The 27th Europe Spiritual Training Seminar Held in Mainz, Germany
The 27th Seciho-No-Ie Europe Spiritual Training Seminar was held from October 7 to 9, 2011 at a youth hostel in Mainz, Germany. The number of attendees was 32, including eight newcomers. This was an increase of four people over the previous time.
The attendees were, by country, 24 Germans, 1 Austrian, 1 Swede, 4 Swiss, and 2 Poles.
Rev. Kiyoaki Koike (Ordained Minister, White Dove Association Administrative Section) was dispatched from the International Headquarters as a lecturer. He provided guidance together with Rev. Yuji Otsuka (Resident Ordained Minister in Europe) through German interpretation. Mr. Guido Burkner (overseas International Headquarters staffer), who returned to Germany after a one-year training at the International Headquarters in Japan, served as Rev. Otsuka’s interpreter for the first time.
Rev. Koike gave five lectures, including the closing lecture, “Let’s Live Love That Releases; Let’s Spread the Seicho-No-Ie Teaching,” using the Power Point to show the diagrams and images prepared beforehand. Rev. Otsuka gave three lectures, including “Love Heals Everything.” He also guided the Mind Purification Ceremony, Ancestor Memorial Service, and Shinsokan for Mutual Prayer.
On the afternoon of the second day, there was a group discussion on the theme, “Gratitude Turns Everything in Life for the Better,” where the attendees separated into two German and Japanese groups each.
Comments received from the attendees included: “The Ancestor Memorial Service was moving beyond description”; “I was impressed with the fact that the attendees were studying the Seicho-No-Ie teaching, regardless of race and nationality.”
Rev. Koike commented, “I was deeply moved to see Rev. Otsuka and other leaders join forces in managing the Seminar. I hope that the development of Mr. Burkner as well as other interpreters and propagators will go smoothly from now on, so that the propagation activities rooted in Germany will be furthered.”
Rev. Otsuka remarked, “Thanks to the Seicho-No-Ie Special Conference held in Germany at the end of July, where the leaders joined hands and cooperated in managing it, we had excellent team work at this Seminar. The Seminar used to be held in July, but because of the timing of the Special Conference, at first we considered cancelling it. But there was a strong request for it among local followers, and I am glad that we decided to hold it.”