THE CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF THE “OFFICE IN THE FOREST”
REV. MASANOBU TANIGUCHI GIVES AN ADDRESS
PEOPLE OF RELIGIOUS FAITH NEED TO COOPERATE TOWARD REALIZING COEXISTENCE BETWEEN NATURE AND MAN
On July 7, the day the “Divine Message of Embracing All Religions” was revealed, the forest on the Yatsugatake’s southern slope was filled with joy celebrating the opening of a “new civilization” of harmony between God, nature and human beings, which Seicho-No-Ie aims to build.
On the day of the Ceremony to Celebrate the Completion of the “Office in the Forest,” the morning mist cleared and rays of sunlight shone in from between clouds. In the surrounding forest, there was a continuous chorus of meadow buntings and cicadas chirping as if to celebrate the Ceremony.
With their eyes aglow, the attendees walked from the “Office” entrance on the path leading to the “Office,” where Japanese larches lined up on both sides. As they entered the building and looked around the Event Hall enveloped with the fresh scent of wood, they exchanged smiles with one another.
The Ceremony to Celebrate the Completion of the “Office in the Forest” was held in this Hall. It was attended by 464 people, including the members of the Delegates Conference, auditors, Seicho-No-Ie Senior Ministers, the Managing Directors of the Spiritual Training Centers administered by the Headquarters, the representatives of affiliated organizations, those involved in the construction work, and guests.
The Ceremony started at 10:00 a.m. As the deep crimson drop curtain was raised, there appeared Rev. and Mrs. Masanobu Taniguchi seated on chairs. They were greeted with a big applause.
First, there was the singing of a Seicho-No-Ie song, “Jisso o Kanzuru Uta” (Song of Reality), which was led by the Seicho-No-Ie Choir. It was followed by the reading of the “Divine Message of Grand Harmony” by Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara, a Seicho-No-Ie Missionary Councilor; and Invocation by Rev. Kazuo Isobe, Vice Chief of Seicho-No-Ie Missionary Council. During this period, the True Image Scroll hung at the center of the stage was quietly raised and the red curtain covering the back of the stage opened sideways. From the big window in the back of the stage, stretching from one side to the other, the green forest appeared that spreads outside. As the attendees released their palms held together for prayer, they were stunned at the beauty of it, which was similar to that of a scroll picture.
This was followed by the reading of the “Prayer for Awakening to All Sentient and No-sentient Are Our Brothers and Sisters” by Mrs. Junko Taniguchi, President of White Dove Association. Then, the attendees read the Song in Praise of Nature, led by Rev. Kazutomi Otsuka, Chief of Seicho-No-Ie Missionary Council. This was followed by the Affirmation of Perfect Peace and Harmony by Rev. Kyoko Okubo, a Seicho-No-Ie Missionary Councilor. The Ceremony ended at 10:56 a.m. with the address by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie.
Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi gave a 22-minute address.
The President referred to the fact that in 1930 when Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi and Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi founded Seicho-No-Ie, they were living in what is now Kobe City and that they moved their residence to Tokyo in 1934 with the belief that the religious movement should be carried out in the center of Japan.
The President next pointed out that the most remarkable change in Japan’s about-80-year history since then is its urbanization. He showed on the screen the pictures of high-rise buildings in Shinjuku and Roppongi Hills taken from his office at the Headquarters. He stressed that with the Headquarters’ move from the city into the forest of Yatsugatake the Movement needs a change, as well.
Saying that religion has a difficult challenge of maintaining and advancing the one eternal Truth, while responding to the needs of the circumstances and time, the President introduced the fact that there are three symbolic structures on the premises so as not to forget the original goal of the Movement: the Statue of the Lighter of the Seven Golden Candlesticks brought from Harajuku, Tokyo: the newly-built Seven-Story Pagoda, and five bridges bearing the names that represent the teachings. Of the three, Rev. Taniguchi explained the significance of the Statue of the Lighter of the Seven Golden Candlesticks and the Seven-Story Pagoda.
According to his explanation, the Statue of the Lighter of the Seven Golden Candlesticks originates in the Bible’s Book of Revelation and is a Christian kind of symbol that teaches that all religions emanate from one universal God. On the other hand, the Seven-Story Pagoda symbolizes “One Buddha All Buddhas,” which expresses in a Buddhist way that all religions emanate from one universal God.
Rev. Taniguchi stated that the Square of Embracing All Religions, where the Statue of the Lighter of Seven Golden Candlesticks and the Seven-Story Pagoda stand, was born of the recognition that the time has come for all religions to recognize one another’s common aspects and cooperate. The worsening global environment has given rise to the problems such as the extinction of some species and food shortage. Rev. Taniguchi stressed that as the number of victims is anticipated to increase in the years to come, it is unexcusable for people of religious faith to do nothing about them. He urged the attendees to exert all efforts to resolve the cause that exists right here in Japan.
The President expressed concern over the problems in the post-World War II Japan which were revealed by the East Japan Great Earthquake: the concentration of power at the central Government and decaying rural areas. He explained that what Seicho-No-Ie aims at is that the rural areas have autonomy, cherish nature indigenous to their localities and develop culture. He cited four goals for the future activities: zero CO2 emissions, energy self-sufficiency, protection of nature, and contribution to the community.
Specifically, Rev. Taniguchi pointed out that although we plan to carry on our lives as modern-day people without emitting CO2, the dependence on a certain company for energy would restrict the freedom of the right of speech and action. Also, Rev. Taniguchi pointed out the reality that despite the fact that the trees planted in Japan after the end of World War II are nearing harvesting periods, forestry is in decline. He emphasized the need to actively use forest resources and biomass.
The President made a point that we should promote the way of life where nature and man coexist by using the “Office in the Forest” as the central base together with as many people as possible who share the same will. In concluding his address, he made clear his resolve to accomplish this goal.
Following the Ceremony to Celebrate the Completion of the “Office in the Forest,” the ceremony venue was moved to the Square of Embracing All Religions located north of the “Office” and the Ceremony Embracing All Religions was held.
In attendance at this ceremony were 80 people, including Seicho-No-Ie Missionary Councilors, Senior Ministers, overseas leaders and Chiefs of Missionary Areas in Japan. The ceremony began at 11:15 a.m. Following the Invocation by Rev. Osamu Kuri, a Seicho-No-Ie Missionary Councilor, the unveiling of the Statue of the Lighter of the Seven Golden Candlesticks and Seven-Story Pagoda took place. As the rope was pulled by Rev. Junji Miyaura, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Latin America; Rev. Mario Kawakami, Vice Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie United States Missionary Headquarters; Prof. Huang Venne Shiang, Chairman of Seicho-No-Ie Republic of China Missionary Headquarters; and Rev. Jeong Hee Kim, Chairman of Republic of Korea’s Kwang Myong Hoy, a pure white Statue of the Lighter of the Seven Golden Candlesticks and the Seven-Story Pagoda appeared. Then Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi solemnly read the “Prayer in Praise of the Bodhisattva Who Reflects the Sounds of the World” by Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi in front of the Statue. While Rev. Yuji Otsuka, Resident Ordained Minister in Europe, led the attendees in the reading of the Song in Praise of the Bodhisattva Who Reflects the Sounds of the World, Rev. Masanori Morita, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Republic of China, installed the Holy Sutra, Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines, Song in Praise of Nature and Song in Praise of the Bodhisattva Who Reflects the Sounds of the World in the Seven-Story Pagoda. The Ceremony came to an end with the Affirmation of Perfect Peace and Harmony by Rev. Kanami Sato, a Seicho-No-Ie Missionary Councilor.
Subsequently, the venue of the Celebration was moved to Oizumi Kogen Yatsugatake Royal Hotel located 3 km from the “Office,” where the Completion of the “Office in the Forest” Celebration was held from 0:30 p.m. Amid the joyous atmosphere of 466 attendees, Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi and Mrs. Junko Taniguchi each gave a message and expressed happiness about the completion of the “Office.” In addition, from among the guests, Mr. Masashi Shirakura, Mayor, Hokuto City; Mr. Yasutaka Watanabe, Chairman, Rissho Kosei-kai; Mr. Tadashi Inamoto, representative of Oak Village; and Mr. Kyoji Okamoto, Director, Sustainable Management Forum of Japan, gave congratulatory messages. The representatives of the design consultant and construction companies explained the work process up to the completion of the “Office.”
Seicho-No-Ie thus took the first step toward building a new civilization from the “Office in the Forest.”