Yesterday was a lot of fun. We started with the SGI-USA Fortune District discussion meeting at Maria’s house where we talked about compassion and embracing our neighbors, and we heard an experience from Maria. Jeff announced that the 2006 Annual Study Guide is available online, by order, and at the community center bookstore. Then many of us went from the meeting to participate in the interfaith 9/11 Unity Walk for Peace.
We parked near Washington National Cathedral and walked to the Washington Hebrew Congregation for the start of the walk and to hear some leaders of different faiths speak. We heard short speeches from Rabbi Bruce Lustig, Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, and Right Reverend John Bryson Chane. SGI’s own Bill Aiken was up front with the other leaders, but we did not get to hear him speak. All three speakers talked about respect and compassion for people of all faiths, and Ambassador Akbar Ahmed was particularly motivating with his reference to an early Jewish philosophy to “Go out and heal!” that rings true to the Buddhist concept of heart to heart human revolution. Ambassador Akbar Ahmed is also a recent recipient of the Purpose Award, and has been nominated by Pakistan to be the next Secretary-General of the United Nations. We get spoiled in Soka Gakkai, and have become accustomed to many motivational speakers speaking from the heart, and through out the Unity Walk relatively few of the speakers motivated me genuinely, but Ambassador Akbar Ahmed did. I am certainly no expert on counting crowds, but I’d guess there were between 300 and 400 people at the Hebrew Congregation at start, and more were arriving due to some confusion about the start time. I met some agnostic peace activists, some Jewish people, a Christian who also practices Transcendental Meditation and who was really pleased we were Buddhists, and a Muslim who was enthusiastically greeting many SGI members. We heard news that Howard Zinn might be leading a history workshop on the National Mall on September 20th.
We walked to Washington National Cathedral where we listened to Right Reverend John Bryson Chane and Episcopal Bishop Robert Goodwin. There was also a concert with the re-recorded “We Are Family” Sister Sledge song. We picked up another couple of hundred people arriving late, and banners were distributed amongst the walkers. I think children had a part in the banners because many of them were quite beautiful and playful with a collage of images celebrating peace, hope, cultural diversity, and freedom. At one point I am guessing we had about 600 people in the crowd.
We walked down Massachusetts Avenue past many embassies, past the sight of the future Soka Gakkai International Cultural Center, past the Kahlil Gibran Memorial Garden (at this point the size of the group was apparent because as we walked around the curve of the street around the Naval Observatory, it was easy to see the really long line of walkers), to the Islamic Center of Washington. Refreshments were handed out and there were more interfaith prayers and more speakers, including Imam Kouj, Reverend Clark Lobenstine, Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, and Reverend Richard Cizik. Again Bill Aiken was up by the podium but we did not hear him speak. Sadly the afternoon sun was backing the courtyard in front of the Islamic Center and we were all hot from walking, and the crowd began to shrink a bit, back to a rough guess of 300 – 400 people again.
From the Islamic Center it is a relatively short walk to the Gandhi Memorial where we heard Keertan musicians As Kindred Spirits and heard short speeches from Suresh Gupta, Arun Gandhi, Envoy Lodi Gyari, Nihad Awad, Imam Yahya Hendi, and Reverend Mpho Tutu. There were more refreshments and the impressive statue of Mohandas K. “Mahatma†Gandhi which is always there for the public to see. While we were at the Gandhi Memorial a prospective member came up to Jeff (who had an SGI t-shirt on) and wanted to talk to us about Buddhism and we gave him some information. We were not actively trying to shakabuku anyone, but were quite willing to when asked.
After the walk was over, we caught a bus back up to the National Cathedral to use the public restrooms and chanced upon a JoyCar, which immediately inspired smiles and laughter even though it was simply parked and unoccupied. This car apparently blows bubbles and is intended to spread happiness. It looks like a cute publicity gimmick for someone’s business, but what a fun gimmick.
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