SEICHO-NO-IE SPECIAL CONFERENCE FOR WORLD PEACE—LEARNING THE WISDOM AND PHILOSOPHY TO LIVE WITH NATURE
MRS. JUNKO TANIGUCHI STRESSES THAT THE SUNDIAL WAY OF LIFE IS THE KEY TO SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM
At the Seicho-No-Ie Special Conference for World Peace, Mrs. Junko Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie White Dove Association, lectured from 5:25 p.m. for 60 minutes on August 1. She spoke through an interpreter.
Mrs. Taniguchi began her lecture by touching upon the problem of global warming. She said that what caused global warming is human beings who take from and hurt nature in order to realize a comfortable life and their desires. It is a warning from the earth that if things remain as they are now, human beings’ comfortable life and existence cannot be assured. Mrs. Taniguchi said that we must heed nature’s voice seriously.
Mrs. Taniguchi next said that the lifestyle to respond to nature’s needs can be found in the view of God and nature, which humanity has held since the olden times, and that it is already embraced in the teachings of major world religions. So saying, she noted the significance of the Special Conference.
She pointed out that Seicho-No-Ie has taught “gratitude to everything in heaven and earth” and “all things are one” since its founding in 1930. She stressed that the problem that humanity faces now can be resolved if these teachings are correctly understood and propagated to many people.
Mrs. Taniguchi then explained, in an easy-to-understand manner, the central tenet of the Seicho-No-Ie faith: “Only God-Created perfect world exists” and “All phenomena are manifestations of only mind.” She said that the sundial way of life is a life to actually live by these two teachings.
Mrs. Taniguchi emphasized that this way of life reinforces the faith of the sole existence of good, because it enables one to have many opportunities to see God’s goodness before his eyes. Another important thing is that evil is not a real existence, so that even if something appears to be evil, it is merely a manifestation of a delusion. Mrs. Taniguchi taught that if one has the faith that goodness exists even behind seeming evil and develops a mental habit to see goodness, evil disappears and the goodness of the True Image will emerge.
Mrs. Taniguchi then spoke of the Sundial Diary, which was prepared in Japan three years ago to help develop that kind of mental habit by writing down only good things and things to be grateful for. She said that by being grateful for the ordinary daily life, one can recognize that he is a child of God, that his life is sustained by God and that his daily life is filled with blessings.
Regarding global warming Mrs. Taniguchi explained that if one is grateful for God’s blessings, he can recognize and appreciate nature’s infinite blessings and understand the importance of living in such a way to cherish nature and take action to prevent global warming.
To practice such way of life, Mrs. Taniguchi herself refrains from no meat diet and tries the local production for local consumption. She said that although each person’s action might be small, if hundreds of millions of people live that way, it will become a force for change. She stressed that unless we care for the environment and use the blessings already accorded with gratitude, there is no way to solve “shortage of resources,” which humanity faces in the 21st century. She stressed that the practice of the sundial way of life is what will arouse this kind of awareness.
In concluding her lecture, Mrs. Taniguchi called upon the attendees to practice the sundial way of life and propagate the Seicho-No-Ie faith, so that the number of people who practice the sundial way of life will increase.
FIVE ORDAINED MINISTERS/ASSISTANT MINISTERS PRESENT ON THE THEME, “NATURE AND MAN LIVING TOGETHER AND COEXISTING”
Study 1: Learning From the Natural World View of Native Americans
Theme (1): North America
Rev. Bruce Mallery, Ordained Minister, Chief of New York Missionary Area
Rev. Mallery examined the religion, culture and history of the Native Americans of North America. He explained their relationship to land and close interaction with the natural world. There were incessant fighting over land between the Native Americans and people who migrated from Europe in the 16th century. Rev. Mallery explained the difference in the world views between them, which caused the conflict.
Westerners abided by individualism, divided land and claimed property ownership, whereas the Native Americans saw the land as a totality and considered it sacred and did not divide it. Also due to their reverence of nature, they refrained from taking from nature, hence they helped keep the balance of the eco-system. Rev. Mallery stressed that we must learn from their innate heritage of the Native Americans and nurture a deeper understanding for nature and have a close relationship between nature and man.
Theme (2): Central and South America
Rev. Marcos Rogerio Silvestri Vas Pinto, Assistant Minister Chief of School Personnel Division, Brazil Missionary Headquarters
The indigenous people of Central and South America have had deep knowledge about the natural environment from the olden times and made progress by developing means to use resources and agricultural techniques. However, the people from Europe colonized them. The Christian developers at the time, who were strongly influenced by mercantilism and ethnocentrism, regarded the indigenous people whose way of life had different rituals and so forth as evil and tried to kill them. In South America, the population decreased from 5-8 million in the 16th century to 200,000 in 1950. Rev. Silvestri Vas Pinto talked about the historical background regarding this population decrease.
With that as a backdrop, Rev. Silvestri Vas Pinto stated that we need to depart from ethnocentrism and learn from the natural world view of the ingenious people, who see divinity in everything and spiritually interact with diverse elements. He pointed out that it will serve as a base for constructing a culture to promote interaction among races and then directly with the universe.
Study II: Learning From the Natural World View of the Major Traditional World Religions
Theme (1): Judaism and Christianity
Rev. Junji Miyaura, Ordained Minister, Vice Chairman of Brazil Missionary Headquarters
Rev. Miyaura introduced Judaism’s view of the natural world: God is the owner of nature and man is its administrator. The Jewish law has many practices that show concern for the environment, such as “not to waste oil for the light” and “let the agricultural land rest every seven years.” Christianity’s view of the natural world is the same as Judaism’s in its love, respect and the need to protect God’s creations,” which is taught in the Old Testament of the Bible, the scripture shared by both faiths. However, unlike Judaism, Christianity does not have laws specifying actual behaviors.
At the end of his presentation, Rev. Miyaura stressed that environmental destruction caused by anthorocentrism arises from the mistaken interpretation of Genesis in the Old Testament, which says that God let man to have dominion over everything. He stressed that the word, “dominion” should be interpreted as “protection,” not “control.”
Theme (2): Islam
Rev. Eduardo Nunes da Silva, Assistant Minister, Vice Chief of Lecturers’Department of Brazil Missionary Headquarters
It is repeatedly taught in the Islamic scripture, Qu’ran, that nature shows us that God exists. In spite of it, in modern times, Muslim countries tried to improve the living standards of their people by cultivating nature, which resulted in environmental destruction. As reasons for environmental destruction, Rev. Nunes da Silva said that they took in scientific technology which was cut off from their teaching, as they imitated the West and the dictatorial politics which regarded the environmental protection movement as being against the policy.
Rev. Nunes da Silva emphasized that Qu’ran teaches that everything was born through the creation of the sole God, so that everything is connected with one another, and that man has the sacred responsibility to protect those creatures as God’s administrator. If Muslims live by this teaching, they will be a strong force in bringing about peace and resolving the environmental problem.
Theme 3: Buddhism (Hinduism)
Rev. Dean Takao Makinodan, Ordained Minister, Chief of Translation Section, International Department, International Headquarters
Rev. Makinodan presented Buddhism’s natural world view relative to the natural world views of Hinduism and Jainism. The religion that first arose in India was Hinduism, which influenced societal development to see nature as sacred and not to destroy the eco-system. It was followed by Jainism, which completely prohibited killing and insisted on vegetarian diet due to nature worship. At its inception, Buddhism was propagated through the commercial sector of the society, and hence it became the religion of the city. Because it stressed the fear of nature, Buddhist followers conquered that fear by cutting down forests as they built cities.
Buddhism was later brought to China. The view, “The Buddha nature that dwells in man also dwells in insentient objects” developed into the natural view that the entire nature embodies the Buddha nature. This penetrated East Asia including Japan as the view of Buddhism. Rev. Makinodan made a point that this view is similar to Seicho-No-Ie’s Environmental Policy.
ATTENDEES’VOICES OF UPLIFTMENT AND DETERMINATION
SENSE OF THE BEGINNING OF A NEW MOVEMENT
Luis Hector Vosquez, Chief of Seicho-No-Ie Argentine Missionary Area
"When Rev. Taniguchi talked about the method of the Movement to prevent CO2 emission, such as the use of the Internet, I sensed the beginning of a new Seicho-No-Ie Movement. In Argentina, we would like to create a Seicho-No-Ie website and spread the message that we must work not only for our own happiness but we also must care for the earth."
WISH TO PRACTICE THE SUNDIAL WAY OF LIFE AS A WOMAN
Kazue Ishi, Central Committee Member of Japanese Language Lecturers’Department, Brazil Missionary Headquarters
“I was very happy to receive the President’s guidance in Brazil. Thanks to his guidance, I learned that the fact that God’s life dwells in everything is closely related to the preservation of nature. Through Mrs. Taniguchi’s lecture, I was made to realize again that it is important for me to daily practice the sundial way of life as a woman.”
CONVINCED THAT WORLD PEACE WILL MATERIALIZE
Horlice Aparecida Cunha Bonesse, Central Committee Member, Brazil White Dove Association
“In his lecture, Rev. Taniguchi explained, in an easy-to-understand manner, such current problems as the environmental issue from the teachings’ point of view. I learned a great deal. Mrs. Taniguchi lectured with a smile and gentle expression on her face. I was deeply moved. I felt convinced that if we practice what we learned from both Rev. and Mrs. Taniguchi, world peace is certain to materialize.”
MOVED BY REV. TANIGUCHI’S ACCURATE ANSWERS
Edgar Jose Salazar Panduro, Chief of Planning and Expansion Section, Seicho-No-Ie Peru
“Rev. Taniguchi answered four questions. The answers were simple and accurate. I agreed to all the answers. Especially, hearing his answer about Seicho-No-Ie’s measure for reducing CO2 emissions, I felt that there are things we can do to contribute. I strongly hope that these questions and answers will be published for all followers to study.”
TIMELY THEME TO HELP DEEPEN AWARENESS
Philip Lashley, Director of the Seicho-No-Ie United States Missionary Headquarters, Director of New York Missionary Area
“I believe that the theme was a timely one in that it helped deepen our awareness about environmental protection. Rev. Taniguchi’s explanation of it in relation to different religions, such as Buddhism and Christianity, and especially, his thorough explanation of the true meaning of Genesis from Seicho-No-Ie’s point of view were helpful. I was able to renew my understanding of environmental protection.”
IMPRESSED WITH LECTURERS’ EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND PRESENTATIONS
Irene Revilla, Director of Seicho-No-Ie United States Missionary Headquarters, Director of Hawaii Missionary Area (In Charge of Youth and Young Adult Association)
“The lecturers explained the themes in an easy-to-understand manner, which showed that they did thorough research. I was able to understand diversity and commonality of religions and the relationship between nature and man which different religions maintain. In Hawaii, people’s awareness about the environment is very high, so I will work even harder to protect the environment with the followers in Hawaii.”
STUDY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVING WITH NATURE
Cristovao Celso Arcanjo, Former Chief of Brotherhood Association, Paraiso Missionary Branch
“I felt that the way for man to live with nature is an important theme that we must always study as Seicho-No-Ie followers and Brazilians. In the case of Brazil, the country is very large so that people do not talk about the environmental problem very often. After listening to the President’s lectures, I realized that we must be more concerned with the environmental protection issue.”
WISH TO MAKE USE OF INTERNET LECTURES
Heloisa Checon Doarte, Chairperson of Seicho-No-Ie Spain
“It is indispensable for humanity’s existence in the future that we live with nature. I felt, through this Special Conference, that we have the mission to convey this through the International Peace by Faith Movement. In Spain, we post a lecture on the Internet once a week. So we will emphasize environmental protection in our website in the future.”
IMPRESSED WITH THE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY ABOUT EARTH’S ENVIRONMENT
Leo Augusto da Silva Vinci, Chief of Seicho-No-Ie Astorga Youth and Young Adult Association, Brazil
“I was surprised to learn in the presentation about Indios’ wisdom to care for nature and the Buddhist view that God’s life dwells in all living beings—mountains, rivers, grass and trees. I was also impressed with Rev. Taniguchi’s sense of responsibility for the environment of the earth. I will be sure to convey to friends and family that we need to care for the earth.”
THE TRUTH AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE BECOME ONE
Patricia Angelica Aroaos Madariaga, Chief of Seicho-No-Ie Chile
“As I listened to the President’s lectures, the Seicho-No-Ie truth and the reason for dealing with the environmental issue became one in me. I was deeply moved. I believe that underlying it is the common truth that is embraced in the traditions of many religions—nature and man alike are manifestations of God. I would like to share what I learned with the leaders in Chile.”