Message for the Month by Rev. Tetsuya Abe

Dear Spiritual Brothers & Sisters in Vancouver,

I trust everyone is leading a healthy and productive life while enjoying beautiful nature that surrounds us at this season.

Our Founder, Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi often introduced the following allegory from “Lotus Sutra,” which is said to be the essence of the Buddhist Scriptures. Here is the story:

When a rich man was about to leave his house on business, he met an old friend of his in front of the door. The friend looked like an emaciated beggar. His face was dirty and grimy. The old friend told the rich man that he was starved to death because he didn’t eat anything for 10 days. He had also been unable to find a place to work. The rich man was very sorry for him, and therefore, changed his schedule, invited the friend to his house and treated him with lots of delicious meals and drinks. Because it was his first meal in 10 days, the friend was soon drunk and fell as “in the arms of Morpheus” or soundly asleep. When the rich man needed to go out, he tried to nudge the friend awake up, without success. So, the man put a diamond into a small bag inside the poor guy’s jacket. The diamond was worth several million dollars and by selling it his friend could buy a house and lead a luxurious life. A month later, the man once again, met the old friend who was still homeless. He said to him, how come you were still homeless despite the valuable diamond I presented to you? The friend replied that he was unaware that he had such a precious gift!

This implies that even if we have priceless treasure, it is meaningless or tantamount to nothing unless we recognize it. In the same way, even if we are children of God and have infinite power within ourselves, it will not manifest until we recognize it.

When I visited Vancouver in the end of May, some members kindly took me to a Chinese restaurant for lunch. The restaurant is located a short walk from my apartment; however, I’ve never dined there because of its appearance. I once suffered food poisoning from Chinese food when I stayed in Hawaii a decade ago. The dishes at this restaurant were, in fact, very delicious and safe and the price is also good! While I didn’t recognize the value of the restaurant, it was equivalent to “nothing” to me.

With the advancement of technology, the world has been proceeding in the direction of “automation” where people do not have to make efforts. I don’t mean to deny the value of “automation.” It is truly effective for elderly or disabled people, for example. However, if everything is done by robots, the indwelling child-of-God-true-nature will not appear, which is a waste of a valuable asset.

I avoided drawing for a long time because I got a bad grade in an art class when I was a middle school student. However, Seicho-No-Ie now places a high value on drawing from the religious perspective, I was put in a situation where I cannot help but draw a picture as an ordained minister. I found how joyful drawing is! If I kept avoiding of it, I would not be able to savor the joy of drawing in my lifetime.

No matter how troublesome, let us walk or ride a bike when possible. By doing so, you will be able to relish the changes of the seasons, enjoy a conversation with lilies, dandelions, and other flowers and grasses that bloom, and relieve your mind with the chirping of birds.

As a practice of the Sundial Way of life, let us fully use of our five senses. Enjoy this beautiful summer season. Realizing that all lives are vivid and vigorous. Let us deepen our sense of gratitude that we are sustained by everything in the universe.

July 2019 - Schedule

Message for the Month by Rev. Tetsuya Abe Resident (Ordained Minister in Canada)

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.”.

June-2019 Schedule