Happy Science offers membership for those interested in studying Ryuho Okawa’s teachings to advance further in their personal growth and to become part of an active community working together to practice sharing happiness with others.
All Happy Science members aim to study the spiritual Truth from Ryuho Okawa's teachings and practice exploring their minds each day. This practice is called: the Exploration of the Right Mind. Also, members practice the Fourfold Path of Love, Wisdom, Self-reflection and Progress. This is the modern path to improving ourselves, discovering true happiness and bringing positive changes in our life. Through these efforts, members can receive the right guidance based on wisdom that leads to the deepening of their spirituality. Happy Science is open to anyone who has an aspiration to learn, attain happiness and to share that happiness with others.
There are many members who, before they discovered Happy Science, suffered from severe life difficulties such as illness, depression, bankruptcy or relationship problems. However, once they began to study and put into practice these teachings of Truth, to reflect on their life and gain wisdom from their insights, they could guide their lives toward a more positive direction. Members become experts in life through understanding the true meaning of existence: one founded on the path to genuine happiness.
If you would like to apply for membership, please click on the SIGN UP FOR MEMBERSHIP button below.
You will receive the Welcome Pack (includes the Welcome Booklet, ePrayer Book and registration to our Words of Wisdom eNewsletter).
Online membership donation is $10.
(a one-time Happiness Planting* donation of $10 is to be paid online at the time of registration. If you would like to donate a greater contribution to our organization, that is also welcome.) You can also join us as a member by visiting your nearest Happy Science. (For advanced seekers of Truth, you can also join as a Devotee Member at your nearest Happy Science.)
Happy Science is an organization that aims to cultivate people’s souls, and deepen their love and wisdom through learning and practicing in the teachings (the Truth) taught by Master Ryuho Okawa. Members study the teachings through books, lectures and seminars that impart spiritual knowledge about life and the world. They also practice meditation and self-reflection on a daily basis, based on the Truth they have learned. In this way, members deepen their understanding toward life, enrich their character and improve their leadership qualities. As a result, they are empowered to contribute to the development of the world.
All Happy Science members have faith in El Cantare, the supreme God whose mission is to bring happiness to all humanity. The teachings of El Cantare go beyond differences of all religions, all nations and all races, Happy Science is a religion that unites and is open to everyone. Happy Science welcomes all people who want to improve themselves through the Exploration of the Right Mind and daily practice of The Fourfold Path of Love, Wisdom, Self-Reflection and Progress. Through improving ourselves, we are able to bring positive changes to our families, society and the world. In other words, contributing toward creating utopia on Earth.
To join Happy Science is a precious moment in everyone’s life. A ceremony will be held in accordance to the type of membership you choose – a member or a devotee member. Please contact us at your nearest local branch, local temple or missionary center for further information.
Depending on how deep your soul feels connected to the Truth, you can join us as a member or as a devotee to the Three Treasures: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Members receive The True Words Spoken By Buddha, which contains the basic Happy Science sutra, and other two sutra, the translation from the Japanese, “Prayer to the Lord” and “Prayer to Guardian and Guiding Spirits.” If you are interested in becoming a member, please visit your nearest local branch, local temple or missionary center, where you will be able to apply for membership. A short ceremony will be held to welcome you as a precious member of our happy family.
In addition, in December 2019, with the great mercy of Master Ryuho Okawa, we received a new sutra, The True Words Spoken By Buddha, which is an English sutra, directly given from Master Ryuho Okawa. The sutra directly given in English from Master Himself when recited, has miraculous spiritual power. This explanation lecture, “Lecture on ‘The True Words Spoken By Buddha'” is available to watch at Happy Science Temples around the world.
*All Happy Science prayers hold great spiritual power as they come from the highest realms of Heaven, and are directly inspired by such consciousness as El Cantare, Shakyamuni Buddha, Hermes and Jesus Christ.
All new members will receive The True Words Spoken By Buddha, the English sutra directly given by Master Ryuho Okawa and Prayer to the Lord and Prayer to Guardian and Guiding Spirits, the translation from the Japanese sutra. The True Words Spoken By Buddha is now the main fundamental sutra.
These sutras contain the core teachings of Happy Science, and extensive explanations of these sutras can be found in the number of books by Master Ryuho Okawa.
The True Words Spoken By Buddha and the other six prayers are all inspired by Shakyamuni Buddha’s consciousness. Therefore these sutras have the power to purify our minds through the light of Buddha. This prayer has 10,000 times more power than the Lotus Sutra or the Heart Sutra of Buddhism.
“Prayer to the Lord” is a prayer to express our gratitude to Lord El Cantare for giving us power, wisdom, love and light. It is a prayer for nurturing happiness not only for ourselves, but also of others.
“Prayer to Guardian and Guiding Spirits” helps us to connect with our guardian spirit – the part of our own consciousness (subconscious) residing in the Spirit World. Through this prayer, we offer gratitude to our brother or sister soul for guiding and protecting us from the world beyond this one.
*The prayers, “The True Words Spoken By Buddha,” and translation from the Japanese, “Prayer to the Lord,” and “Prayer to Guardian and Guiding Spirits” are included in the prayer book for the members.
*For existing members, please contact us or visit your nearest local branch, local temple or missionary center for more information.
Those who want to pledge devotion to The Three Treasures: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, will receive The True Words Spoken By Buddha and the full translated version of Bussetsu Shoshinhogo, two powerful books of prayer: Prayer Book I and II (translated version), and Prayer to El Cantare (translated version). If you are interested in becoming a devotee member, please visit your nearest local branch, local temple or missionary center, where you will be able to apply for membership.
The following four prayer books are able to receive by the Devotee members.
Bussetsu Shoshinhogo is the fundamental sutra book consisting of six translated sutras that express the basic teaching of Happy Science. The six sutras are “Words of Aspiration for Enlightenment; The Pledge of Discipline,” “Words of Wisdom; Buddha’s Enlightenment,” “Words of Awakening, Step-by-Step Teaching,” “Words of Emancipation; Buddha’s Teaching: The Eightfold Path,” “Words of Infinity; Buddha’s Teaching: The Missionary Work Sutra,” “Words of Justice; Buddha’s Teaching: The Devil-Quelling Sutra.”
This prayer book consists of eight prayers translated from the Japanese, such as the “Prayer for Recovery from Illness” and the “Prayer for Exorcising Evil Spirits,” which include ritual practices.
This prayer book consists of ten prayers translated from the Japanese that will help you realize concrete wishes such as wealth, harmony at home or academic success.
This prayer book translated from Japanese is for the believers of Happy Science, to make pledges to live to contribute for the happiness of many people.
If you wish to become a member, you can contact your nearest local branch, local temple or missionary center.
Happy Science is a non-profit organization, so our main source of funding comes from the donations offered by our members and by the people who sympathize with our ideals. There are no membership fees, and donations are made voluntarily as an expression of their faith and gratitude to Lord El Cantare. People who make these donations understand the value of the Truth, and want to help spread the truth across the world.
Offering is an expression of faith and gratitude to the Lord, and it is also an opportunity to practice “love that gives.” The important thing is to have a pure heart when making the donation, not expecting anything in return. Making an offering contributes to the development of our souls and is regarded as a part of spiritual discipline. It is a practice of letting go of our attachments, being selfless, and being in a state of light-heartedness and freedom. To give up a part of what we have for the future happiness of others is highly valued from the heavenly world, as it is the beginning of boundless merit. We call this form of offering, “Happiness Planting.”
You can also offer by making time to volunteer in activities at Happy Science. Everyone has special talents and skills, and using them toward spreading the Truth is a wonderful thing and brings greater happiness to society.
Members who gain wisdom through the experience of practicing our teachings can volunteer as “Doctors of the Soul,” to help those who find themselves in the midst of suffering and anxiety. People who have time and a place enough for it, can offer to hold meetings, meditation or study sessions until a temple of light can be built in a particular area convenient for some members.
Financial support plays an important part as we live in a material world under an economic system.
Donations can be made at your nearest local branch and temple, and missionary center, and does not require membership.
We deliver you quotes that offer hints in life called “Today's Words of Wisdom,” taken from Master Okawa’s books. These are available in 11 different languages. You do not have to be a member to receive our daily newsletter, and they are delivered free. It will enable you to get a glimpse our teachings. There are many people who felt uplifted and were able to regain their hope for the future through reading the “Today's Words of Wisdom” in our newsletter.
You will receive a gift of words every morning that will help lighten up your day!
‘Happiness Planting’ is an expression of making an offering in the form of a donation.
Happy Science is a non-profit organization and we are able to continue our activities from the donations offered by our members and supporters of our ideals. At Happy Science, making a Happiness Planting offering is an expression of gratitude, and it is also an opportunity to practice “love that gives” which is one of the principles of happiness. The important thing is to have a pure heart when making the donation, not expecting anything in return. Also, offering is an expression of faith and gratitude to the Lord El Cantare.
(You can also make a Happiness Planting offering by supporting activities of Happy Science with your time as a volunteer, your talents and experience, and even space to conduct events.)
Lord El Cantare is the focal point of faith for Happy Science members. He is the supreme being who has been watching over humankind since the beginning and has the mission to guide humanity to happiness and to create a Utopia in this world. El Cantare means 'the beautiful land of light, Earth.'
If you would like to learn more, please contact us or visit your nearest Happy Science.