A Closing Speech for the International Taoist Forum
Ren Farong，President of the Chinese Taoist Association
25th October 2011
Friends, guests and fellow believers in Taoism from all corners of the world:
The weather in October, this golden month of the autumn season, is crisp and clear, and it sees the virtuous and faithful from all over China and indeed the world, gather together, along with expert scholars, at the foot of the Peak of Longevity. Here we have sought to receive the teachings of Taoism from their source, to open the doorway to wisdom, and work together to find the way to peace on earth, for the benefit of all living things. This is a joyous event, a good deed, and moreover it is our shared responsibility.
This forum follows in the footsteps of the Xi’an - Hong Kong International Tao Te Ching Forum held in the year 2007. The Chinese Taoist Association of and the China Religious Culture Communication Association have worked in cooperation once more to hold a second major international Forum on Taoism, with nearly two hundred representative figures of the Taoist world, expert scholars and well known figures in attendance, as well as more than three hundred guests specially invited to attend. The guiding principle of the forum is “Respect the Tao and Honour Virtue for Harmonious Co-existence”, and there are four sub-topics that are: “The Tao Follows Nature and Sustainable Development”, “Valuing and Enjoying Life, and Attaining Happiness”, “Benevolence for Everyone and Sharing the Rewards of Cooperation”, “Returning to the Essence, Cherishing Truth, and Protecting Spiritual Wellbeing”, which we have discussed at length and in detail. In the course of our discussions, participants have expressed genuine enthusiasm, taking an active part and making lively speeches. On many matters we have been able to reach mutual understanding, our discussions have reaped great rewards.
It is agreed that the state of mankind nowadays is that each person operates from their own subjective standpoint, where the strong bully the weak, the many force the hand of the few and the rich oppress the poor. This is a dark time, one that sees mankind taking a path that leads to its own destruction. The only light in that darkness is charitable love and the rewards of cooperation, this is the only path that leads to future development.
There have been four TV programms, “Discussion about Taoism between East and West”, “Discussion among Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism”, “Discussion about Taoism among Four Regions and “Discussion about Taoism among the Five Sacred Mountains”. There have been grand Taoist art performances and the exhibition of “Collection of Editions and Commentaries of the Laozi”. In short, this is a really a colorful and fruitful event.
This forum has been supported by the Hunan-based Organizing Committee and has received support from all areas of society. On this, the conclusion of our closing ceremony, on behalf of one of the major organizors, the Taoist Association of China, I would like to offer my sincere thanks and genuine best wishes to the Hunan-based Organizing Committee, the Hong Kong Taoist Association, the Macao Taoist Association, the Taiwan Taoist Association and to each of our honoured guests, Taoist followers, scholars and friends that have participated in the forum.
Taoism is the native religion of the Chinese people and possesses a long historic tradition. Taoist culture is, at the same time, an example of the wisdom of the East as well as being a part of the shared spiritual wealth of the world. Ideas based on Taoist teachings and spiritual concepts such as “The Tao follows Nature”, “Valuing and Enjoying Life”, “Benevolence for Everyone” and “Returning to the Essence, Cherishing Truth” are intimately related to mankind’s continued existence, already put into practice and propogated by countless wise men over hundreds and thousands of years. Today more than ever, such ideas serve as a crucial bridge for communications and integration between East and West. This forum takes as its guiding principle “Respect the Tao and Honour Virtue for Harmonious Co-existence”, this principle remains true to the central teachings of Taoism, whilst remaining relevant to the themes of current times, whilst the success of this forum demonstrates a most active attitude.
The ‘Tao’ is the central doctrine of Taoism, Virtue or ‘Te’ is the medium through which ‘Tao’ is carried. ‘Tao’ is revealed by ‘Te’, ‘Te’ exists as a result of ‘Tao’, therefore “Respecting the Tao and Honouring Te or Virtue” is the very reflection of the innate spirit of Taoism. We find in the Tao Te Ching, the words, “Heaven and Earth join (in harmony), And the sweet dew falls,” “To know harmony is to be in accord with the eternal, And to know eternity is called enlightenment.”. Harmony is characteristic of the Tao: when Yin and Yang are in harmony all things flourish, when mankind lives in harmony, the world is at peace; when a country lives in harmony, all businesses thrive; when a family lives in harmony, all peoples prosper; when the human body lives in harmony, the body is free from ill health.
More than two thousand years ago, the ancestor of the Taoist faith passed on the teachings of the Tao, the use of Virtue, the ultimate goal of harmony. He expounded upon and spread the concept of “Respecting the Tao and Honouring Virtue”, he hoped and prayed for the harmonious joining of Heaven and Earth, and the coexistence of living things. The world at present sees scientific developments making daily progress, whilst mankind is sick at heart with the trials of social disputes, natural and man-made disasters. Today, if we once more uncover the wisdom of Taoist teachings and reflect upon ourselves, it is not difficult to see that desire is the root of all sufferings, profit is the source of all disputes. The average person is driven wild by their emotions and tormented by their desires, their mind is occupied by greedy and plunderous thoughts so that their true nature cannot occupy its rightful place and they lose themselves, becoming distanced from the Great Tao. Only by discarding the narrow subjectivism of the self, along with ideas of brotherhood, the emotions and self interest; only by returning to a simple and pure state can mankind truly achieve harmony. We triumph these causes: returning to the essence and cherishing the truth, to achieve spiritual serenity; valuing and enjoying life, to attain happiness; letting the Tao follow nature to promote sustainable development; benevolence for everyone in order to achieve mutual prosperity. These are not only conclusions reached together during this forum, moreover they are the common goal for our efforts. Let us join hands in doing our best for the well-being of mankind, for harmony in the natural world, for a prosperous society and peace on earth!
With guidance from the China Religious Culture Communication Association and a great amount of help and support from the Hunan Organizing Committee, Hunan Province, Hengyang City and the Southern Sacred Peak District Governmental Department; people from all walks of life have also worked together to bring about this forum. I would like, once more to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you! Your combined efforts have allowed both forum events to reap a rich harvest, aiding in the continued dissemination of Taoist culture, demonstrating the active benefits of Taoism upon society, promoting harmonious social development. I hope that all of you will continue to offer your support and assistance so that the Taoist Forum can go from strength to strength in future years.
Finally, I pray that the ancestral deities may protect you, I wish each and every one of our guests good health, happiness and the very best of luck; I hope that our work in Taoism may flourish and I wish peace and prosperity to our nations!
