Today, we held a coffee ceremony at Tokyo Komaya for the first time in a while. First, I made yomogi daifuku to serve with the coffee. The daifuku turned out very delicious. To welcome everyone who comes to visit us in this heat in a pleasant and comfortable way, I prepared my heart. We first serve “White Coffee” as a welcome coffee in cups created by Master Idaki Shin. While our guests enjoy it, I determine the right amount of coffee for each person and carefully brew each cup using a bamboo ladle. I then pour the coffee into magnificent cups created by Master Idaki Shin, filled with the energy of the universe. Every coffee has a purifying taste. Our guests are deeply satisfied, and radiant smiles naturally appear on their faces. This is the moment when I feel relieved. Then, looking into each person’s interiority, I write words that are born in sumi ink on marbled Tosa washi paper. They are the wind, light, or aroma of their interiority. During this time, I feel as though light is shining deep into the interiority of each and every person, and I experience the joy of reaching the heart of their being. All are delighted to have been given the opportunity to rediscover themselves.
Today, we continued live-streaming “Today’s Talk” across Japan, followed by “Gathering to Express in Poetry, the True Demands of Life that Arise Toward Filling All Seats for the Concert.” At one point, I prepared a special coffee that can be enjoyed nowhere but Komaya, and once again, an extraordinary cup of coffee was brewed. The moment they tasted it, joyful exclamations of “Delicious!” echoed all around. And today, the chef from Yui Kobo made fresh sweets in front of us. Made with peaches and served with exceptionally delicious ice cream, the dessert was delightfully refreshing, delicious, and revitalizing. Completely absorbed in the moment, we all enjoyed the coffee and sweets together. The poetry gathering that followed unfolded in many different ways. The way each person approaches it and the words that emerge are entirely different. It becomes a precious opportunity to reflect deeply on what we feel, what we become aware of, and how we will live and move forward from here on. I, too, clear my heart each time, and when I express my words, I search my interiority seriously and find the right words. Today, I saw a new bud of life that had never appeared before. It was the same as the large tree that stands on Mt. Wunu. It stands like a pillar of light connecting earth to the universe. It brought me great joy that a pillar of light reaching into the universe was standing within my interiority. Joy was born that we can begin nation-building from now on. What I most wish to do is to create a society in which human beings can live as human beings. From the bottom of my heart, I wish to change this world―a world in which precious lives are being lost, injustice is allowed to prevail, and so many people are forced to suffer and grieve. Having come to realize that creating a better world depends on each and every one of us living as a human being, I now strive to purify my internality, make the most of my own qualities, and live a life dedicated to serving others and society. Today has once again been a precious opportunity to reflect on the true demand of my life. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude. Thank you very much.