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Thank you very much. My dad and mom met each other through the Seicho-No-Ie propagation activities and got married. They read the Holy Sutra, Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines to me when my mom was pregnant. This is why I knew about SNI before I was born.
When I was very young, my mom often attended SNI events with me. I remember she enthusiastically took me to the Grand Public Lectures given by Dr. Masaharu Taniguchi by telling me that the Truth he taught would permeate through me. However, I didn’t accept the teachings voluntarily.
It was in December 1991 when the turning point of my life came to me. I was 23 years old. It was a snowy morning and there was some snow on the windshield of my car which was frozen. I usually walk to a nearby station, but would be late on that day so I drove to the station. Seeing some snow on the windshield, my mom was kind enough to rush to the car and wipe away the snow. I was so used to her loving ways, I failed to say "thank you very much" or "goodbye," and started the engine. When I reflected on that day, I felt I was too hasty. My mom smiled and waved to me until I was out of sight.
At lunchtime, my dad called me at work. He was home because it was Sunday. "Terumi, your mom fell and was taken to the hospital. Come home right away." It was unbelievable because she seemed so fine in the morning. But anyway, I rushed to the hospital.After my mother saw me off outside which was about 30 degree F, she prepared lunch in a warm kitchen. Next she did the laundry in the cold bathroom, and memorialized our ancestors by reading the Holy Sutra in a warm room. Since my mom had some congenital problem with her heart, the sudden temperature change caused a heart attack. She was transferred to the hospital by ambulance.
As a result of a six-hour examination, the doctor who diagnosed mom told us that she could leave the hospital and return again the next morning. After she came home, she said her heart was hurting, but my dad and I persuaded and encouraged her by saying, "Believe the doctor. There can’t be anything wrong with you." And we read the Holy Sutra to her. Although I was worried about her health and situation, since I caught a little cold at that time, I went to bed early. My dad kept on reading the Holy Sutra until midnight; then, my mom told him, "Thanks to your kindness, I feel very comfortable now. I will have you take me to the hospital tomorrow morning. Please go to bed. Thank you very much. Good night." He then went to bed.
The next morning, my dad's panic-stricken voice woke me up. "Terumi, your mom is dead!" I was so upset I jumped out of bed and rushed to her room. I shook her, there was no movement. "Wake up mom, wake up!" I cried. I put my ear to her heart, but there was no heartbeat. I checked her wrist; there was no pulse. After a while, a few policemen and a doctor came to our home and determined that she passed away around 2 or 3 a.m. due to myocardial infarction, or MI. I could not believe she was dead. She was running around the house until yesterday very cheerfully, and now, her countenance was peaceful and quiet, and she appeared to be asleep. If I said, "Good morning, Mom," she would be on the verge of getting up.
For a while, I found my dad hunting for something in the house. He was looking for the key to the safe where we kept money, cash card, and other important things. It was my mom who kept the key; therefore, we were at a loss when she suddenly passed away. My dad was very concerned because without the key, we could not even hold a funeral service for her.
I suggested that he ask Mom. I asked Mom as if she were alive, "Mom, where is the key?" Immediately, "the key is in the drawers of the chest" came to my mind in a flash. Dad had looked for the key in the drawers; however, I wanted to look again. I found an envelope in the drawer and I took it out unknowingly. There was the key under the envelope. This kind of happenings had occurred time and again.
Through this experience, I came to firmly believe that she was still alive. Whenever I talk to her, she answered me through inspiration. I deeply understand that even though our physical body is dead, the spirit is still living and guiding us. This experience made me firmly aware that the truth, "Man is immortal even though his physical body dies" taught by SNI is true and I was impressed how great the truth is. It was like a thunderbolt. Since then, I started to read the Truth of Life series, especially the “Book of Spiritual World” like crazy.
One day four members of the Youth and Young Adult Association visited our home to memorialize my mom. One of them was Rev. Masahiro Takemura, Chief of Aomori Missionary Area and the other was Rev. Mario Kawakami, Chief of Northern California Missionary Area, whom you may remember because he was here as a resident minister. They were members of the Youth and Young Adult Association. My dad and I were very moved that they sincerely read the Holy Sutra and they were so bright, cheerful and attentive. They visited us bringing the gift of God’s love. The scene was so impressive that I can clearly remember it even now.
I strongly desired to be a person like them who brings the bright and warm light of God to those who are disappointed. My dad and I talked about how our once lonely home that missed our mom would light up if such bright, kind people visited us. Then, I started to hold Readers' Meetings at our home and engaged in propagational activities with all my might. Once I was assigned an important role as vice president of the Regional Lecturers Society in a missionary area of Japan. I am very happy to join this movement here and there.
It is thanks to my parents that I am able to have such a priceless experience. And I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the youth members who manifested God's love and to Tetsuya and Manami with whom I became a family in accordance with the will of God. I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to all of you whom I am able to meet through God's deep consideration and who support us constantly day and night. Thank you very much.
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