Daisaku Ikeda Sends Congratulatory Message to “The Poetic Heart: Connecting Humanity” Event
On February 9 and 10, 2023, the 12th edition
of “The Poetic Heart: Connecting Humanity” was held in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates (UAE). This annual event, hosted by SGI-Gulf in association with Dubai
Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City, brings together poets
as well as musicians from across the region and beyond to perform their work in
the promotion of peace.
“The Poetic Heart” was initiated in 2012 by SGI-Gulf, a Dubai-based cultural and educational organization, and draws inspiration from Daisaku Ikeda’s conviction in the power of poetry to foster connection and nurture the values that underlie peace. The multilingual event also invites the participation of secondary school students. This year the event was attended by some 1,000 people and broadcast online under the theme “Rekindling Values and Co-Existence.”
In a message to the event, Mr. Ikeda stated
that, in a world tormented by endless division and conflict, “the creation of
new value in the pursuit of peace and harmonious coexistence through the
interchange of poetic hearts, is as extensively meaningful as it is profoundly
felicitous.”
He described the gathering of poets from
around the world for this event as “an effort to expand circle after circle of
sublime empathy and friendship in the hope of breaching the divides of
different peoples and cultures.”
On February 9, forty-four secondary school students performed their poetry and music. February 10, the second day of the event, featured poets and musicians from countries including, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Participants in the 12th edition of “The Poetic Heart Connecting Humanity,” with its theme of Rekindling Values and Co-Existence
[Adapted from an article in the February 21, 2023, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun and in volume 619 of Soka Gakkai News, Soka Gakkai, Japan]
