What True Instant Enlightenment Is - President Ryuho Okawa's Guideline for the Heart 202

Sept. 21, 2021（Last Update: June 13, 2026）

President Ryuho Okawa's original work "Guideline for the Heart" is serialized in the Happy Science's publication Monthly 'Happy Science'. It is also displayed in posters at branches nationwide and is widely known as the monthly face of Happy Science.

For those who want to read the Guideline for the Heart in the monthly magazine, you can also find it in Monthly 'Happy Science' October 2021 issue.

This month's "Guideline for the Heart" is "What True Instant Enlightenment Is". "Instant Enlightenment" means "to attain enlightenment as one is". The Buddha, Shakyamuni, was born as a human, practiced, attained enlightenment, and achieved instant enlightenment. So, what is the path to enlightenment shown to us humans? I asked Professor Akira Kanaya of HSU open_in_new.

金谷昭（かなたにあきら）
ハッピー・サイエンス・ユニバーシティ（ＨＳＵ）プロフェッサー

1949年大阪府生まれ。早稲田大学商学部卒業。高野山大学修士課程（密教学）修了。ヤマハ株式会社勤務を経て、1991年に幸福の科学に出家。支部長、拠点開発局、広報局等を経て、2015年より現職。本部講師。

The 'Practice Method' Shown by the True Buddha

In modern times, 2500 years have passed since Shakyamuni's passing, and although scriptures remain, the practice and enlightenment have been lost in this 'latter days of the law'. In fact, there are many scholars who misunderstand Buddhism as atheism or materialism, and many sects that only recommend superficial sitting meditation, chanting, or reciting. However, President Ryuho Okawa, who is the reincarnated Buddha and the True Buddha, pointed out that "something is wrong" and kindly showed us, "This is true practice and enlightenment."

In the text, it is stated that Shakyamuni "fasted but could not attain enlightenment", indicating that if one practices incorrectly, one cannot attain true enlightenment. So, what is the 'correct method'? It is taught that "by practicing reflective meditation daily to clear the dust and dirt from the heart, one becomes in tune with the heavenly realm."

In fact, this is the very heart practice that the believers of Happy Science engage in.

The Effect of 'Reflection' that Changes the Heart

I first learned the meaning of reflection when I became a branch manager after leaving a general company. At that time, I didn't quite understand the difference between evangelism and sales, and I was pushing forward with activities saying, "Anyway, evangelism!", but I received a strong backlash from believers saying, "I can't follow the branch manager."

It was then that I thought, "I should reflect properly" for the first time. I listened to President Okawa's lecture tapes while reflecting on my own words and actions. Then, at one point, tears suddenly flowed, and I was overwhelmed with the feeling of "I'm sorry." "I treated the believers who came as 'noble volunteers of the Buddha' as if I were blaming my subordinate salespeople..." That experience of reflection changed me. I naturally began to express kind thoughts and words towards others, and I started to be told, "Branch manager, you've changed."

To reflect, it is important to first learn President Okawa's teachings and understand the 'heart of the Buddha' as the standard for reflection. While maintaining the habit of reflection, deepening it through temple training, one receives guidance from the heavenly realm, and one's own Buddha nature is polished. Now is the miraculous era of the True Buddha's descent. Let us all walk together on the path to true enlightenment and happiness.

This content is reprinted and edited from Monthly 'Happy Science' No. 416.

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