It
has been a year since I moved to Canada. When I think of this year, I really
feel that time flies. Thanks to your support, I was able to fulfill my duty as
the Chief of the Toronto Missionary Area and Resident Ordained Minister in
Canada.
I
hope you understand that my article touches upon not only the story based on
the Truth, but also an updated report. That is because I had the chance to
write the article based on current events.
From
the end of August to the beginning of September, I was in Vancouver. I remember
that I took the same route last year from Japan. On August 30th,
2012, I came to Vancouver and then headed to Toronto on September 6th.
In
Vancouver, we had a second Japanese Truth Realization Seminar on September 7th,
2013. Since we did not have enough preparation time or enough promotion, we
only had six participants. However, we were able to include the “Let Us Clean
Our Mother Earth” event, which was originally planned for the following
weekend. Those who participated in the seminar were able to do the cleanup
around the Centre and the park next to the Centre.
Furthermore,
we had the Fall Memorial Services – one in Vancouver on September 8th
and another one in Toronto on September 15th. I talked about why
Seicho-No-Ie has no fixed form. Even though Seicho-No-Ie’s memorial service in
Japan follows the Shinto style, Shinto style is not the Seicho-No-Ie style. I
also talked about how, in other countries and regions, memorial services are
conducted based on the local culture. “The Fundamental Thinking on Ceremony in
Seicho-No-Ie” says that “The mental element of a ceremony is universal, but the
external element of ceremony is not universal.” Moreover, the meaning of a memorial
service is “Offer and Nurture.” Also, when we talk about offerings, there are
two elements: “Offering of Food or Material Things” and “Offering of the
Truth.”
I
am writing this article the day after the rummage sale on September 21st in
Toronto. At first, we canceled the rummage sale, which is usually held in June.
Then, we decided to hold it on September 21st instead. I rented a
van and visited six members’ places to pick up things for the sale. I also had
a chance to help the day before the actual sales date and rummage sale day. I
really appreciate Ms. Shiba’s planning and other members’ efforts; the sale was
very successful!
I
was really impressed that one couple who bought quite a few things told me that
they will send those items to family who live in their homeland of Guyana.
Also, because the prices of many items were so low, many people seemed to be
enjoying the sale and came to the Centre up to three times.
Because
of those experiences, I think the rummage sales are not merely fundraisers, but
an “Offering of Food or Material Things.” We also had a chance to distribute
the Truth of Life magazines and flyers for the November Truth Realization
Seminar and October and November violin concert. In that way, we were also able
to do a “Offering of the Truth.”
There
is a law that states, “Give, and it shall be given unto you." Luke 3:68 is
one of the Laws of Mind. You can also find similar words in the “Golden Rules”
in world religions. For example, in Christianity, “All things whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the
prophets.” (Matthew 7:1) In Confucianism, “Do not do to others what you would
not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against you, either in the
family or in the state.” (Analects 12:2) In Islam, “No one of you is a believer
until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.” (Sunnah)
Therefore,
once we throw away our egos and make offerings, God’s will appears. Since Self
and Other are essentially one, those offerings will eventually come back to us.
It is also similar to, “One good turn deserves another.”
At
the end of my article I want to share with you the importance of living God’s
will first. Rev. Seicho Taniguchi wrote as follows in “Shinsokan is Wonderful.”
"Everything
will go well for a person who is always shining with hope. However, should this hope stem from egotism or a selfish
desire, while it may materialize temporarily, it is not necessarily true that
one will become happy. Since this hope
is not in accord with the will of God,
it may even lead to an unhappy fate. Therefore, it would probably be better to
change the word "hope" to the words "will of God."
How
can we know the will of God? It is
best to ask Him. God already dwells within you as the true you, so it is not in the least difficult to ask God. If you
practice listening to God daily, you will be sure to hear Him.
This practice is Shinsokan. ("Shinsokan is Wonderful,” p. 3)
In this way, the True Image World Created by God is
already “Perfect and Harmonious.” The more we practice the Shinsokan and the
more we act according to God’s will, the sooner a harmonious world will surely
appear in this phenomenal world. Let us practice Shinsokan at least once a day
to listen to God’s will. Thank you very much.
September 22nd, 2013.
Yoshiharu
Taka
Chief
of Toronto Missionary Area
Resident
Ordained Minister in Canada
Youtube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/alohamahaloyoshi
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