Dear Spiritual
Brothers & Sisters in Vancouver,
From May 3rd (Fri.)
to 5th (Sun.), the 67th International Spiritual Training Seminar (ISTS) was
held at SNI Toronto Center. Since it is the first time for an ISTS to be held
at this Center, our leaders and members in Toronto were really looking forward
to this event. They strived to invite as many people as possible to the event.
A total of 21 people including all the ministers and staff members from Hawaii,
LA, and Toronto attended.
Thanks to the
generosity of International Headquarters and the International Spiritual
Training Center (ISTC), this ISTS was planned and the aim was to support our
propagational activities in Canada. I’m so grateful to all the ISTC staff
members who generously engaged in all the meal orders, preparation, and cleanup
so all the attendees could concentrate on learning and practicing the SNI
teachings at this seminar. The weekend was filled with love, joy, and
enthusiasm. All the participants deepen our awareness that we are sustained by
God, our ancestors, and the Grand Nature. We all made resolutions to practice
and propagate the low-carbon lifestyle as a practice of the awareness of
“oneness of God and oneself,” “I am nature,” and “nature is I.”
However, we were
faced with an unexpected accident just before the ISTS. Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara, the Chairperson of
ISTC and the Bishop of the U.S. Missionary Headquarters broke her collarbone
and could not come to Toronto. I was very shocked and filled with anxiety by
this at first, however, the teaching “pinch is a chance” came to my mind. Then,
I trusted Rev. Bruce Mallery, National Ordained Minister, all the ISTC staff,
and our leaders. I wholeheartedly tried to do my best in the roles given to me.
Although Rev.
Teshigawara could not come, she provided the opening and closing prayers via
the Internet and sent her loving thoughts throughout the seminar. After her
closing prayer at the end of the day, there was huge, lengthy applause. It was
a very moving and fantastic last moment.
Dear members who
didn’t make it this time, please join us next time. As soon as the next ISTS
schedule is decided, write it on your calendar and let’s make up your mind to
attend!
May 12th (Sun.) was
Mother’s Day. Did you extend your sense of gratitude to your mom? June 16th is
Father’s Day. Please make sure to say “Thank you” to your dad.
On June 17th, it
will be 34 years since our Founder Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi ascended to the high
spiritual world, in 1985. We are going to hold his memorial service both in
Toronto and Vancouver in this month. With a sense of gratitude, let us practice
these three religious’ practices, such as Shinsokan, Holy Sutra and Song in Praise
and SNI books reading, and Deeds of love, on a daily basis. Strive to lead a
low-carbon life as a practice of the sundial way and promote the “Movement that
Grows with Nature.”.
