'The repentance of sin' and 'The Fourfold Path' - 'love that gives'(the love of giving, which is free from selfishness and the desire for self-preservation) en 'love that takes'(the love of attachment) - Originally, the souls that were separated from the root God

May 2023
The Fourfold Path
The Happy Science website describes its teachings as follows.

　　Happy Science logo

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.

“Love” teaches people to love others. “Wisdom” helps us to cut through our worries and life’s problems. “Self-Reflection” emphasizes the importance of correcting improper thoughts and returning our minds to a clean state. “Progress” means to strive to become a better person and create a utopia an ideal society on earth.

(From the Happy Science website (https://happy-science.org/en/ryuho-okawa/teachings/ )


I heard that ‘sin’ in the Christian Bible means the Greek word ‘hamartia’ (to miss the mark, the human condition away from God).

The search for the mind of God is what Happy Science calls the “Exploration of the Right Mind”, and for the practice of this, there are the “Fourfold Path”.
The 'repentance' of 'sin' in Christianity looks the same as practicing the Fourfold Path and getting closer to the heart of God by removing the rust from the heart.

Also, in Matthew 5:48, Jesus says: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

In Happy Science, we are on the 'Exploration of the Right Mind’ to attain enlightenment and get closer to God's heart. Isn't this the same as aiming to be perfect like the 'Heavenly Father' as Jesus said, and getting closer to God's heart?

I would be very happy if readers let me know how repentance is practiced in Christianity.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Love is - 'love that gives' and 'love that takes'
“Love is grace. It is also a good grace and the power to try to keep others alive. It is love that gives courage to live, strength and hope to those we meet along the way of life by chance."
“Among love, there is the love of attachment, which is called 'love that takes', and there is the love of giving, which is free from selfishness and the desire for self-preservation, which is called 'love that gives'. ..... True love is a selfless love, a free love, a love that does not ask for anything in return, a love that lets the other person grow and live freely. It is not love that binds the other person. It is love that trusts and unleashes the goodness of the other person's heart."
“Some people may find that the essence of giving love is the same as that of the sun, which never rests for a day and continues to supply light and heat energy to people without compensation. That is true. ..... The children that the love of taking produces are the eldest daughter named Jealousy and the eldest son named Self-sufficiency. The love of deprivation is, after all, not a catalyst for happiness."
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(Ryuho Okawa, The Origin of Happiness, Chapter 1)

　　”Kofuku-no-genten（The Origin of Happiness）" by Ryuho Okawa

For example, if it is for the parents' vanity or satisfaction that they buy various things for their children or give them an education, this is 'taking love' and will not help them to live.

A 'love that takes', which is a kind of 'birdlime', where you try to bind the other person and make them do what you want, will never make either the other person or yourself happy.

I would like to learn more about the love that makes people live (giving love), bearing in mind that saying "I love you" is not true love if it is in fact "for myself" (taking love).

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Love your enemies
The word 'love' is used in a variety of ways. Love, love of family, love of master and disciple, love of neighbour, love of humanity. ..... . It is an eternal challenge for us to decide which of these we see as love that is in accordance with the heart of the God.

The Bible's Gospel of Matthew 5:44 says: "As you have heard, it is commanded, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy'. But I say to you. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. For you shall be sons of your heavenly Father. For the Father makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous." It is said. Love for family and friends is something most people have experienced, but loving enemies and persecutors is very difficult. Can one really do such a thing?　

In Chapter 2 of "The Origin of Love" written by Ryuho Okawa, it is written: "Originally, the souls that were separated from the root BuddhaGod), on their way to living as various unique things, remembered the memory of their original, parental mother, and said, 'I want to return to the breast of the same mother'. This is, after all, the reason why love is love. If we think deeply, these memories of origins are indeed present in the human heart."

Love is the power of attraction, the power of bringing each other together. From this knowledge, we cannot help but recall glorious memories that go back to a time long, long ago."

'If you want to verify whether or not this "long ago, from the One, we were divided" is right or not, you have to go deep, deep into your own heart. ..... At that time, you will all be able to see that "love others" is a ..... you will see what it is to feel empathy from deep, deep, deep within."

'What love is, is the idea of the unity of self and others, 'You and others are not separate, they are inherently one. You don't love others, you love yourself. The idea that 'I don't love others, I love the Buddha (God) itself' is at the root of love."

'The soil of the human heart may be stony on the surface. It may also have grass growing on it. But when this is dug up, there is indeed something in that soil that embraces the seed of love."

　　"Ai-no-Genten (The Origin of Love)" by Ryuho Okaws

If you think you are right, you should not allow your enemies to persecute you (bad things), so it is important to use wisdom to prevent them from doing so. However, we can love our enemies and pray for their hearts to be filled with love.

Dr Okawa also teaches us that wisdom is necessary when giving love. I believe that it is only with selflessness and wisdom that we can give love that truly makes the person happy. Rather than criticising and denying people with hatred, it is much more peaceful and warming to pray for happiness together with love.

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