First-Year Memorial Service for Rev. Seicho Taniguchi
Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi Gives A Message
Let's Spread the Teaching to All who are interested in the Truth
The First-Year Memorial Service for Rev. Seicho Taniguchi was solemnly held on October 28 at the Seicho-No-Ie Headquarters in Harajuku, Tokyo. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, addressed 691 attendees.
At the beginning of his address Rev. Taniguchi said that he has been using Rev. Seicho Taniguchi’s former office as his office since his passing and was impressed that Rev. Seicho Taniguchi used things with great care.
The President next introduced from the Shokan Zakkan Part 14 (Random Thoughts, Part 14) the portion which speaks about Rev. Seicho Taniguchi’s achievements, of which he cited three: the implementation of an organizational reform to promote the independence of the White Dove Association, the positioning of the Regional Lecturers’ Association as the “blood of the Organization,” and the establishment of a genuine faith movement that is independent of politics. Rev. Taniguchi stressed that it is important that we succeed Rev. Seicho Taniguchi’s legacy and, when necessary, come up with a new method and further expand the Movement.
The President next referred to Rev. Seicho Taniguchi’s message from the 2005 New Year Celebration: we should not limit our propagation to certain people but propagate to all people who are seeking the truth. The President stressed that when developing our movement it is important that we use care not to worsen the environment even when propagating with the new Seicho-No-Ie magazines for general distribution, and also have a flexible attitude and propagate to all who are interested in knowing the truth. He concluded his message by asking the attendees to continue to cheerfully promote the Movement with gratitude to Rev. Seicho Taniguchi and a sense of repayment for his guidance.
Prior to Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi’s address, Mrs. Emiko Taniguchi gave a message. She said that she drinks tea every day before the picture of the late Rev. Seicho Taniguchi. Referring to the Shin Zen Bi o Ikite—Taniguchi Seicho Sensei Tsuizen Gurafu (A Life of Truth, Goodness and Beauty—the Memorial Pictures of Rev, Seicho Taniguchi), she spoke of how sincerely Rev. Seicho Taniguchi was writing articles for Seicho-No-Ie books and magazines in hope of conveying the truth to the readers. She urged the attendees to expand the happy Seicho-No-Ie Movement further.
The Memorial Service began at 10:00 a.m. After the purification rite, the Invocation, offering and the reading of the supplication, sacred branches were offered by Mrs. Emiko Taniguchi, Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, and Mrs. Junko Taniguchi, President of the White Dove Association. This 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 Seciho-No-Ie. The attendees burned incense. The removal of the offerings and the Affirmation of Perfect Peace and Harmony followed. The Memorial Service came to an end with the messages of Mrs. Emiko Taniguchi and Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi.