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Seicho-No-Ie News

Leaders’ Workshop and Public Lecture in Southern California

Study of Coexistence between Nature and Human Beings

On September 3 a Southern California Missionary Area Leaders’ Workshop was held at the United States Missionary Headquarters in Gardena, California and was attended by 34 people. On the following day (September 4) a Public Lecture was held under the sponsorship of the Southern California Missionary Area at the James Armstrong Theater in Torrance, California. The number of attendees was 315, including 49 newcomers.

The study at the Leaders’ Workshop centered around “Man’s Coexistence with Nature,” based on the Seicho-No-Ie Special Conference held in Germany in August of this year.

The Workshop was guided by Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara (Ordained Minister, Bishop of the United States Missionary Headquarters), Rev. Mario Kawakami (Ordained Minister, Chief of Southern California Missionary Area), Rev. Bruce Mallery (Ordained Minister, Chief of New York Missionary Area), and Rev. Tomio Otsuka (Ordained Minister, United States Missionary Headquarters). Rev. Teshigawara gave two lectures, including “Why Go to the Forest?” She explained the significance of the fact that Seicho-No-Ie is promoting the “Movement that Grows with Nature” as well as the International Headquarters’ plan to move to the Forest. Rev. Kawakami’s lecture was entitled “The Movement that Grows with Nature’ in the Southern California Missionary Area and the ‘Prospect of Zero Carbon.’ ’’

The Public Lecture was held under the theme, “In Pursuit of Happiness.” Reverends Teshigawara and Mallery gave lecturers. Rev. Kawakami explained Seicho-No-Ie’s basic teachings and also introduced some of the activities at the Southern California Missionary Area as well as Seicho-No-Ie centers around the world. Also, there were testimonial presentations by the members.

The promotional activities for the Public Lecture included announcing it at Readers’ Meetings and Spiritual Training Seminars, broadcasting commercials on pay television stations, and placing advertisement in newspapers and on the Internet. There were attendees who came after seeing the advertisements on television and in newspapers. Comments from the attendees included, “I was able to understand the importance of not being caught up in the appearances and visualizing the True Image.

Remarks by Rev. Mario Kawakami, Chief of Southern California Missionary Area

“At the Leaders’ Workshop Rev. Teshigawara’s detailed and easy-to-understand explanation with actual examples helped the attendees understand more deeply than before why Seicho-No-Ie promotes the Zero Carbon Movement. The leaders became more enthusiastic about the Movement. Regarding the Public Lecture, the site was moved from the previous Lecture site, Little Tokyo, so that we needed more time to prepare. I am grateful that we were able to hold the event, thanks to many people’s promotion and hard work.”