First Love - Ryuho Okawa's Guidelines for the Heart 189 -

Aug. 22, 2020（Last Update: June 13, 2026）

Ryuho Okawa's work 'Guidelines for the Heart' is serialized in the Happy Science's publication Monthly 'Happy Science'. Posters are displayed at branches nationwide, and it is widely known as the monthly face of Happy Science.

For those who want to read the guidelines in the monthly magazine, you can also find it in Monthly 'Happy Science' September 2020 issue.

In this month's 'Guidelines for the Heart', it was discussed about the feelings of first love and 'the feelings of love' and 'the heart of love'. What significance do romantic experiences have in life? I asked Taiki Fujigaki, who is involved in Happy Science's film business.

Taiki Fujigaki

Media Culture Bureau (also)
News Star Production Co., Ltd. Director

Born in 1960 in Gifu Prefecture. After graduating from the Faculty of Law at Seijo University, he worked at a major lifestyle goods store, and in 1991, he joined Happy Science, and has been in his current position since 2017. He served as a producer for the upcoming film 'Believing in the Dawn.'

When I saw the title 'First Love', it reminded me of 'bittersweet memories', but when I read the last words, 'everything feels like a dream time', I recalled the Buddhist truth that Ryuho Okawa teaches: 'This world is a temporary world for soul training, and when you return to the afterlife, everything is like a dream.'

We have various experiences such as first love and romance, but all of them are precious nourishment for soul training, and I believe that when we return to the afterlife, they will become very cherished memories. And I deeply felt that all of this is the compassion of the Buddha.

Bitter experiences also become nourishment for life

In adolescent romance, the feeling of 'loving the other person' often gradually turns into a 'selfish love' that desires 'to be devoted to oneself', which can lead to a breakup. It is a painful experience, but it is also an opportunity to reflect on whether 'you truly wish for the other person's happiness'. Looking back later, you may realize that such experiences have become 'whetstones for the soul', allowing you to understand people's feelings and pain.

An existence that elevates oneself

Especially in youth, one may often look at the opposite sex out of mere curiosity. However, President Okawa teaches the importance of 'having a pure admiration for the opposite sex' through love. The effort to 'want to become someone worthy of the other person' leads to a way of life that seeks ideals and strives for improvement.

In the upcoming film 'Believing in the Dawn.' open_in_new, the protagonist, Satoru Ichijo, modeled after President Okawa, is depicted as yearning for enlightenment while purely admiring the opposite sex as 'an existence that elevates oneself'. This is not being tossed around by love, but rather, it is the figure of a religious person who sublimates it into 'love for humanity' as a means to enlightenment.

For those who are currently in their youth or those who have already passed it, please take a look at your romantic experiences as 'nourishment for life' through the 'Guidelines for the Heart'. I hope you can realize the great 'love of the Buddha' that envelops your life.

This content is reprinted from Monthly 'Happy Science' No. 402 with edits.

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

Released on Friday, October 16, the film 'Believing in the Dawn.'

This work depicts the protagonist, Satoru Ichijo, awakening to the mission of the savior and standing in the world. I think the highlight is seeing Satoru, who is a 'superman' in terms of effort, purely seeking enlightenment. I would like you to see how romance also becomes one of the means to enlightenment. (Fujigaki)

Executive Producer & Original Work: Ryuho Okawa, Director: Hiroshi Akabane
Music: Yuichi Mizusawa, Cast: Hiroaki Tanaka, Yoshiko Sengen, Nao Hasegawa, etc.

Currently holding 'Guidelines for the Heart' training at national temples! open_in_new

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