When My Daughter Becomes a Mother - Guidelines for the Heart by Ryuho Okawa, 182 -

Jan. 25, 2020（Last Update: June 13, 2026）

Ryuho Okawa open_in_new's original work, "Guidelines for the Heart," is serialized in the Happy Science's publication Monthly 'Happy Science' open_in_new. Posters are displayed at branches nationwide, and it is widely known as the face of Happy Science each month.

For those who want to read the guidelines in the monthly magazine, you can also find it in Monthly 'Happy Science' February 2020 issue open_in_new.

This month's 'Guidelines for the Heart' spoke about the emotions of a daughter being born, and eventually becoming a mother, continuing the legacy of new life. I spoke with Michiko Yoshida from the Happy Science El Cantare Faith Evangelism Bureau about the meaning and preciousness of passing life to children and grandchildren.

Memories with my daughter

As I savored this 'Guidelines for the Heart,' the joy of having my own daughter and the emotions when she became a mother came flooding back like a revolving lantern.

I gave birth to my son at 23 and my daughter at 26, but my daughter took a long time to be born, and I used two doses of labor-inducing medication to deliver her.

I hoped my daughter would grow up to be a 'kind child who doesn't throw tantrums,' and I disciplined her strictly. When she was four, I emotionally scolded her for talking back to her brother and even put her in the closet.

When my daughter became a first-year high school student, I encountered Happy Science and learned that 'humans originally live in heaven as adult souls, but are born into this world to undergo soul training' and 'before being born, they make promises as parent and child.' Knowing that my daughter was originally an adult soul, I deeply reflected on my own arrogance in thinking that 'children can be raised according to their parents' wishes.' I apologized to my daughter, shedding tears for my immature self who wielded parental authority. Then my daughter also cried and forgave me, saying, 'It's not just you, Mom. I'm stubborn too...'

The Happiness of Inheriting Faith

After that, I decided that I wanted to be a parent who could convey love and faith, and instead of trying to change my child, I resolved to 'change myself.' I believed in my daughter's Buddha nature, respected her individuality, and stopped using a commanding tone, focusing on words of gratitude. As I changed, my daughter also began to open her heart and learn the teachings of the divine. Now my daughter has also become a mother, and my 18-year-old grandchild is learning faith together with us.

Until now, I have seen many families and parent-child relationships grasp faith and practice the teachings, truly becoming happy. I believe that the divine watches over the continuation of life in this world and the unbroken flow of history with boundless compassion.

If you are struggling with parenting, please knock on the door of Happy Science. Your life will shine even brighter.

This content is a reprint from Monthly 'Happy Science' Issue 396 open_in_new, with edits made.

The very popular 'Guidelines for the Heart' is featured in Monthly 'Happy Science', and subscriptions open_in_new are also available, so please take advantage of it!

Training on 'Guidelines for the Heart' is currently being held at national temples! open_in_new

Parenting Changed with Heartfelt Gratitude to My Biological Mother [Parenting Experience] open_in_new

Thank you, Mom, for giving birth to me. [Happy Science Faith Experience] open_in_new