top bar

Home > News Release > SNI-Online 20101004

Seicho-No-Ie News

Sixth London Spiritual Training Seminar held on the theme, "For A Better World"


Eighty People Participate

The Sixth London Spiritual Training Seminar (Portuguese) was held from August 26 to 28 at the Sunbury Court International Conference Centre in the outskirts of London. The number of participants was 80, which was a decrease of 3 from the previous time. Thirty percent of them, or 27 people, were first-timers. This was an increase of 10 people over last year.

According to Rev. Yuji Otsuka (Ordained Minister stationed in Europe), the Seminar was promoted on the website of Seicho-No-Ie United Kingdom Association, the sponsor of the Seminar, as well as at the Readers’ Meeting held weekly in London and through distribution of flyers by members.

The Seminar was held under the theme, “For a Better World.” The lecturers were Rev. Yuji Otsuka (Ordained Minister), Rev. Fernando Onodera (Assistant Minister, Vice Chief of Brazil Brotherhood Association), and Regional Lecturers and Enlightenment Leaders residing in London. The texts used included the Portuguese translations of Hidokeishugi towa Nanika (What Is the Sundial Way of Life?) by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi; and Seimei no Jisso (Truth of Life), Vol. 7 and Ai wa Kei yorimo Tsuyoshi (Love Is Stronger Than Punishment) by Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi. Rev. Otsuka lectured in English on “The Sundial Way of Life” with simultaneous interpretation into Portuguese. Rev. Onodera gave five lectures, including “Gratitude to Parents.”

The Seminar program also included Mind Purification Ceremony, Ancestor Memorial Service, and Shinsokan for Mutual Prayer. Devotional labor was introduced into the program for the first time.

Rev. Onodera commented, “I could see that the participants felt uplifted from understanding the Truth, were earnest and aware about their mission for the Enlightenment Movement in England and Europe. It was a moving Seminar.”

Rev. Otsuka remarked, “Having Rev. Onodra from Brazil as a guest lecturer added great energy to the Seminar. In London, as shown by the fact that a Regional Lecturers’ Examination was held last year for the first time in 12 years, people with enthusiasm for propagation are being developed. The Readers’ Meetings held every week in Portuguese and English at a rented Christian church in Notting Hill draw a total of about 50 people every time. I expect that this Seminar will help energize the propagation activities to English people in London.”