Spanish-Language Youth Spiriual Training Seminar and General Spiritual Training Seminar in Brazil Draw 335 People
In Brazil, Spanish-language Spiritual Training Seminars (General Spiritual Training Seminar and Youth Spiritual Training Seminar) were held from September 15 to 19 at the Santa Tecla Spiritual Training Center in Rio Grande do Sul in the South. The total number of participants was 335, which was an increase of 53 people (15.8%) over the last time.
Since the State of Rio Grande do Sul, the location of the Santa Tecla Spiritual Training Center, is bordered by Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, this Spiritual Training Seminar has been held almost every year since 1987. The Youth Spiritual Training Seminar was held simultaneously for the first time. The number of participants was 268 for the General Spiritual Training Seminar and 67 for the Youth Spiritual Training Seminar. The breakdown of the participants of both Seminars by country was: 142 for Argentina, 76 for Paraguay, 48 for Uruguay, 39 for Brazil, 18 for Bolivia, 8 for Panama, 2 for Peru, and 2 for Mexico.
The Seminars were promoted via the “Truth of Life Study Class” posted every month on the Internet for the leaders in Latin American countries. In addition, the leaders were provided procedural information on how to accompany participants to the Seminar site. Promotional DVDs and flyers were also distributed.
The texts used were the Spanish translation of Jinsei Dokuhon (Life’s Reader) by Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi and other publications. The lecturers were Rev. Marie Murakami (Ordained Minister, Chairperson of Seicho-No-Ie Brazil Headquarters), Rev. Sinji Takahashi (Ordained Minister, Director of the same Headquarters), two Assistant Ministers and three Regional Lecturers. They guided in Spanish. The lectures were tailored to the participants’ criteria: those at the General Spiritual Training Seminar included “Seicho-No-Ie Aims to Live Happily in Harmony with Nature” and “The Mental Attitude to Attract Prosperity,” and those at the Youth Spiritual Training Seminar included “Is Sex Right? Or Is It Wrong?” and “Youth and Internet.” Also, there were explanations and practices of Ancestor Memorial Service, Mind Purification Ceremony, and Shinsokan for Mutual Prayer and so forth.
A participant from Panama commented, “The Seminar was very spiritual. Seicho-No-Ie has the incredible power to naturally draw out people’s True Image. A Regional Lecturer, who came from Uruguay, remarked, “Every one of the three attendees whom I accompanied decided to start a unit organization in their areas. This is all the fruit of the Spiritual Training Seminar.”
REMARKS BY REV. MARIE MURAKAMI, CHAIRPERSON OF SEICHO-NO-IE BRAZIL MISSIONARY HEADQUARTERS
“This Seminar, which is held once a year, is a precious opportunity for people in Latin American countries to get a deep grasp of the Seicho-No-Ie truth. This is our first attempt to hold the Youth Spiritual Training Seminar simultaneously. I saw many young people awaken to the truth that man is a child of God and has infinite capacity and leave the Seminar full of hope, and I realized the importance of working hard to develop successors for the future. This Seminar plays an important role in expanding the Movement in Latin American countries.”