Leaders' Workshop and Public Lecture Meeting held in New York
Study of Sundial Way of Life
In New York, a Leader’s Workshop and a public lecture meeting were held at the Seicho-No-Ie New York Center from October 18 to 19, 2008. The number of attendees totaled 133.
The lecturers included Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara (Ordained Minister, Bishop of the United States Misisonary Headquarters), Rev. Bruce Mallery (Ordained Minister, Chief of Yew York Missionary Area), and Rev. Hiei Ando (National Ordained Minister).
The Leaders’ Workshop was held from 1:00 p.m. on October 18 with the objective of studying the content of the 2007 Special Conference for World Peace and July 2008’s Seventh Leadership Training Seminar. The number of attendees was 32.
Rev. Teshigawara gave a lecture, “World Peace and Our Mission” and talked about the “Movement That Grows with Nature” and the “Significance of the Three Important Religious Practices.” Rev. Mallery’s lecture was on “The Reason for Studying Islam and the Teaching that All Religions Emanate from One Universal God.” Rev. Ando lectured on the “Three Holy Sutras—Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines, Song of the Angel and For Spiritual Healing.” The program of the Workshop also included introduction of three new Regional Lecturers and testimonial presentations by the attendees.
On October 19, a public lecture meeting was held from 10:00 a.m. on the theme, “A Life that Sees Only the Bright Side of Things.” It was attended by 101.
Rev. Teshigawara gave two lectures: “Love Is the Answer to Everything” and “A Life that Sees Only the Bright Side of Things.” She said that human beings can find happiness by richly expressing God’s love in their daily lives and called on the attendees to live a bright life by practicing the sundial way of life and using the power of cheerful words. To respond to a strong request from the leaders and followers, simultaneous Japanese into English/Portuguese/Spanish interpretation was provided for Rev. Teshigawara’s lectures for the first time. It was well received.
Rev. Mallery showed an example of application of the power of words by having the attendees recite repeatedly, “I am a child of God” and said that it helps brighten up the mind. Rev. Ando introduced the fact that the Seicho-No-Ie teaching has been spreading as a movement to bring harmony to humanity and the environment.
At the lecture meeting, there was a period for music. An opera singer, a member of Seicho-No-Ie, who performs at the Canegie Hall, sang musicals as well as a piece composed by a Seicho-No-Ie follower.
Rev. Mallery remarked, “Many attendees said that it was a wonderful workshop. I felt encouraged to see members and followers in New York studying the Truth earnestly. They seem to be feeling uplifted and receiving inspiration.”