2009 March Message

Celebrating Founding Day
Rev. Tetsuya Abe
Acting Chief, Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii Missionary Area

　　　March is a blessed month for Seicho-No-Ie members because we celebrate Seicho-No-Ie's Founding Day on the first day of the month. It has been 79 years since its founding and this is the 80th Founding Day. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on this auspicious occasion with all of you. And I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Founder Masaharu Taniguchi for providing us wonderful teachings to bring about world peace, and Rev. Seicho Taniguchi for devoting himself to propagation activities over the course of his life.

　　　We have one more propitious event on March 1 this year. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi will become the third President of Seicho-No-Ie, and the ceremony of the succession to the Seicho-No-Ie Presidency will be celebrated at the Seicho-No-Ie Main Temple in Nagasaki, Japan. Together with all Seicho-No-Ie members throughout the world, let us send our best wishes and congratulations on his inauguration, enthusiastically study the teachings disseminated by the new President as well as Founder Taniguchi and the late Rev. Taniguchi, and promote our movement with confidence and brightness.

　　　What I've recently been thinking is that the Truth taught by Founder Taniguchi is illuminating the world more brightly as time goes by. Let me show you some of his remarkable articles from a book newly published last year in Japan.

Jan. 16: Don't Be Stuck In a Habitual Stable Situation

　　　There is no progress for those who cannot accept a new idea, resist when change is necessary, and refuse a new experience to come to their life. These resistances come from the fear for the future. That is because they are obsessed with a foolish fixed idea that things they did in the past are the safest and best. If people had been ruled by such a fixed idea, they could not have made any progress in the world. It seems to be disappointing to see current situations collapsing, but be that as it may, it is a springboard for progress and happiness.

Jan. 17: Filled With a Refreshing Feeling of Vitality

　　　A new environment bears a new development. Without new developments, life cannot be refreshing and invigorating. In a new environment a new dream is cherished, a new experience starts, new things are brought about, and new happiness and new culture are established. Open your mind now and deal with the new world. Don't refuse what is new. What is new is an angel from God who sustains you in a new way. No matter what changes may happen and no matter how hard a cold wintry wind blows, spring is sure to come before very long. Within a situation where all nature looks bleak and desolate, spring with cherry blossoms in all their glory is already prepared. (Masaharu Taniguchi, Shinpan Komyo Hogo: Michi no Maki, "Sermon on Light: Volume on the Way," new edition)

　　　The article above, written more than 60 years ago, sends a wake-up call to people who live in this age. Among Founder Taniguchi's books there are many articles that are of increasing significance. This proves that the Truth transcends time and borders. Let us read Founder Taniguchi's books every day and strive to grasp the essence of the teachings as much as possible.

　　　Rev. Seicho Taniguchi clearly showed us about how we, who are provided the precious teachings, should act on Founding Day:

　　　Founder Masaharu Taniguchi started this movement by publishing the inaugural issue of "Seicho-No-Ie" magazine in March 1930. If you are a SNI member, you should not be lazy on this memorable day of Founding. The Seicho-No-Ie movement is nothing less than a movement to convey the truth of Seicho-No-Ie. The inaugural issue of Seicho-No-Ie magazine was published not just for research or favorite pursuit but for propagation purposes. If Founder Taniguchi only wanted to seek the truth for himself, there was no need for the magazine to be issued and he should have confined himself at a temple or shrine for prayer. However, he didn't do so and propagated and expanded the truth to as many people as possible. (Seicho Taniguchi, Riso Sekai, "Ideal World," March 1986)

　　　Fortunately, we have many wonderful leaders and members who sincerely accept the changes in a new era and strive to expand propagation in the Hawaii Missionary Area. It is truly wonderful. There is no doubt that when we unite and follow the guidance from the new President of Seicho-No-Ie, Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, and advance this movement with open minds, the will of God will appear and newcomers and young people will join us one after another. Thank you very much for your support and participation in our movement.