European powers victimized many nations and reduced many developing nations to colonial or semi-colonial states. Later, Gun Boat Diplomacy evolved into the Power Diplomacy of the early 1900s. For almost half a century after World War II, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. were locked in the so-called Cold War; the most successful diplomacy during the Cold War era was the Cultural, Freedom, and Democracy Diplomacy that led to the collapse of the Soviet Empire without a major nuclear war. Since then, America has been a unilateral world power without contest. However, despite America’s supreme military power and soft power, the Iraq Wars have proved that neither Power Diplomacy nor Democracy Diplomacy is consistently effective.

Now, at the beginning of 21st Century, democracy is well recognized as the governance system of choice, as witnessed by the many new nations or political parties that profess democracy. However, different world nations are in different stages of historical development. Democracy is not an exportable commodity. Iraq has proved that, without harmony, an ancient culture does not readily evolve into a modern democracy. A nation can grow its own democracy only when it is in harmony within itself. After all, harmony regulates all human relations, including our relationship with nature. Democracy, in essence, is just harmony between the government and its citizens.

The lessons learned by America from the Iraq War led to the propositions of Faith Diplomacy, Value Diplomacy, and Smart Diplomacy. Two U.S. Secretaries of State, Madeline Albright and Hilary Clinton, are behind these new paradigms. While Faith Diplomacy went by the wayside, due to the simple fact that religions are divisive without harmony, the suggestions of Value Diplomacy and Smart Diplomacy are smart but are too vague to have lasting meaning.

HARMONY DIPLOMACY IS IN —
OTHER FORMS OF OLD DIPLOMACY ARE OUT

The 21st Century heralds the arrival of a true multilateral world due to the rise of developing countries. None of the previous different forms of diplomacy is adequate or acceptable to the brave new world. Only Harmony Diplomacy is all-inclusive enough to be acceptable. Institutionalized religions are inherently divisive unless unified by harmony. While Faith Diplomacy will not work unless all religions are unified in harmony, all religions teach harmony (see the Golden rules of world religions in Appendix A). A simple search on Google will find harmony is in; “Harmony among Religions”, “Harmony between Science and Religion”, “Harmony with Nature”, “Harmony among Brothers”, and “Harmony among Nations” are widely sung and praised by diverse cultures and religions.

I believe that soon harmony will surpass freedom and democracy as the most cited and embraced universal common value in international relations. The lightning development speed of the 21st century communication information highway opens to an inevitable multilateral world. Harmony is the most universal and inclusive common value that is relevant to all human interactions. Our Harmony Renaissance is upon us. It is the next creative energy wave that mankind is waiting for to lead us out of religious and ideological strife. Harmony Diplomacy is in. President Obama’s Harmony Diplomacy in Copenhagen greatly enhanced climate change cooperation and made an agreement possible.

In the 20th century, America, as the most endowed and dynamic country, was very successful in promoting our Freedom and Democracy values. In the 21st century multilateral world, wouldn’t it be rational for America to advocate a world Harmony Renaissance? Harmony, as the most inclusive common value, is culturally attractive to all diverse cultures. Harmony Renaissance, with all-embracing values, will lead the world to unity in diversity. That is the best way for a multilateral world to progress together. Rather than play follow up, America has a unique opportunity under President Obama, our multicultural leader, to lead the world to achieve unity in diversity. This Harmony Renaissance is the inevitable tide of the 21st century. It is the next wave of creative energy that mankind is waiting for.

Francis C W Fung, Ph.D.
Director General
World Harmony Organization Dec.2009 \
Edited by James C Townsend
info@worldharmonyorg.net

Appendix A. News Article posted by Catholic Information Service for Africa on June 10, 2009 (boldface added)
President Obama calls for greater inter-faith harmony

Posted: Friday, June 5, 2009 7:08 pm


US President Barrack Obama used his first visit to Africa to call for religious harmony and an end to Islamic extremism often expressed violently. In his speech in Cairo yesterday, President Obama emphasized that “the people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth.”People should come together regardless of religious and racial differences and root out extremists who threaten world peace, the President said.He declared that the US is interested in raising the economic, education scientific status of Muslim communities around the world through exchange programs.“I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles - principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.”His speech comes at a time that relations between the United States and the Muslim world are strained. After the September 9/11 continued efforts by extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some Americans to view Islam as inevitably hostile.President Obama acknowledged the fact that there are nearly 7 million Muslims in America and was happy that today they enjoyed incomes and education that are higher than average.The US President called for religious tolerance, recalling his childhood experience in Indonesia, where devout Christians worshiped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country.“That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways.”President Obama castigated the tendency among some Muslims to measure one's own faith by the rejection of another's. “The richness of religious diversity must be upheld – whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt. And fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well, as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.”The President also urged Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit - for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. “We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.”On the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East, President Obama expressed his deep desire for lasting peace.“Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed. All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear; when the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.”
APPENDIX B. Golden Rule quotes from different religions
You may be interested in these Golden rule quotes from different religions and philosophies. The list is taken from the Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 9, 1975. Harmony faith goes even further. We treat each other with humility, tolerance, respect, acceptance, gentleness, equity, and forgiveness.
Christianity
All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
King James version: Matt. 7:12
Islam
None of you is a believer if he does not desire for his brother that which he desires for himself.
Sunna
Judaism
That which you hold as detestable, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Law: the rest is but commentary.
Talmud, Sabbat, 21a
Brahmanism (orthodox Hinduism)
Such is the sum of duty: do not do to others that which, to you, would do harm to yourself.
Mahabharta, 5, 1517
Buddhism
Injure not others in the manner that would injure you.
Udana-Varga, 3, 18
Confucianism
Here certainly is the golden maxim: do not do to others that which we do not want them to do to us.
Analects, 15, 23
Taoism
Consider that your neighbor gains your gain and that your neighbor loses that which you lose.
T'ai Shang Kan Ying Pien
Zoroastrianism
That nature alone is good which checks itself from doing to others that which would not be good for itself.
Dadistan-i-dinik, 94, 5
Reprinted with permission from Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 9, 1975.

Appendix C. TWELVE VIRTUES OF HARMONY RENAISSANCE

Harmony is the most common value of mankind. All ancient cultural heritages include harmony faith. Twentieth century history has been dominated by Western ideals of Freedom, Liberty, and Democracy. These ideals revolutionized the relations between citizens and their governments. These changes resulted in today’s modern Western government systems. Harmony is an ancient ideal of more than two thousand years old. It is a system of beliefs that include all relations between individuals, within oneself, within the family, between citizen and government, between nations, and down to between humans and nature. As an all-inclusive faith for conflict resolution, harmony belief has been neglected for over two centuries. The modern society, in its departure from harmony faith, tends to be very materialistic. Evolution by the survival of the fittest has been inordinately emphasized.

Today’s conflicted world of religious and ideological confrontations calls for the revival of harmony faith. The World Harmony Organization is dedicated to the pursuit of Harmony Renaissance. Our mission is to work with the United Nations to support a modern harmony culture that can begin to harmonize relations between nations as well as between man and nature. There is no higher healing between faiths than Harmony Renaissance. Harmony Renaissance reconciles all faiths, religions, and ideologies when it is upheld by the international community as a New World Order.

Harmony is the order of nature and the operating principle of the universe. Harmony Faith, as the order of universe, is proclaimed in our Harmony Renaissance Preamble and Declaration. This was delivered as a speech at the April 25, 2008 U.N. Spring Festival. A further disclosure of Harmony Faith is also attached in the article titled “Harmony Faith, the Order of the Universe”, or click www.scribd.com/fcwfung for our over 200 Harmony essays.

Harmony Renaissance is the inevitable tide humans are waiting to bring us to the next level of accomplishment beyond European Renaissance. To participate in this second wave of dynamic harmony movement, follow the twelve virtues of Harmony Renaissance that are presented here. They are: TOLERANCE, ACCEPTANCE, RESPECT, KINDNESS, FORGIVENESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, PATIENCE, EQUITY, NONVIOLENCE, GREEN ECOLOGY, AND CONSERVATION. The last two are actions we now must collectively take urgently to harmonize with nature in order to avoid catastrophe on earth.

We propose that the United Nations every year organize an international artists’ contest for the best combination of poetry and art work to extol the twelve Harmony Renaissance virtues. Each year, the selected first ten submissions will be published worldwide as that year’s calendars for world distribution. In this way, it will become an important tradition for mankind to start each year with harmony inspirations. So, Harmony Renaissance and the 12 virtues of harmony will live in the hearts of mankind. We can also proclaim the first month of each year as Harmony Renaissance month to advocate the twelve virtues of harmony culture.

Francis C W Fung, Ph.D.
Director General,
World harmony Organization
Edited by James C Townsend
Francis@worldharmonyorg.net

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

SECRETS OF CHINESE WORDS AND SAYINGS: ANCIENT WISDOM FOR TODAY

SECRETS OF CHINESE WORDS AND SAYINGS: ANCIENT WISDOM FOR TODAY
Wednesday, 16. December 2009, 23:45:41
SECRETS OF CHINESE WORDS AND SAYINGS: ANCIENT WISDOM FOR TODAYTHE IMPORTANCE OF CHINESE LANGUAGE TO MODERN SUCCESS

WWW.WORLDHARMONYORG.NET
BY FRANCIS C. W. FUNG, PH.D.

The importance of learning the Chinese language is not limited to the fact that almost one fourth of the world’s population, in East and South Asia and the rest of the world use it wholly or partly. Neither is the newly discovered importance of Chinese language in world commerce and world affairs. Apart from its uniquely beautiful calligraphy the Chinese language obviously also has inherent world cultural significance. Most of all to the author, the Chinese nation owes its repute as a nation of wisdom to the innovative cultural formation of its language. This I will venture to elaborate in this announcement. Learning the distinctly spatial Chinese words will expand the mental capacity of citizens of the world who speak native phonetic tongues, increasing their capacities for different types of intelligence. Added to this is the cultural wisdom embedded in the formation of the characters, and in the meaning of Chinese sayings.

As most of the major languages of the word are phonetic, a bilingual person who also speaks Chinese will exercise different parts of his brain in their daily undertakings.The Chinese nation with its continuous and uninterrupted history of 5000 years stands out among ancient nations of the world. Its language is early and being non-phonetic is also unique among world languages. Chinese pictographs or characters were discovered as early as 3000 years ago and predated oracle bones. The Chinese characters were created by diverse ingenious and imaginative ways throughout its long history. It is a collective treasure of wisdom and art by design. Different from the world’s major phonetic languages, the Chinese language consists of a system of more than 5000 basic characters instead of a limited number of letters in an alphabet. This larger system of basic characters at one hand presents a challenge to non native learners at the outset but it also renders Chinese a language of wisdom as we shall soon realize.

From this creatively crafted system of basic characters, new words, two- word- “nomenclatures” and four- word- “ Chinese sayings” (CHENG YU) are innovatively created to suit evolution of times. For example the word commonly meaning patience (REN) is the character knife edge (REN) held above the character heart (XIN). The world martial (WU) is formed by the character stop (ZI) and the character weapon (GE). The word war (ZAN) is composed by two parts (DAN) and (GE) meaning unilateral and weapon. The term crisis is formed by the two words meaning danger and opportunity (WEI JI) simultaneously. The term harmony is made up of two words each of two characters ( HE XIE) together they mean content and consensus. Thus the words patience, martial, crisis and harmony impart deeper wisdom above mere meaning for the common use of the words. This continuing development has persisted without major disruption for 5000 years. A well learned Chinese shows his pedigree by frequent use of these cultural related nomenclatures and other famous sayings as explained in the following. Thus the Chinese language incorporates the richness of the Chinese historical development and culture.

There are many modern advantages to the Chinese language. The modern Japanese and Korean languages evolved from heavy dependence of Chinese words into phonetic languages during recent history. Because of the usefulness and versatility of the Chinese characters, today many educated Japanese and Koreans read Chinese characters and still prefer not to totally divorce from the use of Chinese words. Most of all, the Chinese language is attractive to those well heeled in the wisdom and cultural content of the innovative words, nomenclatures and famous sayings mentioned previously. Individual Chinese characters are monosyllabic, and the four character sayings which embody Chinese wisdom are as short and as easy to learn and memorize as acronyms in English. These acronyms like simple wisdom phrases are handed down through generations and become the cumulative reservoir of Chinese cultural jewels with deep meaning. Two most well known four word idioms are (Zhi Ji Zhi Bi, Bai zhan Bai Sheng), together they mean “know thyself and know thy enemy, hundred battles hundred victories.” This has come to be one of the utmost important military strategies of all time. Because it is simple and easy to remember like an eight letter acronym, even Chinese kids know it by heart.

The other modern advantages of the Chinese language are many. Chinese language is concise and compact. A similar length book in Chinese will take half the space of a phonetic language book. Because of its compact pictographs, Chinese writing lends itself readily for speed reading. As a bilingual person of 50 years and receiving most of my education in America, I can read Chinese books much faster than English books. This makes it significantly less of a chore to go through long documents in Chinese than English.Chinese verbal commands are more limited in sounds, because the basic system of characters are finite in number so are Chinese words. English alphabets may be only twenty six but the sounds of phonetic English words are infinite. Thus the first fully functional verbal input computer most likely will be Chinese. The first Chinese language input computer is well advanced is well on its way to commercialization. This will eliminate the key board input disadvantage of Chinese language computer once and for all. Although current key board input Chinese language computers are reasonably efficient, the verbal input Chinese language computer may prove to be even more efficient and easy to use.

As a bilingual person practicing a wide range of disciplines of study from physical sciences to social sciences, from commerce to international affairs I have discovered a curious phenomenon. Over the years I noticed that many of my Chinese associates and myself are more adept in picking up new disciplines of studies. It also seems rather easy for Chinese to practice new discipline in late life. My personal career of over 50 years has included many vastly different fields and professions. The reason may be the threshold of crossing between various disciplines, is lower in Chinese language. Or Chinese culture is a more flexible and harmonious from aeronautics to world affairs. To reach definitive conclusion on this interesting premise will require more detail analysis on the possibilities of the Chinese language and the Chinese learning attitude.

One obvious observation that surfaces is the fact that Chinese nomenclatures in different disciplines are more standardized because the meaning of the common pictographs that makes the different jargons of the trades. In the English language jargons, it is easy to deliberately create different new jargons for different trades. By nature of the phonetic language infinite number of words with different sounds can be created by combination and permutation of the 26 alphabets. This does not necessarily make cross discipline studies any easier. Because the Chinese system of basic characters is finite, even when the Chinese nomenclatures appear to be different in each discipline the pictographs will give away its intended meaning. The beauty of the Chinese pictograph language system as opposed to the phonetic system most of the world uses, is its relative simplicity. Once a Chinese learner knows a relatively small sample of pictographs he is less likely to need the dictionary when pursuing a new discipline. This significantly lowers the threshold of cross discipline studies and communications.

This introductory announcement of the secrets of the Chinese words and sayings is an excerpt of a compilation of the wisdom of ancient Chinese language for modern success. This new compilation entitled “Secrets of Chinese Words and Sayings: Ancient Wisdom for Success Today” goes beyond the usual writings on Chinese wisdom for success. The compilation goes into the secret roots of the Chinese words and language itself beyond the mere scope of Chinese ancient philosophical and military wisdom in print. We welcome comments and contributions on Chinese ancient wisdom and the modern importance of the Chinese language from our interested readers.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

EUROPEAN RENAISSANCE AND HARMONY RENAISSANCE

EUROPEAN RENAISSANCE AND HARMONY RENAISSANCE
Tuesday, 15. December 2009, 23:35:11
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EUROPEAN RENAISSANCE AND HARMONY RENAISSANCE

Thank you for sharing with us your wisdom on ancient Chinese culture. Laotze, Confusius, Mohzi and their students have all passed to the world their harmony teaching. Harmony culture is the heritage of the world. All major religions of the world teach harmony (see appendix B). It is up to us to move the teaching forward to modernity. Harmony is a dynamic balance of extremes. It is the fundamental law of the universe. It is neither passive nor static. Any ancient teaching is subject to change to keep up with human progress, Confucius teaching is no exception.What we can learn from European Renaissance is that it took the rediscovery of ancient democratic ideals, after Dark Age and in four hundred years, evolved into today's democracy and modern science and technology. But that happened during the rise of the West.With the rise of Asia it is time for ancient harmony culture to evolve by Harmony Renaissance. This is the big picture. In our discussion, let us not lose sight of the big picture.

In a multilateral world, cultural interaction must be diverse. Cultural exchange cannot just flow from West to East unending. This one-sided unbalance is the cause most of today’s world conflicts. Harmony Renaissance brings a breath of fresh air from the East to the West. Harmony Renaissance is inevitable. It is the next creative energy wave mankind is waiting for. It will unshackle us from the bondage of current religious and political strife. Harmony Renaissance will bring us to the next level of human accomplishment beyond European Renaissance.Since Harmony is a universal common value, America the most endowed young dynamic country with Eastern influence, can advocate Harmony Renaissance also. What better place to start than the Bay Area? It can begin with President Obama; he is already practicing harmony diplomacy during his recent trips to Africa and Asia (see Appendix A).

Look for World Harmony Organization next paper “HARMONY DIPLOMACY CONVEYS ULTIMATE UNIVERSAL SOFT POWER”

In Service of Harmony RenaissanceSeasons

sEASONS Greetings from all Religions

Francis C W Fung, Ph.D.
Director General
World Harmony Organization
info@worldharmonyorg.net

Hi all,
I do want to discuss with you guys about "harmony," "ideals," "values," "virtues," .... all these BIG topics. However, any big thing starts from small, and small things start from zero. You have not told me how an ordinary person improving self into such a noble person of the 12 virtues each of which, to me, is a star in the heaven. How do I climb the ladder to reach the star? Where does the ladder rest against in the air? A beautiful flower is to grow from some soil. Let's talk about how to make the soil first.By trade I am an engineer. An engineer always tries to apply what he/she learns to make things work and usable. From my training, I have learned that diversity, permutation, evolution, .... are natural phenomena. My degree is in science, and I do believe in science (study of the objective world,) and scientific method is the only method I know to expand my knowledge. In fact, I am very curious about how somebody else reaches an conclusion. In this process, I either learn something from this person, or perhaps this person would learn something from me. It would be a very joyous process.I don't think very high of Confucius whose "Ren Ai" are in many levels. The highest level is to the Emperor, next propabaly the father, .... Anyway, females such mothers were not in his consideration. Mohists were talking about "Qien Ai" that means to love all people the same. Zhuangzi was even more down to earth. He considered human was only a part of nature. "Tien Ren He Yi" was such a great concept 2,300 years ago and still great in modern times. These are the fundamental differences in the outlook of life among our ancient Chinese philosophers. Another thing I like about Mohists is that they were engineers (mechanical.) However, their invention were not recorded. According yo the history, actually Mohzi had higher accomplishment than that of Lu Ban. His pholosiphy was so highly regarded that his mechanicle inventions were overshadowed.I am now busy on designing an flyer for the Spring Festival Silicon Valley 2010 of which Aileen is our Chair. Now I have to get the sponsors to be listed on the flyer and on other promotional materials too. May I ask Francis that would you like to be a sponsor of this event? I do agree with Jim and Francisco that all people should learn from each other. Spring Festival performance would be an opportunity for the Americans to learn about our Chinese culture. I hope you all to support this event. As soon as I finish the flyer design, I would like to meet you all. How about wait until Aileen comes back from China?Happy Holidays!Ann

Appendix A
President Obama calls for greater inter-faith harmony Posted: Friday, June 5, 2009 7:08 pmEmail Print

US President Barrack Obama used his first visit to Africa to call for religious harmony and an end to Islamic extremism often expressed violently. In his speech in Cairo yesterday, President Obama emphasized that “the people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth.”People should come together regardless of religious and racial differences and root out extremists who threaten world peace, the President said.He declared that the US is interested in raising the economic, education scientific status of Muslim communities around the world through exchange programs.“I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles - principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.”His speech comes at a time that relations between the United States and the Muslim world are strained. After the September 9/11 continued efforts by extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some Americans to view Islam as inevitably hostile.President Obama acknowledged the fact that there are nearly 7 million Muslims in America and was happy that today they enjoyed incomes and education that are higher than average.The US President called for religious tolerance, recalling his childhood experience in Indonesia, where devout Christians worshiped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country.“That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways.”President Obama castigated the tendency among some Muslims to measure one's own faith by the rejection of another's. “The richness of religious diversity must be upheld - whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt. And fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well, as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.”The President also urged Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit - for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. “We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.”On the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East, President Obama expressed his deep desire for lasting peace.“Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed. All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear; when the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to minglepeacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.”Source: CISAAPPENDIX BGolden rule quotes from different religion and philosophy you may be interested. It is taken from Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 9, 1975. Harmony faith goes further. We treat each other with humility, tolerance, respect, acceptance, gentleness, equity and forgiveness.ChristianityAll things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets, King James version: Matt. 7:12IslamNone of you is a believer if he does not desire for his brother that which he desires for himself. SunnaJudaismThat which you hold as detestable, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Law: the rest is but commentary. Talmud, Sabbat, 21aBrahmaism (orthodox Hinduism)Such is the sum of duty: do not do to others that which, to you, would do harm to yourself. Mahabharta, 5, 1517BuddhismInjure not others in the manner that would injure you. Udana-Varga, 3, 18ConfucianismHere certainly is the golden maxim: do not do to others that which we do not want them to do to us. Analects, 15, 23TaoismConsider that your neighbor gains your gain and that your neighbor loses that which you lose. T'ai Shang Kan Ying PienZoroastrianismThat nature alone is good which checks itself from doing to others that which would not be good for itself. Dadistan-i-dinik, 94, 5Reprinted with permission from Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 9, 1975.

Appendix C

TWELVE VIRTUES OF HARMONY RENAISSANCE

Harmony is the most common value of mankind. All ancient cultural heritages include harmony faith. Twentieth century history has been dominated by Western ideals of Freedom, Liberty and Democracy. These ideals revolutionized the relations between citizens and their governments. These changes resulted in today’s modern Western government systems. Harmony is an ancient ideal of more than two thousand years old. It is a system of beliefs that include all relations between individuals, within oneself, within the family, citizen and government, between nations and down to between human and nature. As an all inclusive faith for conflict resolution, harmony belief has been neglected for over two centuries. The modern society in its departure from harmony faith tends to be very materialistic. Evolution by the survival of the fittest has been inordinately emphasized.

Today’s conflicted world of religious and ideological confrontations call for the revival of harmony faith. World Harmony Organization is dedicated to the pursuit of Harmony Renaissance. Our mission is to work with United Nations to support a modern harmony culture that can begin to harmonize relations between nations as well as between man and nature. There is no higher faith healing than Harmony Renaissance. Harmony Renaissance reconciles all faiths, religions and ideologies, when it is upheld by the international community as a New World Order.

Harmony is the order of nature and the operating principle of the universe. Harmony Faith as the order of universe is proclaimed in our Harmony Renaissance Preamble and Declaration. This is delivered as a speech at the April 25, 2008, U.N. Spring Festival. Further disclosure of Harmony Faith is also attached in the article titled “Harmony Faith, the Order of the Universe”, or click www.scribd.com/fcwfung for our over 200 Harmony essays.Harmony Renaissance is the inevitable tide humans are waiting to bring us to the next level of accomplishment beyond European Renaissance. To participate in this second wave of dynamic harmony movement the twelve virtues of Harmony Renaissance are presented here. They are: TOLERANCE, ACCEPTANCE, RESPECT, KINDNESS, FORGIVENESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, PATIENCE, EQUITY, NONVIOLENCE, GREEN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION. The last two being actions we now must collectively take urgently to harmonize with nature in order to avoid catastrophe on earth.

We propose that United Nations every year organize an international artists contest for the best combination of poetry and art work to extol the twelve Harmony Renaissance virtues. The selected first ten submissions will be published worldwide as that year’s calendars for world distribution. This will become an important tradition for mankind to start each year with harmony inspirations. So Harmony Renaissance and the 12 virtues of harmony will live in the hearts of mankind. We can also proclaim the first month of each year as Harmony Renaissance month to advocate the twelve virtues of harmony culture.

Francis C W Fung, Ph.D.
Director General
World harmony Organization
Francis@worldharmonyorg.net