Rev.Masanobu Taniguchi Gives A Message and Urges Attendeeds to Succeed The Will of Forerunner's and Work for Further Growth of The Movement
The Souls of 229 People Newly Memorialized
The Fall Memorial Service for Deceased Distinguished Propagators was held on September 23 at the Seicho-No-Ie Headquarters in Harajuku, Tokyo. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, served as the Chief Priest. Mrs. Junko Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie White Dove Association, was also present. The souls of 229 persons, who devoted themselves to the Humanity Enlightenment Movement, were newly memorialized.
Rev. Taniguchi gave a message at the end of the Service. He noted that among the deceased were Ordained Ministers and officers of the affiliated organization, whom he knew well. He stressed that our Movement is wonderful in that we succeed the will of our forerunners after their death and move forward with a sense of mission to expand the Movement.
In Seicho-No-Ie, when talking about the human life, we use a tree as an example: the root is the ancestor, trunks are the parents, and the branches and leaves are the offspring; filial piety and memorialization of the ancestor are important for the prosperity of the offspring. Rev. Taniguchi pointed out that many people succeed their parents and thrive, as seen in the phrase Oya no Nanahikari (Influence of a Successful Parent).
Rev. Taniguchi then introduced his personal episode: his AC adapter to convert the electric power for PC use broke down. He said that as children of God we also receive our life from God and that God’s life, highly powerful energy, gets converted to the right amount and shape in us through the bodies of our parents and ancestors.
Rev. Taniguchi concluded his message by urging the attendees to advance in life through their deeds of filial piety and carrying forth the wishes of the deceased.
The Memorial Service was attended by 386 people, including Seicho-No-Ie councilors, officers of affiliated organizations, and the family members of the deceased propagators. The Service began at 10:00 a.m. After the purification rite and the Invocation, Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi read the supplication and offered a sacred branch. This was followed by the summoning of the souls.
The Head Priest next read the words of the Fall Memorial Service, which was followed by the offering of a sacred branch by Mrs. Junko Taniguchi. Then, while the attendees read the Holy Sutra, Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines, sacred branches were offered by Seicho-No-Ie councilors, officers of affiliated organizations and the newly bereaved family members. Attendees burned incense. Mrs. Teruko Sugimura, the wife of the late Tetsuo Sugimura (formerly Ordained Minister) of Iwate Missionary Area, gave words of appreciation.
The number of the souls memorialized since the founding of Seicho-No-Ie totals12,051.