Leaders' Seminar in SNI Hawaii Missionary Area

　　On Saturday, September 19, 2009, blessed with fine weather, the 17th Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii Leaders' Seminar was held at Jisso Center with 29 attendees, including David and Frances Hamada of Kauai and Gordon and Shari Ann Ogi of Kona. Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara, Bishop of the United States Missionary Headquarters, Rev. Hiei Ando, Seicho-No-Ie National Ordained Minister, and Rev. Tetsuya Abe, Acting Chief of Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii Missionary Area conducted the seminar, and Ms. Pat Wada interpreted Rev. Teshigawara's lectures.

　　Rev. Teshigawara gave two lectures titled, "The Role of Leaders Who Carry out the Deeds of Holy Missioners" and "Seicho-No-Ie's Mission to Bring About World Peace."

　　In the beginning of her first lecture, she shared her impressions of her visits to neighbor island centers in Hawaii as follows: When I paid visits to Kona, Kauai, Hilo, and Maui centers, I was overwhelmed to see that the trees planted by the Founder of Seicho-No-Ie, Masaharu Taniguchi, have grown up so big. I gained an appreciation of the tremendous efforts and deeds of love done by senior leaders and members that made SNI Hawaii what it is today.

　　Then she praised all of the seminar's attendees for their daily efforts and encouraged them by saying, "You are the master of our movement." Then, she taught that the Special Conference for World Peace is an event that follows the will of the Founder of Seicho-No-Ie, Masaharu Taniguchi, who had started the Special Conference for Japanese leaders in 1962, and that the concept of this Special Conference, "Nature and Man Living Together and Coexisting," is a realization of the principle of the "Divine Message of Grand Harmony."

　　She talked about what SNI leaders who carry out our movement should keep in mind: that they should never lose radiance in their minds and should express their minds' radiance in their daily life generously. She also introduced an inspiring article titled "You Are the Master of Your Destiny" written by Rev. Seicho Taniguchi.

　　In addition, she showed that Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, has constantly been seeking what we SNI followers and leaders should do as individuals and as an organization based upon the "Divine Message of Grand Harmony" and Truth of Life volumes. She continued that the "sundial way of life" and the "life of not taking from others" are what SNI leaders and members should seek in life, and that we need to practice a "life of giving" by making best use of our expressions, words, and minds. Rev. Teshigawara stated that all of these prescriptions are the guidance of President Taniguchi.

　　She concluded her first lecture by encouraging leaders to pass on the "flame of life," since one and all others are one in God. We who learn the truth and know the joy of practicing the truth are the people who have the motivation to convey the joy of faith to others.

　　In her second lecture, she talked about the significance of Seicho-No-Ie's movement to preserve the global environment because of the following reasons: In this day and age when the planet is warming, a movement to revere nature as the Creation of God is imperative; Global environmental problems are the manifestation of Kanzeon Bosatsu (Bodhisattva or Goddess of Mercy) who dwells behind nature. Development of human beings alone is not enough; to promote this movement is a motive power to realize true world peace.

　　Rev. Ando gave two lectures titled, "What We Can Learn from a Natural World View of the Native Americans and Major Traditional World Religions" and "The Significance of Propagation through Publications in Seicho-No-Ie." In his first lecture, he summarized in only 35 minutes what worldwide leaders learned at the Special Conference for World Peace in Brazil in August, and did so in a very understandable manner. He also gave us wonderful guidance about propagating the teachings through publications, including his own testimony.

　　I was in charge of two lecturers, "What is the Carbon Zero Movement?" and "How We Can Use the Internet in Our Movement." I explained how we can realize "Carbon Zero Movement" as an organization, and talked about the characteristics of the age of the Internet and the importance of the role of Holy Missioners in releasing bright and cheerful information to the world.

　　In addition to lectures, the seminar included testimony by Irene Revilla, who shared with emotion her experiences at the 2009 Brazil Special Conference, a question and answer session, and resolutions by Gary Tashiro, President of SNI Hawaii and Shari Ann Ogi, representative of neighbor island centers.
　
Tetsuya Abe


　

Restaurant HALE

　　I found a restaurant named "HALE," about 5-minute drive from my workplace, in other words, very close to Ala Moana Shopping Center. The restaurant is for a vegan, who does not eat meat, fish, eggs, milk and other foods which contains animal products.

　　I myself do not eat red meat, therefore, I think myself a moderate vegetarian, however, to tell the truth, I haven't favored vegan foods until I tried at this restaurant. I ate foods similar to sower pork and vegetables, in which soy was used instead of pork, with blown rice and miso soup. The taste was much better than I expected, and of course, it is very good for health because all the ingredients are organic. You can enjoy those foods by takeouts.

　　I feel those "good foods" expel something bad in my physical body, therefore, I sometimes go to the restaurant when my health condition is not good or I feel pressured with important events are upcoming.

　　According to their brochure, the name of the restaurant "HALE" comes from "home" or "castle" in Hawaiian language, "sunny" in Japanese, and "healthy" in old English. The owner is a Japanese, but I saw two English speaking waitresses, both of them are beautiful. Incidentally, there was signature and message from a Madonna's dietician on the bulletin board. Madonna is well-known as a vegetarian.

Tetsuya Abe
　


　

2009 September Message

The 2009 Brazil Special Conference for World Peace
Tetsuya Abe, Acting Chief, Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii Missionary Area

　　I attended "2009 Brazil Special Conference for World Peace with Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi" held in Sao Paulo with 26 participants from the United States including Irene Revilla, a leader of Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii. The theme of the Conference was "The Nature and Man Living Together and Coexisting." The syllabus, which was distributed to all the attendees, explained the meaning of the Special Conference as follows:

　　Today, at the start of the 21st century, amid the increasingly more serious climatic change from global warming, humankind is being driven toward the development of sustainable societies. Nevertheless, the world's population continues to increase and in such newly developing countries as China, India and Brazil, warming advances unchanged because their economic growth follows the same course as the advanced countries. Humankind now stands at the turning point of civilization and it needs the philosophy, thinking and faith that will draw it toward the proper course. Yet the spirituality to support the new age is not entirely new at all but can probably be found within the wisdom that is already in the possession of humankind. Why? Humankind has a long history of coexistence with nature. During our Special Conference for World Peace we will we look through history, reexamine the wisdom and thinking of living together with nature, which was hidden in the shadows of the material development from modernization and find ways to apply them to the new age. While basing our examination upon the study at the previous Special Conferences, this year's Seicho-No-Ie Special Conference for World Peace will be held on the theme of the Nature and Man Living Together and Coexisting.

　　We can say that it is a magnificent project which has been realizing the ideals shown by the Founder of Seicho-No-Ie, Masaharu Taniguchi, that we illuminate the path of all mankind. As you already know, our Founder Masaharu Taniguchi started the Seicho-No-Ie movement to light the direction in which human beings should go, and wholeheartedly led our God's Humanity Enlightenment Movement to brighten and correct all people's minds until he passed away in 1985. Rev. Seicho Taniguchi carried out Founder Taniguchi's will as it was and dedicated himself to this movement until he passed away last October.

　　Under the guidance of Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, current President of Seicho-No-Ie, we are now trying to show the "philosophy, thinking, and faith" that are necessary for the current people in the world and to demonstrate that we can lead a life based upon them. However, we have learned at the Special Conference that this philosophy, thinking, and faith are not what Seicho-No-Ie discovered for the first time but they are part of the wisdom of Native Americans and major traditional world religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

　　One of the things that impressed me most about Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi's guidance was that the religious viewpoint that a human being is a part of nature is common among the major world religions and we can agree that that viewpoint is a central part of the religious truths with many religions. It is very significant that we have been taught that our movement which emphasizes the commonality among religions can be promoted by disseminating the following ideas: Nature is a unique figure of God; Nature is a manifestation of the infinite benevolence of Buddha; and Nature is what provides us with a place to express a child-of-God nature. As a whole, I thought I was given a priceless opportunity to think deeply about how we should put into practice the teachings such as "God's creation is perfect and absolute goodness" and "a phenomenal world is a manifestation of our mind" in our lives and how we, as an organization, can contribute to our current society by making the best use of the teachings.

　　President Taniguchi spent all of the time allocated to Lecture One answering all the questions that had been submitted to him in advance. One of the questions was from Irene Revilla of Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii. Her question was as follows: "As a parent of two young adults, this generation of youth has a sense of doom surrounding them as the world is full of economic problems and natural changes. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, as the President of SNI, do you believe that our movement can progress realistically to create more positively in this 21st century and why do you feel this way? Thank you very much."

　　The answer Rev. Taniguchi gave to the question was "YES." The outline of his full answer will appear in a couple of months in the SNI-ONLINE electronic newspaper published by International Headquarters for leaders living outside of Japan.

　　All of President Taniguchi's lectures were so profound and covered so much that my note-taking could not keep up. I was seated with leaders from Europe and Canada as well as the United States. I was very moved when I looked over at them during the President's lectures because all the participants from the United Kingdom, all Brazilians, were taking notes with their whole hearts.

　　Mrs. Junko Taniguchi, President of SNI White Dove Association, disclosed the significance of practicing the "Sundial Way of Life" in modern times in her lecture and generated religious exultation among all the attendees. More than that, she spoke as if she were talking to every participant individually, and applause followed almost every word she spoke.

　　Regarding the leaders in Brazil, I was overwhelmed by their passionate, bright and cheerful, and sincere personalities. Whenever Rev. and Mrs. Taniguchi entered the hall, and before and after their lectures and remarks, all the participants showed their appreciation with big applause. They were like supporters cheering for their country in a soccer stadium. They clapped and said with their hands stretched high, "Eooooo, eoooooo, eoo eoo eoo Sosai!" Sosai means President in Japanese.

　　After the Conference, a welcome party for Rev. and Mrs. Taniguchi sponsored by SNI Brazil Headquarters was held at its annex. There seemed to be about 400 people present. After President Taniguchi made opening remarks, everyone toasted. We enjoyed dinner, then all participants stood in line, shook hands and talked with Rev. and Mrs. Taniguchi in turn. You can easily imagine how their generosity pleased all the attendees. Seeing Rev. and Mrs. Taniguchi blessing them, I thought how wonderful it is to be a SNI member.

　　Incidentally, Rev. and Mrs. Taniguchi left Sao Paulo early the next morning for Belem, a city in northern Brazil whose port lies in the vast Amazon River delta. There, they conducted a public lecture at which about 1,000 people gathered. Then they flew back to Sao Paulo where they also conducted the National Convention, which about 6,200 attended.

　　In the SNI Hawaii Missionary Area, we would like to move forward the "Movement That Grows with Nature" in accordance with the guidance we received from President Masanobu Taniguchi.
　

Manami's Fifth Birthday

　　Today is Manami's birthday. She became five years old. Today's service was called Family Sunday Service, at which both Japanese group and English group attend, which is held once or twice a year and we have some fun after the Service. Normally, we have three Sunday services; English and Japanese services at Matlock Center, English service at Jisso Center. After the service finished, all of the attendees sang "Happy Birthday to You" to Manami, and she was supposed to blow off all the five candles in the cake we specially ordered. However, she was too shy to do that in front of people, therefore, we, parents, did that. She was given heartfelt gifts from some of the attendees. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for all the kind deeds they did for Manami. Thank you very much.

　　By the way, Democratic Party of Japan won a landslide victory in the general election in Japan. It is the first time for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to be away from the dominant party since its founding in 1955. I hope the next government will deal with an environment issue more sincerely and seriously and turn Japan to a right direction.



















Tetsuya Abe
　

Mothers' Study Class and Manami's Kindergarten Life

　　August Japanese Mothers' Study Class was held at Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii Matlock Center with 5 participants including my wife and myself today. A number of participants was not so big, that is why we could share what we were into lately and our impressions on material distributed and a lecture provided. We truly enjoyed our company and learned an important mindset as a mother based upon the SNI teachings. Thank you very much everyone who came and made this class so meaningful!

　　Time really flies fast. It has been a year since this Mothers' Study Class started in last year's August. Outstanding is growth of children who have constantly been attending. A boy and a girl of two years old who attended today are quite different from who they were one year ago. This is not only true for the children but also for their moms. I firmly felt that we, as a parent, are also being grown through child-raring.

　　By the way, it has been about three weeks since my daughter, Manami, started to go to a nearby kindergarten. She seems really to enjoy her kindergarten life with two former preschool's class mates and one Japanese boy who came from Japan just one month ago. However, she seems very tired every day; she takes a nap for a couple of hours, sometimes for FOUR hours! Nevertheless, after she wakes up, she has a dinner, does her homework with mom and dad, takes a shower, and watchs TV and has some fun for a short time, then, she goes to bed and falls asleep soon.

　　To our surprise, despite the fact that she is still four years old, she already had homework to be done at home. She cannot understand what for and what she should do, however, she starts to practice to write her own name, ABC..., and numbers. More than that parents have to record a title of the books they read and how many minutes for reading with parents initials every day. It is an unbelievable thing for a Japanese! We are also fed up with so many handouts for parents to be read because, to do so, we have to take much more time than native speakers do. We need to have Manami favor doing homework, we give her chocolate after she has done the homework. So far it works well. Every time we finish a dinner, she said, "Let's start homework!"

　　A Japanese boy I mentioned above is Calvin Nishihara, as same old boy as Manami, and Ian, 7 years old boy. After school hours, the kindergarten prepared an ESL class for Japanese students. However, if Manami attends the ESL class, she cannot afford to do her homework. Then, I asked the ESL teacher whether she has to attend the class. Her answer is she doesn't have to because she can communicate with teachers and friends without any problem. Therefore, Manami will attend the class once or twice a week in accord with her condition. But, to tell the truth, she wants to participant in the class because the teacher gives them some snacks in the end of class, which attracts Manami so much, and she is very looking forward to playing with those boys after the ESL class.

　　A dad of the boys was born and raised in Hawaii, however, he speaks very fluent Japanese. He stayed in Japan for 9 years and taught English at a high school there. Their mom, Kazue, was born and raised in Kobe, in Kansai area, and speaks with a Kansai accent. She is kind and friendly and frequently contacts with my wife by e-mail.

Tetsuya Abe
　

An Impression on the Conference by a SNI HI leader

Hi everyone,

With her permission, I would like to share an impression on the Special Conference for World Peace by Irene Revilla, one of SNI Hawaii leaders. It is concisely written but I believe you would feel energy and enthusiasm through her experience.

Tetsuya Abe

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My impressions of the Brazil Special Conference
By Irene Revilla, Hawaii Missionary Area

Thank you very much. I was one of the US participants who attended the 2009 Brazil Special Conference. Rev. Tetsuya Abe and myself were the two representatives from Hawaii. I was truly blessed to be apart of this conference as it has been a wish of mine to attend a conference in Brazil. Since the first conference held there several years ago I had always hoped someday I would go. This year my wish came true. It was all that and more than I had expected. The greatest emotion that I experienced during the 2 day conference was the joy I felt when all of the attendees rose to their feet and cheered joyfully with love and admiration for Rev. Masanobu and Mrs. Junko Taniguchi as they entered the huge convention hall. All 3,000 supporters clapped and cheered for them in unison with such emotional energy that I could feel the vibrations throughout my whole body. It was an experience indescribable with words. The lectures were very informative and gave a great deal of historical background leading up to how our environment, nature and human beings have been affected by industrialization both in North America, Central and South America. The relationship of all this to our current situation with global warming and depletion of resources was very evident in all the lectures. As an organization, Seicho-No Ie is clearly a proponent in supporting ways to correct and preserve Mother Nature and mankind for future generations. Listening to ways to promote these positive changes and bring peace to the world truly makes me proud to be a Holy fellowship member of SNI. I hope one day all of you will get an opportunity to attend a special conference and feel the gratitude and joy I had experienced.
　

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea

　　The other day, I saw an article in The New York Times and TIME magazine that say "Ponyo on the cliff by the sea" would be released in about 1,000 theaters in the United States on August 14. "Ponyo" is a Japanese animation movie written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Japan's master in that field, Academy Award winner for his last work, "Spirited Away," in 2001. I looked for a theater at which the movie is being shown by the Internet, I found. My wife and daughter once or twice watched that movie in the original Japanese version, but I haven't. It is one of my daughter's most favorite movie, therefore, I took her to a nearby theater yesterday.

　　The show time we watched started 6:50 p.m. Many of the audience came with family. According to the August 24 issue of TIME magazine, Miyazaki made a movie in 2-D, hand-drawn animation and created a frame-by-frame storyboard -- 180,000 drawings for Ponyo with minimal help from PC. Asian viewers may recall the devastation wreaked by the December 2004 Indian Ocean disaster, but Miyazaki's intention is different. "Rather than the tsunami destroying the town," Miyazaki says, "I took it as her own sense of life overflowing, and that helped to revitalize the town. None of the buildings were destroyed in the flood. You can see them all beneath the water. That's magic." ("TIME" Aug. 24th, 2009 issue)

　　My impression on the movie is the pictures shown on the screen were terrific and they are just the nature of Japan as it is. I have never returned to Japan during two years and three month while staying here, I missed Japan very much. Of course, I am grateful for our life here; we can learn and experience various kinds of new things and savor beautiful nature. However, my thought on my home country is very special. One of the things that impressed me most is there is no "evil" in the movie. That is why I think it appropriate to have show it to children. My daughter has concentrated on the movie for one hour and forty minutes.

　　Coming back home, while talking with my wife about the movie, I realized that there are many lines that only the English version has but the Japanese one doesn't. According to a Japanese site for the movie, Miyazaki seems to cut as many lines as possible so that the theater audience themselves think about hidden messages. However, it is possible only in Japanese because "silence" is highly valued in the Japanese culture. If you want the movie seen in a country of western culture, in which to express themselves is valued, you have to make adjustments in many ways.

　　As a whole, the movie made me feel very comfortable and reminded me a Japanese sense toward nature. I hope my daughters' friends watch it.

　　You can see the movie's trailer by clicking the following addresses:

　　http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BfNtYF94cQ（brief one）

　　http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALsYgbxOZuI&NR=1（long one）

　Tetsuya Abe
　　

Meeting at a Kindergarten

　　There was a meeting today for parents at a kindergarten my daughter is going from August 10th. At first, principle provided his greetings and there was a workshop with which parents and children together dealt. We heard a good reputation of the school, Ahuimanu school, from preschool teachers and others. My impression to the school was what we've just imagined with a good support system and friendly teachers and atmospheres.

　　Attending the two-hour meeting, I saw their will that they want to develop children's creativity and personality and cope with whatever problem taken place. According to the school, three Japanese children joined the school including my daughter and they will provide a supplementary class after school.

　　My daughter attended a preschool for a year and seven months, I don't think there is any problem with her communication skills in English, however, it is good for her to be followed in such a way because she still has less time to speak and hear English compared to local children. If I point out further good points:

　　1. There are two preschool classmates whom my daughter gets along well
　　2. Since my daughter's home room teacher is a Japanese-American, she
　　　　understands about adjustment in a inter-cultural situation
　　3. There is a fluent Japanese speaker who had studied for Waseda
　　　　University in Japan among parents. To my surprise, she is a complete
　　　　Caucasian. More than that, a principal is person who loves Japan,
　　　　have been there so many times, and can speak daily conversation
　　　　in Japanese

　　My wife was very relieved to see she has a new friend who speaks in Japanese in Kaneohe. Incidentally, my wife's communication skills in English has rapidly been improving and she came to be able to read the material distributed by the school. It is a great pleasure for both of us.

　　A school system here and in Japan is quite different. Japan does not have a system equivalent of kindergarten. They go to a preschool until 6 years old and then enroll an elementary school. That means that their mandatory education starts one or two years later than children here.



















With her Hawaiian friend Taish



















Three of us enjoyed the workshop

Tetsuya Abe
　

2009 August Message

To Convey the Seicho-No-Ie Teachings Today Is the Greatest Deed of Love
Rev. Tetsuya Abe
Acting Chief, SNI Hawaii Missionary Area

Thank you very much.
　　I have wonderful and pleasant news for you. Mrs. Carol Perreida, Oahu propagator, passed the Regional Lecturer's Examination that was held last year. Congratulations Carol! Her success is attributed not only to her tireless daily efforts to learn the teachings but also to guidance from Rev. Leslie Iwatani and support by our senior members and colleagues. I extend my sincere gratitude to all of those concerned, and would like to share the joy of her success with all Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii members. Thank you very much.

　　Regional Lecturer is a very important and responsible position appointed by the President of Seicho-No-Ie. I hope Carol and all other Regional Lecturers carry out this noble responsibility by practicing the three important religious practices―Shinsokan meditation, reading the Holy Sutras and SNI books, and practicing Deeds of Love―while understanding the Movement Policy which is a written guideline that all of the SNI members in the world should follow throughout the year, engaging in propagation activities based upon the will and policy of the International Headquarters. It surely leads our movement to grow in the right direction that is in accordance with God's divine will.

　　On June 28, I visited SNI Maui center to share this wonderful teaching with SNI Maui members. After the Sunday service there, all participants and I enjoyed a delicious lunch at a restaurant near a beach and we enjoyed each others' company. I strongly felt that we can count on those members, including President Neil Masuoka and Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Nakata, because they are bright, cheerful, and passionate about propagation.

　　With this visit, I finished my first visitation to all four neighbor island centers this year. My transportation costs are covered by the SNI Hawaii Holy Mission Fund, which consists of past Holy Mission Fellowship dues which should have been sent to SNI International Headquarters but were held in Hawaii due to some federal regulations. That is why we need approval by the SNI Hawaii Board of Directors, SNI, Inc. BOD, and International Headquarters before we use it. I will make every effort to meet expectations of our neighbor island members, as well as those who approved this expenditure. And I also want to share the importance of our activities as holy missioners in my second visiation this year.

　　By the way, we are going to hold the annual Public Lecture on September 20 at the Ala Moana Hotel. It is usually held in November, but due to some reasons, the Lecture will be two months ahead. The following is basic information:

[English Program]
　Date: Sunday, Sept. 20, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
　Place: Ala Moana Hotel
　Speaker:
　Rev. Hiei Ando,
　　U.S. National Ordained Minister
　Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara,
　　Bishop, U.S. Missionary Headquarters

[Japanese Program]
　Date: Sunday, Sept. 20, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
　Place: Ala Moana Hotel
　Speaker: Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara
　　　　　Rev. Hiei Ando

　　The theme of English lecture is "A Bright Mind ― A Healthy and Prosperous Life" and the Japanese theme is "Hogarakana Kokoro―Kenko to Hanei wo Anatani."（朗らかな心―健康と繁栄をあなたに）

　　The price of gas has begun surging again, and health issues including the H1N1 flu is everybody's concern. With the depletion of fossil energy impacting world economies, the global environment declining, unemployment rate at a record high, and uncertainty and anxiety spreading throughout society, people are seeking guidance for their lives. Now is Seicho-No-Ie's time to respond. Nothing is a more precious deed of love than to convey the Seicho-No-Ie teachings in this troubled time, because you can solve all problems by knowing that there is a perfect and harmonious world created by God, the True Image world, and believing and envisioning that perfect world and what is positive and already granted to you, and constantly carrying out that practice in your daily life. I would like to ask you to invite as many people as possible including your family, relatives, friends, neighbors and others to the Public Lecture. Thank you very much.
　

2009 Sepcial Conference in Brazil (4)

　　Today was the second day of Special Conference which consisted of two presentations by ordained ministers, Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi's concluding lecture, words of encouragement by Mrs. Junko Taniguchi. We also had an ordained (assistant) ministers' meeting, and welcome party for Rev. and Mrs. Taniguchi at Brazil Headquarters' annex.

　　In the lecture provided by the President, there were so many inspiring, deep, and profound messages that I could not catch up with ..... We learned that how important to hold a religious point of view that "A human being is a part of Nature," and it is firmly existed in the Native North, Central, and South American culture, and also in the traditional major religions' teachings such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, and to have a consensus that it is one of the essence of all correct religions should contribute to world peace in this day and age.

　　Mrs. Junko Taniguchi's popularity was outstanding here in Brazil. Her deeply loving messages which were simmering into people's hearts brought about religious exultation, therefore, every time she spoke a sentence the site was surrounded with applause.

　　Whenever Rev. and Mrs. Taniguchi entered the hall, and before and after their guidance, all the participants showed their welcome with big applause and claps. They were like a supporter who cheer their own country in the soccer stadium. They said with their hands outstretched high and clapped, "Eooooo, eoooooo, eoo eoo eoo Sosai!" Sosai means President in Japanese.

　　Not only during the lecturers provided by Rev. and Mrs. Taniguchi, but during all the presentation delivered, applause took place frequently. It is Brazil!

　　Throughout the Special Conference, as a whole, I was given an opportunity to think deeply about how our SNI leaders should put the teachings such as "God's creation is only good, perfect, and harmonious" and "This phenomenal world is a reflection of mind" into our daily life as an individual, and how we should contribute to our society by those teachings. More than that, we learned that one of the central parts that all the correct religions should be shared is that a human being is a part of Nature.

　　Regarding a reception, held at the annex of SNI Brazil Headquarters, at a glance, there seemed 400 people invited. After President Masanobu Taniguchi made opening remarks, everyone cheered. We enjoyed dinner, then, all participants stood in line, shook hands and talked with Rev. and Mrs. Taniguchi in turn. You could take a photo of them.

　　I will fly to LA tomorrow night and come back to Hawaii in the late night of Tuesday.



















Since we cannot take a photo during the event, it is a break time.



















With Irene and Cassandra Revilla



















With Alessandro da Silva from Scotland, who seated next to me.



















With Rev. Enio Masaci Hara. He is a former President of SNI Brazil Youth and Young Adult Association. He came to Japan to study about how to run a SNI organization in early 1990 and I took him various places for his study.



















At the reception

Tetsuya Abe
　

2009 Special Conference in Brazil (3)

　　Today was the first day of "2009 Special Conference for World Peace" which was held at Fanchal Lecture Hall in Sao Paulo that was from 1 to 7 p.m. According to my memory, there were 2,965 attendees from 16 countries.

　　The participants from the United States were allotted a relatively front seat with participants from Europe and Canada. A person next to me was a very nice man and propagator from Scotland and he shared his impressive story about how he was introduced to Seicho-No-Ie when his family members in Brazil were also introduced to SNI.

　　I was able to meet very familiar people whom I was concerned about including Rev. Akinori Jo, a former stationed minister in Europe whom I constantly contacted with when I was at International Headquarters, a woman who was in London, whom I once interviewed for a Japanese magazine, and Rev. Enio Masaki Hara, a former President of Youth and Young Adult Association of SNI Brazil.

　　The theme of Special Conference was as follows:

　　 Learning from the Natural World View of Native Americans
　　　　　　　　(1) North America
　　　　　　　　(2) Central and South America

　　 Learning from the Natural World View of
　　　　　　　　　the Major Traditional World Religions
　　　　　　　　(1) Judaic and Christianity
　　　　　　　　(2) Islam
　　　　　　　　(3) Buddhism and Hinduism

　　Today, we studied the three themes from above, Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi's lecture, which was consisted of his answers to the questions submitted beforehand, and Mrs. Junko Taniguchi's lecture.

　　One of the four questions submitted to President Masanobu Taniguchi was Irene Revilla's following questions:
---------------------------------------------------
As a parent of two young adults I listen to them discussing events that are happening around them. This generation of youth have a sense of doom surrounding them as the world is full of economic problems and natural changes. As the President of SNI do you believe that our movement can progress realistically to create more positively in this 21st century and why do you feel this way?
----------------------------------------------------

　　　You will have a summary of Rev. Taniguchi's answer in the SNI-Online which will be sent out about two month's later.

　　　The primary language at this Conference was Portuguese. Rev. and Mrs. Masanobu Taniguchi's lectures and presentations done by other than Portuguese, consecutive interpretation was conducted. When presenters speak Portuguese, they were simultaneously interpreted into Japanese, English, and Spanish.

　　　Material for each presentation was distributed in advance, I was able to listen to the English presentations without Japanese interpretation. When presented in Portuguese, I chose a Japanese interpretation in some case and a English interpretation in other case.

　　　Those who were engaged in interpretation are not professional translators, nevertheless all of their performance were excellent! I understand that how challenging to interpret those material and to prepare that in a short time, they've definitely done wonderful jobs.

　　　I was overwhelmed by their impassioned, cheerful, sincere, and honest atmosphere. All of them are the great SNI leaders. Especially, I was so impressed by the participants from Britain but all Brazilians who surrounded writing down memos all the while Rev. and Mrs. Masanobu Taniguchi's lectures. Of course, I jotted down their lecturers as much as possible because I am responsible to conveying what they taught us.

　　　Tomorrow, we will have the second day program, ordained (assistant) ministers meeting led by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, and welcome party for the President sponsored by SNI Brazil Headquarters.

Tetsuya Abe
　
　

2009 Special Conference in Brazil (2)

　　Our tour group visited Ibiuna Spiritual Training Center (STC), the biggest STC outside of Japan, and Japanese town yesterday, and we attended a leaders meeting held at SNI Brazil Headquarters today.

　　Ibiuna STC has a big hall in which about 1,000 people can be accommodated and also Hozo Shrine, where the ancestors of Central and Southern American countries' members are shrined.

　　While Seicho-No-Ie Brazil has now been making an every effort to obtain an ISO14001 qualification which is "a standard for environmental management systems to be implemented in any business, regardless of size, location or income," (Wikipedia) Ibiuna STC has been renovated. Other than a main hall, Hozo Shrine, they have a tower to memorialize miscarried children, senior citizens' homes, which is run by SNI Brazil in which 28 people can be accommodated at a maximum. One of what impressed me most is a design gap between a tower to memorialize miscarried children in Japan and here in Brazil. The Japanese tower is an image of a mother who carries a child, on the contrary, Brazil's one is consisted of two curving lines and a ball. According to the responsible person of the STC, Rev. Paulo Fujinaga, those two lines express a man and woman, and the ball symbolizes a soul.

　　It took an hour and half by drive to Ibiuna STC from our hotel, what I concerned about was rough road and the way they drive a car. It means that it is very dangerous! Despite that streets there are very narrow, they drive at a high speed and came close to our bus. Although it is meaningless, I found myself trying to fend off those coming up cars in a bus seat.

　　Today, we had a leaders' meeting which was held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. 79 leaders from 13 countries attended the meeting under the guidance from Rev. and Mrs. Masanobu Taniguchi. All remarks were translated into the following four languages; English, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. It was truly an International Meeting! Those leaders had a hot discussion about how to realize "Carbon-neutral Movement," "Internet Lecturer," and "Afforestation."

　　Today's dinner was a Japanese course meal. It was very satisfactory and so delicious! I'll show you some pictures I took.



















There are lots of graffiti on the wall in the city. But isn't it artistic?



















A freeway taken from a bridge nearby Japanese town
























Group photo at Ibiuna STC. There were 27 participants from United States, they are a part of them.



















Tower memorializing miscarried children



















Recycled bins



















Brazil Headquarters' building



















There are plenty of Portuguese books available at a book store in the building



















"Masaharu Taniguchi Street" is five-minute walk from the Headquarters

Tetsuya Abe
　

2009 Special Conference in Brazil (1)

　　I left my home at 5:30 in the yesterday morning (on 28th), get aboard a flight from Honolulu to LA, change a flight from LA to Sao Paulo, and checked in the hotel which is located in the center of the town around 4 o'clock on 29th. It seems to take 34 hours and hafl, however, due to 7 hours time difference, it actually took 27 hours and half. It is still a long time!

　　It is winter because Brazil is in the Southern Hemisphere. Local people said that the weather there has been unusual and they had a lot of rain. I felt very cold when I went outside the airport building.

　　I joined the particpants of Southern and Northern California Missionary Area, therefore, I didn't have to worry about how I would get through custom and go to the hotel.

　　Seeing thick trees and feeling a relaxed atmosphere, I thought this city a little looks like Hawaii.



















At the airport



















A photo from a bus window



















These young man and woman are highly promising leaders who came from Southern California

Tetsuya Abe

　　

Address at Bon Memorial Service

The following is a draft of my address at Bon Memorial Service conducted at SNI Hawaii Jisso Center on July 19th, 2009.

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　　Thank you very much for coming to 2009 Bon Memorial Service. Especially, I believe those families who have the first Bon have a special feeling.

　　In this season, I sometimes see words of "Bon" or "Bon Dance" written in a sign at a Buddhist temple. Or I saw the words in the newspaper or flyer. I suppose there are many people who know the existence of "Bon" other than SNI members and Japanese descendants.

　　Bon is originally a Buddhist custom, however, "Bon" conducted here is different from the original one. "Bon" conducted here is that we welcome deceased spirits, memorialize them, and see them off. This custom is based upon a combination of Buddhist custom and Japanese ancient custom that is believed ancestors come to this earthly world and leave to a spiritual world back and forth.

　　Incidentally, let me explain an original Buddhist custom of "Bon." Bon is a shortened form of the legendary Urabonne or Ullambanna. It is Sanskrit for "hanging upside down" and implies great suffering. Then, that people started to try to alleviate the suffering of the "Urabanna" is the origin of "Bon."

　　One day, one of the top ten disciples of Buddha, Mokuren, who is considered as NO. 1 in terms of supernatural power, remembered his loving deceased mother. When he saw his mother with clairvoyance, he found her suffering. She was falling into the world of hungry ghosts. He felt so sorry for her and gave her some food with his supernatural power, however, when the food was about to enter her mouth, it burned. The disciple was shocked, shed tears, and got impelled to save her with at all cost, and asked Shakyamuni how he can save her. Shakyamuni instructed him to do this way; "You must try to save all the people in the hell of starvation as well as your mother."

　　Mokuren followed his advice and cooked and made lots of delicious food, and offered those foods to the monks who read the Sutras to those who in the world of hungry ghost on July 15. The reason such a loving mother had to fall into the hell is because she loved and took care of only her son and ignored others' happiness.

　　Please pay attention the following point in an original Buddhist context, they offered foods to monks, not to the spirits. However, when the customs came into Japan, it was combined with a Japanese tradition, the spirits are invited, memorialized, and seen off by their descendants.

　　In this way, a form was changed when the ritual was transferred to a place of another culture. However, the essence, namely a desire to help our ancestors have never changed. This shows that when a religion is conveyed in a distant land, while the essence and core remain the same, the outward elements of that religions like the rituals, ceremonies, and others should be changed in accordance with the situations of time, place, races, cultures, and others. In other words, when a religion is conveyed in a far place, if it doesn't change its formality, it has to be faded away.

　　In Buddhism, Buddhism that was originally believed in India at a time of founding and Buddhism that was believed in China and Japan are quite different. To put it simply, the Buddhism originally believed in India is called Hinayana Buddhism and the Buddhism believed in China and Japan is called Mahayana Buddhism. Hinayana Buddhism has a tendency to view Shakyamuni Buddha as a historical figure with a physical body, and disciples tried to follow that model of devotion and pursuit of faith by purifying themselves, studying the teachings, and trying to free themselves from the bondage of this world. It was believed and monopolized by the elite or socially and economically blessed minority. It is called "Lesser Vehicle" by the other party, namely, Mahayana Buddhism because Hinayana Buddhism tend to concentrate on their own enlightenment.

　　However, 700 years after the death of Shakyamuni, Mahanaya Buddhism was born and supported by the ordinary people and the newly emerging merchant class. In that Buddhism, the Buddha is not limited to being a historical mortal person, but is seen as the ideal superhuman transcending bodily existence.
In order to bring about salvation beyond individuals, the spirit of "altruism" and "mercy" were emphasized. The attitude of Mahayana Buddhism is that efforts should be made not only for personal salvation, but what Buddha truly desires is for the salvation of all human beings and all living beings.

　　It is not my intention that which is worthwhile to believe in. My intention is to let you know that the original Buddhism and the Buddhism believed in China, Japan, and even in the United States are quite different. I hope it is a good tip to understand that for a religion to survive in a global arena, it has to change its outer elements in accordance with time, place, and people. The same applies to Christmas. I will not talk about it in detail, but how to celebrate Christmas is very different from country to country.

　　In this respect, there is a possibility that Bon Memorial Service in the United States can be changed in the future. The Founder of Seicho-No-Ie, Masaharu Taniguchi taught as follows:

　　 "Enlightenment" or vibrant and flowing life cannot be captured by shape or form. However, it can be provisionally given form. When enlightenment is expressed in form it already begins to be confined to a set form. This causes the mistaken thinking that a set form is religion. While in religion life is expressed and understood through a particular form of expression, enlightenment itself is found deep beyond that form of expression. To express life a form is always necessary, however at the same time we must throw away that form of expression. The same applies to Seicho-No-Ie. While one manner of explanation was used in the past, on another occasion an entirely different method is used. The manner of explanation is form; therefore it must constantly change. A religion that does not change on its own will be reduced to a lifeless shell and be replaced by another religion. This is happening to religions of the past with the advent of new religions and religious revolution. A religion that can progress while revolutionizing itself from within is a religion that will continue eternally. Should a form of expression once decided continue on forever that religion will degenerate into a kind of explanation when that form must be changed. Life that is reduced to form cannot be expressed.(Masaharu Taniguchi, Truth of Life, vol. 33, p53)
　
　　By the way, the Founder Masaharu Taniguchi placed the importance of Ancestors Memorial Service as follows:

　God is the earth,　
　The ancestors are the roots,
　Parents are trunk,
　The descendants are the branches and leaves.
　To bloom and bear good fruits
　　in your family tree,
　Be good and kind to your parents
　　and memorialize your ancestors

　　As shown here, what is important as well as Ancestors Memorial Service is to be grateful to your parents. God says in "Divine Message of Grand Harmony" that "Those who are grateful to God but cannot be grateful to their parents are against the Divine Will." How strong message it is! Even if you practice Shinsokan meditation every day, read the Sutras and SNI books, and show your sincere respect to God, if you cannot be grateful to your parents, God said that it goes against His will.

　　You can be grateful to your parents if they are good and kind enough to be being grateful to, however, what if your parents are not those who are deserved to be grateful to? Your father may be a person who behaves like a dictator at your home and the rest of your family members are in serious trouble everyday. In that case, do we have to be grateful to him and if we cannot, can't we be happy?

　　I believe you don't think so, but it is quite natural that a beginner of Seicho-No-Ie or non member of Seicho-No-Ie thinks so. Because apparently it is very unfair. If we think that this earthly life is only our life, in other words, if we don't consider reincarnation, it is truly unfair. However, we can think that our life is a sort of life's school. By reincarnating so many times, we are able to learn our life's assignments given each time. An assignment for Mr. A may be learning politics as a politician, but Ms. B's assignment may be living as a pianist. But Mrs. C's assignment may be to be grateful to her father whom it is difficult to be grateful to. That is because by overcoming that situation, both Mrs. C and her father can grow spiritually.

　　We are no doubt given life. Where our life comes from is our parents. There is no exceptional on that. Our life is connected with our ancestors without fail for millions of years. Our life never choose our parents by coincidence. There is a strong spiritual tie between our parents and us. By that relationship, we can develop our life and our parents can also develop their lives most appropriately. It gives us mutual benefit. This is a world of Life of God and the workings of nature.

　　That you cannot be grateful to your parents right now is not necessarily to blame. This means that you are given an important assignment in life's school. When you become grateful to your parents whom the ordinary people cannot be grateful to, it means that you graduate from high-level life's assignment.

　　There is a woman named A who has various problems. She doesn't like herself, breaks up soon after she falls in love, gives up her job easily, and on and on. Then, she went to Seicho-No-Ie Uji temple to attend 10-day Spiritual Training Seminar. At the seminar, almost every day, the lecturers taught that be grateful to your parents, be grateful to your parents. She got bored to listen to those lecturers. When she was about to leave the temple by saying to a minister, "Thank you very much. Since I understood that to be grateful your parents is very important, I am now leaving here." However, the minister who talked with her sensed that she was strongly rebellious against the teaching that be reconciled with and grateful to your parents.

　　Then, the minister suggested her that if you understand that it is important to be grateful to your parents, why don't you go back home with peace of mind after you would actually be grateful to them. He finally persuaded her to pray with him and took her to a prayer room. They started to pray, "Dear father, thank you very much. Dear father, thank you very much."

　　Her father is usually kind and descent person, however, once he drinks, he completely changes to be violent and out of control. The rest of the family members patiently have to wait until he goes to sleep once he starts to drink. However, she once watched a disgusting and infuriating scene. Her father teared her mother's valuable kimono by sword. That kimono was a memento from her mother's mother who passed away way ago. When she saw the scene and her mother screaming, she made up her mind that she would never forgive her father.

　　The minister and A recited "Dear father, thank you very much, dear father, thank you very much," for half an hour in the prayer room, that disgusting scene that her father was going on a rampage and her mother was crying came to her mind and tears of sadness came down. Then, she kept on "dear father, thank you very much" chanting, then, an image of her father sitting helplessly came to her mind. He was scolded by his wife because he could not keep working for his job at one place and had to change his job quite often. Japan is a society where changing job too often is not considered decent. Since A's mother spoke ill of her father constantly, Miss A conceived ill feelings against her father and though she didn't speak ill of him in his presence. Now Miss A finally understood how he felt misery by being ridiculed by his wife, family, bosses, colleagues, and others. And Miss A could share the same loneliness, disappointment, and other negative feelings that her father conceived.

　　This time, a sense of repentance bubbled forth from her mind and she sincerely apologized him saying, "I am so sorry, dear dad, for looking down on, holding a grudge, and ignoring you. You must have been so lonely and disconsolate. I am sorry, dad." She started to sob convulsively. It was as if tears never stopped. When she stopped crying, their prayer also finished. The minister told he gently, "Now you are able to be grateful to your father. Go back home." But she said, "No, I would like to stay here and take the rest of the seminar programs."

　　Our love and sense of gratitude to our parents are our real nature like a appetite and need for sleep. However, when that honest feeling is clouded by some reasons such as hatred and other ill feelings, people encounter various kinds of challengings. In many cases, the source of the problems we face in our life is complaint against our parents.

　　One day, there was a participant for a SNI STS who had evil eyes. Actually, he was a seven-time convict. All of the attendees, receptionists, and others were afraid of his looking. A minister asked him why he came to a STS, and he answered that my son has been suffering from a severe illness. I've heard that many difficult illnesses were healed at this place." No matter noble a neighbor man would be, he will not come to STS for neighbor's child is suffering from a serious illness.
Even if a several-time convict, a mind that he will go to any places if his son can be saved is a mind of parent and mind of God. The Founder Masaharu Taniguchi taught in this respect as follows:

　　It is because there are roots that there are branches and leaves. It is because of parents that there are children. Since parents are the roots and their descendants are the branches and leaves, those who want to prosper must take good care of their parents. The mind that treasures one's parents cultivates the roots and, in turn, it becomes the source for our life to grow. Parental love far exceeds any child's feelings for his parents. (Masaharu Taniguchi, OPEN THE DOOR OF YOUR LIFE, vol. 4, p. 161)

　　In this good opportunity, I would like you to deepen your sense of gratitude to your parents and ancestors, and lead a bright and productive life. Thank you very much for your attention.
　

A Bright Mind - A Healthy and Prosperous Life

The following is an article I wrote for Starbulletin, Hawaii's local Newspater, which appeared on July 11, 2009.

A Bright Mind - A Healthy and Prosperous Life
Tetsuya Abe
Acting Chief, Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii Missionary Area

　　　Don't you want to lead a healthy and prosperous life? To tell you the truth, there is a secret to that. You can sow the seeds of such a life without any cost at any time by being grateful to the blessings that are granted now, and expressing your gratitude in your words, countenance, and attitude. That is because there is a law of mind in this world that what you envision is realized.
　　　You may claim that you don't have anything to be grateful for because you are sick in bed, or unemployed, or have lots of anxieties. However, think again of your surroundings -– you have a home to live in, have drinkable tap water, have a family with whom you can laugh, are living in Hawaii which people elsewhere in the world call an "earthly paradise," -- there are many positive, beautiful, and wonderful things that you are not aware of but you should be grateful for. No matter how hard your situation may be, you can create a bright future as long as you allow bright and cheerful thoughts to guide you.
　　　Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii will present a wonderful opportunity to learn more about leading a healthy and prosperous life at our annual Public Lecture at the Ala Moana Hotel on September 20th. Your attendance is most welcome.
　　　Thank you very much.

　

2009 July Message

Practicing Deeds Of Love In Modern Times
Tetsuya Abe, Acting Chief, SNI Hawaii Missionary Area

　　Seicho-No-Ie members and followers are encouraged to practice daily the three important religious practices as a person of faith in God. The three practices are practicing Shinsokan meditation, reading the Holy Sutras and Seicho-No-Ie books, and practicing deeds of love. I will explain about deeds of love at this time.

　　Deeds of love are actions of giving love to others. For example, picking up garbage on the street, being kind to elderly or disabled people, using your "stuff" with great care, volunteering, and propagating the SNI teachings - all of these are wonderful and priceless deeds of love. Some of these actions may seem secular. However, if you carry out these deeds while worshiping the divinity of others' "children of God" True Image or revering matter as a manifestation of the Life of God, your deeds no doubt become a religious practice.

　　Some of you might install a solar water heater or solar panels on your roof, or purchase a hybrid car out of concern for the earth's future. You can say that those who purchase an eco-friendly product in spite of a higher price are practitioners of deeds of love. Many people are reluctant to buy an environment-friendly product because of its cost, even if they can afford to pay extra for such a product. However, if you buy those products, you can earn much more rewards because of a principle of "God's Universal Bank," namely, "Give and you shall be given."

　　This is not only the case of expensive goods, but also other consumer items such as bath tissue paper, stationery, and other products. To buy "green products" seems to incur a loss in the short run. However, from God's standpoint, such a deed accumulates your virtues in heaven, and the rewards will surely return to you. More than that, if you stop using disposable chopsticks, dishes, and cups, and begin to use plastic or ceramic ones, it will also bring you wonderful merits in the long run.

　　The founder of Seicho-No-Ie, Masaharu Taniguchi, taught that "Wealth, in the first place, does not simply mean a condition in which there is a large amount of matter. To be wealthy means one has a large amount of something with which to do work that would benefit others." (See page 1 of this newsletter.) If you apply this teaching to this day and age, it can be said that to avoid purchasing eco-unfriendly and disposable products and to voluntarily buy eco-friendly products makes us abundant both spiritually and physically.

　　I've recently learned that the amount of junk mail in the United States is huge. According to a report by ForestEthics, a nonprofit environmental organization founded in 2000 whose mission is to protect endangered forests and wild places, wildlife, and human wellbeing, American mailboxes are inundated with more than 100,000,000,000 pieces of junk mail each year - that's more than 800 pieces per household. To my surprise, junk mail in the United States accounts for one-third of all the mail delivered worldwide, the organization said. The 51,548,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases created each year by junk mail in the U.S. are the annual equivalent of:

　・9,372,000 average passenger cars.
　・11 coal-fired power plants.
　・The COMBINED emissions of Maine, Vermont, Alaska, South Dakota,
　　Montana, Rhode Is　land, and Hawaii
　・Heating 12.9 million homes.
　・Nearly 85,000 international flights of a 747-400.
　・2.4 million cars, idling 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

　　If you send back junk mails to the sender by writing, "I don't need this mail, thank you," you will not receive the mail any more, or you can get more helpful information on how to reduce wasted paper in this month's "Environmental Thoughts & Tips" on page 5. It may take a little time, but this small action is also a kind of deed of love.

　　Since you are a loving person filled with wisdom, let us practice our own deeds of love and strive to make an effort to bequeath this beautiful earth to the next generation from a religious perspective. Thank you very much.
　

My Address at the founder's Memorial Service

The following is my address at 24th Memorial Service for the founder of Seicho-No-e, Masaharu Taniguchi, at SNI Hawaii Jisso Center on June 14th, 2009.

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　　Thank you very much. Thank you very much for coming the founder of Seicho-No-Ie, Masaharu Taniguchi's 24th Memorial Service today. Today, I would like to review how our founder Masaharu Taniguchi thought and experienced before he received the revelation of the "True Image," the most important concept of the SNI teachings with you.

　　The founder Masaharu Taniguchi was born in Kobe, Japan, November 22, 1893. He said that he was born being protected by Sun and moon at 6 o'clock in the morning, when the moon was still shining and the Sun already started to shine in the eastern sky.

　　He had a brother and four younger sisters, however, only he didn't look like with other siblings, he said. When he was 4 years old, his aunt came his home and asked his mother to borrow him for one day when they went out shopping because he was so cute. There was no child with his uncle and aunt. However, they didn't bring him home even the following day. When his mother visited his aunt to bring him back, the aunt refused to pass him over them. It may be a unbelievable thing but it is what it was happened to them. He was raised by his aunt and uncle since then.

　　Our founder Masaharu Taniguchi felt missing his parents, but his parents were not wealthy, therefore, if he had been raised by his biological parents, he could not have taken a good education and Seicho-No-Ie would not have appeared in this world. It means that Founder Taniguchi's subconscious mind knew his destiny and mission so well and guided him to a proper course.

　　Since he felt lonely when he was a child, he cried easily. But he was a possessor of a kind mind. One day, at an examination of arithmetic, there was a question that 6 multiplies 3. He knew the answer is 18, but he wrote 21 as an answer because he thought that adding 3 to the right answer would please the teacher. He said that he confused a concept of calculation with deeds of love.

　　Having said that, as a whole, his grade was terrific. He often argued with his teacher and sometimes defeated him. Founder Taniguchi mentioned that his memory is so great that he could remember all the pages of the text books if he once flipped through them before the examinations.

　　When he joined middle school, he started to ponder why human beings are born and why we have to be good to our parents. That is because he was not satisfied with his family life. Anyway, he likes argument and contemplation and tends to mull over whatever to the finish. He thought that the more you suffer the more you lead a meaningful life at that time.

　　Later, he came to realize the wonderfulness of art and love. He entered a college on a scholarship. In Japan, a very limited number of people who had a great score is granted a scholarship. While he was studying at Waseda University, he provided a shelter to an ex-convict girl at his dormitory. He thought that if you cannot save the socially vulnerable, where there is a meaning of education?

　　The founder Taniguchi made an every effort to save the girl, despite all his efforts, she was arrested by a petty crime. The newspaper reported that a college student who was played with by a juvenile delinquent against his intention. After that accident, Founder Taniguchi's parents didn't pay for his school fees, he could not help but leave the school without diploma.

　　Then, he started to work at a spinning factory by an introduction of his friends as an intern at a very low wage. Then, he promoted to be a position to monitor female young workers. Then, he realized that those female employees had to work in a terrible environment for a long time filled with dusts all day long including night shift. In other words, they were exploited by the managers who were lazy and slept in the day time and enjoyed a party after a party in the night. He argued with a factory manager and quit that company by thinking, "I don't have to live if I cannot live without exploiting the vulnerable.

　　After that happened, he was attracted by a thought that love out of pity is not accomplish but only beauty perceived with five senses can be achieved in this world. To pursuit beauty with physical senses, he had relation with women. As a result of that, he agonized physically and mentally. Especially, mental agony was serious. His intention was not to play with women but to try to experience romance as an art, but as a consequence, his sense of repentance deepened and he had to spend a sleepless night after night.

　　Someday, a magazine was sent to him from a person of a Shinto related religion. In that magazine, there was a description that the time has come when all sins and sinners will be destroyed and the immaculate new Heaven and Earth will arrive." It was just what he sought because he agonized by a sense of guilty and sought a way to vanish all the sins he had accumulated. But at the same time, it gave him fear because he can be destroyed by God's power.

　　He joined the branch of Shinto, named Omotokyo, and became an unchallenged leader. He theorized their tenet and published a book on that. But his spirit was not refreshed. To purify himself, he tried to minimize his possessions as much as possible. All he carried at that time was a piece of kimono and a tooth brush. He poured very cold water upon himself to purify him, which is a Shinto ritual and believed to cleanse oneself, and also tried fasting.

　　Around that time, at Omotokyo, they believed that rebuilding of the world would take place in 1922 and that the members of that organization would be saved and the others would be destroyed by God's hell fire. However, what Founder Taniguchi saw in the dining room was people, who should be saved by God, took away rice from rice cooker pushing aside the others. It was a completely mess. He was truly disappointed to see the scene and thought that they must be destroyed. He also hated himself who thinks so.

　　Those days, there is a beautiful woman with a dark outlook on her countenance who sought God in Omotokyo. Founder Taniguchi was attracted by the woman and she never disappeared from his mind. She was Teruko Emori, later Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi.

　　Goddess of destiny, drew them together and they celebrated their weddings. However, Founder Taniguchi came to be suspicious about the way they collect the donation from members, how they run that organization, and even the God they believed in. Seeing her husband lapsing from faith, fear bubbled forth from her mind, Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi got serious heart attack. Seeing his new wed wife severely suffering from the symptom, Founder Taniguchi was so upset, wept bitter, and prayed to God. To be helpful to her as much as possible, he looked through the medical books and encyclopedia of medicine, and he came to become a well-informed about disease and medicine than doctor. Although his knowledge was not helpful at that time because he feared disease too much, plenty of medical knowledge enabled him to guide a sick person well after he founded SNI.

　　After that, our founder Taniguchi quit that Shinto branch. He started to learn and research various eastern and western religions, philosophies, literature, and others in the world. He once followed a well-revered religious person of Japan, Rev. Tenko Nishida, and pondered what is life, what is God, and what is a human being. He theorized his ideas and published a book. In his book, he denied the omnipotent creator of goodness that created this world, ---- this world means a phenomenal world in a SNI term, and he described that this world is created by delusion. The perfect existence that is already saved exists within us, however, since this existence is only a possibility that can be developed after a great amount of efforts and spiritual trainings in the far-distant future, that idea is not dependable and reliable in your actual life, he said. Reflecting upon his anxiety, his health condition was constantly bad.

　　His contemplation kept on and on and on. Next, he came up with a notion that denies the creator of this phenomenal world. If God created this world, a world of scramble, filled with contradictions and killing, it is God who is to blame. He should not be deserved to be called God, the founder Taniguchi thought. He wrote a noble titled, "Judging God." However, just before the book was published, Kanto Great Earthquake happened, and all the books were burned as if they were annihilated by God. It was August 25, 1922. All his efforts seemed in vain.

　　The founder and Mrs. Taniguchi managed to survive from that calamity, they stayed at Mrs. Teruko's home in Toyama, an area along Japan Sea and then moved to Founder Taniguchi's parents' home. (Parents here means adopted parents. He called them as parents.)Their lives were filled with conflictions. He wanted to be a strict vegetarian, but to his parents, it was ridiculous to behave so in such an urgent situation. More than that, Founder Taniguchi's income was a very small. Since he only could earn a little income by writing some articles to a magazine for psychic research he had to ask financial support to his parents. His parents were very frustrated. They raised him from when he was 4 years old, invested him so much, and expected him to take a good education and to be a decent man of good profession. However, he caused a love affair while studying at college and quit, and he could not earn his own bread and while talked about a ideal world. To them, he is like Don Quixote. Their mental conflicts took form as disease of their new born baby, Mrs. Emiko Taniguchi.

　　Being squeezed between an ideal and actual life, he further continued contemplation on God, life, human beings, and others. One day, an English book, titled "The Law of Mind in Action" caught his eyes at a secondhand bookstore. It was one cent and he bought and read it at once. In that book, Hen wick Holmes wrote that the creator of this world is our mind, and the creator God is a creative energy. He was very delighted to find the Creator again because he once denied the existence of creator and didn't gain peace of mind.

　　He had still a hard time at that time. His parents' frustrations mounted more than ever and kept on complaining about his laziness. But he thought there should be a good way for both of them to lead a happy life. According to the book he read, since this physical world is a reflection of our mind, he thought that he should be given a good profession if he envisions that hope. He sat quietly, contemplated, and envisioned that an appropriate profession is already given.

　　After one month passed, he found a piece of newspaper. His parents never subscribed to newspaper for the sake of economy, it was there by accident. Since he entrusted all to God, he didn't try to see a job introduction page instead read a novel in the paper. Then, he coincidentally found Wanted ad for well-paid translation job. He applied and was employed by that comany at a higher salary than he expected.

　　Everything went well except for the health of his family. His daughter suffered from pneumonia and his wife severe colon disease. He understood that their diseases are a reflection of his mind, however, even if he knew that principle, he could not help but worry about his wife's and daughter's severe illness. Can you remain unperturbed when other family members suffer from serious illnesses and it is human nature, he thought. He kept on contemplation. One day, he sat and put his hands together quietly and meditated to receive a revelation of truth. Let me quote his writing:

One day, I was meditating with eyes closed and hands held in prayer in the hope of receiving a revelation of the Truth. Perhaps it was coincidence or perhaps it was God's guidance, but at that time I happened to think of the words, "matter is at once emptiness," which is a phrase out of the Buddhist scriptures. Then out of nowhere, a voice like a huge wave, low but intense, soft and yet overpowering, came to me:

"Matter does not exist!" the voice said.
Then, I wondered whether my mind existed.
Instantly the voice replied, "The mind also does not exist!"
"If there is no mind, does that mean that there is nothing?"
I asked the owner of the voice once again.
"There is the True Image!" the voice replied clearly.
"Then what is the True Image?" I asked.
"The True Image is God. What exists is only God... only the Mind of God
and the manifestation of the Mind of God. This is the Truth."

　　I believe you know how he got enlightened and started our movement. I will not touch upon that today. What I want to tell you is that the Truth he disclosed is not a product of coincidence. It is a result of all his experiences and studies with all his might, and providence of God. When his contemplation reached the climax, revelation of Truth inundated to him and he emphatically declared, "Man is a child of God," "There is no sins," "Disease does not exist," and "All religions emanate from one universal source."

　　Needless to say, after he recieved God's revelation and started the SNI movement, illnesses and misfortunes never came close to his family and their parents - children relationship truly improved. Especially, his father, actually father-in-law became a admired Regional Lecturer and healed peoples' illnesses and solved their problems. He called his son, actually son-in-law, as sensei, sensei, and was said that he read Truth of Live series more than 77 times.

　　Please read the founder Masaharu Taniguchi's books over and over again, and also read Rev. Seicho's and Rev. Masanobu's books and articles, which are another forms of Truth revealed by the founder Taniguchi. By doing so, we can understand the greatest teachings we believe in the world correctly. Thank you very much for your attention.
　

2009 June Message

Let Us Lead Many People To Be Holy Missioners

　　I recently feel that time flies so quickly. June is the month in which our loving Founder Masaharu Taniguchi's Memorial Service will be held. It has already been 24 years since he was transferred to a high spiritual world. Last October, we had a heartbreaking farewell with our second President, Rev. Seicho Taniguchi, who carried the flame of Seicho-No-Ie lit by Founder Masaharu Taniguchi; however, we had an auspicious occasion where Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi became the third President in March 2009. In this memorable year, the way for us to express our sense of gratitude to them is to strive to extend our joy of touching and savoring the eternal Truth throughout Hawaii.

　　After Seicho-No-Ie's founding in 1930, Founder Masaharu Taniguchi had been running the organization with his pocket money. As the subscribers to SNI magazines and members increased, readers' meetings grew, and the expenses to purchase the Headquarters facilities and others became huge, it was no longer possible for him to defray all the necessary costs. Then, in the same way that stock companies are supported by stockholders, Founder Taniguchi established a system, the Holy Mission Fellowship, which is supported by donations from members called holy missioners.

　　The Holy Mission Fellowship is a system to sincerely support the Humanity Enlightenment and International Peace by Faith Movements; however, the merits of being a member are invaluable. When you become a holy missioner, you are supposed to write your name by yourself on the two pieces of paper called Sacred Soul. One piece of Sacred Soul is enshrined at the U.S. Missionary Headquarters and the other is enshrined at the SNI Main Temple in Japan. Since Shinsokan meditation is practiced and the Holy Sutras are read at both the U.S. Headquarters and the Main Temple, holy missioners are blessed by words and vibration of Truth through the Sacred Souls. Furthermore, those who are saved and have merits by the teachings release a vibration of a sense of gratitude, joy, and happiness. Since these are the merits of Seicho-No-Ie, which is financed by donations from holy missioners, the holy missioners themselves receive these vibrations, which generate dividends, not in money but in spiritual virtues. I would like you to understand this point well and to invite people to become Holy Mission Fellowship members. Founder Masaharu Taniguchi explained these points as follows:

　　Since our souls grow by absorbing loving thoughts sent by others, our own bright thoughts, and words of Truth, those whose Sacred Souls are worshiped have a merit and can grow spiritually. That you have a merit by receiving loving thoughts and words of Truth is proven by the fact that distant healing of illness is possible by sending words of Truth with loving thoughts. In this instance, you can see a merit that comes from loving thoughts and words of Truth by seeing the healing. On the other hand, in the case of elevating our souls, we cannot see the merits of receiving good vibrations; however, since those merits are accumulated in the vault of Heaven as a hidden virtue, those virtues will appear concretely someday.
　　In this way, those whose Sacred Souls are enshrined in the Enshrinement as a holy missioner at the Headquarters are always receiving words of Truth through the reading the Sutras, so they are accumulating those merits. That is why I believe you are holy missioners, and I hope you lead many people to become holy missioners and share those merits with them.
(Masaharu Taniguchi, "Bosatsu wa nani wo nasubekika,"
or "What Holy Missioners Should Do"

　　By the way, holy missioners can have much more merits when they know that they are holy missioners, as in the case where someone else is paying for their Holy Mission shares. It would be even better for one to pay for himself or herself. That is because of the principle of "Give and you shall be given," and that their mind is in tune with God's vibration.

　　You can also have a future spouse or future baby join the Holy Mission Fellowship, even though you do not know exactly who they are right now. There are countless examples of happy marriages realized and childless couples blessed with a healthy baby thanks to enrolling a future loved one in the Holy Mission Fellowship.

　　Let us savor the happiness enjoyed by holy missioners and invite as many people as possible to become holy missioners. Thank you very much.

2009 May Message

Let Us Read and Understand The Importance of "Movement Policy"
Rev. Tetsuya Abe
Acting Chief, Hawaii Missionary Area

　　On a beautiful day on March 21, a special Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii State Association Meeting was held at Jisso Center under the guidance of Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara, Bishop of the United States Missionary Headquarters. 29 cheerful, enthusiastic, and distinguished leaders, including representatives of Kona, Kauai, Maui, and Hilo came together for the meeting. This meeting was conducted for our leaders to understand the 2009 Movement Policy. (Note: see p. 5 for the 2009 Movement Policy.) I would like to give some explanation of what the Movement Policy is and why it is necessary, because some of you may wonder why it is so important.

　　Seicho-No-Ie deals with diversified issues, from our outlook on life, education, disease, and prosperity to the environment, world peace, and doctrines of other major religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and others. We can say that SNI goes with everything. There are so many ways in which the SNI teachings can be applied in this day and age. That is why International Headquarters studies the current world situations and decides what points we should focus on year by year. As a result of that, the Movement Policy is formulated and shared with our leaders and members throughout the world. This practice was initiated under the guidance of Founder Masaharu Taniguchi, and Rev. Seicho Taniguchi and current President Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi has continued it.

　　Let's me use a metaphor. The sunlight is showering down on the ground. What happens if we collect the sunlight with a magnifying glass and put it on a piece of black paper? After a while, the paper starts to burn. This sunlight originally has power within to burn the paper; however, the power does not manifest unless you concentrate it. In this way, if we make a little effort to concentrate the power we already have, we can make a big difference. In this respect, every year's Movement Policy plays a very important role to unite our energy and have our enthusiasm go in the same direction to be helpful to solve the problems we are facing now. Therefore, when we fully understand the Movement Policy and concentrate our efforts in the direction the policy shows, our activities should be very helpful not only to SNI Hawaii, but also to all SNI, all humanity, and the whole universe. This is the way that pleases our loving Founder Masaharu Taniguchi, who constantly guides us from a high spiritual world with Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi and Rev. Seicho Taniguchi. That is why Bishop Teshigawara comes all the way to Hawaii every year for this meeting despite her extremely busy schedule.

　　2009 is the third year of the "Movement That Grows with Nature." The significance of our environmental preservation activities as a practice of the basic tenets of the SNI teachings such as "Be grateful to the whole universe" and "Everything is a manifestation of the life of God and Buddha's nature" is growing.

　　Touching upon the impact of "Movement that Grows with Nature," including Carbon Neutral Movement, on the global environment, Bishop Teshigawara, who led the meeting, made the following points:

1. There is no mistake in God's plan.
2. Live to the fullest extent in accord with the God's divine will.
3. Vitalize our movement by focusing on grass-roots activities.
4. Cultivate people who are not attached to an increase or a decrease of material possessions.
5. When we set high goals, we are following the guidance from our Founder Masaharu Taniguchi.
　　As usual, thanks to Pat Wada's accurate and wholehearted interpretation, all English speakers could fully understand the guidance from the Bishop.

　　Based upon the basic principles of the Movement Policy, Seicho-No-Ie Hawaii is focusing on expanding and improving our membership throughout this year. Through this movement, we will develop and improve our grass-roots activities such as holding readers' meetings, and so on. To carry out those efforts, we continually encourage our members to practice the three important religious practices - Shinsokan meditation, reading the Sutras and SNI books, and practicing deeds of love - and thereby expand our joy of faith in God.

　　Last but not least, I have an important announcement. Rev. Leslie Iwatani, who has totally devoted himself to this movement for a long time as chief of SNI Hawaii Missionary Area (1995-2004), editor of Truth of Life magazine (1997-2007), and other offices, retired as an employee of the United States Missionary Headquarters on March 31. In accordance with the retirement, his appointment as ordained minister also came to an end. I extend my sincere gratitude to him for his dedication to our movement, as well as to his wife Shirley Iwatani, and ask him to continue to support our movement in retirement. Thank you very much, Rev. and Mrs. Iwatani.