Manila Center Articles
 
The following are articles that have appeared in SHUMEI Magazine concern Shumei’s activities in the Philippines.

FROM SHUMEI MAGAZINE VOL: 198 , FEBRUARY 1997
Good-Bye
Neil Fukui

  Five years ago, I came to Los Angeles as one of the Seagulls. At that time we attended the Ground-Breaking Ceremony at the Pasadena Center. I prayed that I would be given the chance to come to America, and to see the New Center. Last year my dream came true while I was doing volunteer work (hoshi) on the stage. It was a dream come true.[Neil received word of his selection to come to America while doing volunteer work.]
Eugene Sensei [ Eugene Imai is the Director of Shinji Shumeikai of America] said that now the Seagulls’ goal is not to focus on new membership. He said our purpose was to learn how to act as “citizens of the world”, and to develop genuine hearts of understanding and love. However, it was difficult for me to understand why, and what this really means. For the past eight years, I have worked for new membership and the growth of Shinji Shumeikai in Japan. I didn’t know the way of thinking of people, and the system of society in America.
So, I did as I had learned in Japan. I began knocking on people’s doors, trying to give Jyorei to as many people as possible. If someone received Jyorei, I tried to give them Jyorei everyday and I invited the person to the Center as soon as possible. I wrote to Hashimoto Sensei in Tokyo every week wishing to be able to report the good news of new membership day by day. I was able to give Jyorei to many people, and invite them to the Center. One of them had undergone a stroke, after which his memory was seriously impaired. He couldn’t remember things that he did, even on the same day. As he received Jyorei, his power of memory got better and better. As I had learned in Japan, I encouraged him to receive Jyorei everyday in order to receive the most Light. A lady was very interested in Jyorei, and made a commitment to come to the Center for the scheduled Jyorei celebrations every day for a week, but she couldn’t make it. I tried to give them Jyorei every day. It seemed that the more I encouraged people to receive, the more they tried to stay away from me. My English was not good enough to really communicate, and they kept saying they were busy. Later, I found out that they were really bothered (or offended) by my attitude. Eugene Sensei said that for me the study of English was as important as the giving of Jyorei because without understanding people’s feelings, I was just pushing (imposing my will) the way I did in Japan.
I started going to school to study English. I stopped pushing, and began to just offer the opportunity of receiving Jyorei. If a person wished to receive, I gave sincerely from my heart. And, only if they wished, I returned to give them Jyorei again. My purpose in meeting people now is not to invite them to the Center, but just to experience them, to share with one another about our lives, and be friends. Through this change, I established wonderful relationships with five families in Eagle Rock and Pasadena.
Before, when I met people I was always thinking how to invite them to the Center. There was always an unmentioned wish (hidden agenda) of new membership behind my words and the action of praying for others’ happiness. Now my heart is open. Through my new friendships, my English also has improved a lot. Through these past six months’ experiences, I understand the people in America better.
I have made a commitment to go to the Philippines, and to stay there if people need me to support them to learn Meishusama’s philosophy and to receive Jyorei. I’m very grateful to God and Meishusama, and to people whom I’ve met in America, for my experiences in the past six months. Now I know the importance of not only my own faith, but learning and understanding the culture, customs and people of a country.
On the 19th of January, I’m leaving for the Philippines. Thank you, Meishusama. Thank you, Kaishusama, Mikotosama, Kaicho-Sensei and Hashimoto Sensei. I have never dreamt of such things happening in my life. Thank you all, Shinji Shumeikai of America Family members and friends. I hope to see you at Grand Sampai [the annual International Jyorei Celebration] in Misono.