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Participation in the 48th World Interfaith Forum
On October 17 (Fri), 2025, IAPG participated in the 48th World Interfaith Forum hosted by Imam Arif Huskic. During the meeting, IAPG Representative Kouken Yamato delivered a video message on the topic "Love as the Universal Language of Faith: How divine love can heal divisions, unite humanity, and renew our shared purpose on Earth."(Full speech text below)
Good morning, everyone. I'm Kouken Yamato, the representative of the INAMORI Art Project Group. Today, I'm truly delighted and honored to have this opportunity to speak once again at this 48th World Interfaith Forum. I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to my brother, Imam Arif, and to all the participants today.
Regarding today's theme, "Love as the Universal Language of Faith - reflecting on how divine love can heal divisions, unite humanity, and renew our shared purpose on Earth," I'd like to share the thoughts that I and our group, IAPG, have put into our activities.
First of all, the true nature of "Love" is not a word, but rather the very "life energy" that "forms the being of God." This vast universe itself is the "living being of God - the very body of the Divine." It is the "energy of Love" that gives life to, nurtures, and forgives all living beings that exist in this universe, including us human beings.
We were all, without exception, created from this energy of Love, which came from God Himself. Each of us was born as a part of God, sharing in His love. Therefore, God is called the "Creator," our true "Parent," and is also described as "Almighty." And that's why we are called the "Children of God." In Japanese Shinto, we are called "Wakemitama," meaning "the spirit being split out from God." This is not just a religious belief, but an eternal and universal "truth." For that reason, all religions share many commonalities within their teachings.
And just as the existence of God is everlasting and universal, we, the "Children of God," also have everlasting life like Him. The true essence of our being is not the "physical body," which is only like a temporary stuffed toy, but the "soul."
Our true home is the world called the "Real World," the so called "Spirit World" or "Heaven." From that world, we take on a "physical body" and are born into this "Phenomenal World," the "Physical World," or the "Earthly World", temporarily erasing all our memories as we are born from a human mother. And after fulfilling the mission and purpose of our life over several decades, we return once again to our original home, "Heaven," and regain all the memories of our past. Throughout eternity, every child of God has repeated this cycle countless times. This system is called "reincarnation."
This is not an idea, doctrine, ideology, or philosophy, but a "fact" of "science" and "scientific law." It is the absolute "law" and "principle" created and determined by God Himself. At present, Earth's science is still in its infancy, at the elementary school level, so it has yet to uncover most of these truths. However, in the near future, the day will come when Earth's science catches up with religion, and all truths will become clear.
And Jesus, Buddha, Allah, and his messenger Muhammad, all appeared in the Physical World as saviors to teach this divine law. Yet each of them was born in a different age, culture, and country, with varying levels of knowledge, and the time given to convey the truth was sometimes short. Furthermore, since all their teachings were delivered orally, the disciples, whose scientific understanding was limited, left behind some texts and scriptures that contain ambiguous and abstract parts, and sometimes even incorrect expressions, which have led to various interpretations that remain to this day. Nevertheless, Jesus, Allah, Muhammad, and Moses all undoubtedly conveyed the same truth.
The truth they conveyed - "the laws created by God" and the fact that "God Himself is the energy of Love" - is what we call the "Divine Truth." That is to say, in all religions and science, the existence of God is one and only, not abstract but "concrete" and "absolute"-"scientific truth." This truth is one and totally the "same," regardless of differences in religion or faith. We were all created from and are sustained by that same "energy of Love." So we are all "Children of God" - "living beings" infused with "God's energy of Love", without exception.
If that is so, then why should we have any need or right to fight and hurt one another simply because we happen to be reborn in different countries or ethnic groups on this Earth, or follow different teachings that are still incomplete? Those strangers whom you are now fighting or killing may have been your beloved family members or loved ones in the distant past. How would you feel when you recall this truth after returning to Heaven? Surely, you will be overwhelmed with deep regret and reflection that cannot be excused simply by saying, "I didn't know." Yet it's said, "God never gives us trials we cannot overcome." Even these are challenges - part of the divine system given by God out of His wish for our growth and spiritual evolution.
Learning the true meaning of "Love" is exactly this. God wishes for us, His children, to awaken to this truth as soon as possible. That's what it truly means for all of us to be crew members aboard "Spaceship Earth." It's not a metaphor, but the reality that we are one "Earth Family." I sincerely pray that each of you, the wonderful and wise attendees here, will help spread this truth and share your "faith", grounded in the true "Divine Truth", in your beautiful ways from your own positions. I think "God" and "Love" are not things to "believe in," but things to truly "know." I do not "believe in God", but "I know God." Thank you for your kind attention. May God's blessings and mercy be upon you all.