Spring Memorial Service Solemnly Held
Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi Asks Attendees to Live a Bright Life with the Faith that Life Is Eternal Souls of 204 People Newly Memorialized
On March 20, the Spring Memorial Service for Deceased Distinguished Propagators was held at the Seicho-No-Ie Headquarters in Harajuku, Tokyo. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, served as the Chief Priest. Mrs. Junko Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie While Dove Association, was also present. The souls of 204 people, who dedicated their lives to the Seicho-No-Ie Movement, were newly memorialized.
At the end of the Memorial Service Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi gave a message. He introduced the thank-you letter from Mrs. Iwatani, the wife of the late Mr. Leslie Iwatani, formerly the Chief of Hawaii Missionary Area, who was one of those newly memorialized at the Service—which thanked him for the floral wreath received at the time of his funeral. Rev. Taniguchi expressed his appreciation for the fact that she wishes to continue to honor her husband’s memory and participate in the Seicho-No-Ie Enlightenment Movement and deeds of love. He said that those who have the faith that man’s life is eternal know that the deceased actually live on in their heart and they can live a bright life by continuing the life of faith together with them. He made a point that in the cases such as that of the Great East Japan Earthquake, where many people have died, it is important to grasp what they had wanted to convey and live with that awareness.
The President next introduced two prayers from the Jisedai eno Ketsudan (The Decision for the Next Generation), which were announced after the Great Earthquake. From the “Prayer to Visualize Grand Harmony Between Nature and Human Beings” he quoted the part which says that those who died in the Earthquake were the “Kanzeon Bosatsu,” urging that we awaken from the delusion that destroys nature. He said that materialism and civilization built on anthropocentricism have brought trouble and we are faced with a pressing need to decide which direction to move in.
Rev. Taniguchi next referred to the “Prayer to Head Jubilantly Toward the Realization of the Rebirth of Japan” and introduced a portion of it, which says that through practicing the “giving” to the world of nature, true value can be brought out. He stressed that it is Seicho-No-Ie’s belief that people all over the world should move forward in this direction, and the souls being memorialized at the Service were those who supported and dedicated themselves to this movement as leaders. The President asked the attendees to succeed the will of those memorialized today and work hard to promote the Movement that Grows with Nature.
The Memorial Service started at 10:00 a.m. It was attended by 361 people, including Seicho-No-Ie Counselors and the families of the deceased. After the purification rite and the Invocation, Rev. Taniguchi read the supplication and offered a sacred branch. This was followed by the summoning of the souls. The Head Priest then read the words of the Spring Memorial Service, which was followed by the offering of a sacred branch by Mrs. Junko Taniguchi. While the attendees read the Holy Sutra, Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines, sacred branches were offered by Seicho-No-Ie Missionary Councilors, officers of affiliated organizations and the newly bereaved family members. Attendees burned incense. Mrs. Kimiko Hiraoka, the wife of the late Kunitake Hiraoka, a Regional Lecturer in Second Tokyo Missionary Area and the recipient of the East Japan Ring of Light Award, gave words of appreciation. The number of souls memorialized since the founding of Seicho-No-Ie totals 12,647.