The Rigors of Work - President Ryuho Okawa's Guidance of the Heart 216 -

Nov. 19, 2022（Last Update: June 13, 2026）

President Ryuho Okawa's original work "Guidance of 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.

If you want to read the Guidance of the Heart in the monthly magazine, you can also find it in the December 2022 issue of 'Happy Science'.

This month, the theme is work, with topics such as "the relationship between freedom and responsibility" and "necessary mindset" presented. I spoke with Mr. Koji Shirotori from the Happy Science Finance Bureau about his personal experiences and insights.

Koji Shirotori

Director of the Happy Science Finance Bureau

Born in Tokyo in 1952. Joined Yanase Co., Ltd. in 1974. Excelled as a top salesman in imported car sales. Joined Happy Science in 1991. Has served as the head of local branches nationwide, including Tokyo and Kyushu, and has held his current position since February 2018.

Enduring Hardship to Grasp the Essentials

After reading this month's "Guidance of the Heart," the phrase "the real world is indeed harsh" left a strong impression on me, and I reflected on the past, thinking, "That was truly the case."

After graduating from university, I started working in sales for foreign cars, but I was told, "New employees should not come back until they have received sixty business cards in a day." In my first year, I was given a target of "twenty luxury foreign cars," and my performance was posted on the wall. It was pressuring, but I persevered, thinking, "I'll do my best for three years," and learned the basic actions and tricks of the trade, achieving results.

Then, about thirteen years later, I encountered President Ryuho Okawa's book at a bookstore, and my attitude towards work changed significantly.

As I learned the teachings of President Okawa about "standing in the other person's shoes" and "making people happy" through the "love that gives," I began to feel, "The success I was seeking might be different from true happiness," and shifted from a self-centered attitude of "I must sell, I must sell" to seriously considering "how to make customers happy." As a result, my sales changed, I gained more collaborators, and I became the top seller in cumulative sales of foreign cars, including Mercedes-Benz.

Through Work, "Soul Training"

Indeed, both work and life reveal the right path when illuminated by the truth of Buddhism.

President Okawa teaches, "This world is not the final dwelling place of humans. It is merely a place for soul training," and if it is training, a certain level of harshness is to be expected. Just knowing that can change how we perceive it. It would be a great waste to give up simply because it is "harsh" before understanding the essentials of work.

I was the same, but when I entered society and thought, "I'm free. I can play with my own money," I realized that "the range of responsibility I can take is the range of my freedom" when I actually started working. Therefore, I believe it is important to learn the truth of Buddhism well, serve others, learn the job, and make efforts to understand the feelings of those around us.

By practicing President Okawa's teachings, wisdom is gained, and freedom of the soul is attained, so I would like to continue striving together with everyone in the future.

You Can Learn All Kinds of Wisdom from the 'Guidance of the Heart'

For those aiming for personal growth, I recommend President Ryuho Okawa's "Guidance of the Heart". You can learn teachings from various genres such as work, human relationships, and health, making it very beneficial. I reflect on myself daily, learning one lesson at a time repeatedly" (Mr. Shirotori)

This content is reprinted and edited from Monthly 'Happy Science' No. 430.

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Training on 'Guidance of the Heart' is currently being held at national temples! open_in_new