ear Friends of
Shinmeizan, with this annual letter we wish to convey to all and each one of you our warmest greetings and our deep gratitude for the gift of your friendship and of your support. This year we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the foundation of Shinmeizan. We did it with a friendly and joyous gathering of the people of our village, Heboura, on November 23rd, and again, on December 8th, with a group of friends and benefactors.
On the occasion of this 20th anniversary, during the months of June and July we carried out some work of renewal and remodeling at Shinmeizan, building a new and better access to the
hondo (prayer hall) which now can be reached also on wheelchair, widening the parking place, and remaking the rooms for guests which now are a bit larger and better equipped.
Also this year we have been able to welcome many visitors and guests who, individually or in groups, have come
to see us or even to share our life for some days. In our service to dialogue among peoples, cultures and religions, we always feel encouraged and supported by the exhortations and teachings of Pope Benedict XVI. Recently, addressing the international and interreligious meeting called by the Saint Egidio Community and held in Naples on October 20-23, He said:
The Church wants to continue on the way of dialogue in order to foster mutual understanding among the various cultures, religious traditions and religious forms of wisdom… In a world torn by conflicts, where some times violence is justified in the name of God, it is important to reaffirm that the religions can never be channels of hatred; never, calling on the name of God, can one justify evil and violence. On the contrary, the religions can and must offer precious inspiration to build a world of peace, because they speak to the heart of human beings… I fervently wish that the “spirit of Assisi” may spread more and more, especially where tensions are stronger and where freedom and respect for the other are denied, and men and women suffer because of the consequences of intolerance and lack of understanding.
Our commitment to interreligious dialogue has been further strengthened by the confirmation, on
Sept. 1st, for the next three years, of Sr. Maria de Giorgi, Fr. Peter Sonoda Yoshiaki and Fr. Franco Sottocornola, as members of the Committee for Interreligious Dialogue of the Bishops’ Conference of Japan. On October 5th, both Fr. Peter and Fr. Franco have been confirmed, for another five years term, as Consultors of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious dialogue. Of course cooperation with these important Church bodies is a priority for us in our service to dialogue among cultures and religions.
In a world torn by conflicts, where some times violence is justified in the name of God, it is important to reaffirm that the religions can never be channels of hatred; religions can and must offer precious inspiration to build a world of peace, because they speak to the heart of human being
The members of Shinmeizan carried many activities in the field of dialogue. These activities do not contrast with, nor just add up to, our daily life of prayer, hospitality and sharing as a
“Center for spirituality and prayer”, but blend harmoniously with it, as we welcome at Shinmeizan people of different religious traditions, and often people who do not follow any particular religion but are looking for meaning and values in their own life and in the life of the world.
In the coming days we will celebrate Christmas. On this occasion, also this year, we will live moments of intense interreligious experience, sharing our Christian joy in the celebration of this great feast: first
of all with the family of the late Ven. Tairyu Furukawa, of the Seimeizan-Schweitzer Temple now led by his son Ryuji; then, again, with the family of Ven. Nabeshima, head of the Kiyomizu Temple, of the Tendai Buddhist School; and, once more, with the children of our village, Heboura… This year we have been asked one more “Christmas celebration” in an interreligious context. The young head of the Tamamine Temple (Zen-Rinzai
tradition) in Shimabara, Ven. Nakamura, has asked us to perform a Christian prayer for Christmas in his temple, which will be followed by a moment of silent meditation, or za-zen, and then by a concert of Japanese classical music.
Of course, the night of Christmas we will join the local Catholic community in the Parish Church of Tamana, to which we belong!
Listening once more to the Angels singing “Glory to God in high heaven, peace on earth to those on whom his favor rests”(Lk2,14), we pray that these good tidings of peace and love may reach each of you, dear friends, and the whole world!
(From Xaverian News)