Creating Hope
January 2006
Banner photo: Katsuhiro Fujino
Culture Center Villa Sachsen, Germany
Villa Sachsen is situated between Rochus Peak and the Rhine river, on the eastern outskirts of Bingen amongst vineyards and a beautiful park. Villa Sachsen was built in 1843. Among its owners was Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Hessia, who changed its name to "Schloß (Castle) Pila," after his daughter. From 1898 the building was called Villa Sachsen again, and it underwent major constructional changes and improvements.
During World War II, Villa Sachsen served as an accommodation for refugees, and in 1944 it was used as a military hospital.
In 1994 it was acquired by SGI-Germany.
European Heritage Day
Just as we started renovating Villa Sachsen, the annual "European Heritage Day" was launched. Every September historically interesting and valuable buildings are opened to the public. Right from the start, Villa Sachsen participated in this event. The citizens of Bingen were very pleased to be able to visit Villa Sachsen and its beautiful park for the first time in decades. Every year some 2,000 visitors enjoy an extensive program: cultural events, children's games, talks on Buddhism and a lot more.
In 2002, a 65-km stretch of the Middle Rhine Valley, including the stretch which flows past Bingen, was declared a World Heritage Site. In 2008, the Landesgartenschau, a state horticultural show, will take place in Bingen. Since the end of World War II, hardly any major developmental changes have been carried out here, so the citizens welcome both these events that offer a chance for positive city development. The horticultural show and the recognition as a World Heritage Site are an external stimulus for visible improvements and investments. But spiritual and inspirational elements are needed in addition. In this sense, Villa Sachsen is playing a significant role, a point of view warmly shared by the citizens of Bingen.
In the spring of 2005, the mayor of Bingen, Mrs. Birgit Collin-Langen, visited the Soka Gakkai in Japan. To show her gratitude for the fact that Villa Sachsen contributes to the vitality and prosperity of Bingen, she awarded SGI President Ikeda with the Ältestes Stadtsiegel of 1254 (the oldest official seal of the city of Bingen).
River of Fate
During her visit she said: "The Rhine river, 'the river of fate' of Germany and Europe, runs through Bingen. This city is built on a history of 2,000 years of war and peace. At the riverbank of the Rhine, between France and Germany, the vision of a united Europe--the path that led to peace all over Europe--came into being. And finally, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Victor Hugo not only visited but also wrote about Bingen. And there they set down their vision of peace for all peoples in writing. Peace in Europe is a reality; peace among all people is something we still have to achieve. The Soka Gakkai Culture Center Villa Sachsen is located opposite the 'Germania,' a German war monument. I believe this is significant because Villa Sachsen can be viewed as a symbol of international peace and understanding. . . . Dialogue is crucial, for there is no peace without dialogue, no international understanding without dialogue . . ."
The importance of dialogue is something we experience through our constant interchange with the city of Bingen and surrounding areas and citizens every day in various ways. For example, the Rotary Club and Lions Club hold their annual meetings in Villa Sachsen. Concerts held there arranged by the Villa Musica foundation are usually sold out. Some time ago, Villa Sachsen served as location for a TV series, for which it was turned into a private hospital.
Goethe--a Buddhist?
Different organizations, for example the IOP (Institute of Oriental Philosophy), arrange lectures at Villa Sachsen on various topics. Members of SGI-Germany and the citizens of Bingen show lively interest in these lectures. Dr. Manfred Osten, former secretary-general of the Humboldt Foundation, held a lecture entitled "Goethe--a Buddhist?"; the famous actress Hanna Schygulla spent an evening reading and singing songs for about 200 enthusiastic visitors. Articles in the local newspaper cover most of these events extensively, allowing even those people who cannot attend to take an interest in them.
At the moment, generational change is an important topic in Germany and Europe.
For that reason, we have started an intellectual exchange with a local high school. New, creative ideas and plans have emerged: an open-air music festival in the park surrounding Villa Sachsen; inter-European student exchange between Bingen and its European sister cities; workshops and encounters to experience Europe's cultural diversity.
Villa Sachsen will not merely serve as an accommodating location, but also cooperate and support the exchange in terms of its content and organization. Villa Sachsen is gradually developing into a nexus for an expanding humanistic movement. We are determined to offer both inspiration and hope for the future by seeking out commonalities among people rather than stressing differences.
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