Seicho-No-Ie Toronto

June 2024 

A Movement that Grows with Nature.” 

Seicho-No-Ie Toronto Centre  

662Victoria Park Avenue Toronto,  

Ontario M4C5H4 (416)690-8686 

info@snitoronto.ca 

www.snitoronto.ca 

Message for June from Rev. Yoshiharu Taka 

Chief, International Section, General Affairs Department,  

Seicho-No-Ie International Headquarters 

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Thank you very much for your continued dedication to the Seicho-No-Ie  Humanity Enlightenment Movement – International Peace by Faith Movement in  Canada. 

At the Seicho-No-Ie “Office in the Forest,” cuckoo calls and the sound of Ezo haru-zemi (one of the Japanese cicadas) can be heard from mid-May, signalling the  beginning of summer. They start planting vegetables when the cuckoo begins  singing because the office is located in Hokuto City, which has a cold climate. 

Effective May 31, 2024, Rev. Tetsuya Abe has been relieved of his duties as  Chief of the Seicho-No-Ie Toronto Missionary Area and Resident Ordained Minister  in Canada. He will be transferred to the Seicho-No-Ie Fuji Kawaguchiko Spiritual  Training Center effective June 1. 

Accordingly, the International Section of the General Affairs Department at  Seicho-No-Ie International Headquarters will oversee the Seicho-No-Ie Humanity  Enlightenment Movement – International Peace by Faith Movement in Canada until  a new Chief of the Toronto Missionary Area and Resident Ordained Minister in  Canada is appointed. It has been about six years since I left Canada in September  2018, and I am delighted to be able to work with you all again on the Humanity  Enlightenment Movement and the International Peace by Faith Movement in Canada. 

Although there is a distance and time difference between Canada and Japan,  thanks to internet technology, we would like to study the Truth and communicate  with you all daily through Zoom and emails. We also plan to travel several times a  year to meet with you in person. It may be inconvenient for some of you because  we do not have a Resident Ordained Minister in Canada, but we will keep in close  contact with you and continue to work on the movement through the full use of the  internet and other means. 

The 39th Year Memorial Service for the Holy Master Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi  will be held at the Seicho-No-Ie Main Temple on June 17. The ceremony will be  broadcast from the following website at 10:00 a.m. Japan time (June 17), 9:00  p.m. Toronto time (June 16), and 6:00 p.m. Vancouver time (June 16).

June 2024 

『谷口雅春大聖師三十九年祭』ライブ配信のご案内

In Canada, the same Memorial Service will be held on June 16 via Zoom at 1:00 p.m. Toronto time and 10:00 a.m. Vancouver time. On this occasion, let us  express our sincere gratitude to Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi, the founder of Seicho No-Ie, and recite the Holy Sutra, “Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines.” Thank you  very much. 

Message from Rev. Tetsuya Abe  

Former Chief of Seicho-No-Ie Toronto Missionary Area, Resident Ordained  Minister in Canada 

Dear friends, 

As the refreshing and uplifting summer approaches, I reflect on how blessed  I’ve been to learn, practice, and propagate the teachings with you in Canada over  the past five and a half years — from October 2018 onward. 

Effective May 31, I will be stepping down from my role as Chief of Seicho-No Ie Toronto Missionary Area and Resident Ordained Minister in Canada. From June  1st, I will be assigned to work at the Seicho-No-Ie Fuji Kawaguchiko Spiritual  Training Centre. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have worked with you. 

My time in Canada has been personally and professionally enriching. I’m  always impressed to witness the depth of your faith, centered on God’s will, through  Sunday Services, Study Classes, Net Forums, Leaders’ Workshop Seminars, One Day Truth Realization Seminars, and other online events. I especially enjoyed our  discussions on various topics offered by Seicho-No-Ie. 

I sincerely hope that you will continue to embrace your beautiful faith in God,  actively learn from the teachings offered by Rev. and Mrs. Masanobu Taniguchi,  President of Seicho-No-Ie, and wholeheartedly promote the movement based on  the policies set forth by the International Headquarters. 

I regret that I have faced health challenges since late last year, and I apologize  for any inconvenience this may have caused. Fortunately, Rev. Yoshiharu Taka, my  predecessor and Chief of International Section, General Affairs Department,  Seicho-No-Ie International Headquarters, will oversee and support our movement  in Canada from Japan. I believe Rev. Taka’s loving and considerate nature, along  with his deep understanding of our local situation, will undoubtedly help you  develop our movement in Canada. 

In closing, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your generosity, loving  thoughts, and unwavering commitment. May Seicho-No-Ie Canada thrive for good  and all. 

Thank you very much!

Message from Julie Skuffham  

AH! It is planting time! One of my favourite times of the year! I look at the  garden and see so much potential amongst what may be considered weeds. I have just returned from a vacation in my hometown of Tiverton, Ontario.  There is always much to do on the farm! My younger brother now owns the farm  and rents out the land so there is less work regarding the harvest but still plenty  to do to maintain the property and buildings. Even though I was busy, work was  very enjoyable. As always happens, when I am away, I miss my home in Toronto  and the day after I come back, I miss being on the farm! 

When I was at the farm, my brother and I were working on redesigning a  rock wall that was always a focal point of the front lawn. The rock wall was  meticulously built but was crumbling from many years of harsh weather and  strong winds from Lake Huron. My mom was an avid gardener, but Rob, not so  much so. To make it easier for him and still look good we disassembled the rock  wall and built a slope, reusing all the limestone rocks mom and dad gathered  from the lake all those years ago, and filled between with gravel (my knees and  shoulders still ache at the thought of all that work!). When we were levelling the  gravel, I was redoing it repeatedly, to make it look perfect. Rob, noticing that I  was making much more work for myself than necessary, commented ”Julie, you  can do that for 10 years and still not have it perfect! When are you going to learn  to be a GOOD-ENOUGHIST?” We laughed until tears streamed down our cheeks! 

Everyone driving in the lane said it looked fantastic even before we finished! Many years ago my father coined that phrase. He often said” Some people  are perfectionists, but you must learn when to say enough is enough, this is as  good as I can do, and become a GOOD ENOUGHIST! This doesn’t mean you don’t  try your best. Perfection is a judgement call!” 

When you look at nature, each leaf on a tree, each feather on a bird, each  rock on the path is not the same as the next, yet they are all perfectly as created  by God! Flowers do not complain ”My petals are not Perfect!”, so why do we as  humans? 

In the phenomenal world we may see things as imperfect. But in the True  Image world, nature and humans ARE perfect. So next time you rush to make a  judgement, pause, and see the True Image of people and things. Thank you! 

 Thank you, Rev. Abe! 

 

Thank you, Rev. Abe! 

For more than 5 years you have been  our Minister, our teacher, and our  guide! Many times, you led us by the  example of how you led your own  life! We are  forever grateful for your love and  friendship! GOOD LUCK in your new assignment. From the SNI Toronto Executive Committee

SEICHO-NO-IE TORONTO IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE: WE NOW  HAVE E-TRANSFER. CHEQUES ARE STILL ACCEPTED! DONATION  AND PAYING FEES IS NOW EASIER.  

WHEN SENDING CHEQUES PLEASE PAY TO: 

SEICHO-NO-IE CANADA 

Please use the e-transfer address info@snitoronto.ca and in the notes  section, explain what the donation is for e.g. General donation or HMF  membership 

Blessed are the Holy Mission Fellowship (HMF) Members As you know, we became members of SNI when to contribute to the Holy Mission Fellowship. The Seicho-No-Ie Holy Mission Fellowship is a way to support the Seicho-No-Ie Humanity Enlightenment Movement, International Peace by Faith Movement, and the Movement that grows with Nature. 

If payment is by cheque, please pay to SEICHO-NO-IE CANADA  

MEMBERSHIP 

TITHING MEMBERSHIP $60 One Time Yearly Donation or $5 Per Month Donation SPECIAL TITHING MEMBERSHIP $600 One Time Yearly Donation or $50 Per Month Donation 

NAME______________________________TELEPHONE#____________________ E- MAIL:________________________ADDRESS: __________________________ 

LUMP SUM OF $ _________/YEAR OR MONTHLY $ _________/MONTH 

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June 2024 

THE NEWSLETTER ALWAYS WELCOMES CONTRIBUTIONS! If you have a comment, contribution, or ideas to assist in the production  

of this, please do not hesitate to contact me at 

ribbinkj@gmail.com

June 2024 CALENDAR 

All services for the month are held on-line only. 

Sunday June 2	10:30 AM	Online Sunday Service	Speaker: Jennet Cox
Thursday June 6	10:30 AM	Ceremony to Bless the  Holy Missioners	Leader: Julie Skuffham
Sunday June 9	10:30 AM	Online Ancestral  Memorial	Lecture: Jennet Cox Officiant: Shizuko Malouf
Saturday June 15	11:00 AM	Jennet’s Online Home meeting	Leader: Jennet Cox
Sunday  June 16	1:00 PM	Reverend Masaharu  Taniguchi’s Memorial	Shared with Vancouver
Sunday  June 23	10:30 AM	Online Sunday Service Reading circle	Leader: Julie Skuffham
Sunday  June 30	10:30 AM	Online Sunday Service	Speaker:  Shizuko Malouf

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May 3 to 5, 2019

DISCOVER YOUR TRUE SELF at this wonderful Seminar.

Where you will find ways to improve your life, learn how to bring out your infinite potential, and become spiritually enlightened.

Spend a rewarding three-day weekend at this seminar at Seicho-No-Ie Toronto Missionary Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Tickets at :
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/urban-international-spiritual-training-seminar-tickets-60142213981

More information by phone number: 416-690-8686 or e-mail: info@snitoronto.ca

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/jazz-vespers-jacqueline-teh-vocal-alexa-belgrave-piano-tickets-44922131304?aff=eivtefrnd

*From September Issue of SNI Toronto Newsletter by Rev. Yoshiharu Taka

Until several days ago, it had been sunny and hot in Toronto. The plants around the Centre had been limp because of the heat, but, because of the rain after those sunny days, they seemed to have recovered. I, myself, feel better with the lower temperature.

At the end of July, I stayed in Japan for a week to attend the “Seicho-No-Ie Special Conference for World Peace”, which was held at the Seicho-No-Ie International Headquarters. I came back to Toronto with one of the worst jet lags I have ever had.

However, as I remembered the words of encouragement by the President of Seicho-No-Ie Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, “We suffer from jet lags because we are a part of nature,” I was able to appreciate the time difference and accepted it as it was.

The theme of the Special Conference for World Peace this year was “Attitude Towards the Destruction of Nature and Action Being Taken by the World’s Major Religions” It took three days. On the first day, being divided into groups, we went into the forest surrounding “The Office in the Forest”, and did training to feel oneness with nature. We learned that “The Sense of Wonder” is important.  One of the books by Rachel Carson is titled so, and the words can be explained as ‘the sense to see spirituality and wonders.”

On the second and third day, we looked at how Muslims in Indonesia are working on environment problems, and how Christians and Buddhists have behaved and done about the issues. We then learned that many religions changed interpretations of their scriptures in order to resolve the environment issues.

One thing that was significant to me was a phrase by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, “God, nature and people are essentially one,” which he said as the summary of the whole event.

It means that God, nature and people are already one in True Image World. In order to bring about the unity of that one thing “God, nature and people” to the phenomena world, it is important to unite our actions with our beliefs.

So, how should we act and behave every day to do that? The Founder of Seicho-No-Ie Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi wrote the following passage in “365 Golden Keys to the Summit of Fulfillment.”

 

Be Sure to Make Some Contribution Every Day

The fact that you are alive is proof that you are supposed to make a contribution of some kind to God, society, as well as the rest of mankind. To reserve this theory, it means that as long as you live, you must contribute somehow to the welfare of God, society and mankind.

When engaged in your work, if you hold such a mental attitude of service to God, society and mankind, and if you think to yourself, “I am grateful to Thee, God, for letting me do this job,” it will not fatigue you as much. Moreover, you can harvest absence of fulfillment which makes you even healthier both physically and mentally. In fact, man, as a child of God that infinite capacity flows. Therefore, lack of ability only indicates that your realization and conviction of man’s true nature as being one with God are weak. Consequently, whatever you do is a fruit attempt to accomplish things with the power of your own little self.

(“365 Golden Keys to the Summit of Fulfillment” p 182)

 

In this way, when we do something, we should not think that we could do everything on our own. We should do it by deepening the feeling of oneness with God by practicing Shisnsokan meditation, by deepening the oneness with all human beings by practicing “deeds God love.”

By doing these, whatever we do enlighten things around us, enlighten the humanity and therefore we can surely realize World of Grand Harmony of “God, Nature and Human Being” on this earth. Thank you very much.

*From August Issue of SNI Toronto Newsletter by Rev. Yoshiharu Taka

In July, I had two big changes occur to me at about the same time. On July 9^th, my wife and my daughter returned to Japan for good. On July 16^th, I moved to an apartment in Toronto with my son.

This is my 4^th year in Canada, but I have never expected my family would experience two moves at once. Moving itself is not easy. However, I myself learned something new every day through the move and the change of the environment.

We experience many changes in our lives. Every time we face change, we grow spiritually. That is because, there is true existence called True Image beyond the Phenomena which changes.

We are taught that Man is a child of God and has infinite power, but if we live a life without any change, we get used to that way of living and our spiritual growth will stop. Then, we will not be able to manifest our infinite power which exists within.

If we change the living environment, we will notice the nature is diverse. By looking at the nature we can feel how wonderful the True Image World, created by God which exists beyond the appearance, truly is.

Founder of Seicho-No-Ie Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi wrote in his book “365 Golden Keys To The Summit of Fulfillment” as follows:

 

Changes Occur Where There Is Life

… Unless there is living life, changes will not take place. Things like bronze statues, dried food and skeletons do not undergo much change because they no longer have a living life. Changes are the media through which the infinite is being expressed. That is why eternal Life vibrates to make itself felt in man’s intuition in every aspect of life, even when it is seemingly undergoing vain, meaningless changes. In the “ever-changing” is the unchanging; a flashing moment holds eternity. To live “NOW” is to live “eternity” at the same time. If you call this to mind constantly in your daily life, i.e., bearing in mind, the reason for changes, every second of your life will take on a greater meaning and will find itself blessed.

 

(365 Golden Keys To The Summit of Fulfillment” pp156-157)

 

 

The phenomenal world which stems from our five senses is the 4^th dimensional world which consists of space and time. Therefore, we cannot express our infinite power at one moment. Through the change we will  be eager to express our infinite power. The more we know about the Truth, the more effort we will put in to express our infinite power by repeatedly practicing and challenging new things.

 

How Blessed Physical Changes!

As this world is ephemeral and ever-changing, the key to change the physical aspects into better or worse rests in your hands. If this were not a world of constant changes, it would be so uninteresting:

Japan would not provide a variety of beauty for us. to enjoy the way it does as the four seasons change and roll into spring, summer, autumn and winter nor could we experience the joys of nature at various stages in our lives-joy of growing into childhood from infancy, of developing the vigor, liveliness and activeness of youth, of forming a family in harmony and happiness and of embracing grandchildren in later years.

With the breaking of dawn, the sun rises in the eastern sky, and at dusk it sets in the west and casts golden hues on the sea. Oh, how glorious! How marvelous and beautiful change is! …

(365 Golden Keys To The Summit of Fulfillment” pp157-158)

 

Man Knows Only Progress and Development

Pitiful are those who, unable to regard changes as joy, deplore the decline of today compared with a flourishing yesterday. Foolish are those who carry over the troubles of yesterday into today and repeatedly feel the same sensation of pain and worry. Just as plants undergo changes with spring, summer, autumn and winter, so life sees spring, summer, autumn and winter. Just as in winter, when they appear not to be growing much, trees create finer and better wood, increasing· denser rings; so can man cultivate a· sound character coupled with infallible will power through adversities. Those who worry in anticipation of what changes may take place in the future, are people who are ignorant of the intention and mercy of God, who has created this world as an art of, changes. There is no question that the future has something richer and more prosperous in store for us.

(365 Golden Keys To The Summit of Fulfillment” pp158-159)

 

In this way, by knowing the Truth, we stop worrying and fearing change. Rather we will enjoy the change and we will live life with gratitude. Then our wave length will match with the wave length of God, we will be able to freely express ourselves as a master of life. Thank you very much.

*This is a piece from July Issue of Seicho-No-Ie Toronto Newsletter, written by Rev. Yoshiharu Taka

In June, we had our founder Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi’s 31^st Memorial Service. We were able to express our gratitude through this memorial service. In Vancouver, we had a Japanese Truth Realization Seminar for the first time in about six months. The theme of the Seminar was “Joy and Gratitude.”

This month I would like to study with you about the wonderfulness of Shinokan Meditation. Rev. Seicho Taniguchi wrote in his book “Shinsokan is Wonderful” as follows:

 

Everything goes well for a person who is always shining with hope. However, should this hope stem from egoism or 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 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” p3)

 

In this way, by practicing Shinsokan Meditation, we can surely listen to the voice of God. The founder Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi once told us that practicing Shinsokan is practice to see True Image. Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi told us that we can see the True Image world without knowing it. He used an analogy of traveling to Osaka from Tokyo. Even if a person has never been to Osaka, as long as the person buys the train ticket to Osaka and gets on the train, they can surely be able to reach Osaka. Therefore, all we need to do is practice Shinsokan. By practicing it, you can reach the True Image. You don’t have to know what it is from the beginning.

So, practicing Shisokan is the same. In order for us to listen to the voice of God, it is important to practice Shinsokan. By practicing it you will be able to gradually listen to the voice of God and see the True Image World.

I think many of you have been to New York. I have been to New York many times. There is a famous music hall there, called Carnegie Hall. Have you ever been to Carnegie Hall? I have only seen it from the outside.

There is a famous joke about Carnegie Hall that I want to share with you. There were tourists who were looking for Carnegie Hall. They asked a violinist near Carnegie Hall. “How do I get to Carnegie Hall?” The violinist simply replied, “practice.”

We can also say the same thing about getting to the True Image World. In order for us to get to the perfect and harmonious True Image world, we should practice Shinsokan. Practicing Shinsokan every day will surely lead us to the True Image World. Practicing it once is not enough. Rev. Seicho Taniguchi wrote in his book “Shinsokan is wonderful” as follows:

 

God’s world and this world.
Let us now practice Shinsokan. In Japanese the word “Shinsokan consists of Chinese characters for God, to think deeply and to see. In other words, Shinsokan means steadily to think deeply about and see in one’s mind a perfect harmonious world created by God.

Where is it? It is already here. As a matter of fact, everywhere is God’s world. Everywhere is perfect and harmonious. It is just that we cannot see that perfection with our physical eyes. This is because God’s perfect and harmonious world is so very perfect that even the combined efforts of man’s five senses – seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching are unable to capture it fully. This can be captured with a photographic beautiful sense. No matter how we may try to scan photograph, it will be only one aspect of it. We are unable to capture fully the richness of its colors. Our photograph is then as an infinite perfect presentation of original sense.

(“Shinsokan is wonderful” p33)

 

We as a child of God are already living in God’s perfect world that hasn’t appeared in this phenomenal world yet. When you turn on your TV, you see famous movie actors and actresses, but people on TV do not really exist in the TV set, but they are far away, maybe in the TV station or some movie studio.

We as a child of God have a physical body, but we’re not really in our physical body. We as a child of God are living in the True Image world, just like how actors and actress are not in a TV set but in a TV station.

However, if we see things through our five senses, we can only see the outside from our physical body. That is why, we first declare in Shinsokan, “I now leave the world of five senses and enter the world of God. This is as is the world of God” and we deny our five senses. Let us practice Shinsokan every day with a bright and cheerful mind and with gratitude. Thank you very much.