I, who struggled with spiritual sensitivity, became a top salesperson

I am in charge of residential remodeling sales at a major construction group company in Tokyo. Every day, I learn from President Ryuho Okawa's 'Teachings of the Heart', 'Management Theory', 'Work Techniques', and 'Political Proposals', which serve as my work guidelines.

Thanks to this, I have been blessed with many valued customers and colleagues, and I have been able to consistently achieve sales results that exceed my annual targets. However, before encountering President Okawa's teachings, I was burdened with a significant problem that I could not discuss with others.

Days troubled by inexplicable phenomena

The beginning of it all was during my third year of high school. I was disheartened after failing to get into all the universities I had applied to for entrance exams.
'Why, after studying so hard...'

For someone like me, who had spent my middle and high school years as student council president and captain of the kendo club, the failure in exams weighed heavily on my heart as my first major setback in life.

（Anyway, I have no choice but to prepare for next year's exams）
I decided to take a gap year and started attending a prep school, but I couldn't switch my mindset effectively and struggled to concentrate on studying.

Around that time, inexplicable phenomena began to occur around me. For example, 'auditory hallucinations'.

One day, while at home, I heard a voice saying, 'Mr. O, it's time for collection.' However, no one was at the front door.

（Huh? I heard a voice...）
But a few minutes later, the newspaper collector actually arrived.

'Mr. O, it's time for collection'
（It's the exact same voice I heard earlier!）
Such phenomena, which could be called 'premonitions', began to occur frequently.

Furthermore, phenomena like 'the water in a vase suddenly shooting up to the ceiling' and 'the flame of a candle on the Buddhist altar suddenly turning into a pillar of fire and burning out in seconds' began to happen one after another.
（What on earth has happened to me?）

Every day, phenomena beyond my understanding occurred against my will. I often felt depressed and spent many days bedridden.

My mother was very worried about me, as I was always gloomy and reclusive, and took me to a new Buddhist religion. However, there, everyone just looked at me with strange eyes, and it did not provide any solutions.

Later, at the recommendation of an acquaintance, I had a prayer performed at a Tendai sect organization, and while these phenomena calmed down a bit, I did not reach 'complete recovery', and I did not obtain a clear answer as to why these phenomena occurred or how to cure them.

Having had such experiences, I became interested in religion and began visiting bookstores whenever I had free time, reading various religious texts. During this time, a 'single question' arose in my mind.

（There are many religions in the world, and they all say good things, so why do they fight with each other?）

I asked a monk who had helped me, but I did not receive a clear answer.
Due to various spiritual phenomena, I could not focus on entrance exams, gave up on going to university, and started attending a vocational school for architecture while helping my father, who was a carpenter. I obtained my architect's qualification and began working at a construction company in Tokyo from April when I was 23.

'I finally understand!'

The summer of my sixth year as a working adult, when my troubles with spiritual phenomena continued, I stopped by the religious book section of a bookstore as usual and my eyes were drawn to a book titled 'The Law of the Sun' open_in_new, which was stacked on display, and I opened it.

'There is a term called 'Buddhist Law Truth'. Buddhist Law Truth is the heart of the Buddha, the precepts of the Buddha, and the flowing form of the Buddha's life.'

'This golden thread called 'Buddhist Law Truth' has woven various fabrics throughout human history, protecting people's hearts from the cold. At times, that fabric was the teachings of Shakyamuni, born in India, or Confucianism centered around Confucius, born in China. At another time, it was the teachings of love from Jesus Christ, born in Israel.'

（Ah! This is—）
I had a sudden realization after reading the introduction and promptly purchased it.

When I finished reading it in about two days, I understood for the first time that the founders of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and other religions were great guiding spirits sent by the supreme deity of the Earth, and that the differences in their teachings, which were conveyed according to the culture and environment of the time, were the cause of misunderstandings and conflicts between religions in modern times.

（I see. So this is how it was）
After nearly ten years of searching, I finally found the answer, and it felt like the fog in front of me had cleared.
（I want to learn more about the teachings!）
I began reading President Okawa's books one after another and was able to convert six months later.

A place where I feel true happiness

After my conversion, when I met with fellow believers living nearby at a café, I confided that I was troubled by spiritual phenomena. Then...
'I think it's possible for such phenomena to occur. I don't think it's strange at all.'
Everyone had learned President Okawa's teachings and understood the workings of spiritual beings and spiritual phenomena, so they listened to my story seriously and accepted it.

（Finally, I feel understood）
I felt like I had finally found my 'place' and felt a deep sense of peace.

I also began to participate in President Okawa's lectures. The first one I attended was in March 1990, a lecture titled 'Faith and Love' held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture.

After finishing work, I rushed to the venue and stood at the very back of the audience, waiting for President Okawa to take the stage. And then...

'If faith is the path toward God, the more genuine that faith is, the deeper your love will grow, and your love will become real—'

I was moved by President Okawa's powerful words and was enveloped in an emotion I had never felt before. When the lecture ended, my body felt so hot that steam was coming out, filled with a sense of happiness. That sensation lasted for more than a month after the lecture.

After that, I made sure to attend every lecture. As I listened to President Okawa's words, my previously pessimistic self gradually transformed into a brighter and more positive character. Gradually, the 'strange phenomena' also subsided, and my long-standing troubles were resolved.

Realizing the cause of my troubles

When I began learning President Okawa's teachings, I was also struggling with work-related issues.

At that time, I was in charge of sales and marketing for new residential buildings. Shortly after joining the company, due to my background as a carpenter and my knowledge of construction, I secured more orders than others and won the Best Newcomer Award, so my work was going smoothly.

However, as the years went by, unexpected troubles began to arise, such as 'building confirmation applications not progressing smoothly' and 'the workers on site not moving as I wished'. There were times when deadlines were delayed, causing inconvenience to customers, and I was questioned by my superiors about my responsibilities, which deepened my worries.

（Even though I'm doing my best...）
At such times, I opened President Okawa's book 'A Guide to Happiness' open_in_new, which was on my bookshelf at home.
'People who fall into a slump, as a characteristic, never focus their efforts on others. Those in a slump are always self-centered. (Omitted) You must first realize that you are living in a state of self-preservation.'

（Self-centered? What about me...）
So, I reflected on my thoughts and actions one by one.

（Come to think of it, I was scolded by my boss the other day for having a 'condescending tone'. Perhaps this reflects my state of mind）
As I looked deeply into my heart, I realized that I had become elated after succeeding shortly after joining the company and had forgotten to consider my colleagues and the workers due to my self-centered desire to 'receive more praise from others'.

（Construction of houses can only be done with the cooperation of many people. Yet I was arrogant, thinking, 'I'm the only one working hard', and only seeking evaluations from those around me...）

Thinking back, I believe this tendency had existed to some extent since my middle and high school days.
（Surely, this mindset manifested in my words and actions, causing the troubles. I am truly sorry to everyone...）
I deeply apologized in my heart.

（Alright, from now on, I will work with a humble heart and compassion for those around me!）
From that day on, I made an effort to consider things from the perspective of others. I also paid attention to my speech and checked whether I was becoming arrogant in my tone or attitude.

Then, as if responding to my change, the workers began to move willingly, and my work started to go smoothly.
（Thanks to President Okawa's teachings, I was able to overcome adversity. I am truly grateful...）
I realized that working with a heart aligned with the will of deities leads to true happiness and success.

I want to deliver the light of the deities.

I hope that those who, like me, are secretly troubled by spiritual phenomena or facing problems in work and life will learn the teachings of Happy Science. Moreover, as I engage in such activities with this thought, strangely enough, my work progresses smoothly. I am truly grateful.

In the future, I will continue to deliver the light of the deities so that as many people as possible can walk a happy life.

※ Friends of truth who learn the same teachings.

◆ This article is edited based on a personal experience published in the March 2017 issue (No. 361) of the monthly "Happy Science".