Facing the intractable disease "myasthenia gravis," I realized the "meaning of life"—my life is a gift from God.

In my youth, I dreamed of "someday making a mark overseas."

In 1954, I was born in Hiroshima City as the middle child of three sisters to parents who ran a construction company. Growing up in a family with a strong faith that valued God and Buddha, I naturally began to believe in unseen beings.

Since around middle school, influenced by travel programs that were popular at the time, I began to long for overseas experiences and dreamed of studying abroad. However, I couldn't gain my family's support and had to give up on studying abroad. Even after starting my job, I couldn't let go of my dream of going overseas, but I was enjoying my work and living a fulfilling daily life. Then one day, when I was 23 years old.

While participating in a meeting at work, I noticed a change in my body. My eyelids were drooping more and more, regardless of my will.

(My eyelids are heavy. I'm not sleepy...)

Since then, I began to experience various physical ailments, such as not being able to raise my arms and seeing double. Each time, I visited various hospitals, including ophthalmology and orthopedics, but all the doctors would say, "There's nothing wrong." I became troubled by unexplained health issues.

An unfamiliar disease name—

Although my health issues continued, at that time, they did not interfere with my daily life, so I managed to work somehow. I married Mr. H, whom I met through an acquaintance, and was blessed with a daughter, living a happy life. However, after giving birth, my condition worsened, and I began to lose strength in my body. Concerned that "this is clearly abnormal," a nurse from the obstetrics department recommended that I undergo a thorough examination at a university hospital.

"Ms. A, you have 'myasthenia gravis.' It is an intractable disease that cannot be cured with current medicine."

(What kind of disease is this?)

According to the doctor's explanation, it is a disease that occurs when signals from the brain have difficulty reaching the muscles, but the fundamental reason for the onset of this disease is unknown, and I was told that the only thing I could do was take medication to alleviate the symptoms.

I was very surprised to learn that it was an "intractable disease," but I also felt a sense of relief inside me that the name of the disease, which had remained unknown despite numerous visits to hospitals, had finally been identified.

However, a harsh reality awaited me. My speech began to slur, and my ability to chew food weakened. Additionally, I often dropped and broke dishes because I couldn't grip them properly. What was particularly heartbreaking was not being able to hold my beloved child. Fortunately, my husband had opened a real estate appraisal office at home around that time, so he was always nearby and helped with childcare during his work breaks.

Then, nearly ten years after the onset of the disease, at the age of 32, I was scheduled to undergo surgery to remove my thymus gland. It was believed that my illness was caused by some abnormality in the thymus located behind the sternum. The doctor explained that removing it would improve the symptoms of the disease.

(If I have surgery, I can live a normal life!)

With hope that my illness might be cured, I approached the surgery. The operation was successful, and I was hospitalized for about two months to wait for my body to recover. However, after some time, my condition did not change as I had hoped.

(I thought I would get better...)

I was deeply disappointed.

A ray of light in my life

One day after returning home from the hospital. At that time, it was difficult for me to do housework and childcare on my own, so I had hired a helper. That person handed me a book.

"Ms. A, if you'd like, please read this."

It was 'The Spirit Words of Himiko' by Ryuho Okawa, the founder of Happy Science. When I showed it to my husband, he was so moved that he immediately bought many more of Okawa's works at a bookstore. Then, when I read 'The Law of the Sun' open_in_new,

"Illness can be said to be a trial in life. How one fights this trial tests their humanity."

'The Law of the Sun' contained not only guidance for the mind during illness but also the truth that humans refine their souls through multiple reincarnations and that we decide our life's purpose and mission in the heavenly realm before being born.

(For me, illness may be the theme I face in this life. I will not use my illness as an excuse and will always stay positive. I want to live a sparkling life—)

I was moved by the teaching that illness is not merely misfortune but an opportunity to refine the heart, and I decided to study at Happy Science with my husband.

There were days when I had difficulty breathing and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance, but since I began to have faith, my heart grew stronger. Thinking that the divine beings were always watching over me brought me peace, and the time spent reading the teachings of the Buddha and praying to the divine became an irreplaceable moment of happiness.

Even if the illness does not get better...

Myasthenia gravis is a disease that fluctuates with the seasons and times of day, so during good periods, I could manage to live by taking medication.

I started attending a school where I could study English with my child, and as I learned the language, I felt the rekindling of my desire to go overseas that I had during my youth. I boldly registered as an international volunteer staff member in Hiroshima City and began to accept homestays within my capacity and participate in activities teaching Japanese to people from abroad at the international exchange center for about one or two hours a week. When I conveyed the Japanese language and culture to people from overseas, they were very pleased, and I, as the teacher, felt happy and thought, "I'm glad I did this."

As I spent my days like this, my relationship with my illness grew longer. During that time, medicine advanced, and I learned that there were cases of recovery among patients with myasthenia gravis. I once asked my doctor with hope, "Will my illness also get better?" but was told, "In your case, Ms. A, since a long time has passed since the onset, the symptoms are unlikely to change," which left me in shock.

(My illness may never get better. But I should be able to strive to open up my life while carrying this illness.)

After my child became independent, I dreamed of teaching Japanese overseas someday and began studying Japanese education through correspondence courses. I obtained my Japanese teacher qualification at the age of 50.

Life is a gift

In early summer 2009, a turning point arrived. At my husband's suggestion, I decided to reflect on my life while visiting the four main temples of Happy Science in Tochigi Prefecture on my 55th birthday. Since I didn't have the strength to carry my luggage, I visited the temples while pulling a carry bag like a grandmother.

(I have received help from many people...)

I think of the faces of many who supported me, including my husband, daughter, friends from Happy Science, people I met through international volunteering, and the doctors at the hospital—those who helped me when my body couldn't move as I wished due to illness. I remembered the nights when my body was in pain and, although I couldn't see them with my eyes, I felt grateful that the divine beings were watching over me.

(I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused until now. I will also repay this kindness.)

I decided to take a fresh start in life, as if I had been reborn, and to officially launch my own Japanese language class.

With a bright feeling, I left Tochigi Prefecture and stopped by the Chiba Shoshinkan, a training and worship facility of Happy Science. I thought I would receive a 'Prayer for the Eradication of Illness' (※) to pray for my health so that I could be of service to many people as a Japanese teacher.

Entering the prayer room, I joined my hands in prayer to calm my heart. When the prayer began, a mystical experience came upon me. A warm, sparkling light poured down from above the ceiling, enveloping me in a swirling embrace and holding me tightly. I was filled with an indescribable happiness of surprise and gratitude.

I realized that this body of mine, this life, everything is a gift from God, and I felt a strange sense that God is always watching over me.

(Thank you for giving me life...)

Tears overflowed and wouldn't stop.

After finishing my prayer, I returned from Chiba to Hiroshima. About a month later, one day,

"Ms. A, you seem to have gotten better. You can hold the plates easily now."

When I tried to serve tea to a friend I had invited to my home, I was suddenly struck by those words. Indeed, I used to often drop and break cups, but that day I was easily carrying many dishes on a tray. I also realized that I could naturally do things I had never been able to do before, like carrying large loads and opening the house key with one hand.

(I received a miracle)

Later, when I sat facing my home altar to offer my prayers of gratitude and picked up the sutra, I was overwhelmed with further emotion.

(Huh, I can hold the sutra...)

Until then, I couldn't even hold the sutra to pray without resting my elbows on the table. But from that moment on, I was able to hold the sutra and pray on my own strength without needing to do that.

After that, my health improved day by day, and I gained physical strength. Thanks to this, I was able to actively invite students to my Japanese language class, conduct lessons, and even travel abroad to places like Nepal to engage in international exchange volunteer work. Following my doctor's advice, I still take medication, but even if I forget to take it, I often don't realize it until the evening.

Since two years ago, I have also been participating as a volunteer lecturer in the 'Senior Plan 21' of Happy Science, engaging in lifelong reflection, and I am living more energetically and fulfilling my days.

*: Under the faith in deities and Buddhas, reflecting on the wrong mindset that causes illness and pledging for rebirth.

Life is full of miracles

I believe there are many people suffering from illness right now. Among them, there may be those who know they cannot be cured or have been given a prognosis of limited time. Considering their feelings, I can't simply say, 'It must be tough, I understand.' However, I want to convey that regardless of whether one recovers from illness or not, 'the deities and Buddhas are watching over you at all times.'

When I was struggling with illness, I was encouraged by the teachings of President Okawa, and my perspective on life changed dramatically.

In Happy Science, we learn that before being born, we decide for ourselves 'what kind of experiences we will have in life and what we will gain from them.'

Perhaps in this life, I planned to experience a 'disease that should not be cured' as a difficult illness, to learn whether I can continue to live brightly even amidst such illness and whether I can believe in and be grateful for unseen forces.

I realized through my illness that being able to hold a rice bowl with my own hands and enjoy delicious meals are not trivial daily occurrences, but rather, they are not 'normal' at all. I believe that this world, where nothing is taken for granted, is filled with miracles.

I think it is important to feel gratitude every day and to live fully so that I have no regrets if my life were to end today. From now on, I want to use this life not for myself, but for others and for the world.