SPIRITUAL TRAINING SEMINAR FOR YOUTH HELD IN THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Seminar Theme on Good Human Relations
A Seicho-No-Ie Republic of China Spiritual Training Seminar for College, Professional and High School Students was held from July 4 to 6 at the Jinshan Youth Center in Taipei. The theme of the Seminar was “In Order to Build Better Human Relations.” The number of participants was 55, up by 20 percent (11 people) from the previous year. Forty percent of them (22 people) were first-timers.
Rev. Michihiro Tanaka (Ordained Minister, Chief of the Youth and Young Adult Association) was dispatched from the International Headquarters as a lecturer. The lecturers also included Rev. Masanori Morita (Ordained Minister, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Republic of China), Assistant Ministers and Regional Lecturers.
The texts used were Chinese translations of Volume 7 of Seimei no Jisso (Truth of Life) and Seinen no Sho (Book for Young People) by Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi and other publications. Rev. Tanaka gave three lectures, including “To Build Better Human Relations.” Rev. Morita gave an “Explanation of the Significance of Shinsokan.” The Q&A session was guided by both Rev. Morita and Rev. Tanaka.
The Seminar program also included Mind Purification Ceremony, Shinsokan for Mutual Prayer, an outdoor workshop and a Q&A session. In order to encourage the participants to get involved in the activity of the Youth and Young Adult Association, a program, “Let’s Attend a Readers’ Meeting” was included for the first time and was guided by not only Rev. Tanaka but those who host Readers’ Meetings. While introducing the cases of the Readers’ Meetings in Japan, Rev. Tanaka stressed that it is important for participants of the Spiritual Training Seminar to meet again at Youth Readers’ Meetings held across the country and study the Truth. A leader of a Readers’ Meeting in Kaohsiung, which meets every week, introduced his Meeting, showing pictures.
Comments received from the participants included: “I was able to understand that smiles are the key to good human relations”; and “The teaching that one should be grateful to even someone he dislikes is truly wonderful.”
Remarks by Rev. Masanori Morita,
Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Republic of China
“I hope that the result of this Spiritual Training Seminar will help the One-Day Youth Truth Realization Seminar at three Missionary Areas. I would like to energize Readers’ Meetings and other activities in many parts of the country. I would also like to improve the propagation skills and the awareness as leaders of those who served on the management committee of the Seminar.”