REV. MASANOBU TANIGUCHI’S MESSAGE AT THE SEICHO-NO-IE FALL FESTIVAL
Let's Make Contribution Through "Sundial Way of Life"
The 30th Ryugu Sumiyoshi Hongu Fall Festival was held on November 21 at the Seicho-No-Ie Main Temple in Nagasaki Prefecture. It was followed the next day by the ceremony to commemorate the birth of Dr. Masaharu Taniguchi and the succession to the Seicho-No-Ie Presidency. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, Vice President of Seicho-No-Ie, served as the Chief Priest at these ceremonies, and Mrs. Junko Taniguchi was also present.
At the November 22 ceremony, Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi addressed about 1,900 people at the worship hall of the Main Temple in the capacity of the Superintendent. He spoke for 25 minutes.
Rev. Taniguchi began by expressing his gratitude for the fact that he could commemorate, together with the attendees, the birth of Dr. Masaharu Taniguchi and the succession to Seicho-No-Ie Presidency by Rev. Seicho Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie. Speaking of Rev. Seicho Taniguchi, who was absent, he said that he is doing fine and recently enjoys Japanese chess.
Rev. Taniguchi mentioned that at the Main Temple one can enjoy the autumn foliage around the Kinryu Pond as well as the harvesting of persimmon and chestnuts, which are healthy food. He said that at the Main Temple one can see how the relationship between man and nature should be.
Rev. Taniguchi next explained how the destruction of nature since the industrial revolution is threatening the human existence, using the damage wrought by the cyclone in Bangladesh as an example. He introduced the U.N.’s report on “Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change,” which says that the global warning would continue for several decades even if all possible counter-measures are taken and that it is urgent that specific actions are taken.
On the basis of it, Rev. Taniguchi said that it is necessary to help the recovery of nature’s functions and expand our Movement at the same time. He appealed for the importance of promoting the Movement of realizing the True Image which is to realize harmony between man and nature on earth, as this year’s Movement Policy, “A Movement that Grows with Nature” --Phase 1 Five-Year Plan, Movement Policy for Year One-- states that man and nature are originally one.
Rev. Taniguchi pointed out that the root cause of today’s problem lies in the prevailing egotism to put individuals’ desires first. Referring to an Oriental maxim, “Learn to be contented,” he urged that such ethical view be spread more widely. At the same time, he introduced Kenya’s Ms. Wangari Maathai’s recent effort to spread the Japanese spirit of “mottainai” to the world and said that the view that “material things are not only material, but a manifestation of the mind” is becoming a universal value.
Rev. Taniguchi pointed to the fact that Seicho-No-Ie has a more original concept, “Sundial Way of Life,” and appealed that one should not take this merely as a technique but practice it in his daily life, while educating others about the teachings, namely, “only God-created perfect world exists” and “faith in the God of absolute goodness.” He stressed that that would be the only way to correct the current situation where desire-driven way of life is destroying the environment.
Rev. Taniguchi then encouraged the active use of his books, Hidokeishugi towa Nani ka? (What is the Sundial Way of Life?) and Hidokei Nikki (Sundial Diary). Touching upon “Positive Psychology” which he deals with in the Hidokeishugi towa Nani ka? he stressed that the gratitude journal and gratitude visits that are used by Positive Psychology as happiness inducing exercises, are what we had already been taught by Dr. Masaharu Taniguchi and practice.
Rev. Taniguchi said that by practicing and also spreading the Sundial Way of Life we could make both material and mental contribution to people in all parts of the world as well as the environment as a whole. He closed his address by urging the attendees to devise new ways to address this and also enhance enthusiasm.
The ceremony began at 10:00 a.m. After the singing of the national anthem, Rev. Kazuo Isobe, Chairman and CEO of Seicho-No-Ie, gave a message, which was followed by the congratulatory messages by Mr. Akira Kosuge, President of Chiba Missionary Area Brotherhood Association, and Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Untied States Missionary Headquarters.
After Rev. Taniguchi’s address, there was a presentation of Headquarters Awards. The ceremony ended at 0:09 p.m.