Happy Science Teachings
There are three main points in Master Ryuho Okawa’s teachings: “love,” “enlightenment” and “the creation of utopia.” These concepts are global and enormous in scale, as it integrates various faiths and values that exist in the world today.
Until today, Master Ryuho Okawa has given over 3,400 spiritual messages and lectures – mainly on the basis of “love,” “enlightenment” and “the creation of utopia” – on various topics such as the religious Truth, life, work, management, history, ideals as a nation, the Spirit World, space, politics, economics and much more. Most of the spiritual messages and lectures are published as books and this collection now includes more than book titles.
Additionally, Master Ryuho Okawa has released a number of spiritual messages in the recent years. Spiritual messages enable spiritual beings and guardian spirits to voice their own thoughts through Master Ryuho Okawa’s vocal chords. These spiritual messages reveal the inner thoughts of both the Japanese and the foreign dignitaries, historical religious leaders, and the like.
In order to bring true happiness to people in all nations and all of mankind, Master Ryuho Okawa continues to communicate his teachings to us every day.
The Basic Teachings
Here, we will introduce a part of Master Ryuho Okawa’s teachings in detail. From the early days of Happy Science, Master Ryuho Okawa has been teaching us to practice the basic teachings of the “Exploration of the Right Mind” and “the Fourfold Path,” namely: LOVE, WISDOM, SELF-REFLECTION and PROGRESS. “The fourfold path” is also known as “the Principles of Happiness.” It is the fundamental teaching of Happy Science, which all members repeatedly study and practice.
The Fourfold Path
The Fourfold Path, known as “The Principles of Happiness” – is a teaching unique to Happy Science. It is a set of guideposts in exploration of the Right Mind and achieving true happiness – the kind of happiness that extends from this material world to the next one, the Spirit World. The Principles of Happiness are the four methods of freeing ourselves from worldly worries and distress, and at the same time, a modern path to enlightenment that is accessible to each and every person. The Fourfold Path consists of four interrelated principles: the Principle of Love, the Principle of Wisdom, the Principle of Self-Reflection and the Principle of Progress.
Love
The Principle of Love teaches people to love others. While this teaching of love is connected to the Christian idea of “love thy neighbor,” it is also equivalent to the philosophy of compassion that runs through the heart of Buddhism. The Principle of Love states that true love is “love that gives,” and that giving love without any expectations or conditions is the starting point of happiness. It is selfless love, detached from personal desires. Real love is based on the understanding that we all have the same divine nature – we are, in essence, one.
Wisdom
The Principle of Wisdom focuses on the importance of studying the Truth – a teaching that provides us the opportunity to know the mind of God and Buddha, and to grasp the true meaning of life. This principle emphasizes the importance of gaining intellectual knowledge, which (through practice and experience) turns into wisdom. Wisdom helps us to cut through our worries and life’s problems, to know right from wrong, and to guide others onto the right path.
Self-Reflection
The Principle of Self-Reflection emphasizes the importance of correcting improper thoughts and returning our minds to a clean state – a state in which we can discover our divine nature. Self-reflection taught at Happy Science is the Noble Eightfold Path restructured to suit modern society. Beginners, though, can approach self-reflection as a reflection on their morality. We all make mistakes, and we have been blessed with the freedom to do so. This is allowed because we have the ability to correct these mistakes. We can’t turn back the clocks of time and repair a broken vase, but things that occur within the mind can be undone. If you regret having done something wrong and reflect deeply upon the deed in your mind, then the sin will be wiped from your past. This is the spiritual discipline of removing the stains and tarnishes that obscure the mind, and attuning it to the higher realms of Heaven. By practicing self-reflection, we can increase our awareness, polish our divine nature, and protect ourselves from negative spiritual influences or possessions.
Progress
The Principle of Progress focuses on success or happiness through positive action and development. Progress is the attitude needed to develop not only prosperity, but also happiness that spread to others. It means to make continuous efforts, use the given time wisely, and discover something new each day. Ultimately, it means to strive to become a better person and create an utopia – an ideal society – on earth.
The Exploration of the Right Mind
Practicing “the Four Principles of Happiness” (also known as the modern “Fourfold Path”) is called “The Exploration of the Right Mind.” Begin with any principle that appeals to you or that you think you need to work on the most. From there, you will experience an upward spiral of spiritual growth.
Basic Teachings of Happy Science
Besides the “Exploration of the Right Mind” and “the Fourfold Path,” there are a number of unique teachings imparted by Master Ryuho Okawa, which are indicative of the diversity and the universality of how Happy Science views the world.
Divine Nature – All Human Beings are Children of God and Buddha
It is taught that the light and the nature of God and Buddha – Lord El Cantare – dwell in every human being. No matter what nationality or race, we are all brothers and sisters coming from the one. Each of us is a child of God and Buddha, and so each of us is a precious existence responsible for attaining happiness.
The Spirit of Self-Help – Life is a Workbook of Problems
Master Ryuho Okawa teaches that life is a workbook of problems. If we understand that we reincarnate into this world to train our souls, the spirit of self-help becomes vitally important. As the saying goes, “God helps those who help themselves,” the heavenly world reaches out to those who make the effort.
Having a Spiritual View of Life – Eternal Life and Reincarnation
Having a spiritual view of life is based on the teaching that despite the spirit world or the other world being invisible to our physical eyes, it still exists. Our true nature is the spirit and soul living an eternal life, sharing the same source of Light – God and Buddha – and is reincarnated countless times in various countries for soul training and for the creation of utopia.
The Theory of the Developmental Stages of Love – Integrating the Concept of Love with Enlightenment
There are four stages in love. Each stage is a milestone in our soul training, and it corresponds to the levels of our enlightenment. For example, “Fundamental love” is a neighborly love, or love towards family members. “Spiritually nurturing love” is the love for leaders. “Forgiving love” is a religious love that transcends the judgment of good and evil. “Love incarnate” is the love that emanates from prominent figures in history.
Plan of God and Buddha – The Secrets of the Created of Civilizations
Human history has been woven according to God and Buddha’s plan, by spiritual leaders such as Shakyamuni Buddha, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Confucius and many others. They are built by the work of countless Bodhisattvas and Angels sent from Heaven. In addition to unveiling the secrets of the past civilizations, Master Ryuho Okawa also reveals the truth about the creation of the universe, the beginning of the spirit group of Earth and of the creation of humanity.
The Multidimensional Spirit World – Dimensions According to the Levels of Enlightenment
The other world is structured in layers of dimensions according to the thoughts and levels of enlightenment we have achieved while living in this world. The higher the dimension, the closer it is to the realm in which Buddha and God dwell. The dimensions are – the fourth dimension: Post Humous Realm; the fifth dimension: The Realm of the Good; the sixth dimension: The Realm of Light; the seventh dimension: The Bodhisattva Realm; the eighth dimension: The Tathagata Realm and the ninth dimension: The Cosmic Realm, where saviors such as Shakyamuni Buddha and Jesus Christ exist.