FALL MEMORIAL SERVICE SOLEMNLY HELD
The souls of 166 persons newly memorialized
Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi gives a message and stresses the importance of "Releasing"
The Fall Memorial Service for Deceased Distinguished Propagators was held on September 23, the fall equinox day, at the Seicho-No-Ie Headquarters in Harajuku, Tokyo. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, Vice President of Seicho-No-Ie, served as the Chief Priest. Mrs. Junko Taniguchi, Vice President of the White Dove Association, was also present. The souls of 166 persons, who devoted themselves to the Humanity Enlightenment Movement, were newly memorialized.
Rev. Taniguchi gave a message at the end of the Service. He started by noting the fact that 41 of the newly-memorialized souls, or about 25 percent, were those of Brazilian leaders. He said that Brazilians are playing an important role in the Seicho-No-Ie Movement and that it shows the Movement’s internationalization.
He next likened the human life to art and said that we are now expressing on earth the true child-of-God nature in ways that are unique to each individual. Even if we fail, we create a new expression through imagination and ingenuity and that makes human life meaningful.
A pianist cannot play the musical piece perfectly by practicing just once. He spends many days to complete its expression and when it is finally completed he would want to move on to the next piece. This is the phase called “death.” Rev. Taniguchi made it clear that death is when the body goes into hiding as it moves to the next level of expression. And even the piece, which one has worked so hard to complete, starts to show some breakage. This is a sign of preparation for the next phase. That is when one should divest himself of his body and live in a new environment. That is man’s true life.
Rev. Taniguchi next introduced an episode from August’s Urabon Memorial Festival held at the Seicho-No-Ie Uji Temple. There was an exhibit/sale of his sketches from his book, Shokan Zakkan (Random Thoughts). When Rev. Taniguchi was at the exhibit, one member asked him, “Do you not find it difficult to part with your drawings?” He replied that since the proceeds from the sale are donated to the forestry activity and he does not spend much time to draw, it is not hard for him to part with them. If people like them and it helps others, he would be happy to offer more of them.
Rev. Taniguchi likened the drawings (sketches) to the human life and said that the product (life) is not the human being, but the human being is the master (child-of-God’s true nature). Even though we create fine pieces of art, we should be prepared to let go of them when the time comes. The Holy Sutra, Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines, says, “The time will finally come when life no longer needs its physical body-cocoon. Life shall leave its physical body-cocoon, and soar on to an even freer realm.” Rev. Taniguchi remarked that he wants to daily read such words of Truth as these and live a bright life.
Rev. Taniguchi concluded his message by reading a portion of “The Prayer to Gain Freedom by Abandoning” from his book, Hibi no Inori (Daily Prayers), which teaches that by abandoning material things one can acquire freedom of mind. He then called upon the attendees to try harder to seek the Truth and propagate.
The Memorial Service was attended by about 300 people, including Seicho-No-Ie councilors, officers of affiliated organizations and the family members of the deceased propagators. The Service began at 10:00 a.m. After the purification rite and the Invocation, Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi read supplication and offered a sacred branch. This was followed by the calling out of souls.
The Head Priest next read the words of the Fall Memorial Service, which was followed by the offering of a sacred branch by Mrs. Junko Taniguchi. Then, while the attendees read the Holy Sutra, Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines, sacred branches were offered by Seicho-No-Ie councilors, officers of affiliated organizations and the families of the newly bereaved family members. Attendees burned incense.
Mrs. Mami Matsunaga, the wife of the oldest son (deceased) of the late Mrs. Kinu Matsunaga, gave words of appreciation on behalf of the bereaved families,
The number of the souls memorialized since the founding of Seicho-No-Ie totals 11,303.