Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi’s Address at the Seicho-No-Ie Founding Day Celebration
Let’s Bring Out Our Creative Power and Build A New Civilization
The 84TH Seicho-No-Ie Founding Day Celebration and the Ceremony to Commemorate the Seicho-No-Ie Presidency Succession was held at the Seicho-No-Ie Headquarters in Harajuku, Tokyo from 10:00 a.m. on March 1. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, gave an address for 15 minutes from 10:40 a.m. in his capacity as the Superintendent.
Rev. Taniguchi first looked back on Seicho-No-Ie's past Movement and pointed out that its central site moved every 40 years or so. In 1975, Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi moved from Tokyo to Nagasaki Prefecture and the Seicho-No-Ie Main Temple was built. This year, 38 years after that, the International Headquarters will move to Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. He explained that in light of the change in the movement year to the January-December calendar year and a preparation period of about two years, this year’s move will be about 40 years after the last one.
The President next introduced his message at the New Year's Celebration, in which he said that we need to not only change but also return to the starting point. He stressed that it is important to promote the spirit of the Divine Message of Grand Harmony in man's relationship with nature, as well.
Rev. Taniguchi next explained in detail the word, Soka-ryoku (creative power), from the "Declaration of Seicho-No-Ie" carried on the back cover of the first issue of Seicho-No-Ie monthly magazine. He said that this word, which cannot be found in dictionaries, was coined by Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi.
The President explained the two Chinese characters used in Soka (meaning "begin" and "change"). Saying that So means "to begin," the President stressed that Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi’s intention was to emphasize ka (change). He said that the word, Soka, means to change, depending upon the circumstances, while retaining the original spirit. He made a point that Seicho-No-Ie is trying to do just that.
In concluding his address, Rev. Taniguchi cautioned that the society on earth cannot be sustained only by the thinking that the consumption of material things advances economy. He stressed that our mission from now on is to build a new civilization and lifestyle by making the spirit of grand harmony the starting point of our creative power.
The Seicho-No-Ie Founding Day Celebration and the Ceremony to Commemorate the Seicho-No-Ie Presidency Succession was held with the presence of Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi and Mrs. Junko Taniguchi, President of White Dove Association, and was attended by 838 people. Prior to Rev. Taniguchi's address, Rev. Kazuo Isobe, Chairman and CEO of Seicho-No-Ie, gave a congratulatory message. Mrs. Haruko Noda, head of Northern Nagasaki Missionary Area White Dove Association, and Rev. Junji Miyaura, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Latin America, gave congratulatory messages on behalf of the followers. In addition, there was a Headquarters award ceremony to recognize the dedication of 95 people with the Headquarters Awards, including the Double Ring of Light Award.
Prior to this, on February 27, the 62nd Seicho-No-Ie Delegates Conference was held. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi gave a message for 25 minutes from 4:40 p.m.
In his message the President stressed that unless it is based on the frame of mind to practice the Four Immeasurable Minds toward nature, it will not be the Seicho-No-Ie Movement. Referring to his own experience of having sent a picture letter/picture envelope every day to a total of 24 people, Rev. Taniguchi said that deep communication with another person can be nurtured only by doing things which are sometimes bothersome. Rev. Taniguchi urged the attendees not to forget our ultimate goal, the human relationship, and aim at a new movement while actively using various technologies such as the Internet.
The Delegates Conference was held in the presence of Rev. and Mrs. Masanobu Tangicuhi from 1:30 p.m. It was attended by 794 people, including Seicho-No-Ie Missionary Councilors and domestic and overseas officers. The Movement Policy was explained and a Q&A session was held.