Meditation and Song
A special guest at this year’s SOPP, Mr. James Twyman, was invited on stage. Mr. Twyman is a musician, author, film producer and peace worker from the United States who has travelled around the world, performing peace songs and prayers in many conflict-stricken areas. He is well known for organizing World Synchronized Meditation events, where people around the world focus at the same time on positive change for a particular global crisis or situation.
On his website, World Peace Pulse, Mr. Twyman called on his friends and supporters to join with SOPP participants in a synchronized meditation to bring balance between the divine feminine and divine masculine. Before beginning the meditation, Mr. Twyman addressed the participants:
Hello everyone. I realized something today—something that I think is very important. That is, I am deeply in love with the way that we love God—all the many varied ways in which we love God, and the ways that we love each other. To me, this is the most powerful force in the whole world.
I was thinking about that a moment ago—thinking about people’s perception of the most powerful force in the world. To some people, it would be to have the strongest military power—that would be the strongest force in the world. To others, it might be to have the strongest economic power, so that you can control people—they would think that that is the most powerful force in the world.
But what we are seeing today is that the most powerful force in the world is what is happening right here, today, at the foot of Mount Fuji. And we know that it is not only happening here, but that there are hundreds and thousands and millions of people who are with us—who are meditating and praying for peace and for balance between the divine masculine and the divine feminine. Imagine not only several thousand people gathered here, but several million. Imagine several million people gathered right here and throughout the world. This is the most powerful force in the world. I have seen it create miracles so many times—wars ending, battles stopping, peace accords being signed. So, to come here today and feel this energy—the way that we love God in so many different, varied manners—and to see the way that we love each other—to me, this is the most powerful force in the world.
I am so happy to have my friend, Masami Saionji, standing here with me, and to know that there are so many people around the world who, at this very moment, are taking a moment—two minutes—to simply hold this vibration of perfect balance between the divine masculine and the divine feminine.
I’m going to ask you, when you hear the bell, to simply meditate, and to feel that energy. That’s the key, is to feel—not in our minds, but in our hearts—this divine balance.
With the sound of a bell, the large Prayer Field at Fuji Sanctuary fell silent for two minutes, as participants joined with many others around in the world in focusing their consciousness on balance between the divine feminine and divine masculine. At the end of two minutes, Mr. Twyman began strumming gently on his ukulele, leading into his original song, “May Peace Prevail on Earth:”
May Peace Prevail on Earth
Words and music by James Twyman
The time is now, the moment’s clear
The last shall be the first
For each one stands on sacred ground
May Peace Prevail on Earth
So long in dreams we have foreseen
The path for which we thirst
But now we claim what was our goal
May Peace Prevail on Earth
A world of peace we now claim
And all the world is gonna light that flame
May Peace Prevail on Earth
Now and always, prevail on Earth
In each one of us, prevail on Earth
May Peace Prevail on Earth
The darkened night, with shadows long
We have undone the curse
For the morning’s come, and the sky is clear
May Peace Prevail on Earth
A child was born, and saw the land
A home she knew from birth
And each one here is that child
May Peace Prevail on Earth
A world of love we now claim
And each one of us will light that flame
May Peace Prevail on Earth
Now and always, prevail on Earth
In each one of us, prevail on Earth
May Peace Prevail on Earth
Participants were invited to join in singing the final chorus. Following this song, Mr. Twyman performed the song “We Are All Shining Divine Sparks,” which was introduced at the 2015 Symphony of Peace Prayers in honor of the Fuji Declaration. Mr. Twyman sang the song in English and Japanese. Masami Saionji, Hiroo Saionji, and their daughters Maki, Rika, and Yuka Saionji along with six other performers joined Mr. Twyman on stage to sing and perform movements along with the song. Participants also joined in singing the second time through, and applauded enthusiastically at the end.
Masami Saionji offered Mr. Twyman her heartfelt thanks on stage, and reaffirmed Mr. Twyman’s statement that the power of prayer is the strongest force in the world. With hugs from Mr. and Mrs. Saionji and another round of applause, Mr. Twyman exited the stage.