2013/08/15

Seicho-No-Ie Toronto August Newsletter

"A Movement that Grows With Nature"
   SEICHO-NO-IE
Toronto Newsletter
Seicho-No-Ie Toronto                               August  2013
662 Victoria Park Avenue Toronto, Ontario M4C 5H4
Tel: (416) 690-8686
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE
Date

Event
Place
Time
Lecturer
Aug.4
Sun
Centre Close
Toronto Centre


Aug 10
Sat
Lecturers/Propagators Study (Japanese)
Toronto Centre
1:00-3:00 PM
Rev. Taka
Aug 11
Sun
True Image Chanting
Toronto Centre
10:00 AM
Rev. Taka
Aug 11
Sun
Ancestors Memorial Service
Toronto Centre
10:30 AM

Rev. Taka
Aug 11
Sun
Japanese Service
Toronto Centre
1:00-3:00 PM
Rev. Taka
Aug 17

Sat
Japanese One day Seminar
Toronto Centre
10:30-3:00PM
Rev. Taka
Aug 18
Sun
Sutra Reading
Toronto Centre
10:00 AM

Aug 18
Sun
Sunday Service
Toronto Centre
10:30 AM
Rev. Taka
Aug 18
Sun
Lecturers/Propagators Study (English)  
Toronto Centre
1:00 -3:00 PM
Rev. Taka
Aug 25
Sun
Sutra Reading
Toronto Centre
10:00AM

Aug 25
Sun
Sunday Service  
Toronto Centre
10:30 AM
Rev. Taka
Aug 25
Sun
Centre clean up
Toronto Centre
1:00 -2:00 PM

Sept 1
Sun
Sutra Reading  
Toronto Centre
10:00 AM

Sept 1
Sun
Sunday Service
Toronto Centre
10:30 AM
10:45 AM
TBA
Skype (Rev. Taka)
Sept 8
Sun
Sutra Reading
Toronto Centre
10:00 AM

Sept 8
Sun
Sunday Service
Toronto Centre
10:30 AM
10:45 AM
TBA
Skype (Rev. Taka)
Sept 14
Sat
Lecturers/Propagators Study (Japanese)
Toronto Centre
1:00-3:00 PM
Rev. Taka
Sept 15
Sun
True Image Chanting  
Toronto Centre
10:00 AM
Rev. Taka
Sept 15
Sun
Fall Memorial Service
Toronto Centre
10:30 AM
Rev. Taka
Sept 15
Sun
Japanese Service  
Toronto Centre
1:00-3:00 PM
Rev. Taka
Sept 21
Sat
Rummage Sale
Toronto Centre


Sept 22
Sun
Sutra Reading
Toronto Centre
10:00 AM

Sept 22
Sun
Sunday Service  
Toronto Centre
10:30 AM
Rev. Taka
Sept 22
Sun
Lecturers/Propagators Study (English)  
Toronto Centre
1:00 -3:00 PM
Rev. Taka
Sept 29
Sun
Sutra Reading
Toronto Centre
10:00AM

Sept 29
Sun
Sunday Service  
Toronto Centre
10:30 AM
10:45 AM
TBA
Skype (Rev. Taka)
Sept 29
Sun
Centre clean up   
Toronto Centre
1:00 -2:00 PM





Let us develop our infinite potential as a Child of God.

I've started writing this Newsletter article in the airplane from Toronto to Narita on July 9. I knew I would be busy because I had not only the opportunity to participate in the Special Conference for World Peace in the "Office in the Forest" but also to interpret from Japanese to English and vice versa in the Special Conference. However even though I was able to write 70 % of the article on my way to Japan, I am still writing this article one day before the deadline on July 22 to include the article about the Special Conference.
In the last month's newsletter, I commented that I had missed the airplane, but this time, writing this one, I did not miss the airplane. However, on my way to the Toronto Pearson Airport from my house, an unusual thing happened. That happened when I was taking the subway by TTC (Toronto Transit Commission). I was told to take the shuttle bus from Jane Station to Kipling Station because there was a power outage in that area. Then when I was heading to Kipling Station, I saw that the traffic signal was off due to power outage. Also, after I passed the Islington Station, I saw the road blocked due to the flood.
           Because of this it took 20 to 30 minutes more than usual to arrive at the airport, but since I left an hour earlier than usual, I luckily had enough time to buy some souvenirs and eat some snacks. According the CBC News on July 9 on their website, "126  millimeters of rain fell on the city in just two hours last night. The downpour was more than the amount of precipitation Toronto would get in an average July."
           Another unusual thing was the high temperature in Japan, about 32 to 33 degree Celsius, so hot as if I have no place to escape, even though summer just started there.
           On the other hand, there I visited my mother's house in Hiroshima and SNI Office in the Forest in Yamanashi. The weather was nice and cool because they are both located in the mountain area and surrounded by nature.
           Especially, since the "Office in the Forest" is located in the height of 1300 m above the sea level, it was much cooler than the city area, and I felt comfortable since it is surrounded by nature.
           The reason of this abnormal weather is obvious; it comes from the global warming through the increase of the CO2 caused by human activities.
The SNI International Headquarter moved to the foot of the Mt. Yatsugatake of Hokuto-shi, Yamanashi from Harajuku in Tokyo. In the Special Conference this year we studied the significance of this moving of the Headquarter in nature with the study of the theme "Cities and Nature in Religion."
The lectures of the Special Conferences were given by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, president of Seicho-No-Ie, and Mrs. Junko Taniguchi, president of Seicho-No-Ie White Dove Association, along with five ordained(or assistant ordained) ministers of Seicho-No-Ie.
As written earlier, I was in charge of a part of the interpreter duties from Japanese to English and vice versa during the Special Conference. I performed simultaneous interpretation of Rev. Tatsuro Oshima's talk on "City and Nature in Religion - learning from a Buddhism (In Japan)". Because I had Japanese and English manuscript beforehand I did not think that it was so difficult. However, I realized later that, in fact, that idea was a mistake.
Rev. Oshima talked about 'Eiheiji' and 'Sojiji', which are both the main temples of the 'Soto' sect, as examples of the Japanese Buddhism.
'Eiheiji' is located in a natural setting hedged in on three sides by mountains in Fukui Prefecture, whereas 'Sojiji' is in the city of Tsurumi in Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa.
Dogen built 'Eiheiji' in an area surrounded by nature. But one of his disciple, who wanted to focus more on the propagation of the teaching to ordinary people, built another temple, 'Sojiji,' and later moved it to the city to respond to the need of the time about 100 years ago.
In an opposite way, Seicho-No-Ie moved its headquarters from the city to the forest by responding the current needs.
I noticed that different abilities are required from a simultaneous interpreter compared to the ones from an English speaking lecturer. The simultaneous interpreter must speak it in the other language timely and hear the lecturer well, whereas the lecturer only needs to focus on its own language since he speaks by using his own words.
           It will be almost a year since I came to Canada, and I have learned a lot during this period. I was able to fulfill this duty because of your support with warm and kind consideration. Therefore, I feel the need to enhance my ability more and more.
           To end this month's newsletter, I'd like to share a story about the 'Key to Success or Failure in Business' written by Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi in the "365 Golden Keys to The Summit of Fulfillment" as follows:

Whether the business succeeds or fails depends upon the person engaged in the work. Then, what is "person?""Person" or "man" is not someone who should be limited by finite ability, for man is as a child of God and embodies the infinite within himself. Then success or failure of a business depends upon how much one can draw from his drawer of the infinite, both in terms of quality and quantity. He who draws out a lot will enjoy great success, whereas he who draws out only a little will have only minor success.
The way the majority of the companies are organized, the employees have no way of completely utilizing even one tenth of their innate talent or ability in their work. They function almost mechanically following the directions of their superiors, so they do not have opportunities to be creative. It is only when opportunities and responsibilities are provided that one can fully bring out his ability.
                      ("365 Golden Keys to The Summit of Fulfillment" pp. 237-238)

In this way, the person, who has the "Key to Success or Failure in our Humanity Enlightenment Movement-International Peace by Faith Movement, is each one of us. Therefore, let us develop our infinite potential which we already have.
Thank you very much.

July 22nd, 2013

Yoshiharu Taka
Chief of Toronto Missionary Area
Resident Ordained Minister in Canada

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LECTURERS AND PROPAGATORS STUDY (ENGLISH)
The schedule for August and September Lecturers and Propagators study in English is as follows:

August 18th  (3rd  Sunday) 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
September 22nd (4th  Sunday) 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Lecturers and Propagators study in English will change according to Rev. Taka's schedule.  Please refer to the newsletter for the exact dates.

CENTRE CLOSED (SUNDAY, AUGUST 4TH )
There will be no Sunday service on August 4 as the Centre will be closed.

JAPANESE ONE-DAY TRUTH REALIZATION SEMINAR
(SATURDAY, AUGUST 17TH  )
On the third Saturday of the month, on August 17th, there will be a second One-Day Truth Realization Seminar in Japanese. This time we will conduct Ancestors Memorial Service, Mind Purification Ceremony and Reading of the new Sutra "Song in Praise of Nature."   Time: 10:30 am to 3:50 pm       Fee: $5.00 includes lunch..

15TH  ANNIVERSARY OF THE CENTRE (SUNDAY, AUGUST 25TH  )
A celebration honouring the 15th anniversary of the Centre will be held Sunday, August 25th.    

CENTRE CLEAN UP(SUNDAY, AUGUST  25TH  )
Centre cleanup will held afternoon of a celebration of 15th anniversary.    

FALL MEMORIAL SERVICE (SEPTEMBER 15TH  )
Due to Rev. Taka's schedule.  Fall Memorial Service will be held on 3rd week of Sunday.

SEPTEMBER JAPANESE SUNDAY SERVICE (SEPTEMBER 15TH)_
Japanese Sunday service also will be held on third week of Sunday.  October will be held regular 2nd week of Sunday.  

RUMMAGE SALE (SEPTEMBER 21st  )
Although the annual rummage sale is usually held in June, this year it will be held in September. Details will be announced in the September newsletter.

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FOOD BANK DONATION CONTINUES
As food banks are in need of food throughout the year, the committee has decided to continue supporting the food bank drive.
A donation box is located downstairs in the multi-purpose room. Please place your donations in the box.

COLLECTION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE
The centre has been collecting batteries to bring to the recycling centre.  We are now expanding our list (see below) of accepted hazardous waste to make sure it goes to the recycle centre and not the landfill. Participate to improve our environment.  Collection box is located downstairs.
Accepted hazardous waste:
Batteries (include rechargeable), fluorescent lights, light bulbs, cell phones, printer toner cartridges, small electrical appliances (can be carried by hand).