Chapel Speech: Six Billion Paths to Peace

Five years ago, I spent my birthday with a few of my YAC students and Mrs. Johnson at the National Service Learning Conference in Minneapolis. My students brought me to tears when they gave me a pair of bunny slippers FOR INNER PEACE and a card that had a seed to grow a world at peace someday.

I wore my precious slippers to a service awards affair that evening. At the gala, Dr. Harumitsu Inouye, Executive Director of the Shinnyo-en Foundation asked about "my shoes." After hearing my explanation, he requested, What else do you need? I was so happy, I did not need anything else. Then he asked, What can we do to help you? Haru sent 4 trainers from different parts of the USA to our first YAC Invitational that summer. A few of you participated in their introduction of the Shinnyo-en Foundation and their world initiative Six Billion Paths to Peace. But, What is the Shinnyo-en Foundation? What is the Six Billion Paths to Peace, soon to be 7 billion? YOU TUBE will answer those questions.

UPPER DIVISION VIDEO:  Shinnyo-en Foundation's World Viewed Shown at National Conference of Volunteering and Service


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W34Ik4dz3mE (5:28 minutes)

MD and LD Video:  SIX BILLION PATHS TO PEACE




On September 21, Haru himself is flying from San Francisco to celebrate the International Day of Peace with you, the Generation he has named "Generation Peace." But, What is the International Day of Peace?



http://peaceoneday.org/en/welcome (One minute video)

This weekend Casady Service-Learning has two opportunities to serve; to make peace an action word.   YAC's paths to peace this weekend are:

Our first Saturday of Service at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma starts at 9:00 and ends at 4:00. The Casady Yukon will leave from the parking lot in front of the Student Center at 8:30 sharp. We will serve with people of different faiths focusing on what we have in common; ONE HEART, ONE BEAT, ONE MISSION: SERVE. You can join this service opportunity at any time during the day.

On Sunday, the YAC Asian Connections project is sharing their path to peace at the Manga Origami Peace Matinee. Hope to see you at Fee Theatre at 3:00.

YAC and Gales have started to make pinwheels for peace at the Community Center. This childhood symbol will connect our peace whispers to the voices of millions seeking inner peace and a world at peace some day. Hope you will make a pinwheel with your path to peace. Pinwheels will be displayed at the UCO campus on September 19 and at our campus on September 21.

To end, I want to share a couple of thoughts and questions pondering in my head:

1 Thought

"...And right action is freedom
From past and future also.
For most of us this is the aim
Never here to be realized;
Who are only undefeated
Because we have gone on trying..."
-T.S. Eliot, The Dry Salvages

2 Thought:. You are not obligated to finish the task; neither are you free to neglected.
-Pirkei Avot (Teaching of the Sages), Chapter 2,21



Questions:
1. What is the task that you have been trying to contemplate in the world? Why? Another way to place the same question is What will be the one wish you have for our world?

2. How would the world be different if you succeeded? What motivates you to keep on trying when it would be easier to give up? OR, If you were to be granted the wish and the only way the wish will come true is your involvement, what will you be willing to do? What will be your first steps?   THANK YOU


Not in the speech, but for further information:  More detailed inforamtion about the International Day of Peace- The Story



FYI International Day of Peace: Greater Background: ( Video: 3:44 minutes)



http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/peace-one-day-2009/6dd5d65ebca7ccc80b306dd5d65ebca7ccc80b30-165816370652?q=Peace%20one%20day%20videos&FORM=VIRE3