From Leftist Activist to Transformation - I Finally Understood the Meaning of Life I Had Been Searching For! - [Happiness Experience]

Mr. T, who participated in student movements and union activities out of a desire to "make the world a better place," continued to feel a sense of inadequacy.

One day, he encountered the truth of Buddhism and found the "activity to spread true happiness."

"Everyone, listen! Our friends are running in the upcoming student council election. Please read this flyer!"

46 years ago, as a university student, I would "storm" into classrooms before lectures, distribute handmade flyers, and passionately criticize the fact that our university was advancing industry-academia collaboration for money and that the student council was dominated by the Communist Party, arguing that "the university needs high autonomy."

Since childhood, I had been searching for the meaning of life, wondering, "What are people living for?" I engaged in volunteer activities as a Girl Scout throughout elementary, middle, and high school, and even after leaving, I was exploring, "Isn't there something I can do for world peace?"

Later, I entered university and was drawn to the passionate social reform movements of my seniors, participating in activities myself.

I started study groups with friends and began learning the thoughts of Marx and Engels.

"I cannot forgive companies that profit by oppressing the weak -"

At that time, due to the pollution issues, there was a strong recognition among us that "companies are profiting at the expense of the weak."

Therefore, I believed we had to realize a "welfare state" that collects wealth from companies and the wealthy and distributes it to create an equal society.

However, as I continued the movement, I began to feel a sense of discomfort.

My friends involved in the student movement spoke nobly about wanting to "change the world" and "help the socially weak," but in their private lives, many were disordered, repeatedly getting together and breaking up, and some even had children and aborted them...

(Can we really improve the world like this? Is it okay for us not to live correctly?)

In search of that "answer," I began to read various philosophical and religious texts.

In the summer of my fourth year of university, I failed the second round of the civil service exam and reluctantly got a job at a private company. However, when I tried to take menstrual leave, I was yelled at by my boss.

Moreover, even when seniors tried to take maternity leave, they couldn't actually take it, and the legally recognized rights of workers were severely restricted, becoming just a facade.

(I can't even take maternity leave! I guess I have no choice but to work in a properly structured government office.)

While working in a company, I continued to challenge the civil service exam every year.

At 26, I married my husband, who was a fellow student activist. The following year, I passed the exam and transferred to the ward office.

At the office, I participated in union activities to "protect the rights of workers." I actively engaged in collecting signatures and distributing flyers to protect workers' rights.

I also became interested in environmental issues and began participating in anti-nuclear movements and green space conservation activities on my days off.

(If this continues, the world will get worse.)

Looking back at that time, my heart was always swirling with anger towards companies and the government, and I felt anxiety and impatience in a society where only dark news was reported.

Then, around the age of 30, a colleague at the office introduced me to books by Ryuho Okawa.

At that time, I was also reading books on theosophy, so I became interested and borrowed several to read.

There, it was taught that each of us is a "child of Buddha" who possesses Buddha-nature, born into this world full of suffering to polish our souls, and that creating a "utopian society" where each person can shine their soul and love each other is the mission of human life.

(Shining our souls and creating a utopia...)

I felt that I had finally found the "answer to life."

(I want to learn more about this teaching!)

I began to buy the books and lecture tapes published by President Okawa at that time, and soon after, I converted to Happy Science.

Through learning the teachings, I realized that whether I live with "love that gives to others" or "love that takes from others" determines human happiness and unhappiness.

(I also want to live with giving love -)

I made it a point to express my gratitude to my husband in words.

"Dad, thank you for your hard work as always."

"It's you, T, who I appreciate always."

My husband also responded with kind words, and I began to feel deep happiness in our daily lives.

Moreover, at work, I thought, "I want the people I meet to be a little happier," and I listened attentively to the stories of those who came to the counter, thinking together about how we could solve their issues.

As a result, those who initially had dark expressions left with smiles, and I received more expressions of gratitude.

(Loving the person in front of me is such a happy thing.)

In that space, there was not a trace of the anxiety and impatience I had felt in union activities.

Until now, I had tried to "change the environment" to help people, but I realized that to truly make people happy, "first, it is important to deliver love to the person in front of me."

Furthermore, in Happy Science, I was able to learn about economics and political thought.

(Huh? Justifying poverty...?)

I was shocked. Until now, I thought it was natural for companies to redistribute wealth because they extract from the weak.

However, President Okawa taught me that at the root of this is "jealousy towards the rich," and that if you continue to hold this feeling, "you cannot escape from poverty."

When I think about it, I realized that I also had similar thoughts.

My family runs a small shop, and while we are not struggling to make ends meet, there was a sense that "we cannot afford luxuries."

In that context, I unknowingly held a strong feeling of "envy towards the rich."

But after learning from President Okawa's teachings, I became able to acknowledge the fact that many successful people have become wealthy through legitimate efforts, and that large companies have created jobs and wealth, benefiting many people.

(The deities wish for us to become wealthy through our efforts—)

Furthermore, President Okawa teaches that by blessing the rich without jealousy and by making efforts and being creative ourselves, we can open paths from any environment.

(If we learn this teaching, surely the poor will be saved!)

I have started to convey the teachings of Happy Science to my friends and those around me.

President Okawa is a religious leader, but he also speaks about politics, economics, and international affairs, and by learning this, we can understand the path we should take.

For example, when President Okawa established the Happiness Realization Party in 2009 and called for strengthening national defense, neither the citizens nor the politicians were fully aware of the threats from North Korea and China.

However, over ten years later, the military threats from both countries have become a global issue.

Moreover, after the Great East Japan Earthquake, when public opinion turned entirely against nuclear power, President Okawa immediately argued that Japan, with its low energy self-sufficiency rate, would invite a crisis in national defense if it stopped nuclear power.

Since then, Japan has stopped many nuclear power plants and has started to import large amounts of fossil fuels for electricity generation, but with China's maritime expansion threatening sea lanes, it has become clear to everyone that nuclear power is necessary.

Until now, I believed that "Article 9 of the Constitution should be upheld" and "nuclear power is evil," but after learning from President Okawa's teachings, I have been able to think about things from a broader perspective, such as how Japan is viewed by foreign countries.

I think I used to be bound by fixed ideas and lived in a "closed world."

Now, I want to convey President Okawa's teachings to as many people as possible, and I visit local homes every week.

Sometimes, there are people who, like my past self, hold leftist ideologies and outright deny religion, but those people also share the same desire to "make the world a better place."

I am convinced that through conveying the teachings of the deities, they will eventually become companions in spreading true happiness.

Now, I want to convey to everyone that a Messiah has descended in Japan during this crisis era, teaching for the sake of humanity.