52nd International Spiritual Training Seminar Held in Northern California
The 52nd International Spiritual Training Seminar was held from February 18 to 20 at the Mercy Center in Burlingame, California. The number of participants was 48, including 17 first-timers.
The lecturers were Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara (Ordained Minister, Chairperson of the International Spiritual Training Center), Rev. Mario Kawakami (Ordained Minister, Chief of Southern California Missionary Area), Rev. Masayo Tsuruta (Ordained Minister, Chief of Northern California Missionary Area), Rev. Bruce Mallery (Ordained Minister, Chief of New York Missionary Area), and Rev. Hideki Takao (Assistant Minister, International Spiritual Training Center).
The texts used were Taiyo wa Itsumo Kagayaite iru (The Sun Is Always Shining) by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi; Seimei no Jisso (Truth of Life), Volumes 1 and 7 by Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi; Messages of Wisdom and Love and Shinsokan Is Wonderful by Rev. Seicho Taniguchi and other publications. There were 11 lectures, including “Let’s Save the Earth—The Aim of the ‘Office in the Forest.’” The Seminar program also offered an Efuto Workshop, Mind Purification Ceremony, Ancestor Memorial Service, Shinsokan for Mutual Prayer, and a candle service.
Comments received from the participants included: “The Seminar made me feel peaceful. It was also full of energy”; and “I found the answers to what I was searching for and what I should do.”
Remarks by Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara, Chairperson of International Spiritual Training Center
“The Chief of the Northern California Missionary Area, Rev. Tsuruta; Chairman and Vice Chairman, leaders and followers of the Northern California Missionary Area joined forces in preparing for the Seminar. Thanks to their effort, the Seminar turned out to be an excellent one in content and it was also managed well. There were many first-timers, who were earnest students. There were a few participants who decided to join the Holy Mission Fellowship and also become annual monthly magazine subscribers. After the Seminar we received good news: a participant found a job right after he returned home. Another person was so moved by the wonderfulness of the Seminar that he ordered 30 copies of the monthly magazines and is joyously distributing them as a deed of love. I would like to continue to work hard to fulfill the mission of the International Spiritual Training Center.”