Seicho-No-Ie Toronto

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

I started commuting by bicycle when the long awaited spring came in May. We also planned to go cycling after the Sunday service on May 15^th at Taylor Creek Park. However, due to the cold weather, as if winter weather was back, we had to cancel. I also heard the news on the Internet that we cannot expect blooming of the cherry blossoms this year, which we usually are able to enjoy at the beginning of May at High Park.

In other news, about 90,000 people from Fort McMurray in Alberta were forced to evacuate and about 1,600 buildings were burned down by the wild fire which started at the beginning of May. I would like to express my sympathy to all the victims of the wild fire.

Recently, we have more extreme types of weather than before, and it is said that these extreme kinds of weather have been caused by global warming and this global warming has been caused by carbon dioxide which have been emitted though our daily living and activities. We also should know that our future depends on our small deeds every day and we could either choose to emit lots of carbon dioxide or not to do so.

Furthermore, the reason we change our diet more towards vegetable, fish and seafood is because if almost all human beings ate meat, destruction of the environment will worsen.

Therefore, whether we can save this mother earth or not, it depends on our way of living, whether we live the way of living for each individual’s satisfaction or for the sake of whole life.

Buddhism teaches us, “Don’t do anything evil. Practice all the good things.” 諸悪莫作、衆善奉行 [Shoaku Makusa, Shuzen Bugyo]”

Since this phenomenal world is governed by the law of cause and effect, if we continue to do good things, we accumulate good karma and we will receive good results. If we continue to do bad things, we accumulate bad karma and we will receive bad results.

As it is taught in the Divine Message of Soul Evolution, “To express the True Image of man, the child of God, in the phenomenal world is the purpose of life” as we know the Truth, “Man is a child of God” and to live as a child of God, we have to know the will of God and put into practice the will of God.

President of Seicho-No-Ie, Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi wrote in “Song in Praise of Bodhisattva Who Reflects the Sound of the World” as follows:

Human beings are branch spirits of God,
God’s messengers,
God’s self-realizations
To realize good upon the earth.
Therefore I say to you,
If you wish to do good,
You must know God’s will.
Do not lose sight of God
By clinging to your own positions.

…

Good is to practice the will of God,
And it is nothing other than that.
Therefore, Jesus Christ taught:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.”

(“Song in Praise of Bodhisattva Who Reflects the Sound of the World” pp. 22-24)

In other words, since the world created by God is perfect and harmonious and Man is created in His Image, the more we realize that the True Image is perfect and harmonious, the more we earnestly would like to manifest True Image world where human beings and nature are already in grand harmony on this earth. Then, how can we realize good in the True Image World in this phenomenal world?

In order for us to do that, it is good to use the power of words. In the Seven Promulgations of Light, it is written as “5. We believe that we, children of God, have infinite power and plenty within ourselves and can attain absolute freedom by following the creative way of words.”

In Seicho-No-Ie, this power of words consists of 1. Thoughts, 2. Spoken Word and 3. Facial Expression. (Please see “Truth of Life” vol1. P. 27) This is the same as the three karmas of actions, words, and thoughts in Buddhism. In order for us to purify the three karmas, it is important to put into practice the “Three Important Religious Practices (Shinsokan, reading the holy sutras and the songs of praise [Song in Praise of Nature, Song in Praise of the Bodhisattva Who Reflects the Sounds of the World], reading Seicho-No-Ie books and other publications, and carrying out deeds of love)” in our daily life.

Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi wrote ’Three Great Secrets to Help You Realize Your Divinity’ in his book “356 Golden Keys to Completely Free Life” as follows:

What is more important than anything else is to strengthen your awareness or realization that God, who is the source of infinite love, wisdom, life and power, is residing within you. Depending upon the extent to which you acquire this awareness you will be liberated from all worry, troubles, fears, sufferings, etc.

(“356 Golden Keys to Completely Free Life” p.160-161)

We are taught that in order for us to deepen this awareness, it is again important to put into practice the “Three Important Religious Practices.” In other words, by reading the book in which the Truth is written, we know the Truth. By practicing Shinsokan Meditation, the awareness as a child of God will be in the bottom of our heart or subconscious mind.  Since God is Love, by practicing love toward not only human beings but also towards all life and minerals on earth, we can surely manifest the world where nature and human beings are in grand harmony to this world. Thank you very much.

Yoshiharu Taka

Resident Ordained Minister in Canada

First of all, I would like to express my deepest condolences for the people who were killed in the Great Earthquakes in Kumamoto and Oita in Kyushu Island in Japan on April 14^th, and the Great Earthquake in Ecuador in South America on April 16th. I also would like to pray for the immediate recovery of their daily life and that their suffering will be removed shortly and I pray for the fast reconstruction of the disaster areas.

When April started, I was thinking that spring was just around the corner but we actually had some snow and had to cancel the first Cycling Activities in Toronto due to cold weather.

Later, I went to Vancouver to conduct the Regional Lecturers and Propagators Study Class, Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi’s 28^th year Memorial Service and Memorial Tablets Burning Ceremony. When I arrived at about 7 pm on April 7^th, it was more than 14 degrees Celsius and I felt it was hot. I realized how large Canada is.

However, now that it is in the middle of April, I can say spring has finally come in Toronto. When I walk outside, I was able see people who were honestly enjoying the coming of spring. I could say that it is because we are essentially one with nature.

This year too, coincide with Earth Day on April 22^nd, our Skype group decided to practice “Shinsokan to Visualize the Four Immeasurable Minds and Prayer World Peace”, read “Prayer to Visualize Grand Harmony Between Nature and Human Beings” and either “Song in Praise of Nature” or “Song in Praise of the Bodhisattva Who Reflects the Sounds of the World” during the Earth Day week from Monday, April 18^th to Friday April 22^nd.

I also made a commentary on “Prayer to Visualize Grand Harmony Between Nature and Human Beings” by reading each paragraph with participants during my Sunday Service Lecture on April 17^th at Toronto Centre.

Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, wrote in “Prayer to Visualize Grand Harmony Between Nature and Human Beings” as follows:

In the True Image of the world created by God, nature and human beings are always in harmony as one. Nature supports and sustains human beings, gives them ways in which to express themselves, and gives them joy. Human beings are grateful for this, love nature, nurture it, and make it abundant. There is no gap and no strife between them nor is there even distinction or difference between the two.

(“Song in Praise of Nature” p1)

In order to realize a harmonious world on this earth which has been already realized in the True Image World, it is important for us to practice the Three Important Religious Practices (Shinsokan, reading the holy sutras and the songs of praise [Song in Praise of Nature, Song in Praise of the Bodhisattva Who Reflects the Sounds of the World], reading Seicho-No-Ie books and other publications, and carry out deeds of love) in our daily life.

It is especially important to practice “Shinsokan to Visualize the Four Immeasurable Minds and Prayer World Peace”, read “Prayer to Visualize Grand Harmony Between Nature and Human Beings” and either “Song in Praise of Nature” or “Song in Praise of the Bodhisattva Who Reflects the Sounds of the World” and do deeds of love.

Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi wrote in “Prayer to Visualize Grand Harmony Between Nature and Human Beings” as follows:

A major earthquake is not the “wrath of God”; it is a “lesson from the Bodhisattva Who Reflects the Sounds of the World.” It is when we no longer have them that we realize just how many blessings nature has given us. We are being taught that no matter how many manmade structures, fields, harbors, roads, power lines, Internet systems we build, if we ignore and neglect nature’s exquisite and expansive structure and energy and make the foolish mistake of trampling it down and violating it, life in a civilized world will be destroyed instantly. The Bodhisattva Who Reflects the Sounds of the World, who is our true nature, is teaching us human beings, “Be more humble,” “Realize that you are a part of nature,” “Restore the you who is one with nature.”

(“Song in Praise of Nature” pp 8-9)

As it is written as “A major earthquake is not the ‘wrath of God’; it is a ‘lesson from the Bodhisattva Who Reflects the Sounds of the World,” we should “Realize that we are a part of nature,” “Restore the we who are one with nature” in our daily life.

Since April 24^th is the anniversary of Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi’s passing, we had Mrs. Teruko Tanicuhi’s 28^th Memorial Service not only in Japan but at the centres all over the world. Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi wrote article ‘Remembering the Beginning Days of Our Periodical’ in her book Mezame yuku Tamashii, “The Way to Spiritual Awakening” As follows.

At that time, we did not have a maid, not only my husband but I was also extremely busy every day. In addition to the task as an ordinary house wife such as cleaning the room, doing the laundry, cooking, needlework and shopping, I had to do all clerical work of the publication such as editing, distribution, correspondence and reception of the visitors. Whenever I think back, I cannot remember how I was able to manage it. However, in such a busy time, I grew grass and flowers as usual. Then my neighbors were glad to receive those flowers of which roots were divided.

(Mezame yuku Tamashii, “The Way to Spiritual Awakening” p68)

We can tell that Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi lived with the awareness of oneness with nature despite her busy schedule.

Then Mrs. Emiko Taniguchi introduced in her book Kokorono Tabiji “A Mind’s Journey” that Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi was taking great care of things by reminding her of the following words in the kitchen.

Things are not just things.

They are manifestation of God’s life.

Use Water sparingly

Use fire sparingly

Do not waste even a piece of vegetable –

Potato, carrot, burdock

Apologize if you crack the small saucer,

Remember to extend the life of all things,

Organic or inorganic

Everything are entrusted to us by God.

(Kokorono Tabiji “A Mind’s Journey” p208)

Mrs. Teruko Taniguchi lived her life by recognizing a matter is not simply a matter and to worship them as manifestation of God’s life and Buddha’s life and at same time she supported her husband, Rev. Masaharu Taniguhi, by living the teaching of Seicho-No-Ie in her daily life. If we also worship matters as manifestation of God’s life and Buddha’s life and without seeing them simply as a mass of things, we will be able to realize heaven on this earth. Thank you very much.

Shinsokan Meditation and Mindfulness

Yoshiharu Taka

I think many of you have welcomed the New Year with hope. Some of you made a New Year’s Resolution such as “I live a life of Sundial Way of Life” by seeing only bright side of people and things and never their dark side and write only those good things in Sundial Diary.

I myself made a New Year’s resolution, which is “study Seicho-No-Ie teaching more deeply.” So, I would like to study about Shinsokan Meditation with you this time.

Today I would like to discuss the difference between Shinsokan Meditation of Seicho-No-Ie and Mindfulness Meditation, which is now popular in the United States. Shinsokan Meditation is one of the important religious activities of Seicho-No-Ie.

On the other hand, Mindfulness Meditation is a style of meditation which was introduced by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Professor of Medicine Emeritus and creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi also mentioned this Mindfulness Meditation in his book “Taiyo was Itsumo Kagayaiteiru (Sun is always shining).” In this Mindfulness Meditation, religious elements were removed and participants do the meditation by concentrating their thoughts on breathing. In order to concentrate our thoughts, they use raisin. By putting a raisin in their mouths and tastes it carefully without chewing for a while.

This Mindfulness Meditation is widely accepted among the high-tech industry in the US as a method to relieve stress. Furthermore, this Mindfulness can be applied in our daily lives. For example, it is reported in Time Magazine that Mindfulness Dishwashing has an effect to reduce stress level. When you wash dishes after you eat meal, by concentrating our thoughts on washing dishes and by concentrating on smelling sauce, your stress level will be reduced.

On the other hand, Seicho-No-Ie’s Shinsokan Meditation, as the word Shinsokan consists of “God”, “Thought”, and “Visualize,” we concentrate our thoughts by repeating the word of prayer thoroughly and by using the power of the words. In other words, Shinsokan is the meditation with thoughts in our mind. On the other hand, Mindfulness Meditation has its background in Buddhism, but they concentrate their thoughts on breathing.

By the way, Founder Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi wrote about uniqueness of Shinsokan as follows:

In contrast, the Shinsokan (meditation to visualize God) is a form of meditation in which there is no effort to stop thought activity. Fully conscious of our thoughts, we focus our mind on our Parent­God, the Great Life Principle, and thereby return ourselves to the Great Life Principle and become one with our Parent­God. In this manner, we reach a calm undisturbed state of mind described by St. Kobo (founder of the Shingon Esoteric School of Buddhism) as being “in a state of Buddhahood just as we are.” We reach a state of spiritual attainment in which everything we do is “in accordance with the divine will,” to borrow from the Christian vocabulary. We reach a state of spiritual attainment in which our daily lives become “one with the way of the Gods,” to borrow a Shinto expression. In Shinsokan Meditation we do not necessarily object to thoughts. We recite the Invocation to invoke the Great Angel of Seicho­No­Ie, who guides us in our meditation, and thereby remove the risks of psychic disturbance (improper mental concentration) that might otherwise appear before we reach a state of complete concentration. At the same time, we direct our minds to our Parent­God, the Great Life Principle, and strive, without risk or danger, to unite ourselves with our Parent­God, the Grand True Existence. That is what makes the Shinsokan so unique.　(“Truth of Life” vol.8 p 12)

When we practice Shinokan Meditation, we can freely practice meditation under protection of Lord of Seicho-No-Ie. Therefore, as it is written ‘I practice Shinsokan at least once a day to enlighten myself!’ in “Seicho-No-Ie Article of Faith-Rules of Daily Conduct,” let us practice Shinsokan with joy.

Yoshiharu Taka, Chief, Seicho-No-Ie Toronto

Resident Ordained Minister in Canada

Web: www.snitoronto.ca Email: yoshiharu.taka@snitoronto.ca

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