The Demon of Lust - Guidelines for the Heart by Ryuho Okawa 193 -

Dec. 19, 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. It is also displayed on posters at branches nationwide and is widely known as the monthly face of Happy Science.

For those who want to read the Guidelines for the Heart in the monthly magazine, you can also find it in the January 2021 issue of 'Happy Science' open_in_new.

This month's "Guidelines for the Heart" warns against being misled by "the beauty of a single layer of skin," which invites attacks from demons. How should we strive to control our desires while living as humans? I asked Director Nobumitsu Ida of Nikko Seija open_in_new.

伊田信光（いだしんこう）

総本山・日光精舎館長

1952年、岐阜県生まれ。京都大学法学部卒業。三菱商事（株）、曹洞宗僧侶、民宿経営等を経て、幸福の科学の信仰に出合い、90年に出家。2019年より現職。

In this month's "Guidelines for the Heart," Ryuho Okawa open_in_new stated, "The Demon of Lust is formidable," and "In modern times, issues of sexual desire and lust cause the most confusion, so be vigilant and do not let your guard down."

Having a 'will' allows one to hold back

Looking back at myself, when I was in my twenties working for a general trading company, I was in an environment where I would hop from one place to another in 'Ginza, Akasaka, Roppongi' for socializing and entertaining. I would drink, attend dance parties, play mahjong, and golf, engaging in various forms of entertainment. Coming from the countryside, I was initially swept away by the flashy new world. But eventually, I felt an immense emptiness and secretly sought the spiritual world by reading books.

In hindsight, I believe that the reason I was able to hold back in a world overflowing with pleasure was because I had the aspiration to 'seek the path.'

Suppressing desires: 'Self-discovery'

More than ten years later, I finally got my hands on Ryuho Okawa's writings and encountered true faith. I learned the meaning of life: 'Humans are beings created by Buddha, born into a physical body to elevate their souls.'

Without learning such a spiritual worldview, one can easily fall into the illusion that 'satisfying the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and mind) is happiness,' as I witnessed during my trading company days. However, true happiness is the opposite; we must suppress self-centered desires, quietly reflect on our hearts, and discover the 'true self' that is not tied to the senses.

The 'true self' is oneself as a child of Buddha. In modern times, many cases of stress lead to issues of lust and marital problems, but I believe it is important to regularly suppress the self-centered heart and express gratitude to one's partner with words like 'thank you.'

However, even if one learns the teachings as knowledge in their head, there are times when actions do not follow. Therefore, I would recommend practicing spiritual training at the temple to truly embody these teachings.

Let us strive together to open our spiritual eyes and live correctly.

This content is a reprint from Monthly 'Happy Science' No. 407 open_in_new, with edits made.

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