〈A Sanctuary Expressing the Greater Cosmos and the Universe Within〉

The excursion program held the day after the AWLF summit at the United Nations in Thailand took place at Sathira Dhammasathan, a monastery founded by Mae Chee Sansanee, one of Thailand’s most renowned Buddhist practitioners.

This was the setting for the program.

Mae Chee Sansanee

planted trees on a stretch of wasteland in Bangkok,

developed the site into a monastery,

and taught inner peace through meditation

while helping orphans and women who had experienced domestic or sexual violence.

She received many honors, including an award recognizing outstanding Buddhist leadership.

The meditation room she cherished most

was, we were told, designed by Mae Chee to evoke a womb.

It truly expressed both the greater cosmos and the small universe within us.

From the moment I first entered,

I felt as though I was being reminded of the beginning of life—

a mysterious, familiar feeling, as if I were in the universe itself.

Meditation here carries you into an extraordinary realm of time and space.

It was in this sanctuary

that a special screening of LIFE INOCHI took place.

Remarkably, one person had given birth to her daughter at the very same time of day

as this screening.

She shared this with everyone through her tears.

Then, calling her daughter’s name,

she said, “I love you.”

A participant from Mongolia

told us that, although she understood neither English nor Japanese, she could not stop crying.

She told me that my soul was like that of the Mongolian people, who live close to nature.

So many people expressed their gratitude,

but above all, I offer my heartfelt thanks to Mae Chee Sansanee and Annie for bringing this wonderful experience to everyone.

It also became possible because

AWLF representative Ai Sasaki and Sayaka, who connected Japan and Thailand for this occasion, visited this place and felt that it had to be here.

And, astonishingly—

an orchestra project has now begun in Thailand too!

People with these connections seem to find their way to us as though drawn here.

Japan and Asia,

crossing every boundary,

connected through the profound joy of having been born—

that is the kind of project I hope we can nurture.

Sayaka Hashimoto, producer of LIFE INOCHI, serves as a standing director of AWLF.

Director Masahiko Hashimoto created its logo, inspired by the Earth and Asia’s women leaders.

For production and creative work,

please contact Feel&Sense.

Feel&Sense