A Celebration of Oneness
Maki Saionji thanked the three guest speakers and introduced singer/songwriter Ms. Kristin Hoffman, who offered her own message and performed an original song.
Kristin Hoffman, Singer/songwriter (United States)
Hello, dear friends. What an honor to be together again this year for the Symphony of Peace Prayers celebrating the Fuji Declaration. In alignment with this year’s theme, I chose one of my songs to share with you today, called “At the Core.”
It’s so easy to look out at the world these days and feel the separation. Yet when we take the time to go deeper, back to the core of what really makes us human, we quickly realize that there is more that connects us than divides us.
At the core, I think most of us yearn for love and family and friendship, and to understand our unique gifts and be able to offer them to the world. We may have different belief systems. We may come from different cultures. Yet, when we go back to the core of our humanity, we can really relate to each other and find flow and greater acceptance with our fellow humans. So let’s practice this and start now, through the music. Please enjoy.
At the Core
Words and music by Kristin Hoffman
When the hate comes
Let there be love
And when the night falls
Let there be peace
And when the dark cloud over our heads
Releases its grasp
On our hearts and our souls
May we remember we’re whole
Connected at the core
One people, we’re whole
Connected at the core of it all
When the fear comes
Let there be love
And when the tears fall
Let there be peace.
And when the violent fist of the lost ones crashes down
Breaks our hearts
Shakes our souls
May we remember we’re whole
Connected at the core
One people, we’re whole
Connected at the core, soul to soul
And when the fever starts to flare
We’re gonna shake down, shake it down, shake it down
And when those guns are in the air
We’re gonna lay them down, lay them down, lay ‘em down
And remember we’re whole
Connected at the core
One people, we’re whole
Connected at the core, soul to soul
One people, we’re whole
Connected at the core
The core…at the core
Connected at the core of it all, of it all
After thanking Ms. Hoffman for her stirring song, Maki Saionji continued:
Now, I would like to invite all of you to take a moment and write down your thoughts and feelings about the two questions posed by the guest speakers. We will take about three minutes now to answer the questions, writing down what you have noticed and perceived today. If you need more time, please continue writing your thoughts later.
Participants were then given three minutes to consider and answer the questions, which were displayed again on screen: 1) When we try to look with sacred, divine eyes, what examples and events of circulation and tolerance can we see, even in this seemingly divided and fragmented world? 2) What do you think we can do to expand the world of circulation and tolerance?
A link was also provided for participants to submit their responses in an online questionnaire, with a plan to share these comments and messages on the Fuji Declaration website and related social media, as examples of the Fuji Declaration way of life. This questionnaire can be accessed at fujideclaration.org/23f.