Public Lecture in Southern California
Theme of Study “the Power of Gratitude”
In California, a public lecture sponsored by the Southern California Missionary Area was held at the James R. Armstrong Theatre in Torrence on November 25 of last year. The number of attendees was 270. Thirty of them were first-timers.
The theme of the public lecture was the “Power of Gratitude.” Introduced through easy-to-understand lectures were the importance of gratitude and the Sundial Way of Life, which are Seicho-No-Ie’s fundamental teachings.
The lecturers included Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara (Ordained Minister, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie United States Missionary Headquarters), and Rev. Mario Kawakami (Ordained Minister, Vice Chief of United States Missionary Headquarters, Chief of Southern California Missionary Area at the time). The texts used included Hidokeishugi towa Nanika? (What Is the Sundial Way of Life?) by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, and Seimei no Jisso (Truth of Life), Vol. 1 by Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi.
In her lecture, “The Power of Words,” Rev. Teshigawara introduced an actual experience of a person who faced a deadlock in her life but was later saved as she was introduced to Seicho-No-Ie and became more and more grateful for the things already accorded to her. Rev. Teshigawara’s explanation was easy for the first-timers to understand. In his introductory lecture Rev. Kawakami introduced Seicho-No-Ie’s basic teachings and explained the Sundial Way of Life.
Promotional activities for the public lecture included distribution of flyers at the monthly Readers’ Meetings and Sunday Service as well as advertising it in local newspapers as well as on television and Internet. From one week prior to the public lecture the announcement was displayed on the Theatre’s billboard facing the street. A follower of a different religion saw the billboard and attended the public lecture. Subsequently she started attending the Sunday Service every week and became a member of the Holy Mission fellowship at the beginning of 2013.
At the public lecture, two-way simultaneous interpretation between Japanese and English was offered so that the attendees could listen to the lectures in either language through receivers. It was well received.
Remarks by Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie United States Missionary Headquarters
“I was impressed with the managing staff’s excellent job. A young leader who served as an emcee created an energetic and lively atmosphere. As the attendees were leaving, they made comments, such as ‘Seicho-No-Ie is wonderful’; and ‘I felt a warm and bright atmosphere. I was very happy.’ The staff that sponsored the lecture seemed to be very pleased.”