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Seicho-No-Ie News

Great Earthquake of Eastern Japan – Prayers and Donations for the Victims

Victims and Evacuees Accepted at Three Spiritual Training Centers

The Great Earthquake of Eastern Japan (magnitude: 9.0) of March 11 did massive damage to the Tohoku Region of Japan.

From the next day, Seicho-No-Ie posted on its official homepage the information about the damage sustained by the Missionary Areas in Hokkaido, Tohoku and Kanto Regions. In addition, Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, posted the news from the Chiefs of each Missionary Area in his blog, Shokan Zakkan (Random Thoughts).

The damage reported by Missionary Centers includes: the falling ceilings and damaged walls in Hakodate, Iwate, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Tochigi Missionary Centers.

Subsequently, the Brotherhood Association, White Dove Association and Youth and Young Adult Association of the Missionary Areas affected by the earthquake/tsunami continued to gather information on the members/followers’ safety and status of the damage. E-mail and other reports about their survival and experiences have been received, including: “I lost everything. Only my life was saved”; and “The tsunami scooped up practically everything from the tatami mats and I thought I would die. But the water receded right after that and I survived.”

In order to confirm followers’ safety, the Miyagi Missionary Area, which was the closest to the earthquake’s epicenter, created on its homepage a “Corner for Missing Followers” to facilitate uploading the names of the missing followers as well as those whose survival was confirmed.

In response to the readers’ request for a prayer on the great earthquake, the President announced in his March 17 blog, Shokan Zakkan (Random Thoughts) “The Prayer to Visualize Grand Harmony Between Nature and Man.”

In the Prayer, Rev. Taniguchi teaches that the massive earthquake was not an act of God’s wrath but that it was the teaching of the Kanzeon Bosatsu that man should restore his true self that is in harmony with nature. He stresses the importance of listening to that teaching humbly and moving forward to express the True Image of the God-created world.

Prior to this, on March 15 Seicho-No-Ie decided to actively engage in the reading of the Holy Sutra, Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines in order to extend support to the victims and memorialize the deceased, as well as collect donations.

At the time of the Sutra reading, it was decided to recite the following words: “I pray for the peaceful repose of the deceased in the Great Earthquake of Eastern Japan. My mind becomes one with God’s infinite love and Buddha’s Four Immeasurable Minds. May the suffering of the victims be removed and they receive joy. I pray that the recovery will proceed amid great harmony with nature.”

The reading of the Sutra can be held not only at members’ homes but also at such events as Missionary Area Spiritual Training Seminars, Truth Realization Seminars and Workshops. It can also be held at Missionary Areas and spiritual training centers in the form of continuous reading of the Holy Sutra. At the Headquarters, employees take turns and read the Holy Sutra. (To be continued until the end of April.)

The activity to collect donations is being carried out through donation boxes at the Headquarters, Headquarters Spiritual Training Centers and Missionary Areas.

Also, it has been decided to make available the Fuji Kawaguchiko Spiritual Training Center, Tobitakyu Spiritual Training Center and Uji Temple as facilities to accommodate Seicho-No-Ie members and families, who are victims of the earthquake and evacuees from the Fukushima nuclear reactor accident.

Right after the earthquake, many people posted prayers and words of encouragement on the postingjoy, an SNS to post only joyous news, including: “I earnestly and sincerely pray for everyone’s safety”; and “I pray for as quick a recovery as possible.” In the “Communications” segment many words of prayer and encouragement are being uploaded, including picture letters/picture envelopes and illustrations.

Overseas, the United States Missionary Headquarters has organized a prayer group and started the reading of the Holy Sutra and prayer on March 12. Also, the reading of the Holy Sutra, collection of donations and prayers began in Brazil, the Republic of Korea, and Canada.

It is hoped that prayers and donation collections for a quick recovery and support of the victims will expand among the members and followers.