Kōfuku no Kagaku

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Kōfuku-no-Kagaku (幸福の科学), also called The Institute for Research in Human Happiness (IRH), is a Japanese Shinshūkyō (new religious movement) founded in October of 1986, which claims over 10 million believers worldwide. In February of 2008, Kofuku-no-Kagaku was renamed, and will from now on be called "Happy Science." Kōfuku-no-Kagaku considers itself an "advanced religion" based on Buddhist teachings taught by president & founder Ryūhō Ōkawa. It has become one of the most influential religious organizations in Japan.

Ōkawa was born at 7:07am on July 7, 1956, in Japan. After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, he joined a Tokyo-based trading house. While working at its New York headquarters (located in the World Trade Center), he studied international finance at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Believers state that Ryuho Ōkawa attained Great Enlightenment on March 23, 1981 and renounced his business career in the 1980s after being awakened to the hidden part of his consciousness, El Cantare, Eternal Buddha. El Cantare is also known as 'Elohim,' the Supreme God in the Old Testament, and the Mahavairocana Buddha of Mahayana Buddhism.

According to Ōkawa, he then received revelations from various angels and consequently realized that his true mission in life was the salvation of all of humanity. He holds regular lectures and has written over 400 books, [10 of which have sold more than a million copies each. Ōkawa has also produced successful feature-length films (including animations) based on his works.][1] Kōfuku-no-Kagaku adherents have faith in Lord El Cantare, Eternal Buddha, who guides humanity throughout eternity. In the past, the consciousness of El Cantare was incarnated as Shakyamuni Buddha Guatama Siddhartha in India, and as Hermes in Greece. They believe that his core consciousness has descended on earth as Master Ryuho Okawa and that he preaches the truth.

Contents

[edit] Teachings

The basic teachings of Kagaku are "Exploration of the Right Mind" and "Principles of Happiness." The latter consists of modern Fourfold Path (Love, Wisdom, Self-Reflection, and Progress).

The following explanations are from the website of Kofuku-no-Kagaku:

[edit] Love

The principle of love is the teaching of “love that gives,” giving love to others. This is similar to “loving your neighbor,” taught in Christianity, but essentially it is the teaching of compassion that runs through the center of Buddhism.

[edit] Wisdom

The principle of wisdom indicates the importance of learning the truth. In learning, it is important first to acquire knowledge of the truth, then through accumulating actual practices and experiences, transform it into wisdom that is as precious as a diamond.

[edit] Self-reflection

The principle of self-reflection is the teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path that is restructured in a form that is understandable for modern people. It is important to get rid of any mental impurities, and restore the state of mind that attunes to the heavenly world while on earth.

[edit] Progress

The principle of progress implies the main feature of Mahayana Buddhism; it is also the revival of Hermes' teachings of development and prosperity. It teaches not only the ways to achieve the happiness of a peaceful mind, but it also teaches ways to a positive happiness gained through experiencing success, as well as the path to the creation of a utopia on earth.

[edit] Predictions of the future

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According to Ōkawa, within the next 100 years the United Nations will collapse and there will be war in the Middle East. Japan will become a religious center just as Mecca and Jerusalem are now. In 2050 the Angel Gabriel will be re-incarnated in Bangkok.

From the years 2100-2200 one in ten people will visit outer space. During this time mankind will also attempt to construct space stations. We will also have a device that can connect us to the spiritual world so that we no longer have to rely on spirit mediums. During this time part of the United States will sink because of a reaction with the Earth's consciousness. Canada and the rest of the Americas are still there, but the states will sink. Just after he makes this prophecy Ōkawa also states that this is not a definite prophecy. If enough people live according to the Will of the universe, then the United States will not sink.

From 2200-2300 robots will run almost all of our industries and people will only have to work four hours a day at the most. Half of Russia and East Asia will fall off into the ocean; for the same reason as the United States. This causes a disruption within the earth's core, so the Earth decides to re-create the lost continent of Mu at approximately the current location of Indonesia.

In 2300-2400 the new continent of Atlantis will be recreated as a result of the United States sinking. After this is complete, Martin Luther and Nichiren will be re-incarnated and they will lead a huge new religious movement.

During the years 2400-2500 Jesus will be re-incarnated. The extraterrestrials that visited the Earth in the 1980s will return. Unfortunately the aliens have a different “concept of property” than humans so the aliens disagree on many things and “Earthlings” force the aliens to leave because of this disagreement.

[edit] Summary

According to Ōkawa, in order to obtain happiness one must practice the four principles of happiness (Love, Knowledge, Self Reflection and Progress.) Another way to obtain enlightenment is through meditation of The Noble Eightfold Path. The only requirement to join the Institute for Human Happiness is that the applicant must have, "the aspiration and vision to seek the way and contribute to the realization of love, peace and happiness on earth".

[edit] Further reading

  • Clarke, Peter B. (ed.) (1999), 'Kofuku-no-Kagaku: The Institute for Research in Human Happiness' in A Bibliography of Japanese New Religious Movements: With Annotations, Surrey, UK, Japan Library (Curzon), ISBN 1-873410-80-8, pp.149-67
  • Yamashita, Akiko (1998), 'The "Eschatology" of Japanese new and new new religions: from Tenrikyo to Kofuku-no-Kagaku' in Japanese Religions, Vol. 23, January 1998, NCC, Kyoto, Japan, pp.125-42

[edit] External links

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