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Seicho-No-Ie News

Congratulatory Message by Rev. Yuji Otsuka, Ordained Minister Stattiond in Europe, at the Ceremony to Commemorate the Birth of Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi held at the Seicho-No-Ie Main Temple

Joy of Holding Europe’s First Special Conference for World Peace

“Congratulations, everyone! I am happy to have this opportunity to give a congratulatory message on behalf of overseas members. (Applause)

I would like to introduce the activities which have been held in Europe since I was dispatched to Germany in 2005 as an Ordained Minister stationed in Europe.

First, in July 2009, we opened the office of the Seicho-No-Ie corporation, Seicho-No-Ie Freundeskreis in Deutschland e.V., in Frankfurt. (Applause) The address of the office is listed in Seicho-No-Ie monthly magazines for general distribution, so if you have friends in Europe, I ask you to let them know it.

At our office, there are Seicho-No-Ie books in different languages. Japanese- and German-language Readers’ Meetings are held regularly. Once a week the members in Frankfurt gather and read the Holy Sutras to bless the Holy Mission Fellowship members in Europe. Members in Europe and elsewhere participate in the events held at our office via Skype, which is a free telephone service on the Internet.

Second is a strong focus on the Movement Policy. In Europe, we distribute the Movement Policy in Japanese, German, Portuguese, and English, so that the leaders can deepen their understanding of it.

Also, in Germany, a decision was made to offset the CO2 emitted at this year’s leaders’ workshop. The other day I received e-mail from the Chairperson of the corporation informing me that she made a donation for “carbon offset.”

Also, there was a request to include the Daily Prayers by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, in our quarterly magazine, Lichit Quelle, which is published in Germany. We plan to publish the German translation of one of the Daily Prayers in the December issue. (Applause)

As you can see, Seicho-No-Ie’s “Movement that Grows with Nature” has been well understood among the leaders. Last year, a Regional Lecturers Examination was held in Europe for the first time in 12 years. There was one person who was promoted to a higher rank and four new Lecturers were born. (Applause) Three of them were Brazilians and one was an Englishman, who was the first Englishman to become a Lecturer. (Applause) His name is John Flood. He is a teacher in London. He was introduced to the teaching by his wife, Sonja, a Japanese Brazilian who speaks Portuguese, English and Japanese. In 2007, Mr. Flood attended the Special Conference for World Peace held in New York. After that he became even more interested in the teaching. He has recently been appointed Regional Lecturer. (Applause)

As for the Humanity Enlightenment Movement in Europe, 13 German translations of Seicho-No-Ie books have been published in more than 40 years since Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi’s 1963 lecture tour in Europe. Spiritual training seminars are held in Germany and also England and Switzerland. At present there are 26 Regional Lecturers and 77 Propagators and more than 500 members of the Holy Mission Fellowship.

Seicho-No-Ie’s activities have thus expanded to England, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and Belgium, in addition to Germany. It is impossible for me to go to all of these countries. So, if you are interested in coming to Europe, I would like to ask for your help.

The other day, I went to a town called Trieste in Italy. A 72-year-old Italian woman named Vilma Forasacco wanted to hold a lecture meeting at a bookstore there. So I brought with me the Italian translation of the Holy Sutra, Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines. Gathered there were about 20 Italians who knew nothing about Seicho-No-Ie and two devout Brazilian members.

When I introduced, during the lecture, the part from the Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines, “When God appears, there is goodness, there is justice, there is benevolent…”, Vilma, who was interpreting, had tears in her eyes and could not continue with the interpreting. (Applause) Ten copies of the Italian translation of the Holy Sutra, Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines were sold there. The attendees exchanged hugs and kisses with Vilma at the bus stop in Trieste. This kind of thing is important. Also, the attitude of being united as one through the teaching given by President of Seicho-No-Ie and passion are important. That is how I carry on activities. (Applause)

In 2011, Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, and Mrs. Junko Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie White Dove Association, will visit Frankfurt, Germany and guide a Seicho-No-Ie Special Conference for World Peace. Together with the followers, I am very much looking forward to their visit. In closing my congratulatory message, let me pledge great success of the Special Conference and further growth of the International Peace by Faith Movement in Europe. (Applause)