THE 21ST YEAR MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MRS. TERUKO TANIGUCHI
Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi Gives an Address
Let's Propagate the Teachings with Sincerity
The 21st-Year Memorial Service for Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi was held on April 24 at the Taniguchi Family Monument at the Seicho-No-Ie Main Temple in Nagasaki Prefecture. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, addressed the 324 attendees.
Rev. Taniguchi began his address by saying that it fills him with emotion that it had been already 20 years since Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi passed away and that he, one of her grandsons, whom she used to give snacks, succeeded the Seicho-No-Ie Presidency on March 1 of this year.
Rev. Taniguchi next introduced Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi’s book, Ai no Sodanshitsu (Counseling on Love; published by Sekai Seiten Fukyu Kyokai, Co., Ltd.; currently not available). He said that Mrs. Taniguchi was a very sincere person. As an example of her guidance, he quoted a section from her book, where she frowned on wearing heavy make-up.
Rev. Taniguchi next introduced Mrs. Taniguchi’s guidance from another section of her book. a woman wanted good and neat penmanship: Mrs. Taniguchi praised the woman’s meticulous penmanship and said that the excellently-written letters are sometimes difficult to read. She stressed that if one is sincere, her intentions come across, even though her penmanship is not perfect.
Rev. Taniguchi went on to say that with the proliferation of PCs, the chance to hand-write has decreased. He himself uses electronic mail every day. Since PCs help write a nice letter by even copying from others’ examples, when one receives a well-written letter, one sometimes wonders who wrote it. Therefore, Rev. Taniguchi has begun to hand-write on manuscript paper.
Rev. Taniguchi pointed out that the reason why it has become popular to send something produced by one’s own hands, such as a picture letter, is because it is important to express one’s sincerity clearly and communicate it to the recipient. He stressed that in propagating the Seicho-No-Ie teachings, the important thing is to express our sincerity. He then asked the attendees to call back to mind Mrs. Taniguchi’s guidance and propagate from many angles.
In concluding his address, he taught that the teachings can be propagated in the true sense of the word by being sincere and unpretentious, as if sending a gift prepared with all one’s heart. And he encouraged us to carry out a bright and happy movement.
The Memorial Service began at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, serving as the Chief Priest. After the purification rite, the Invocation, and the reading of the supplication, sacred branches were offered by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, and Mrs. Junko Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie White Dove Association. It was followed by the offering of a sacred branch by the Head Priest. Then, while the attendees read the Holy Sutra, Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines, sacred branches were offered by Rev. Kotaro Miura, Chief of the Missionary Council;, and Rev. Kazuo Isobe, Chairman and CEO of Seicho-No-Ie. The attendees burned incense and offered gratitude to Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi’s soul. The removing of the offerings and the Affirmation of Perfect Peace and Harmony followed. The Memorial Service came to an end with Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi’s address.