Paris, France
report by Nicole Cressiot
On Monday, May 19th, we gathered in Paris at Arc en Ciel, the room we use for our regular gatherings. The day was warm and sunny, and although some of our friends were unable to join us, we shared a wonderful experience through our prayers for world peace. The theme of musubi accompanied us throughout the day.
After a moment of silence and deep spiritual breathing, we prayed for world peace in various languages. We offered prayers from various traditions, including the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, and the Great Invocation. Then, with an introduction using words by Masahisa Goi, we began the prayers for peace in each country of the world, arranged by continent. Everyone seemed fully focused during the prayers, and though we were few in number, the energy behind our prayers was tenfold. We concluded the prayers for each continent with the Divine Spark IN.
This year’s theme of musubi called for us to enter into the vibrations of our sacred connections—between heaven and earth, the inner and the outer, and with the life that we share on this planet with every single living being. In this energy, we recited prayers of gratitude to the natural elements, including some that we felt especially needed our prayers, such as fire, glaciers and others.
We offered a prayer and IN for the awakening of all humanity to the divine spark within. Lastly, we recited the five points of the Fuji Declaration, quoting Masami and Hiroo Saionji’s speeches during the SOPP, on the importance of the declaration and the need to energize it. We concluded with the magnificent poem by Goi Sensei, Eternal Light.
And as always, to end the day, we shared tea, cookies, joy, and happiness, feeling full and refreshed, with a heart full of love for humanity.
