The Fourth-Year Memorial Service for Rev. Seicho Taniguchi
Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi Gives an Address
Man’s Happiness Starts from His Coexistence with Nature
The Fourth-Year Memorial Service for Rev. Seicho Taniguchi was held on October 28 at the Seicho-No-Ie Headquarters in Harajuku, Tokyo. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, gave an address to the 312 attendees.
The President began by reading the Preface of Rev. Seicho Taniguchi’s book, Kagirinaku Utsukushii (Infinitely Beautiful) and said that we need to train ourselves to see truth, goodness and beauty that are manifested in the natural world.
Rev. Taniguchi next pointed out that despite the fact that Japanese culture is based on the thinking, “man and nature are one,” those who claim to respect the traditional culture are doing its opposite by building nuclear power plants in nature.
Referring to a reader’s comment on his blog that the liberation from human sufferings is more important than the environmental problem, the President pointed out that at the root of the human suffering lies a disharmonious relationship between man and nature. He concluded his address by asking the attendees to disseminate the “Movement that Grows with Nature” to many people and to move their daily lives in the same way.
The Memorial Service began at 10:00 a.m. After the purification rite, Invocation, offerings and the reading of the supplication, sacred branches were offered by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi; and Mrs. Junko Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie White Dove Association. It was followed by the offering of a sacred branch by the Head Priest. Then, while the attendees read the Holy Sutra, Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines, sacred branches were offered by Rev. Kazutomi Otsuka, Chief of Seicho-No-Ie Missionary Council; Rev. Kazuo Isobe, Chairman and CEO of Seicho-No-Ie; and others. The attendees burned incense and expressed their gratitude to Rev. Seicho Taniguchi. It was followed by the removal of offerings and the Affirmation of Perfect Peace and Harmony. The Seicho-No-Ie Headquarters choir sang the song, “Eien ni” (To Eternity), which was composed and whose words were also written by Rev. Seicho Taniguchi. The Memorial Service came to an end with Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi’s address.