Enmity can only be resolved with reconciliation

Dr. Tong Yun Kai, President of The Confucian Academy

at The Middle East Peace Initiative

Coronation of the King of Peace and Ambassador for Peace Award

31^st October 2004

Ladies and Gentlemen:

              I am much delighted to be invited to attend this occasion: The Middle East Peace Initiative Coronation of the King of Peace and Ambassador for Peace Award.

              The Hong Kong Family Federation for World Peace and Unification and the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace have been actively promoting peace programmes for the Middle East and North-east Asia, mobilizing numerous religious peace ambassadors and voluntary peace workers to render various kinds of service in the Middle East, which has already yielded some positive results.  The Asian Service Group for Peace in Middle East rendering its service in Israel last month has also achieved satisfactory success.  I would like to, on behalf of all members of The Confucian Academy, extend our warm welcome to the Peace Ambassadors’ triumphant return!

              To resolve the global crisis of conflicts among nations, races or religions, what’s essential is a doctrine that can really represent mankind’s interest and transcend all boundaries among nations, regions, races and religions and be, at the same time, acceptable to the majority of the world populace, so that it can resolve enmity and conflict with benevolence and harmony, promote dialogues and enable all mankind to live in peace and work for advancement together.

              The Confucian concept of “Upholding harmony but pushing not for uniformity” is the essence of the humanistic philosophy of Chinese tradition, and it is also the panacea for solving the various conflicts in the world and maintaining harmony and peace among mankind.

              I think that in our global village, the interest of all races is tightly linked to the overall interest of mankind.  Nowadays, all political, economic and ecological kinds of development are global.  Human beings co-exist in mutual love and get hurt in mutual hatred.  Both developed and developing countries have to depend on each other.  For the same reason, the common interest among neighbouring nations and races is more important than the discrepancies and conflicts among them.  It benefits both parties when there is harmony but harms both when there is a fight.  Certainly, one who really thinks for the interest of his nation advocates good neighbour relationship.  Let’s take a look at the recent situation of Palestinian and Israeli.  There will be no happy or peaceful days for them if no religious or national reconciliation can be achieved.  It’s better to make a friend than to make an enemy.  Historical conflicts can only be resolved through negotiation, compromise and mutual understanding, not resorting to force.  A great historian scholar, Zhang Zai, once said, “Enmity can only be resolved with reconciliation.”  There will be no other way out of enmity.

              To realize the ideal state of “Upholding harmony but pushing not for uniformity” and “harmony is valuable,” the very basic underlying philosophy is the essence of Confucianism – benevolence.

              The ultimate goal Confucius has been striving for his whole life is to have benevolence upheld worldwide and realize “the Ideal World” on earth.  The benevolent love people.  “Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire,” and “Establish not only yourself but also others.”  It’s the doctrine of benevolence that is the foundation for establishing a harmonious and healthy society.

              Family is the core of the Confucian doctrine of benevolence and love, expanding and extending step by step from the inner to the outer, from the near to the far and from the close to the distant.  Confucianism advocates “love your family, be benevolent to people and cherish things,” and believes that only when one can love his family members can he whole-heartedly love even someone who is neither his family nor his acquaintance, and for the same reason, only when one can love   people can he love other things whole-heartedly.

              Let me make an appeal here: we want compatibility, not discrimination; we want interchange, not rejection; we want dialogue, not confrontation; and we want co-existence, not conflict!

              Confucius is a saint of Chinese, and he is also ranked first in the list of the ten great thinkers.  He originates from China but also belongs to the whole mankind.  The Confucian Academy is now applying to the government of the HKSAR to make Confucius’ Birthday (The Twenty-seventh Day of the Eighth Month of the Chinese Calendar) the Teacher’s Day and a public holiday.  We sincerely wish for great spiritual support from you all.  Please give us a clap to show your consent.

              Wishing you all good health and luck!

              Thank you.