Europe Spiritual Training Seminar held in Germany
Aims at Divinity Development and Study of Responsibility for the Next Generation
The 25th Europe Spiritual Training Seminar was held from July 10 to 12 at a youth hotel in Bad Kissingen. Thirty-seven people from across Europe participated.
The breakdown of the participants by country of residence was: 24 for Germany, 9 for Austria, 3 for France and 1 for Sweden.
Rev. Takashi Watanabe (Ordained Minister, Chief of Administration Section, Brotherhood Association, Organizational Movement Department) was dispatched from the International Headquarters as a lecturer. He provided guidance together with Rev. Yuji Otsuka (Ordained Minister stationed in Europe).
Rev. Watanabe gave five lectures, including “The Truth that Man Is a Child of God—True Image and Phenomena” and “The Principle of Prosperity and Development of Infinite Power.” He also guided the Q&A session. Rev. Otsuka gave three lectures, such as “Your Prayer Will Materialize.” He also led the Mind Purification Ceremony, Ancestor Memorial Service, and practice of Shinsokan together with an explanation of it. They both spoke with German interpretation.
There was also a group discussion on “Our Responsibility for the Future Generations,” where the participants separated into four groups and discussed the environmental issue and inter-generational ethics. Also, all the participants sang, with the piano accompaniment, a Seicho-No-Ie song whose words were recently translated into German.
According to Rev. Otsuka, there was improvement in Seminar’s management: in the past a Japanese had always served as the head of the Seminar’s management committee, but this time, a German, Mr. Nobert Fischer (Vice Chairman of Seicho-No-Ie Germany (Freundeskreis in Deutschland e.V.)), headed the committee for the first time, and two new Japanese-into-German interpreters were found.
Comments from the participants included: “Rev. Watanabe conveyed the essential teachings in an enjoyable way for the participants”; and “I was able to know that man is a child of God and has infinite capacity. I became very hopeful.”
Rev. Watanabe remarked, “Seeing people hugging one another on the final day, I renewed my sense that Seicho-No-Ie is the religion that can fundamentally save humanity. I stressed the importance of deepening the awareness of a child of God by seeking the Truth while propagating at the same time.”
Rev. Otsuka remarked, “Five newcomers expressed their hope to participate in a Seminar again. I believe that we can build on this Seminar next time. Next year, we plan to hold one in Stuttgart, which is easily accessible from different places. I hope that many people from all over Europe will come.”