Speech at the Committee of Establishing World Peace by Sustainable Development and Social Justice by Ren Farong（2008）

Pray World Peace Forever Speech at the Committee of Establishing World Peace by Sustainable Development and Social Justice by Ren farong, Vice President of CCRP and President of Taoist Association of China

Distinguished Chairperson:
Distinguishd Religious leaders from all countries:

Chinese Taoism is one of the oldest religions in the world. Taoist ideological system is based on《Daodejing》of Laozi which concentrated on the merits of oriental wisdom.《Daodejing》and《Book of Change》are philosophical works of China. The principles of the two books created the world outlook of ancient Chinese people, that is to say, let everything take its nature in a laissez-faire manner.

Taoism believes that Dao is of the highest category and creates the universe. Dao is everywhere and eternal. The attribute of Dao is doing nothing but following the rule of nature and harmony. The boundless universe and living things among the world all model the rule of Dao and hence Laozi said that Dao is permanent.

What is doing nothing but following the rule of nature? Genarally speaking, there is no subjectivity or individual selfishness in the world,  no success or failure, no luck or unluck, no good fortune or bad. Acturally everything exists naturally, just like the alternation of the four seasons.

Others may ask, what`s the use of Taoist " let everything take its nature in a laissez-faire manner"? What good will it do to maintain mankind's peace and world harmony ? In my opinion, it means a lot. Try to imagine, all local wars、regional conflicts and environmental degradation threating the world were caused by human errors. Therefore, Taoism advocates managing affairs without actions to maintain world peace. This is the fundamental principle of Daoism.

All things derive their lives from heaven, yet heaven does not deny them. All things get clothing and feed from the earth,yet the earth does not claim them as its own.

Lets imagine again, is there anybody who accused others are not accused by others? Which country that launches wars has not paid for that? Which action that betrays the law of nature is not punished by nature? It is exactly as Laozi said: “there is no greater curse than the lack of contentment, no greater sin than the desire for possession.” we should  remember this philosophic theory.

Let`s pray together with saint Laozi for world peace forever!