The 16th Seicho-No-Ie Portuguese Spiritual Training Seminar Held at Uji Temple
The Number of Participants 383
The 16th Portuguese Spiritual Training Seminar sponsored by the Seicho-No-Ie Headquarters was held at the Seicho-No-Ie Uji Temple in Uji City, Kyoto. The number of participants was 383, up by 161 people over the previous time. The participants came from Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Japan. A hundred twenty-eight Brazilians who were visiting Seicho-No-Ie Spiritual Training Centers and other places with the Seicho-No-Ie Brazil Japan Tour Group also participated from October 29 and studied the Truth together with the others.
The Seminar was guided by six Ordained/Assistant Ministers, including Rev. Tatsufumi Yukishima (Ordained Minister, Chief of International Department), Rev. Kamino Kusumoto (Ordained Minister, Managing Director of Uji Temple), and Rev. Harumi Kinoshita (Assistant Minister, Chief of Central and South American Section, International Department). There were six lectures. The texts used included Hibi no Inori (Daily Prayers) and Hidokeishugi towa Nani ka (What Is the Sundial Way of Life?) by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi; and Seimei no Jisso (Truth of Life), Volumes 1 and 7 by Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi. The Seminar program also included Mind Purification Ceremony, Shinsokan for Mutual Prayer, and Ancestor Memorial Service.
On the morning of the second day, a video message entitled “Words of Encouragement” from Rev. Yoshio Mukai (Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Latin America) and Rev. Marie Murakami (Chairman of Brazil Missionary Headquarters) was shown. The participants found it deeply moving.
In promoting the Seminar, the Central and South American Section of the International Department placed advertisements four times in the Alternativa (Portuguese), a weekly magazine for Brazilians living in Japan, and also encouraged participation through the Portuguese version of the Posting Joy, Seicho-No-Ie’s SNS site.
Comments received from the participants included: “My awareness about my inner divinity was strengthened. I was truly moved”; and “I would like to spread this wonderful teaching, while worshipping others’ True Image, with gratitude to the ancestors and the attitude of “being united as one through the teaching given by the President ”.
Rev. Yukishima remarked, “This time we held the Seminar at the Uji Temple, or the place that is the spiritual foundation for the Movement. As a result, it attracted a far greater number of participants than our original objective, including many Brazilians living in Japan and the Brazil Japan Tour Group. This was a significant opportunity for the followers in both Japan and Brazil as we promote the Movement in the future from an international viewpoint together with our ancestors.”