|
Centennial Message
Dr. William F. Vendley
Secretary General,
World Conference on Religion and Peace
It is an enormous honour to be able to share my
own heartfelt feelings as we celebrate together the 100th anniversary
of the birth of the Reverend Toshio Miyake.
I have an unusually good perspective on some of
the remarkable consequences of his life in my role as the Secretary
General of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP).
Rev. Toshio Miyake was one of the founders of WCRP,
and today his influence continues to be felt and gathers strength
around the world as WCRP grows from strength to strength.
My reflections on the Rev. Toshio Miyake are also
personal. He was a teacher to me, a mentor. He was one who offered
me his guidance and support in my efforts to serve the mission of
WCRP. Two words come to mind as I recall him: "transparency"
and colour. The word "transparency" may seem curious,
but what I am speaking about is that rare depth of soul, which becomes
transparent to its own origin. The Rev. Toshio Miyake achieved a
highly unusual openness to his own source - Kami. Indeed, one of
the most remarkable characteristics of the Rev. Toshio Miyake is
that he was always abiding close to his own source - Kami. As a
result, one always had an unusually deep feeling in his presence.
One was always ready to be startled or surprised by the freshness
of his actions or insights, the naturalness of his behaviour in
new situations and by the kindness of his dealings with people in
all parts of the world and in all stations.
This rare "transparency" of his soul
and his closeness to Kami manifests itself with great energy in
his passion to promote cooperation among the world's religions.
The Rev. Toshio Miyake was seized by an unshakable conviction that
the world's religious believers needed to cooperate together to
build peace. He would travel anywhere, meet with anyone and undertake
any hardship in the service of this remarkable mission. It is true
that he was known around the world among senior leaders and among
the modest members of the community as a man of radical passion
for peace and a commitment to help us all to cooperate to achieve
it. He was in a word, transparent, to the very action of his source
- Kami.
Another word that describes the Rev. Toshio Miyake
is colour. Though he was transparent to Kami, he was always radiant
in his colour. His humour, his smiling face, his gentle humour,
and his vigorous and strong spirit combined in a person of unique
character and colour. His personality combined opposites: strong
and gentle, forceful and compliant, self confident and humble, at
times, loud yet always still.
Those who knew Rev. Toshio Miyake personally loved
him. They loved him because they felt his integrity, his compassion
and his love. They loved him because they recognized the truth of
his energy and commitment. They loved him because he called them
into partnership in the common task of building peace.
Today, under the leadership of the Rev. Tatsuo
Miyake, the spirit of Rev. Toshio Miyake lives on in the Konko Church
of Izuo. The entire community continues the radiant commitment of
the Rev. Toshio Miyake. In these commitments we find the "transparency."
We find what we found in the Rev. Toshio Miyake, "transparency"
to our very origin - Kami, and the joyous colour in character of
a particular community with its own marvellous gifts committed to
all of us.
WCRP around the world is indebted to the Rev. Toshio
Miyake and the Konko Church of Izuo.
Please accept our heartfelt congratulations.
|