The Power of Human Growth - A Guide to the Heart by Ryuho Okawa, 170 -

Jan. 31, 2019（Last Update: June 13, 2026）

The "Guide to the Heart" written by Ryuho Okawa is serialized in the propagation magazine of Happy Science, Monthly 'Happy Science'. It is also displayed on posters at branches nationwide and is widely known as the monthly face of Happy Science.

For those who want to read the Guide to the Heart in the monthly magazine, you can also find it in Monthly 'Happy Science' February issue.

This month's 'Guide to the Heart' teaches that humans possess the 'power of growth' that can overcome the karma of past lives. We spoke with Hiromi Kawai from the Happy Science West Kanagawa Headquarters, who has witnessed the 'power of growth' of believers as a branch manager and headquarters manager.

An experience of feeling 'spiritual growth'

About 20 years ago, I encountered the teachings of Happy Science while struggling with conflicts with my mother-in-law who lived nearby.

At that time, I was frustrated every day watching my mother-in-law, who was not good at housework and relied on others. One day, I was recommended by an acquaintance to read Ryuho Okawa's book 'Unshakable Mind' open_in_new for the first time.

It stated that 'if you hold onto complaints and dissatisfaction, after death, your heart will connect to a dark world and fall into hell,' and strangely, I felt that (this teaching is true). Although I put on a good face on the surface, my heart was full of dissatisfaction and worries, so I resolved that (if I continue like this, I will go to hell. I will correct my heart and live in a way that I won't be ashamed to be seen by gods and buddhas).

Since then, I have reflected objectively on 'why I dislike my mother-in-law' in light of President Okawa's teachings, made efforts to treat her kindly, and participated in the activities of Happy Science's branch activities.

At the branch, I meet people with different ways of thinking, and while spreading the teachings to various individuals, there are times when my wish for their happiness is misunderstood. I have experienced the suffering of both the 'hated' and the 'hater' and have overcome each one through spiritual training. Gradually, I became able to love various people from the heart, and my conflict with my mother-in-law was resolved.

Expanding the capacity of the heart through branch activities

I believe that I have come to feel the joy of 'loving others' thanks to the branch activities. By participating in branch activities that serve the gods and buddhas and receiving the divine light from the heavenly realm, my own worries seemed smaller or were resolved before I knew it. I feel that I could not have tasted this happiness just by reading books alone.

There are many individuals who have grown through the activities at the branch. The happiness of each of these individuals connects to the happiness of families, nations, and the world, so we will fill the future with hope through this teaching.

This content is reprinted and edited from Monthly 'Happy Science' No. 384.
The very popular 'Guide to the Heart' is also available for subscription open_in_new, so please take advantage of it!

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