[Sensei Alan Imai, Associate Director of Shinji Shumeikai of America, serves as the Shumei Natural Agriculture International Project Coordinator.]

In September of 1998, Shinji Shumeikai attended the Interfaith Service organized by the Interfaith Center of New York. At that time Dean Morton and Bawa Jain introduced Kaicho-Sensei to Mr. Maurice Strong and his wife, Hanne Strong. Mr. Strong is known as the "father of the environment" and Hanne Strong is keenly involved in environmental issues, especially the protection and preservation of original seeds from around the world. These seed collection and preservation activities are undertaken at Earth Origins Seeds, which she founded in Crestone, Colorado. I first visited Crestone in October of 1998 with Matsubayashi Sensei (the Director of the Natural Agriculture Department of Shinji Shumeikai) and Nakamura Sensei (a Natural Agriculture farmer). There, I learned not only of her commitment to the protection of seeds but also her interfaith activity and concern for Native people.

In February 1999, Mrs. Hanne Strong visited Misono and shared her commitment for seed preservation and also discussed her commitment to the Earth Restoration Corps (ERC). The ERC, funded by her, is an educational leadership program for youth intended to promote future sustainable development. Last summer an ERC program was conducted in Crestone for Shumei's youth, and Shinji Shumeikai has sent groups of leaders to Crestone for retreats. Mrs. Hanne Strong's commitment to the environment and to youth stem from her deep spirituality. Her beliefs are really quite compatible with the philosophy of Shinji Shumeikai. She has now invited us to become a part of the interfaith community in Crestone, and a part of the land known as "the old gold mine site" has be en officially granted to Shinji Shumeikai.

In the latter part of 1999, Shinji Shumeikai established the Crestone Committee to undertake the land grant process and oversee the design of the buildings. Mr. Larry Deutsch (SSA member) and Taizo Ihara Sensei (Director of the International Department) were designated program Co-Directors, and PEH Architects of Boulder, Colorado, was selected as the architectural firm. The design of the sanctuary, food center, caretaker's house and the amphitheater is more than 80 percent completed, and we are expecting to choose the general contractor by the end of March, 2001. Kaicho-Sensei will conduct a groundbreaking ceremony on April 5, and we hope the construction will go smoothly and that we will see the dedication ceremony sometime in November of this year.

The most important question is how best to make use of the center for the welfare of mankind. We are now in the process of establishing the Shumei International Institute (SII), a new Colorado based non-profit organization. The mission of the SII will be to provide an environment for spiritual growth through interfaith activities, the practice of Natural Agriculture and the sponsorship of art and cultural events. The new Crestone Center will be the home of the Shumei International Institute. I foresee the Center being used in the following three ways:

Crestone is located at the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley, considered a sacred valley by Native American people. The old gold mine site where the Crestone Center will be built is on a hillside and will provide visitors a spectacular view. As those who have already participated in a retreat at Crestone know, the site is a spiritually refreshing place. Kishima Island, located in the Seto Inland Sea and designated a national park of Japan, currently serves as a retreat Cent er for Shumei members and as a campsite for youth. The Crestone Center will serve as an international version of Kishima Island.

Mrs. Hanne Strong has been inviting diverse spiritual and religious groups from around the world to Crestone to build their centers. We would like to be an active participant of this interfaith community. Moreover, many artists have moved to this region. As we would like to host many cultural events and contribute to the spiritual and cultural progress of people, we see this location as ideal.

How will the Crestone Center compare with the success of the Miho Museum? Designed by world famous architect I. M. Pei, the Miho has now found its place as a world class museum because of the spirituality coming from the sublime beauty of its unique buildings nestled in the Shigaraki Mountains, and the beauty and quality of the ancient fine arts from around the world which comprise its content. Many visitors, including participants of the Miho symposium series on spirituality and beauty, are positively impressed by their experiences at the Miho Museum. I believe Crestone will measure up and be very successful due to its absolute natural beauty in conjunction with the interfaith and environmental activities at Crestone being nurtured by Hanne Strong. Just as the Miho Museum hosts symposia and provides wonderful publications, we would like to host at Crestone a series of symposia focused upon spirituality and the environment, invite prestigious people in the environmental field, and publish and disseminate quality publications on these events to those who might be interested in them. We would like to establish a respectful image of the Center in the environmental field.

In writing this, I came up with the following idea. Mrs. Hanne Strong has a firm connection with Native American people, and Ms Sharon Franquemont, who has facilitated retreats for Shumei members a number of times, also has an excellent relationship with indigenous Americans. Through them, we have access to key Native American people. When we look at this modern society economically, politically, socially, and environmentally, we realize we have to do something to provide a healthy earth for our children. There must be many things we can learn from Native people's wisdom. We can invite Native American leaders and successful b usinessmen who understand the importance of spirituality and have concern for the environment to discuss our future. When there is a gathering of Native Americans they often focus upon the issues of their sad history or the recovery of their rights. In a perhaps more positive manner, we can honor their vast experience and knowledge of Nature and we can learn from them. When we meet, we can create publications of the events and distribute copies to key people around the globe, sharing this wonderful information with the world.

The Miho Museum, born from Shumei philosophy, has been a contribution to the world in the area of spirituality and beauty. Through the Crestone Center, also born from Shumei philosophy, can't we send an important message on spirituality and environment to the world?

From SHUMEI Magazine, VOL. 232, may/june, 2001