Zenji Nio was flown to New York to receive a special award from the Asian and Buddhist Youth who feel proud of their Buddhist ancestors and Asian culture thanks to Zenji Nio's campaign to promote Asian pride among the youth. While other Buddhist speakers in the West only cater to "Western Buddhist" hippies and Asian monks bore the youth to tears, Zenji Nio energizes and enthuses Asian youth with pride, power and purpose about their own Buddhist culture and ancestral traditions. Asian youth in the West cannot relate to the Western Buddhist hippies or the Shambala Sun crowd -- nor can they feel any real interest in 3rd world monks with no communication skills and so Zenji Nio's role in giving Asians & Buddhism an eloquent voice is unique and essential.