I am here in LA for In-person meetings sponsored by SNI United States Missionary Headquarters. I left home at 6 a.m., got aboard Hawaiian Airline 10 that departed Honolulu at 8:10, and arrived at LAX around 5 p.m. After we picked up our luggage with two delegates members from Hawaii, we headed to the hotel by taxi where we have meetings and stay. Then, I rushed to eat dinner and attended a minister's meeting. I felt one day finished as quick as lightening.
I took a book to read on the plane, however, it seems a little too serious to read in this situation, I bought a novel at a bookstore in the airport. However, when I tried to turn on the overhead reading light, it didn't work. I wondered that since it takes more than 5 hours to LA, if I cannot read a book, what should I do... I neither feel like watching the movie on the screen because I have to purchase earphones with $5, nor renting a portable DVD player with $15. So far, when overhead light didn't work, I changed a seat and read book, however, it seemed at capacity flight, I couldn't do that.
Since it was still bright when beverage and food were served, I could read anyway. But I don't like to give up using the light for no special reason, I tried to turn on the light every 10 minutes or so. But it still didn't work. However, surprisingly, it finally turned on after more than 10 times trial. Although the light was weak at first, it gradually became an enough brightness, then, I could enjoy reading a book. Through this experience, I learned that I should not give up for anything.
The book I read was "MIRACLE" written by Danielle Steel. It was a very intriguing and moving story. I read one third of the book in one-way flight. I am not a native speaker of English, I am very pleased to read that much.
By the way, I saw some people were reading a book with "Kindle," an electric book sold through Amazon.com. "Kindle 2 International," a machine which can be used outside the U.S., just started to hit the market, I bought it, although I didn't use it. Its weight is about 10 oz and 1,500 books can be downloaded to the machine. The price was originally $279, however, three days after it released, Amazon.com informed me that they discounted it by $20. I am looking forward to using it before very long.
Tetsuya Abe
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Article for "Starbulletin"
I posted the following article for "Starbulletin," Hawaii's local newspaper. I am supposed to write every 6 weeks and this is the second time for me. I receive a positive response from a follower of Christian Science. I deeply appreciate that.
Tetsuya Abe
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Take Everything Positively and Make an Effort with A Bright Mind
Tetsuya Abe
Acting Chief, Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii Missionary Area
In our surroundings, both pleasant and unpleasant things happen. There are good news and bad news in the world. Someone may say, "I am happy because only wonderful things come to me." Someone else may say, "My life is filled with hardship and unfavorable things." What accounts for this difference? That is our "mind." To put it simply, the former person has a bright mind and the latter has a dark mind.
There may be some people who enjoy rock-climbing by thinking, "This is a very exciting sport. I love it." But others may be turned off that sport by thinking, "What a dangerous sport!" Furthermore, some may say, "Running makes me really refreshed," but others may say, "Running is boring. It only makes me tired."
Even if different people do the same thing, how each one feels about it depends on his or her outlook. That is why even if your situation may be difficult, it will surely improve if you keep up your effort by thinking, "This is a good opportunity for my ability to emerge. Things will be getting better and better." On the contrary, if you think "I can't stand it. There is no hope in my future," you cannot make a success of anything, because what we strongly think constantly about becomes our life and destiny.
Therefore, let us conceive bright and cheerful thoughts no matter what happens. If you keep those positive thoughts, beautiful flowers will bloom on your life's stage before long without fail.
Tetsuya Abe
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Take Everything Positively and Make an Effort with A Bright Mind
Tetsuya Abe
Acting Chief, Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii Missionary Area
In our surroundings, both pleasant and unpleasant things happen. There are good news and bad news in the world. Someone may say, "I am happy because only wonderful things come to me." Someone else may say, "My life is filled with hardship and unfavorable things." What accounts for this difference? That is our "mind." To put it simply, the former person has a bright mind and the latter has a dark mind.
There may be some people who enjoy rock-climbing by thinking, "This is a very exciting sport. I love it." But others may be turned off that sport by thinking, "What a dangerous sport!" Furthermore, some may say, "Running makes me really refreshed," but others may say, "Running is boring. It only makes me tired."
Even if different people do the same thing, how each one feels about it depends on his or her outlook. That is why even if your situation may be difficult, it will surely improve if you keep up your effort by thinking, "This is a good opportunity for my ability to emerge. Things will be getting better and better." On the contrary, if you think "I can't stand it. There is no hope in my future," you cannot make a success of anything, because what we strongly think constantly about becomes our life and destiny.
Therefore, let us conceive bright and cheerful thoughts no matter what happens. If you keep those positive thoughts, beautiful flowers will bloom on your life's stage before long without fail.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Weekend in Kauai
I went to Seicho-No-Ie Kauai Center with my family over last weekend. I am supposed to visit all four Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii neighbor island centers twice at each center, it was the second time visit to this island. It is a very greenery island and I feel the appearance is similar to a rural area in Japan where I was born, it became one of my favorite sites in Hawaii. More than that, my kindergartener daughter was in the midst of 10-day holiday and a little bit boring, that is why I decided to take my wife and daughter there.
As usual, we are warmly greeted by SNI members in Kauai center and I delivered two English and Japanese combined lecturers on the day. One is about "Holy Mission Fellowship" and another is about the "Movement that Grows with Nature." In the end of the second lecture, I presented the photos I took in Brazil and had them savored the exciting atmosphere of Special Conference for World Peace in Sao Paulo in August.
We stayed a cottage named KALAHEO INN and visited candy company and coffee factory on the next day guided by David Hamada, a long-time and devout leader of SNI Kauai. Seeing David Hamada talking with people very friendly everywhere we went, I thought it is an ideal community where people feel like a big family, or "Ohana" in Hawaiian language.
Tetsuya Abe
As usual, we are warmly greeted by SNI members in Kauai center and I delivered two English and Japanese combined lecturers on the day. One is about "Holy Mission Fellowship" and another is about the "Movement that Grows with Nature." In the end of the second lecture, I presented the photos I took in Brazil and had them savored the exciting atmosphere of Special Conference for World Peace in Sao Paulo in August.
We stayed a cottage named KALAHEO INN and visited candy company and coffee factory on the next day guided by David Hamada, a long-time and devout leader of SNI Kauai. Seeing David Hamada talking with people very friendly everywhere we went, I thought it is an ideal community where people feel like a big family, or "Ohana" in Hawaiian language.
Tetsuya Abe
Friday, October 02, 2009
2009 October Message
In Gratitude to Rev. Seicho Taniguchi, former President of Seicho-No-Ie
Tetsuya Abe, Acting Chief, SNI Hawaii Missionary Area
October is the month in which the late Rev. Seicho Taniguchi was born and passed away. He was born on October 23, 1919, and departed this physical world to a high spiritual world on October 28, 2008.
Rev. Seicho Taniguchi knew about Seicho-No-Ie from reading a Truth of Life book he borrowed from a private first class while he was hospitalized for lung tuberculosis during World War II. He told us the following story in his lecture: The private first class was reading the book with a happy smile; that is why I (Rev. Seicho) thought it must be an interesting novel. However, when I read the book, I was struck by the strong words of Truth such as "Man is a child of God" or "Disease does not exist."
After the War, to show that Seicho-No-Ie is teaching the universal truth, the Founder of Seicho-No-Ie, Masaharu Taniguchi was thinking of translating literature and documents written by enlightenment thinkers and writers in the Western world, and advertised for workers for translation. One of the applicants and the most excellent among them was Rev. Seicho Taniguchi (he was Seicho Arachi at that time). He was immediately hired by the Founder Masaharu Taniguchi, married Emiko Taniguchi, Founder Taniguchi's only daughter, and became successor to Founder Taniguchi in accordance with the will of God. In the Seicho-No-Ie 40-year history book, Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi recalled that "the advent of Seicho Arachi was truly meaningful not only to the Taniguchi family but also to Seicho-No-Ie."
Rev. Seicho was only 28 when he started to conduct Public Lecturers and was 33 when he started to publish a book. Throughout his life, he sincerely dedicated himself to the Humanity Enlightenment Movement. When he was young, he manifested his state of mind as follows:
I sometimes make a mistake, I am partly imperfect and am not necessarily satisfied with myself, however, I am delighted to be able to move forward seeing the brightness ahead without any mental attachment. With a belief that my love is growing and makes every single one of the people in the world not getting sad, with my prayer for the happiness for our spiritual friends who seek the way, I always lead a bright and cheerful life. (Seicho Taniguchi, "Seicho-No-Ie," December 1950)
I become a trumpet for the teachings of Truth with a great joy. I deeply come to understand that there is nothing I can do by my own strength. Everything is the strength of God. The power of God appears in this world without fail through our Founder. (Seicho Taniguchi, "Jinsei no Kaitakusha," or "Pioneers of Human Life," p. 257)
Twelve years before the Founder Masaharu Taniguchi made a peaceful transition to a high spiritual world, he showed all of the SNI members that his successor was decided by providence by the following article:
However, as the time for me to go comes closer, through providence, my successor, well-gifted with ability, has already appeared. I was struck with admiration to read Rev. Seicho Taniguchi's commentary on Shobo Genzo in Seishin Kagaku ("Mental Science"). Rev. Seicho Taniguchi's able interpretations of Dogen's difficult Zen terminology not found in an ordinary dictionary, into understandable modern language without missing a single phrase or word, as well as interpreting the Truth through the keys of the Truth of Life―are not simple feats to be attained. This has been accomplished basically through enlightenment and inspiration that came [to Rev. Taniguchi] from the spiritual world. To have such a worthy successor chosen to appear, I feel, was not conceived in the world of humanity. I can now enter the spiritual world with peace of mind knowing that I have a worthy successor. (Masaharu Taniguchi, "Seicho-No-Ie," November, 1975)
After the Founder Masaharu Taniguchi passed away, as President of Seicho-No-Ie, and based upon his resolve in his young age, Rev. Seicho guided us and all people in the world to the right faith that believes in God correctly - through Public Lectures worldwide, Spiritual Training Seminars, numerous writings, and through other means for 23 years, and finished his highly inspiring and productive earthly life of 89 years last year.
One year ago this month, Rev. Seicho Taniguchi passed on to a high spiritual world. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude for his achievements and guidance, and vow to promote God's Humanity Enlightenment Movement - International Peace by Faith Movement in Hawaii with all of you. Thank you very much.
Tetsuya Abe, Acting Chief, SNI Hawaii Missionary Area
October is the month in which the late Rev. Seicho Taniguchi was born and passed away. He was born on October 23, 1919, and departed this physical world to a high spiritual world on October 28, 2008.
Rev. Seicho Taniguchi knew about Seicho-No-Ie from reading a Truth of Life book he borrowed from a private first class while he was hospitalized for lung tuberculosis during World War II. He told us the following story in his lecture: The private first class was reading the book with a happy smile; that is why I (Rev. Seicho) thought it must be an interesting novel. However, when I read the book, I was struck by the strong words of Truth such as "Man is a child of God" or "Disease does not exist."
After the War, to show that Seicho-No-Ie is teaching the universal truth, the Founder of Seicho-No-Ie, Masaharu Taniguchi was thinking of translating literature and documents written by enlightenment thinkers and writers in the Western world, and advertised for workers for translation. One of the applicants and the most excellent among them was Rev. Seicho Taniguchi (he was Seicho Arachi at that time). He was immediately hired by the Founder Masaharu Taniguchi, married Emiko Taniguchi, Founder Taniguchi's only daughter, and became successor to Founder Taniguchi in accordance with the will of God. In the Seicho-No-Ie 40-year history book, Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi recalled that "the advent of Seicho Arachi was truly meaningful not only to the Taniguchi family but also to Seicho-No-Ie."
Rev. Seicho was only 28 when he started to conduct Public Lecturers and was 33 when he started to publish a book. Throughout his life, he sincerely dedicated himself to the Humanity Enlightenment Movement. When he was young, he manifested his state of mind as follows:
I sometimes make a mistake, I am partly imperfect and am not necessarily satisfied with myself, however, I am delighted to be able to move forward seeing the brightness ahead without any mental attachment. With a belief that my love is growing and makes every single one of the people in the world not getting sad, with my prayer for the happiness for our spiritual friends who seek the way, I always lead a bright and cheerful life. (Seicho Taniguchi, "Seicho-No-Ie," December 1950)
I become a trumpet for the teachings of Truth with a great joy. I deeply come to understand that there is nothing I can do by my own strength. Everything is the strength of God. The power of God appears in this world without fail through our Founder. (Seicho Taniguchi, "Jinsei no Kaitakusha," or "Pioneers of Human Life," p. 257)
Twelve years before the Founder Masaharu Taniguchi made a peaceful transition to a high spiritual world, he showed all of the SNI members that his successor was decided by providence by the following article:
However, as the time for me to go comes closer, through providence, my successor, well-gifted with ability, has already appeared. I was struck with admiration to read Rev. Seicho Taniguchi's commentary on Shobo Genzo in Seishin Kagaku ("Mental Science"). Rev. Seicho Taniguchi's able interpretations of Dogen's difficult Zen terminology not found in an ordinary dictionary, into understandable modern language without missing a single phrase or word, as well as interpreting the Truth through the keys of the Truth of Life―are not simple feats to be attained. This has been accomplished basically through enlightenment and inspiration that came [to Rev. Taniguchi] from the spiritual world. To have such a worthy successor chosen to appear, I feel, was not conceived in the world of humanity. I can now enter the spiritual world with peace of mind knowing that I have a worthy successor. (Masaharu Taniguchi, "Seicho-No-Ie," November, 1975)
After the Founder Masaharu Taniguchi passed away, as President of Seicho-No-Ie, and based upon his resolve in his young age, Rev. Seicho guided us and all people in the world to the right faith that believes in God correctly - through Public Lectures worldwide, Spiritual Training Seminars, numerous writings, and through other means for 23 years, and finished his highly inspiring and productive earthly life of 89 years last year.
One year ago this month, Rev. Seicho Taniguchi passed on to a high spiritual world. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude for his achievements and guidance, and vow to promote God's Humanity Enlightenment Movement - International Peace by Faith Movement in Hawaii with all of you. Thank you very much.
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