4th Annual Symphony of Peace Prayers

A special report from Fuji Sanctuary

On May 18, 2008, over 7,000 people gathered at Fuji Sanctuary in Shizuoka, Japan to unite their hearts and voices in sending out waves of love and peace at the fourth annual Symphony of Peace Prayers ceremony.

This unique ceremony made its groundbreaking debut in 2005, transcending religious and national boundaries by combining the prayers of different faith traditions in one ceremony, and praying for peace in all the countries and regions of the world.

Last year, in 2007, the Symphony of Peace Prayers (SOPP) broadened its scope by bringing together distinguished spiritual leaders, scientists, and peace workers from around the world in a Round Table Discussion on the power of prayer.

With each year, the vibrations of peace and harmony emitted on this occasion continue to grow stronger, reaching more and more people in all corners of the globe. In accordance with this evolution of humanity’s consciousness, 2008 saw the SOPP expand worldwide.
You can get an overview of the Symphony of Peace Prayers 2007 at Fuji Sanctuary by downloading the following. Download SOPP_eng_071011_pdf071122.pdf

Setting a Tone of Peace and Awakening

It was a pleasant spring morning as participants and guests gathered in the Prayer Field at Fuji Sanctuary.  Mr. Tomohiko Naya, President of Byakko Shinko Kai, opened the ceremony with a welcoming address, followed by Chairperson Masami Saionji.
To read more on Masami Saionji speech, please click content in the sidebar. 

Following her speech, Mrs. Saionji was joined by the Byakko Vice-Chairpersons and a large group of presenters to perform the Divinity IN with Breathing. This IN, or mudra, is a prayer without words that calls forth the inner divinity of each and every human being. When this IN is performed, its vibration and energy spread throughout the world, activating positive change in people and the environment. As the presenters performed the IN in complete silence, participants and guests listened to the subtle sounds of their deep breathing, absorbing the peaceful, harmonious energy.

Musical Performance by Christopher Currell
 
With the vibrations of the Divinity IN lingering in the air, the stage was given over to Mr. Christopher Currell, musical director of this year’s ceremony, for an improvisational music performance. Mr. Currell is an American musician and artist. His project ishwish creates what he calls ‘improvised music from universe,’ in which Mr. Currell unites his heart with the hearts of the listeners and creates the sounds that come from the universe at the particular time and place.

Mr. Currell’s performance was a complex yet soothing, multilayered tapestry of percussive and melodic sounds. As if guiding participants in a musical meditation, he began with a pulsating, grounding rhythm and slowly built up to a feverish melodic climax.

Gradually, these layers faded out, giving way to an ethereal soundscape. Mr. Currell concluded his performance by speaking the words: infinite possibilities, infinite joy, infinite gratitude praying with the religions of the world. Celebrating religious diversity in the spirit of unity and peace is the primary aim of the SOPP ceremony, and for three years now, this aim has been fulfilled thanks to a remarkable group of representatives from a wide range of religious traditions who have honored Fuji Sanctuary with their presence and their prayers for peace.

Prayers of Peace: Offered by Religious Leaders of Six Different Faiths

This year, representatives from six different faiths took the stage to lead participants in their prayers, in the hope that one day, human beings may transcend all differences and unite in a common wish for peace. Before beginning his prayer, each representative offered a brief message to participants.

SIx representatives were Rabbi Henri Noach (Judaism), Rev. Kendo Suzuki (Soto Zen Buddhism), Fr. Nobuyuki Jean Tanaka, OP (Catholism-Dominican Order), Ven. Pharasunate Thongkow-orn (Thai Buddhism-Dhammakaya), Mr. Humayun A. Mughal (Sufism) and Mr. Ietaka Kuki (Shintoism).
To read more on their various prayers and messages of peace, please click content in the sidebar.

Prayer for Harmony Between Humanity and Nature and World Peace Prayer Ceremony

Participants first offered a prayer for a world without conflict, followed by a prayer for harmony between humanity and nature. Each prayer was spoken in Japanese and then in English, followed each time by a moment of silence.

A light and elegant orchestral score filled the Prayer Field, announcing the entrance of 192 national flags and the Earth flag representing all the other regions of the world. Flag bearers marched forward from the rear of the Prayer Field toward the stage, until the entire field was awash in colorful flags.

This segment of the program is a prayer ceremony for peace in each country and region on Earth. The ceremony began with the universal prayer May peace prevail on Earth. One by one, the flags were introduced on stage, and participants prayed for peace in each country, speaking in that country’s official language or languages. The national flags, which at Fuji Sanctuary are considered to be sacred spiritual symbols, help to connect participants’ hearts with the hopes and dreams of the people in each country and region. Through the vibrations of their prayers, participants sent out waves of love and peace to people in all corners of the globe, with the wish that those hopes and dreams would be accomplished even one day sooner.

Global Peace Meditation

Last but by no means least, participants were invited to join in a global peace meditation, to send healing vibrations out to the entire planet, and throughout the universe. A second performance by Mr. Christopher Currell provided the backdrop for the meditation. His rhythmic, otherworldly soundscape had a relaxing effect on the mind, inspiring emotion and movement deep within one’s being. For several minutes, the many thousands attending the ceremony fell silent, listening to the music as they focused their consciousness on a world of peace and harmony. Finally, Yuka Saionji, Deputy Chairperson of Byakko Shinko Kai, closed the ceremony with words of hope for a brighter future.

Triumphant, sweeping orchestral music guided the national flag bearers back onto the Prayer Field for a grand finale. As the music drew to a crescendo, the Earth Flag took center stage, and the accumulated vibrations of love and peace flowed outward, reaching the far corners of the earth and all the life it supports. For the fourth year in a row, the Symphony of Peace Prayers was once again a resounding success.

Words of Support from Near and Far

Over the past four years, the Symphony of Peace Prayers has been building a network of spiritual leaders, peace workers, and prominent figures in a variety of fields who support the message and the goals of this unique event. At this year’s ceremony, a few of the honored guests in attendance prepared messages or presentations of their own to share with participants. They were Rt. Rev. Yoshinobu Miake, Director General, Konko Church of Izuo (Japan),  Mr. Ren Enpu, Director, Chinese Nationality Folk Culture and Art, Ms. WindEagle Kinney-Linton and Mr. RainbowHawk Kinney-Linton, Co-founders and Directors, Ehama Institute (United States) and Sister Rajini Daulatram, Area Coordinator, Brahma Kumaris, and Ms. Mizue Honda, Brahma Kumaris Tokyo Centre (Japan).
To read more on their messages, please click content in the sidebar.
 
Messages to the SOPP

Many more supporters of the SOPP sent messages to this year’s ceremony. Some of them were honored guests at the ceremony and Round Table Discussion held last year at Fuji Sanctuary, while others have been supporting the SOPP in various ways over the last few years.

Those who kindly sent the messages were Dr. Ervin Laszlo, Founder and President, Club of Budapest (Hungary), Fr. James Channan, OP, Regional Coordinator, United Religions Initiative (Pakistan), Ms. Susan Kaschula, General Secretary of the Theosophical Society in Southern Africa (South Africa), Mr. Fumihiko Katayama, Chief Priest of Hanazono Shrine (Japan), Mr. James O’Dea, President, Institute of Noetic Sciences (United States), Dr. Nirmala Kajaria, Director, Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation Centres, Asia-Pacific Region (Australia), Dr. Ashok Gangadean, Professor and Chair of Philosophy, Haverford College (United States), Dr. Gerald Schroeder, Professor of Nuclear Physics and Earth Sciences (Israel), Bibi Guru Inder Kaur and Singh Sahib Bhai Hari Singh Khalsa, Co-founders and Directors, Yoga Dharma Community (Italy), Fr. Randall Nolan, St Alban’s Church (Japan), Ven. Dr. Tenzin Jangchub, Centre of Traditional Tibetan Science of Healing and Herbal Treatment (Poland), Dr. Maria Sagi, Scientific Director, Club of Budapest (Hungary) and Mr. Munehiro Yamazaki, Chief Priest, Shirayama Hime Shrine of Hakusan Hongu Shrine (Japan)
To read more on their messages, please click content in the sidebar.  

Impressions of the SOPP

Following the SOPP at Fuji Sanctuary, several of the guests and participants were kind enough to share their impressions of the ceremony.
 To read more on impressions, please click content in the sidebar.