With the invitation of Phra Sangkom, a Thai monk, Isadon, Michiyo, and Yoko participated in a Buddhist ceremony to consecrate a newly-constructed image at Maab-Euang Meditation Center for Sufficient Economy in Thailand.
I came from Konohana Family located at the foot of Mt. Fuji in Japan. It has been 21 years since our community was established. I do not know any other place like this where everyone’s mind is connected so closely and harmoniously. When I think of the reasons, first, we have lived, always thinking of being in harmony with nature at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Mt. Fuji is the spiritual pillar for Japanese people. Secondly, we have the spirit that Buddha has taught. Therefore, Konohana Family members live very happily supported by these two pillars. As I told you in the beginning, I feel very happy now. Do you know why? You have a big mountain of Rama IX who has his birthday today. Your majesty, happy birthday. Also, you have the spirit of Buddha as the pillar of your living. Therefore, I feel as happy as I do back at Konohana Family in Japan.
Here is a globe. Thailand is here. Japan is here. The distance between Thailand and Japan is just a little bit far. It takes about 8 hours to fly from Japan to Thailand and about 6 hours to go back to Japan. Do you know why? That is because the Earth rotates. Dawn broke this morning. And now, it became dark and night has come. That is because the Earth rotates at 462 m per second. Moreover, the Earth revolves around the Sun. When the Earth rotates 365 times, it revolves around the Sun once. Do you know how fast the Earth orbits the sun? It is 30 km per second. It takes one year for the Earth to revolve around the Sun at that speed. Furthermore, the Earth never stops. We live on the Earth like that.
There is one Earth in the vast universe. The Earth moves under one Sun. The ceremony of the World Soil Day was held today. The continents seem to be divided by oceans, but there is actually one soil and one ocean. The water is distributed equally all over the world as rain since the Earth rotates. It becomes vapor, water, and ice by the light of the sun. Moreover, it is the power of the sun that creates the wind. In addition, we live under one air. In fact, our life is nurtured by one Sun, one soil, and one water. Our life receives a good training from one wind and a place to live on Earth as one air. These are five elements that support our life in nature.
When I was 30 years old, I encountered the soul of Buddha. Buddha said to me, “Be with nature. Always think of nature and other people.” When I live at the foot of Mt. Fuji, I am very happy. And today, I am very happy to have met all of you here. However, when I live every day, I feel sad. There are many countries and many people on this planet. Now that we have entered the 21st century, there are still wars, a gap between the rich and the poor, and many people suffering from hunger on Earth. Therefore, I feel sad although I live a happy life every day. My life purpose is that all living beings on Earth shine vividly and exist happily. So, my wish is to create a peaceful world without any wars or conflicts.
There are many people who hold up this ideal in the society, but most of them only talk about their theories. That is because there is no spiritual pillar. In the society without a spiritual pillar, people’s desires go out of control. Therefore, it is important to learn and live the spirit of Buddha.
Now, many people think they live with their own will. However, one day passes because the Earth rotates once. One year passes because the Earth rotates 365 times and revolves around the Sun once. Moreover, our life is supported under the circulation of infinite lives and a network of harmony.
We have entered the 21st century and faced the time to reset. The Sun orbits the Milky Way galaxy every 226,000,000 years and spirals about 9000 times in the interval. One spiral takes 25,800 years. We had the winter solstice of the galaxy in 25,800 years on December 21st, 2012 and shifted from the era of darkness and conflicts to the era of light and harmony. However, people still prioritize gratifying their own desires. And now, the Earth is facing a crisis in various aspects. Whose fault is that? Humans have both very high abilities and a huge influence. Therefore, unless each one of us thinks of other people, nature, and the Earth, the Earth cannot give us a healthy living any more. How can the current humans whose desires have reached its peak transcend such a mind and realize a harmonious way of living?
Looking back in human history, the era of religions started about 3000 years ago. Considering from one solar spiral of 25800 years, the 3000-year history of religions, which is about one-eighth of that, is not so long. And it changes along with the era. Therefore, the time has arrived when the Buddha’s teaching that posterity has taken over should be reset.
Now that we had the peak of darkness in the winter solstice of the galaxy on December 21st, 2012, one cycle of 25800 years has been reset. 25800 years is only one-9000th of 226,000,000 years that the Sun orbits the galaxy. 3000 years is only one-eighth of one solar spiral of 25800 years. The Sun has orbited the galaxy 20 times so far. Still, it is only 4.6 billion years. In addition, it is said that it has been 13.8 billion years from the birth of the galaxy. Looking from the flow of the universe, it is just a second!
The era expresses various aspects of history and it continues to change. This is the figure of the universe. And now, we have faced the era to express a new value, transcending the traditional one.
At the very beginning, I told you I came from Mt. Fuji in Japan. However, before that, I came from the Earth. In fact, I came from the universe! Then, where is the universe, everyone? The universe is right here, where you are right now. The spirit of Buddha which is your spiritual pillar is the universe itself. Therefore, Buddha is the universe. You are all universal beings. If you reach such a status of mind, you will become Buddha as well.
“Buddha’s enlightenment is not for Buddha. It is for all sentient beings.” Buddha has taught me such spirit. And he told me to live that spirit and express it in this world. That is why I established a utopia of Konohana Family at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Konohana Family is not a religious organization nor a temple. However, it is a place where people seek a spiritual path like a temple and gather like a religious organization. Most importantly, it is not a path that individuals seek their own enlightenment, but a path that people reach enlightenment together. The era has shifted from individual enlightenment to that of whole humanity. The village of Bodhisattvas who consider other people’s joy as their own—such a place is the way to be in the next era. If people are able to live in this manner, a truly precious and beautiful world will be expressed naturally. I hope to create such an ideal world with all of you together.
I visited Thailand this time and felt the same happiness here as I did through living of Konohana Family. However, many people in the world are still not happy. I believe both Buddha and Rama IX hope all the people, including Thai and Japanese people, live happily and end their life proudly. Each one of us faces the end of our life for sure. Therefore, it should be valuable. Our life should not be on any sacrifice of nature nor other people.
“All people have the spirit of Buddha.” It is sleeping within each one of us. Everyone, let’s awake that spirit and make the Earth beautiful together.
Now, I am 64 years old. When I was 30 years old, I started to receive messages from Buddha. And still now, I am the one who lives that spirit. The spirit always evolves. As the universe evolves and continues to change, nature and this world continue to change. This is the structure of this world. Therefore, please do not become attached to your life.
I have a dream. I dream all living beings on Earth shine vividly and live happily. We all live in one home called the Earth. Will our important home become happy or unhappy? It is in the hands of each one of us. I hope to become happy with all my family living on Earth. Only with an individual and a national happiness, we cannot become truly happy.
Then, the spirit of Buddha teaches us what to do. As the Earth family and Buddha’s disciples, the time has arrived when we understand the reason why we were born as humans and express that. Everyone, let’s spread a truly happy and abundant world together!