Actor and humanitarian Orlando Bloom served as the keynote speaker for the Soka University of America 2025 Commencement Ceremony on May 23 at the university’s Soka Performing Arts Center. Following is an excerpt from his address.
by Orlando Bloom
I imagine you are all feeling a mixture of curiosity, excitement and, I hope, a sense of openness to all that lies ahead of you as you embark upon this next, exciting chapter of your lives. How fortunate you are to have received your education here at Soka University. It has provided you with a remarkable foundation and a springboard from which you are now poised to leap into your future.
I still recall, myself, a sense of pride, joy and relief that I felt upon graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama—in a back brace, no less.
At the end of my second year, while still in my teens, I fell three floors and broke my back. I was extraordinarily fortunate to have survived the fall, and with my spinal cord intact. During my first four days in hospital, I was told that I may never walk again. Thus began a process of reflection that made me look at certain patterns in my life that had led to a series of accidents, culminating in this near-fatal experience.
It was remarkable that after the operation I was able to walk out of hospital on crutches just 12 days later. The months that followed were especially difficult since I had always led an active life. I felt restricted and in pain and came to the realization that this would either be the breaking or the making of me.
The recovery gave me the time and space to assess the meaningfulness of my life and how I wanted to live going forward. Ultimately, it would be up to me to determine my outcome.
I now consider this potentially disastrous life-changing incident as a great reminder to live with gratitude, a sense of purpose and lead with my best foot forward each day, and to reflect rather than rush through life. It taught me that there is always an opportunity to transform pain, whether it be physical or emotional, into the great good fortune of one’s life. …
‘Everything starts with you.’
My personal philosophical view has evolved through my practice of Buddhism, which I embraced when I was 16 years old. It has been grounding for me, giving me hope and confidence through everything. It has been the foundation from which I have built my life.
No matter what it may be, it is vital, I would suggest, that each of us finds a philosophy or practice that works best in guiding our own lives.
Education is undoubtedly a vital anchor but equally so is having a philosophy by which to live. Life is a continual learning curve, and our education never really ends. Whether in moments of hardship or ease, life presents us with a continual and sometimes relentless opportunity for growth.
So, here is a little bit of what I’ve learned: Everything starts with you. Your inner life matters, profoundly. It’s important to develop strong instincts—knowing, in each circumstance, what is required to create your own joyful and fulfilling life.
The most worthwhile kind of life is in service of others.
I have had the great privilege of meeting the founder of this university, Daisaku Ikeda, in 2006, in Japan. I remember every detail as if it were yesterday.
The moment I saw him for the first time, I felt an immediate and profound connection—as though we had met many times before, perhaps in other lifetimes.
It was an extraordinary day. We were at a beautiful location in Nagano, talking, sharing thoughts on life, my mother, my family and the eternal nature of existence. It will always be one of the most meaningful days of my life.
During our time together, he shared with me:
“The playwright August Strindberg wrote: ‘The actor must control the role and not let the role control him.’[1]
The important thing is to remain true to yourself. That’s exactly what you are doing. You don’t define yourself solely in terms of your profession as an actor, of your work—that world is not enough for you.
For you are dedicating your life to others, to society and to the eternal philosophy of Buddhism. That is a very noble, very admirable attitude. It is the most worthwhile kind of life there is.”[2]
His encouragement and wisdom continue to guide me to work on my inner revolution and to be of service to others in my own way. …
For the sake of humanism, ‘you must win in everything.’
I’m sure like me, you will be told NO many times throughout your journey. The challenge—and the opportunity—is to learn how to transform a NO into a YES. I have faced many such moments myself.
It is also vital, however, to discern whether a NO or YES is in alignment with the sort of life you wish to lead. Sometimes a NO is a blessing and a form of protection. At times, doing what we want may seem the simpler path, but to live with integrity means to live collaboratively and to remain in the service of others.
The friends we choose inevitably shape the way that we live—so choose wisely. True friendship and having a community to lean on are not only a source of support but also a way to grow into someone who gives back to your community.
There is a message that Ikeda Sensei once shared with the youth of the U.K. that I would like to share with you. I’ve constantly returned to this message. It’s been a sort of touchstone for me. In part, he said:
A great future lies ahead of you! You must fix your eyes on that future, never losing sight of your goal for even a single moment. Centuries, tens of centuries have waited for you to arrive and have been preparing for you. You are the ones who have now appeared so mystically. Your victory will be the victory of humanism. Your defeat would be the defeat of hope. Hence you must win in everything.[3]
And so, your new journey begins!
My warmest congratulations to the extraordinary Class of 2025! Thank you for having me; I wish you well. I’ll be praying for you all.
Voices from the Class of 2025
An Education in Empathy
by Devin Weber
Denver
Frankly, I was rather cold when I got here—a bit awkward and guarded, and certainly not one to melt anyone else’s walls. My education here has, I like to think, made me a little warmer and a little more human, and I owe that above all to the friends I made while here.
One friend, in particular, showed me what it meant to empathize and lend an ear to others. I remember once, when deeply stressed, he left me a note that said, simply, In case you need anything, I’m here. It was such a simple gesture, but I knew he meant it, and he proved he meant it when I did reach out. He made me want to pay it forward.
Now I’m headed to Teachers College at Columbia University to pursue a degree in math education. As someone who tends to struggle to make new friends, the thought of living in a city as big as New York makes me nervous. But I plan to take this culture of Soka education with me, to be the one to create a golden space around me. I have to be the one to initiate that.
A Commitment to Peace
by Julia Miyagawa Braga
São Paolo, Brazil
The thing that I really like about our mission statement, which focuses on global citizenship, is the word commitment. Because our mission as global citizens is to commit to living a contributive life. The word commitment means so much to me, because it means doing that every day. On a daily basis, it’s about how you truly respect every person in front of you, based on the values of [global citizenship]: wisdom, courage and compassion.
During my learning cluster, we studied about the Holocaust, and I had the chance to travel to Germany and Poland. That was such a transformative experience. Visiting so many devastating historical sites made me understand the urgency to create peace. I want to be the person who will always stand up, even if I’m alone, to support people.
I plan to work at a law firm in San Francisco this summer, and then go to Thailand and then Beijing for internships. My goal is to enroll in law school next year to study international law. I’m just so excited to bring the SUA spirit everywhere I go—this deep belief in the dignity of life of all human beings.
June 6, 2025 World Tribune, p. 8–9
You are reading {{ meterCount }} of {{ meterMax }} free premium articles