Leader’s Workshop and Public Lecture Held in Hawaii
The Theme of Study Importance of Gratitude
In Hawaii, a Leaders’ Workshop of the Hawaii Missionary Area was held on November 10, 2012 at the Seicho-No-Ie Jisso Center on the island of Oahu. On the following day (November 11) a public lecture was held at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu. The number of attendees totaled 176: 32 at the Leaders’ Workshop and 144 at the public lecture (16 were newcomers).
These events were guided by Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara (Ordained Minister, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie United States Missionary Headquarters, Chief of Hawaii Missionary Area), Rev. Bruce Mallery (Ordained Minister, Chief of New York Missionary Area at the time), Rev. Hideharu Sugiuchi (Ordained Minister, Vice Chief of Hawaii Missionary Area), and others.
The objective of the Leaders’ Workshop was to provide training on Seicho-No-Ie’s rituals and ceremonies and help the attendees gain a deeper understanding of the significance of the Movement. The attendees studied the thinking about Seicho-No-Ie’s rituals and the ceremonies which are presently conducted in English at the International Spiritual Training Seminar.
The public lecture was divided into two parts—the morning and afternoon sessions. The morning session was held in Japanese on the theme, “’Thank You’ Is the Way to Harmony and Prosperity.’” The afternoon session was held in English on the theme, “Gratitude Is the Panacea.”
At both the morning and afternoon sessions, Rev. Sugiuchi gave the first lecture entitled “What Is Seicho-No-Ie?” He introduced Seicho-No-Ie’s basic teachings. In the second lecture in the morning, Rev. Teshigawara called on the attendees to spread the teaching shown in the “Divine Message of Grand Harmony” to the entire humanity more strongly than ever before. In the second lecture in the afternoon Rev. Mallery stressed that we can gain happiness when we arouse gratitude in our hearts.
Comments received from the attendees included: “I will seriously practice the three important religious practices and try hard to develop successors” (Leaders’ Workshop); and “I would like to read the “Divine Message of Grand Harmony” even more earnestly than before.” (public lecture)
Remarks by Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie United States Missionary Headquarters
“At the Leaders’ Workshop there was an active exchange of opinions about how to strengthen propagation while studying the teachings deeply at the same time. It was humbling to see the leaders discuss with one another seriously. For the public lecture, the promotional committee held many meetings prior to the lecture, where they talked about how best to support newcomers. It was nice to see not only the joy of the attendees but happy smiles of the leaders and members who managed the event.”