Now let’s start with Part 2. “I’m Spice Williams-Crosby and I am so excited to be here. It warms my heart and brings tears to my eyes. I have never experienced so much love and wonderfulness and respect, polite and just so God-loving people. It just soars, helps me soar.” What does “Friends of Eternity” mean to you? “It means that when you have the bond of compassion, you will always be close. And that is the bond that’s stronger than blood ties. It’s stronger than anything else, that I have my vegan family.” “She’s the one who made me believe that we can make it and give up on eating any animal around the world and try to make this world work and reach the peace, and so, we have to spread out the voice because we can make it. Hi, I am Filippa Giordano from Italy.”

In Her profound love and appreciation for the world's artists, Supreme Master Ching Hai told Her staff one day about Her longtime wish to see the artist friends whom our Association was blessed to work with in the past. Supreme Master Ching Hai chose the date for this special gathering to honor the anniversary of the passing of the late Saint Thái Tú Hòạ, one of Master's most devoted disciples and a beloved producer for Supreme Master Television and many of our Association's musical events. Thus, on October 1, 2019, 29 esteemed artists and their guests, mostly from the United States, visited to the New Land Ashram in Taiwan, also known as Formosa, for the unforgettable gathering titled "Friends of Eternity." Meanwhile, those who were unable to attend sent their loving well wishes and messages from afar. At the gathering, thousands of our Association members were present to witness the warmhearted exchanges between Supreme Master Ching Hai and the distinguished guests, as many of them kindly graced the occasion with an array of superb performances and inspiring speeches.

In the late 1600s, Johann Pachelbel was a leading light among baroque composers in southern Germany. His organ music was deeply admired by the younger up-and-coming generation of composers. Nowadays most people know him for his Canon in D, which is played regularly at special events, such as Weddings and ceremonies, around the world. Next, we'd like to introduce Franz Joseph Haydn, an Austrian composer who was one of the most important figures in the development of classical music during the 18th century. Haydn’s extraordinary creative capacity led him to compose 104 numbered symphonies and 68 string quartets. Let's now listen to the first movement of to the first movement of this masterpiece played by the St. Lawrence String Quartet.

There are countless different types of musical instruments in the world. Their melodic sounds bring comfort, beauty and upliftment to our lives. "In ancient times, the spiritual practitioners who are connected to Heaven, at times tried to replicate the mesmerizing, wonderful music of the celestial abode by creating instruments." From the first instant we hear them, the euphoric sounds of the Scottish bagpipes seem to clear our minds and transport us to a faraway dimension. This marvellous instrument, also called the Great Highland bagpipe, is Scotland’s national instrument and one member of the diverse bagpipe family. The bagpipe is one of the oldest known musical instruments in the world. The first indication of such an instrument was found on a Hittite slab from the Bronze Age at Eyuk, in the Middle East. One of the most well-known and iconic songs played on the Scottish bagpipes is the Christian hymn, “Amazing Grace.”

Now, let’s watch the song and dance, “Wild Rose”, which the Southern and the Northern parts of Korea used to sing together. Is the performance “Peaceful world - The Real Heroes.” “The Real Heroes” is a poem written by Supreme Master Ching Hai who was deeply touched by 2018 Inter-Korean Summit and wept, and this is a beautiful poem dedicated to the two leaders of the Korean Peninsula who started the era of peace and harmony. It’s the last performance of today’s concert. All performers will come to the stage together and sing “Our Hope is Unification.” “The best wishes to your country, United Korea. ‘United Korea’, more than ‘Unified Korea’. Because ‘united’ feels so powerful to me, so strong, so togetherness, so no breakable, no dividable, nothing can stop the people coming together and live together as one.”

This performance prepared by Pyongyang Folk Arts group is a magical dance in which the colors of clothes change, representing each season of spring, summer, autumn, and winter in Korea. Up next is the "Janggu Dance" and "Samulnori" performed by Korean House Art group. "Magical, both troupes, magical dance." "This Artist Day was established and I performed in this honorable event. …I got more power thinking that my life was correct, not wrong. I will work diligently as I was encouraged to continue more. I heard Supreme Master Ching Hai asked to send a gift like this to performers of the day, so I was very grateful. I will use this gift money to advertise for the instruments of the North and the Artist Day more."

And now, Let's watch the Sand Art, "United Peaceful World," and the following performance "Taepyeongmu" together. "Freedom and peace fulfilled through all of our own hands. …The great dream of our people, Unity, come quickly. …That day will com. Surely, that day shall come. Be Vegan! Make Peace!" Up next is "Fan Dance" and "Season Dance." Let's give a warm welcome to the performances of Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation Dance Company and Pyongyang Folk Arts group! "Whoa! Breathtaking. Really, really high-quality today."

"We are really grateful for being invited to this meaningful stage on International Artist Day today. The main theme of today’s concert is United Peaceful World. We Hope there will be unification of northern and southern part of Korea very soon, thus bringing real peace to this land. This brings us to our next song, ‘One Dream, One Korea.’” Now, we will listen to “Jangsaenab” performed by the esteemed Jangsaenab player, Lee Young-hoon. The song to be heard today is “Yeolpoong.” "Whoa! Perfect." Up next is the popular song “Unification Dondolnari” from Northern part of Korea presented by the Pyeongyang Folk Arts Group. "Unification Dondolnari. Brotherhood of 70 million hold their hands, Dondolnari."

Guru Marie Elangovan will first explain the deeper meaning of the face paint and makeup dancers usually wear during performances. “Which is a spiritual eye which we can’t see, but it is there. And when we apply this red dot here on the forehead, it keeps our spiritual energy inside. So it’s like it tells parts to focus and have greater spiritual power.” “that purity of thoughts, purity of mind, purity of inspiration, so that’s a very important thing for the performance sake. I do believe that being vegetarian contributes to bringing purity of thoughts, more empathy towards the entire creatures on Earth, a sense of peace, feeling of lightness.”

Now Pyongyang Folk Arts Group will start the performance. “Fellow Koreans, fellow brethren, let’s fondly take each other’s hands with hearts of patriotic passion, feast of unification is not far. …We’re glad to see you! Happy to see you!” Let’s take a look at the folk dance “Dondolnari” from the Bukchung province of Hamkyungdo. The word Dondolnari means there will be a new dawn, and one can greet a new morning with hope. Let’s give a warm welcome to folk dance Dondolnari. “Wow, impressive. Superb! Superb! So synchronized also.”

As Emy and Jose explain, the Mayan calendar has many fascinating insights into our planet’s Golden Age. “And what we call the Golden Age, that started in 2012. Again, we call it Oxlajuj Baktun. It’s the Period of Illumination. And the second thing that they said after the female nation and the leaders taking us into galactic harmony, was that for peace to be in our hearts first somewhere on this planet in the 3D world, we need two requirements: One of them is Korea needs to be one, living in peace. The other one is: Israel and Palestine have to live side-by-side in peace. For that to happen, as we know, right now, before anything else in history, we are getting there closer.”

"All animals or even trees, they are blessing us every day. Without their peaceful benevolent energy, our planet could not sustain in general." "If we truly think about it, then we know that veganism surely is the way to more everlasting peace.” “We must remember our Buddha Nature inside and the Kingdom of God within us and act according to that principle: noble, courageous, heroic, compassion, loving kindness.” Now, we will start the main concert, “United Peaceful World,” honoring International Artist Day. The first on stage is “Spring of My Hometown” and “Arirang of Peace.”

Accompanied by live music, a Bharatanatyam dancer is able to express complex emotions and tell stories through hand gestures, exquisite footwork, facial expressions, and bodily movements. “It’s a passage through the ordinary life activities to something sacred.” “It tells us that now is the time for us to dedicate ourselves completely to this art form, this mind, body, and soul. And this is something very beautiful, because with time it really comes just like the practice of meditation, becomes deeper with time.” Now let’s watch the dance “Buddham Charanam,” which means “I Take Refuge in the Buddha.”

How can we maintain permanent and lasting peace continuously? What efforts do we need to make for peace? "As a peaceful practitioner, I always remind people to choose a nonviolent lifestyle, benevolent lifestyle, even towards animals and towards our neighbors. When we choose like veganism to atone our energy, to attract more peaceful energy to ourselves and our surrounding, then of course, we have peace. And if it’s in a larger scale, then peace will be attracted to our nation, to our world. Then even if we do not invite it, peace will come and stay, and stay even longer and forever if we continue this way."

As experts of the fascinating ancient Mayan civilization, Emy Shanti and Jose Ajpu Munoz have observed a great awakening in human consciousness since 2012. “After 2012, there was a moment of great awakening for many people. That was on a little scale. Right now, you see it more globally – more and more people are awakening.” “And I saw that he, since the Mayan calendar, he said that in 1996, the female power is going to awaken on Earth. But also, not a long time ago, I felt, that was 2016 that I felt that the male power is awakening now, and that was through the pyramids in Egypt. We need the balance of the male and the female. Right now, we need the spiritual man and the spiritual women coming together to do this work together. It’s like the yin-yang. They complement each other to do this work.”

The 2nd International Artist Day was grandly celebrated by the Korean people, symbolizing a harmonious world. On March 17, 2019, the last day of a 5-day “United Peaceful World” Art Exhibition, a livestream was held with our Beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai as special guest of honor, followed by a concert showcasing the traditional music and dance shared by United Korea. “‘United,’ I like it. Think about it. United States of America, United European or European Union, it sounds much stronger, powerful, and noble, because we’re united.” “Making peace, that will save a lot, a lot of lives. Heaven will shower merits onto you and the people involved in peace making.”

Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest classical dance forms of India. Bharatanatyam, is a very, very popular dance today. According to legend, Lord Brahma revealed Bharatanatyam to the sage Bharata Muni, who in the 2nd century CE encoded the holy dance style in the Natya Shastra, the ancient Sanskrit Hindu text on the performing arts. The dance traditionally tells stories with religious themes and expresses spiritual ideas from Hindu texts through the intricate footwork, impressive gestures, and facial expressions of dancers accompanied by live music and singing.

Now we’ll have fellow initiates from Formosa, Âu Lạc (Vietnam) and Thailand, taking turns to sing classical songs composed by Master, to convey the gratitude of disciples to a living Master rare to find in a thousand years, who has bestowed eternal loving care to sentient beings. Let’s all raise our hands and sing cheerfully together. “…Love is stone and rough gravel. Love is silky gold. …Love is like a gentle breeze, But love too is like a hurricane! In the morning, love is still there, And then quietly dies at night. …Love makes us miss each other, But love also wants us to soon forget. Love is filled with turmoil, Love too is so serene! …”

"The Silent Tears" is a poetry collection by Supreme Master Ching Hai, describing Her journey searching for Enlightenment. In the Musical, the poem "Enlightenment" was set to music by Composer Henry Krieger - twice Grammy winner. Now, let us enjoy the graceful dance steps of the Aulacese fellow practitioners and join together in “Enlightenment” music. Let’s give a hearty round of applause to fellow initiates from Soul, Korea who joyously present their performance “The Sunshine in the Corner”. “…The life of your own won’t make you happy. Do not turn away any more. Turn and face the people around you. With courage, take one step further. Because our small steps make a difference.”

The Mayan calendar in the Mayan world is the center of the universe; this is where it all starts. It starts every day with giving thanks to the energy of the day and giving gratitude to ourselves for being here to be of service. That’s what the Mayan calendar is all about: it’s to be of service to the people. The whole planet is in danger of extinction right now. So, if we don’t return into balance, if we don’t respect the balance of Earth, and the animals, and all the kingdoms, it’s very difficult, really, to return to balance. It’s like the ancient people always say: we’re all brothers and sisters, we have to return into that place, that an ant is not less evolved than I am. We’re all brothers and sisters, and if I get into that place of respect and love, we can create a new Earth.