September 2009

(Monday 30, September)-Last weekend we had our Public Lecture and Leaders'
Workshop. I gave two lectures at our LW and one lecture at the PL. The title of one of my
LW lectures was "The Religious Significance of Dealing with Global Environmental
Problems and the Importance of the Internet in Helping Us to Do So." I will share the first
half of this lecture with you:

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The title of this session has 2 themes: 1) The religious significance of dealing with global
environmental problems and 2) The importance of the Internet in helping us to expand our
movement.

I haven't recently heard any questions from Seicho-No-Ie members regarding why SNI which is a
religious organization is dealing with global environmental problems. This means that I believe
the importance of SNI contributing to the global environment has infiltrated into our members.
However, some members may find it difficult to clearly explain why we need this to those who
have questions. Therefore, today is a good chance to explain it again to you; then, I hope you will
be able to clearly explain to others.

Eighty years ago, Seicho-No-Ie began its mission to bring about world peace and the happiness
of humankind. When we think about happiness, in many ways we realize our happiness is greatly
influenced by nature and the environment. Seicho-No-Ie teaching is that by changing the way of
our thinking and perceptions, we can freely change our environment and destinies. SNI teaches
that we are the masters of our lives; therefore, by using the power of the imagination and the
power of the word, we can change our environment and destinies in any way that we like.

This is because our imagination and words - thoughts, spoken words and expressions - all create
our everyday lives. For example, you are attending this Leaders Workshop because you wanted to
come, or you were invited, but in the end, the final decision to attend this workshop was
ultimately yours. And you came. In other words, your mind decides your future. You are the
leaders of SNI; therefore, you are familiar with these ideas.

This morning I discussed about "Learning from the Natural World View of Native People." I
would like to remind you of what we learned this morning, which is that "The Native Americans
saw themselves as one with nature. Nature is a larger whole of which humankind is only a part.
People stand within the natural world, not separate from it; and are dependent on it, not
dominant over it. All living things are one, and people are joined with birds and trees, predators
and prey, rocks and rain in a vast powerful, interrelationship."

One of the most important movement policies of Seicho-No-Ie is to advocate and perform the
preservation of nature. As I have said, our happiness is greatly influenced by our nature and
environment. When we discuss this matter from the material view point, there are many facts
that environmental burden and unfair development and distributions of resources have created a
shortage of food and consequently caused starvation in particular in the developing countries
and the starvation is only a consequence of the environmental problem. According to the United
Nations World Food Programme (WFP), there are almost 1.02 billion undernourished people in
the world today. That means one in nearly 7 people do not get enough food to be healthy and are
suffering starvation. Hunger and malnutrition are in fact the number one risk to the health
worldwide. In the world nearly 25,000 people lose their lives daily because of starvation and
related diseases. Within this number 14,000 people are children under 5 years old. To calculate it
into seconds, every 6 seconds a child loses his or her life because of starvation.

Among the key causes of hunger are natural disasters, conflict, poverty, poor agricultural
infrastructure and over-exploitation of the environment. Recently, financial and economic crises
have pushed more people into hunger. However, do we really lack in our food? Next is a more
precise, graphic explanation for one cause of food shortage. In order to pursue our beef
consumption, many grains are used to raise cows. For one kilogram of beef, eight kilograms of
feed grain is needed. Americans alone eat more than fifty billion hamburgers a year, which
requires that more than five thousand cows are made into meat in an hour.

Do you think we really need these hamburgers in the U.S.? No, I don't think so. In fact we waste a
lot of food although we know some people are dying by starvation. In the UK they throw away 6.7
million tons of food every year, roughly a third of everything they buy. In their report, Stockholm
International Water Institute (SIWI) states that "'...chousehold alone, in the US alone, throw away
US$48.3 billion worth of food each year.' (Jones, 2006). According to a recent article in the New
York Times, an average family of four persons in the US, throws away 112 pounds of food per
month (Martin, 2008)." (Ibid. p. 24-25)

By learning these researches, we think something is wrong with people in the U.S. and must act
immediately. These researches were done by not SNI but by someone else, and through our
common sense as human beings we think we have to stop and change this situation. Then, what
is the difference in activities between these environmental activists or scholars and SNI? SNI
movement stems from not only by our common sense but also our strong belief in God. We care
about our environment because in reality this world is all connected as one. In other words, God
is all of everything. Seicho-No-Ie Founder, Masaharu Taniguchi wrote: "God is the source of
everything; therefore, 'He observes everything as He is.'" (Truth of Life, Vol. 13, p. 71) Founder
Masaharu Taniguchi explained in this volume that the real meaning of "God is love" comes from
the feeling of oneness. God recognizes everything as He himself. From this idea the essential
teaching of Seicho-No-Ie, in other words, "Be grateful to everyone and everything in the
universe" appeared.

We try to just not only protect our environment because of our common sense or consequence of
the current situation of the suffering in the world, but also to deal with environmental problems
because of our feeling of oneness of everything in the universe through our awareness of the child
of God who observes everything as He is. When we can clearly understand this, we cannot waste
anything, even a piece of paper, but use it by worshiping its life as a manifestation of God's life.
We observe everything as an incarnation of Buddha and a manifestation of God's life. And we feel
awful that in every 6 seconds a child is dying because of starvation and that trees and animals
which are brothers and sisters of our life are wastefully killed by our own egotistic desires. This is
a problem of our minds. This is a problem of human minds on how they observe matter and the
world. This is a very important thing, so I will quote from Truth of Life Vol. 28 and explain it:

"In 'Seicho-No-Ie Economics' it is stated that 'Since matter is infinitely supplied, the more we use
it, the more it multiplies itself.' Some people may think that it is good to use a piece of paper to
write only a few words and throw it away wastefully into a trash can since 'matter multiplies itself
when we use it more' and that this also might stimulate the circulation of our economy. However,
it is false. In reality a piece of paper will multiply itself when it is being used more often; but to
tear and throw it away doesn't mean to use it. We cannot but recognize and worship the life of
God, infinite light of God, and infinite love of God behind a piece of paper. We cannot but use it
by worshiping it. In the past sometimes people misunderstood an idea of 'mottainai (note: It
means that something is too precious to use it.)' and didn't actually use it and stored it in the
drawer. They said, 'Mottainai, mottainai. It is too precious to eat. It is too precious to wear.'
Saying this they placed it on the shelf or stored it in the drawer, but this is not good. God's life
never decreases by using it. It is very precious; therefore, by utilizing the preciousness which is a
manifestation of God's life fully, it will increase itself more and more. Instead of throwing away
by tearing a piece of paper because of infinite supply, we use it as a manifestation of God's life
depending on different purposes. Then, the more we use it, the clearer the life of God appears.
That is the infinite supply. Therefore, the more we use it, the more supply increases and
consequently it increases itself. 'Matter does not exist' doesn't mean that there is nothing there.
Everything is Buddha's incarnation and a manifestation of the life power of God. Behind it there
is not matter but True Image exists. If you misunderstand this truth, it will be a greave mistake."
(Truth of Life Vol. 28, p. 6-7)

Human beings have mistakenly misunderstood and treated matter as a physical existence and
forgotten a precious life which is a manifestation of God's life. In Seicho-No-Ie movement we
reestablish this precious thought in human beings, protect our nature for everyone and every
being on this earth, and change this world environment by changing minds of human beings. We
care not only for ourselves and current environment but also future generations and their
environment. It is because we know that current generations and future generations are also one
in God. All human beings are children of God and one in God. Human beings and Mother Nature
are one in God. Current generations and future generations are one in God. We want to convey
the future generations of this religious awareness of the child of God who observes everything as
He is. (The second half is omitted.)

(Saturday12, September)-
Love Is the Greatest Investment
          "Those in management should not be looked upon with fear by their
subordinates, nor should they be ridiculed or held in contempt. Their weapon
should be spiritual virtues good enough to win respect from their subordinates.
Not only that, indispensable to them is love, deep enough to attract their
affection and loyalty.
          Should a subordinate make a mistake or get into trouble, his manager
should have enough understanding to forgive him instead of reprimanding, and
sympathize with and help him overcome the difficulty. A genuine feeling of
sympathy, which comes from the depth of his heart based on love brings the
subordinate closer to his manager and intensifies the sense of oneness. It also
helps build a strong and close spiritual tie between the two. There is simply no
greater investment for a business enterprise than winning a deep sense of love
and loyalty from the workers. Love, indeed, is the greatest investment there is
for improving a business."
                         (From 365 Golden Keys To The Summit Of Fulfillment)

          Love is one of the most important senses for human beings. As Dr.
Taniguchi said, "Love is the greatest investment there is for improving a
business." Love is as important in every home, school and society as in business.
When you give your sincere love, that love will change anyone who faces you.
You can give your sincere love everywhere; however, you need courage to give it.
          When I was a front reception clerk in the hotel where I worked in
Shinjuku, Tokyo, I witnessed that one of the new bellboys was often bullied like
it happened in elementary school. But I did not know the story before and after
these incidents and the cause of this bullying. So, I did not take any action. At a
staff party before a Christmas season, this boy drank too much and behaved
violently because of his accumulated stress and anger. He left the party place
which was in the middle of the potentially dangerous amusement quarter,
named Kabukicho. Everyone did not want to take care of him because he was so
violent, so I chased him. He kicked and hit street signs and displays of bars and
stores on the street. He was so stressful that he kicked with all his might one of
the show windows of a bar and broke a window.
          Both of us were soon grabbed by several young men who were very scary
like members of yakuza. We were in the office of that bar and there were at least
10 people surrounding us. One of the persons who looked like a boss of the
group or manager of that bar gave the boy who had broken the window an
estimate of the repair. My memory was fuzzy but this manager asked this boy for
at least about three or four thousand dollars. A strong pressure surrounded us
and we could not do anything but just be afraid.
          What I did was that I gave my business card and apologized to the
manager sincerely. I also promised him that the boy would take care of this
matter sincerely in order to release ourselves from that situation. In a few days,
the parents of this bellboy took care of the monetary compensation. A few weeks
later, I was invited and thanked by his family. Before, this boy did not open his
mind but just accumulated his anger within him. I was grateful to God to have
this opportunity because I always wanted to change the situation of this childish
bullying; however, he was in a different section and he was not my direct
supervision. I did not have courage to say something. A wise person would say to
stand up for what he thinks is right, even if he is standing alone. I didn't stand
up and didn't want to do what I thought was right. However, the chance had
come. Because of this incident I was able to encourage him a lot. He was grateful
to me and in less than a year, he found another job and left the hotel happily.
I think sincere love will change a person's life.
          The feeling of love for your business staff is the greatest investment.
Although you have a potential power to increase business chances, by your own
power you may not be able to achieve a great result. With God you can do great
things. However, the power to have successful business achievement comes from
God through not only you but also your employees and many other people who
help you and bring many opportunities. To bring out the power to be successful,
you need love because love is the power to connect you with others. Love is,
indeed, the power to attract many business occasions. Your love for your
business and employees is the power to draw other people's love in business.
          Therefore, we have to learn praise others and forgive them. Even if your
employee has made a mistake, Dr. Taniguchi said, "rebuking him with sarcasm,
anger or contempt cannot retrieve or restore what had happened." Everyone
knows one's mistakes. He does not have to be reminded by someone. In that
occasion, if he heard how stupid he was, those words would not be able to help
him at all. Instead, he would increase his anger to a person who blamed him.
Everyone makes a mistake. We have been forgiven for our own mistakes.

          At the last weekend of August, I went to Northern California to officiate
at a wedding. I was busy but my daughters helped me to practice my job. Almost
every night for a week before the wedding my oldest daughter and sometimes
two daughters helped my pronunciation and my two daughters also helped me
practice as they pretended to be a bride and a groom. The wedding was beautiful
and the couple was very happy. Brian, the groom, recently wrote to me:

"Hi Reverend Kawakami,
Thanks again for traveling to our wedding! We are so happy with how everything
turned out, and we're happy to be in Spain right now for our honeymoon! I'm
glad to hear that your family had a good time at our wedding, they were all very
nice and we were honored to have them there. And I know it meant a lot to my
mother to have you perform the ceremony for us as well. Thanks again, hope to
see you soon!"

          This mail told that how wonderful the wedding was. However, many
times the first time doesn't go well. That is the truth. Almost 6 or 7 years ago, in
August, there was a wedding ceremony at the church in Northern California and
it was my first experience as an officiant although I had attended several
weddings in the past. At the wedding rehearsal, the Best Man asked me about
the timing for when he would exit at the end of the ceremony. I answered that
the Best Man and the Maid of Honor would walk down the aisle followed by the
minister after the newly wedded couple walked down the aisle. In other words, it
is after the procession of the newly wedded couple. However, at the wedding the
next day this was my first performance and I was extremely nervous so that
I walked down the aisle when the new couple walked down. While walking down
the aisle, I realized what I was doing wrong. I looked back and the Best Man and
the Maid of Honor were freezed. I could not stop there nor do it again from the
altar. So, when I reached the entrance, I turned back and beckoned to them to
come. They were puzzled but moved in a hurry.
          Then, attendees of the ceremony asked them why they did not hold
hands and walk down the aisle together. The Best Man said, "This was different.
There was no rehearsal of our procession." That was true and I had a mistake.
I concentrated on practicing the wedding vows with the couple. Anyway, the
wedding ceremony itself was done quite well, and everyone was happy.
          In order not to fail at the first wedding ceremony, we all practiced and
rehearsed a lot. No one will be perfect the first time. This couple probably
wanted to have a perfect wedding because usually we don't have many weddings.
This was my first officiating ceremony; however, I think it was done pretty well.
In your life, too, you have experienced some failures and it is still acceptable
because it is the first experience for you in your life. I am, Mario Kawakami,
experiencing my life for the very first time. I haven't experienced my Mario's life
in my previous life. Your life is also the first experience for you under your
current name.
          The important thing is how quickly you stand up from your failure. If
you do not recognize that you have stumbled, you will not be able to stand up. It
is okay to stumble because it is your first experience. If the damage of a mistake
or failure was so bad that no one would forgive you, God always forgives you and
gives you the second chance. It is because God is love. All you have to do is to
perform this God's love to yourself and others so that you can forgive yourself as
well as others. Then, you are able to focus on yourself to stand up from your
failure.
          Actually there is no failure from the viewpoint of God's life. All the
experiences that you have had make your spirit grow. My scary experience of the
surrounding yakuza or walking down the aisle at the first wedding by mistake
gave me a great chance to improve myself. In order to recover from mistakes,
God's love is by no means indispensable. God's love does not come to you
automatically. Those who practice His love are able to have and perform His love.
Love is not only the greatest investment for your business but also the greatest
opportunity to create harmony in your home as well as your school, your firm,
and your community. Let us decide that this month is the month to perform
God's love. Thank you very much.