How to distinguish a good religion - To avoid being manipulated by a bad religion in life - 【What's Happy Science】

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Choosing a religion that divides happiness and unhappiness in the afterlife

In Japan, there are nearly 180,000 religious corporations. When it comes to 'religion', some people may have a negative image of it all lumped together.

However, just like the quality of companies and products, there are 'good religions' and 'bad religions'.

If you have faith in a good religion, the chances of returning to heaven increase, but if it is a bad religion infested with evil spirits, the risk of falling into hell after death increases. The choice of religion determines happiness and unhappiness.

Therefore, I have picked up the 'characteristics of bad religions' from the perspective of correct spiritual knowledge. I hope this serves as a reference for your good choice of religion that leads to happiness in the afterlife.

What you believe in divides the afterlife

Is all misfortune the fault of ancestors?
Characteristics of a wrong religion (1) Shifting responsibility to ancestor worship

Having a feeling of worship is important as a human being. However, be cautious of religions that say, 'The reason you are unhappy now is that you are not worshiping your ancestors' or 'If you just worship your ancestors, you will be happy,' as they shift responsibility to the ancestors and focus solely on worship.

Also, if you are only worshiping at home, lost spirits other than your ancestors may come to you thinking they can be 'worshiped'...

The correct spiritual truth

Only when ancestors reflect on their 'regrets' in life can they return to heaven.

Even if you desperately pray, 'I want to help my lost ancestors...', your ancestors will not attain enlightenment, and you will not become happy either. The reason your ancestors are lost is due to their own thoughts and actions in life, and it is not a problem of their descendants.

To change the result of not attaining enlightenment, ancestors themselves need to reflect on and repent for the thoughts and actions that caused their confusion in life.

To help ancestors who have not attained enlightenment, while correcting your heart, express gratitude and perform 'Eko' (dedication).

If there are ancestors you think are 'not enlightened' and you want to help them as their descendants, what should you do?

First, descendants should show the correct form of faith by believing in deities, harmonizing the family, and reflecting when disharmonious thoughts arise. It is important to hold gratitude towards ancestors and dedicate spiritual light to them (Eko).

That light will act as a 'lifebuoy' thrown to ease the suffering of ancestors and will be the trigger for them to begin reflecting.

正しい供養　まちがった供養
『正しい供養　まちがった供養』

【Recommended scripture】 'Correct Worship, Wrong Worship'

A book that overturns the 'common sense' of worship.

■ Does that recitation have no effect!? / ■ The reasons why natural burials are actually not good!? / ■ Do the spirits in the afterlife not understand posthumous names!? / ■ What happens to those who do not believe in the afterlife? / ■ What are the dangers of ancestor worship-type religions? / ■ Specific examples of 'obstructions' from ancestors and how to deal with them.

Clearly explains how to worship so that both the deceased and descendants can be happy.

＞ Purchase at Happy Science Publishing open_in_new
＞ If you want to know more about 'Happy Science Worship', click here open_in_new

I saw it! I heard it!
Characteristics of a wrong religion (2) Easy belief in spiritual abilities

Religions are accompanied by spiritual phenomena. However, religions that recommend easy spiritual phenomena like 'If you have this amulet, you can have spiritual phenomena' or claim 'There are thousands of spiritualists' may be a breeding ground for 'evil spirits'.

A correct religion has 'teachings of the heart'

Spiritual phenomena of 'seeing and hearing' alone cannot determine the goodness or badness of a religion. Just as Buddha, Jesus Christ, and Confucius preached many guidelines for living, in religion, it is important to cultivate one's character through 'teachings of the heart'. Also, whether the person learning is not becoming strange is a point to distinguish right from wrong.

Is only your own religion correct?
Characteristics of a wrong religion (3) Extreme rejection of other religions

There are religions that think, 'Only my sect is correct, and all other religions are wrong,' and engage in emotional criticism of other religions or try to force unwilling people to convert. Such 'religions of struggle' usually have the 'Asura spirits' of hell attached to them.

Distinguishing by the 'Law of Resonance'

There is a spiritual law called the law of resonance. This is the law that states 'like attracts like', meaning 'spirits with the same heart wavelength resonate with each other'.

To connect with the heavenly realm, it is important to have a heart filled with altruism and harmonious thoughts and gentle words. Observe the religious leaders and the people gathered closely.

I am glad I converted to 'Happy Science'

Yoko Tominaga (pseudonym, Shizuoka Prefecture, 70s)

When I was in the second grade of elementary school, my parents joined a new religion, and I grew up reciting sutras and mantras every day. As an adult, I began to want to know 'the heart of a bodhisattva that makes people happy'.

However, in that religion, there were no opportunities to learn about the heart of a bodhisattva, no one who could answer clearly, and all I did was proselytize and request votes for a supporting political party. The motivation of the believers engaging in those activities was also to change their own bad fate. It felt like walking in the dark of night, and I thought, 'Even if I continue my faith here...'. However, I was threatened that 'if I leave, I will fall into hell', so it was not easy to escape.

The turning point came when the mother of my son's classmate gave me books from 'Happy Science', including 'The Law of the Sun' by Ryuho Okawa. After reading the book, I was amazed. 'The teachings of the heart to become a bodhisattva', 'the structure of the afterlife', 'the relationship between this world and the afterlife', and other things I had not understood in nearly 20 years of studying in a new religion became clear in just one day.

Shortly after that, I also had a mystical experience of hearing the voice of a being like a guiding spirit through prayer. But above all, the wonderful thing is the teachings of the heart from Ryuho Okawa. Through practicing them, I realized the distortion in my heart that 'anger is stronger than I thought', learned the importance of harmonizing my heart and giving love, and gained confidence in my faith, allowing me to break free from my previous religion without succumbing to threats.

For the past 30 years, I have been taught spiritual truths at Happy Science, and I feel as if I have been led to a bright world like the sun has risen. I think to myself, 'I was truly happy to encounter Happy Science.'

太陽の法
『太陽の法』

【Recommended scripture】 'The Law of the Sun'

You were born to encounter this book.

Clearly elucidates the answers to eternal questions and shows the mission of 'El Cantare', published in 25 languages worldwide as a bestseller!

＞ Purchase at Happy Science Publishing open_in_new

Religion is originally a wonderful thing

理想国家日本の条件

Indeed, there may be strange religions.
However, the existence of strange religions does not mean that all religions are wrong or not wonderful. Religion is originally a wonderful thing. (Omitted)
It is important for the correct religion to manifest its form and permeate its value and truth.

（経典『理想国家日本の条件』より）

'What's Happy Science' vol.185 How to distinguish a good religion
To avoid being manipulated by a bad religion in life

■ The "Religion Choice" that divides happiness and unhappiness in the next life
■ Characteristics of a wrong religion (1) Shifting responsibility to ancestor worship
■ Characteristics of a wrong religion (2) Easy belief in spiritual abilities
■ Characteristics of a wrong religion (3) Extreme rejection of other religions
■ My conversion experience …etc

＞Read the web version of the pamphlet open_in_new

This article is reprinted and edited from the monthly "What's Happy Science" vol.185 (December 2024 issue)

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