Junior Spiritual Training Seminar in Brazil Draws 701 People
Theme of the Seminar "Discover Your Infinite Ability"
In Brazil, a Divinity Development Junior Spiritual Training Seminar (Portuguese and Japanese) was held at four Spiritual Training Centers from July 24 to September 5. A total of 701 people studied the Truth.
According to the Brazil Youth and Young Adult Association, which sponsored the Seminar, the objective of the Seminar was to help the junior generation (ages 11-14) awaken to their inner divinity and build a foundation to follow the Seicho-No-Ie teachings throughout their lives. The theme of the Seminar was “Discover the Infinite That Dwells Within You” and “Living With Joy”.
The sites of the Seminar were the South American Spiritual Training Center in Ibiuna, Santa Fe Spiritual Training Center in Bahia, Santa Tecla Spiritual Training Center in Rio Grande do Sul and Amazonia Spiritual Training Center in Belem, the capital of the State of Para. The dates of the Seminar and the breakdown of the participants were: 178 (July 18-19, Japanese) and 364 (July 24-26, Portuguese) for the South American Spiritual Training Center, 40 for the Santa Fe Spiritual Training Center (July 25-26, Portuguese), 40 for the Amazonia Spiritual Training Center (August 29-30, Portuguese), and 70 for the Santa Tecla Spiritual Training Center (September 5-6, Portuguese).
The content of the Seminar was almost the same at all the sites (except for the one held in Japanese). The Seminar was guided by Rev. Marie Murakami (Ordained Minister, Chairperson of Brazil Missionary Headquarters), five Ordained Ministers/Assistant Ministers, 12 Regional Lecturers, and three Enlightenment Leaders. The lectures included: “Discover the Love of Your Parents,” “In Order to Achieve High Scores in School,” and “Cherish Your Ideal.” The Seminar program also included Shinsokan for Mutual Prayer, Mind Purification Ceremony, Ancestor Memorial Service, games designed to study the Truth through recreation, and toy making with recycled empty cans.
Rev. Maria do Socorro Santos de Paiva, Managing Director of the Amazonia Spiritual Training Center, where the Seminar was held for the first time, commented, “We all joined forces in promoting the Seminar. It was great joy that 40 people participated. We will work hard to draw twice as many participants next year.”
Comments from the participants included: “The lectures were interesting. I also enjoyed the other programs”; “I learned to respect my parents”; and “With the introduction to Seicho-No-Ie, my life has changed.”
REMARKS BY REV. YOSHIO MUKAI, BISHOP OF SEICHO-NO-IE LATIN AMERICA
“In Brazil, all the organizations have been working together since 2008 to develop successors for the Movement. This time, especially young lecturers of the Youth and Young Adult Association took charge of providing guidance to develop the Junior generation. I expect that this helps develop young leaders for the future.”