Thursday, April 02, 2009

2009 April Message

Let Us Extend Our Deep Love to Our Mother Earth
Rev. Tetsuya Abe
Acting Chief, SNI Hawaii Missionary Area

  On March 1, Sunday, the celebration ceremony for the 79th Anniversary of Seicho-No-Ie Founding was held filled with brightness and cheerfulness at Jisso Center. Approximately, 70 attendees enjoyed the program and cerebrated this auspicious occasion. I appreciate every single participant and those who support the event from the bottom of my heart. Especially, we also cerebrated the inauguration of the new President of Seicho-No-Ie and President of SNI White Dove Association. We would like to extend our sincere congratulations on Rev. and Mrs. Masanobu Taniguchi. I also appreciate those who wrote their congratulatory messages to them. Rev. and Mrs. Taniguchi must be happy to see them.

  A week before the Founding Day, I went to Kona to attend a study class and Sunday service as a lecturer with my wife and daughter. We savored beautiful Kona and had a wonderful time with warm and enthusiastic Kona members to share the teachings including how we can overcome the recent adversities and "Sundial Way of Life." My 4-year-old daughter was very happy to be kindly taken care by her elder "brothers" and a "sister." Thank you very much Kona members for your hospitalities.

  This year, I have heard "it is cold" from almost everyone's mouth. Compared to the last year's winter, the first for us in Hawaii, we surely feel "cold" this year. When I led a morning Shinsokan at Kona Center, I felt cold to the extent that I missed a morning coffee despite I wore a long sleeve shirt and jacket. On the contrary, they had very warm days in Japan as warm as the middle of June in February when it should be very cold. In Australia, many people have been suffering from terrible mountain fires. There is no doubt that something is wrong with climate.

  What the world's leading climate scientists have agreed and warned is if we cannot curb the increase of the earth's average temperature under 3.6 degree Fahrenheit (2 degree Celsius) compared to the pre industrial level, changes in large-scale components of the climate system will be triggered, that will lead the climate system to the irreversible point. To avoid that happens, the next 10 years is critical, those scientists said. "2009 STATE OF THE WORLD," which is considered as top-ranked annual books on climate change and sustainable development, describes this issue as follows:
  Halting the increase in global warming at far below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) is possible, and lowering global warming as rapidly as possible to below an increase of 1 degree Celsius (1.8 F) appears critical if there is to be a high probability of preventing dangerous climate change. The emissions reduction actions required to achieve this are massive and appear to be at the outer edge of what is technically and economically feasible. Scenarios that can start to get within reach of these temperature goals require GHG (Green House Gas) emissions to peak before 2020 and then to drop toward 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, with further reductions beyond this time. (Ibid., p29)

   What we are asked to address the global warming issue is not an argument but an action. It is time that everyone should do whatever he/she can. Politicians should do what they can/should as politicians, the same thing should be applied to entrepreneurs, environment preservation groups and others. Then, what religious group should do? To truly solve this problem, it is necessary for all citizens to change their life styles. To do so, their ways of thinking should be changed. This is what we religious practitioners are expected.

If a company makes a environment-friendly car, but it is in vain if people do not buy that car. By creating a system that people are easily able to buy such a product, and by educating people to buy a eco-friendly product even if it is a little more expensive than a normal one provided your budget is allowed, all those efforts to preserve environment will be effective for the first time. And what is far more important is to obtain a mindset that since everything is a manifestation of God and Buddha you should use what appears as material carefully and respectfully, that you should be grateful for what is granted. In this respect, there is a meaning that a religious organization should address this environment issue as a practice of deeds of love. We are now in the degree that the Earth cannot exist if we take an immediate action. Furthermore, this lifestyle ― to control your desires and use everything carefully as a manifestation of God's divine life ― is just the way what our Founder Masaharu Taniguchi, Rev. Seicho Taniguchi lived and what Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi's family are living.

   I believe you fully understand the reason why Seicho-No-Ie has been addressing the environment issue. However, if someone who do not understand it ask you that why SNI is doing this movement and if they wonder isn't it derailing the teachings of Founder Masaharu Taniguchi, please answer them that by addressing this issue, for the first time, we can follow the spirit of our loving Founder.

   Since its Founding, Seicho-No-Ie has consistently contributed to the welfare and the well-being of the societies, nations, and the world. This attitude never changes. Now that people in the world are at the tipping point where we cannot bequeath the beautiful earth to the next generation unless people unite, gather intelligence, and take a strong action. Based on the recognition, SNI International Headquarters started "Carbon Neutral Movement" that they offset all the carbon dioxide discharged accompanied with our activities and are carrying out effective measures with all members worldwide every year.

   Special Conference for World Peace in Brazil in August will be held upon this viewpoint. That is why we cover the environment issue in this Newsletter. Your understanding and your actions --- which is as is the practice of the teachings ---- are highly appreciated.

   To those who use the Internet or e-mail, I recommend you to subscribe to an online newsletter published by Earth Policy Institute. The latest report and analysis for the sustainable development by Mr. Lester Brown, an American prominent environmentalist, should be read by those take care of our Mother Earth. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi also recommends it. You can register for the subscription from the following address: "http://www.earthpolicy.org/Subscribe/index.htm"

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