Kōfuku no Kagaku
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2008-07-16T17:06:47Z
Johnpacklambert
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'''Kōfuku-no-Kagaku''' (幸福の科学), also called '''The Institute for Research in Human Happiness''' (IRH) or '''Happy Science''', is a Japanese [[Shinshūkyō]] (new religious movement) founded in October of 1986, which claims over 10 million believers worldwide. In February of 2008 ''Kofuku-no-Kagaku'' was renamed, and is now called "Happy Science." Kōfuku-no-Kagaku considers itself an "advanced religion" based on [[Buddhist]] teachings taught by president & founder Ryūhō Ōkawa. It has become one of the most influential religious organizations in Japan.
==History==
Ōkawa was born at 7:07am on July 7, 1956, in Japan. After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, he joined a Tokyo-based trading house. While working at its New York headquarters (located in the [[World Trade Center]]), he studied international finance at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
Believers state that Ryuho Ōkawa attained Great Enlightenment on March 23, 1981 and renounced his business career in the 1980s after being awakened to the hidden part of his consciousness, ''El Cantare'', Eternal Buddha. El Cantare is also known as [[Elohim]], the Supreme God in the Old Testament, and the [[Mahavairocana]] Buddha of [[Mahayana Buddhism]].
According to Ōkawa, he then received [[revelation]]s from various angels and consequently realized that his true mission in life was the salvation of all of humanity. He holds regular lectures and has written over 400 books, ten of which have sold more than a million copies each. Ōkawa has also produced successful feature-length films (including animations) based on his works.<ref>[http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=7160]</ref> Kōfuku-no-Kagaku adherents have faith in Lord El Cantare, Eternal Buddha, who guides humanity throughout eternity. In the past, the consciousness of El Cantare was incarnated as [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] Guatama Siddhartha in India, and as [[Hermes]] in Greece. They believe that his core consciousness has descended on earth as Master Ryuho Okawa and that he preaches the truth.
==Teachings==
The basic teachings of Kagaku are "Exploration of the Right Mind" and "Principles of Happiness." The latter consists of modern Fourfold Path (Love, Wisdom, Self-Reflection, and Progress). The following explanations are from the website of Kofuku-no-Kagaku:
===Love===
The principle of love is the teaching of “love that gives,” giving love to others. This is similar to “loving your neighbor,” taught in [[Christianity]], but essentially it is the teaching of compassion that runs through the center of [[Buddhism]].
===Wisdom===
The principle of wisdom indicates the importance of learning the [[truth]]. In learning, it is important first to acquire [[knowledge]] of the truth, then through accumulating actual practices and experiences, transform it into wisdom that is as precious as a diamond.
===Self-reflection===
The principle of self-reflection is the teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha's [[Noble Eightfold Path]] that is restructured in a form that is understandable for modern people. It is important to get rid of any mental impurities, and restore the state of mind that attunes to the heavenly world while on earth.
===Progress===
The principle of progress implies the main feature of [[Mahayana Buddhism]]; it is also the revival of Hermes' teachings of development and prosperity. It teaches not only the ways to achieve the happiness of a peaceful mind, but it also teaches ways to a positive happiness gained through experiencing success, as well as the path to the creation of a [[utopia]] on earth.
==Predictions of the future==
{{Inappropriate tone|date=December 2007}}
According to Ōkawa, within the next 100 years the United Nations will collapse and there will be war in the Middle East. Japan will become a religious center just as [[Mecca]] and [[Jerusalem]] are now. In 2050 the angel [[Gabriel (archangel)|Gabriel]] will be re-incarnated in Bangkok.
From the years 2100-2200 one in ten people will visit outer space. During this time mankind will also attempt to construct space stations. They will also have a device that can connect us to the spiritual world so that we no longer have to rely on [[spirit medium]]s. During this time part of the United States will sink because of a reaction with the Earth's consciousness. Canada and the rest of the Americas are still there, but the [[state]]s will sink. Just after he makes this [[prophecy]] Ōkawa also states that this is not a definite prophecy. If enough people live according to the Will of the universe, then the United States will not sink.
From 2200-2300 robots will run almost all of our industries and people will only have to work four hours a day at the most. Half of Russia and East Asia will fall off into the ocean; for the same reason as the United States. This causes a disruption within the earth's core, so the Earth decides to re-create the lost continent of [[Mu (lost continent)|Mu]] at approximately the current location of [[Indonesia]].
In 2300-2400 the new continent of [[Atlantis]] will be recreated as a result of the United States sinking. After this is complete, [[Martin Luther]] and [[Nichiren]] will be re-incarnated and they will lead a huge new religious movement.
During the years 2400-2500 [[Jesus]] will be re-incarnated. The extraterrestrials that visited the Earth in the 1980s will return. Unfortunately the aliens have a different “concept of property” than humans so the aliens disagree on many things and “Earthlings” force the aliens to leave because of this disagreement.
==Summary==
According to Ōkawa, in order to obtain happiness one must practice the four principles of happiness (Love, Knowledge, Self Reflection and Progress.) Another way to obtain enlightenment is through [[meditation]] of The Noble Eightfold Path. The only requirement to join the Institute for Human Happiness is that the applicant must have, "the aspiration and vision to seek the way and contribute to the realization of love, peace and happiness on earth".
==Further reading==
* [http://uk.geocities.com/peterbernardclarke Clarke, Peter B.] (ed.) (1999), 'Kofuku-no-Kagaku: The Institute for Research in Human Happiness' in ''A Bibliography of Japanese New Religious Movements: With Annotations'', Surrey, UK, Japan Library (Curzon), ISBN 1-873410-80-8, pp.149-67
* Yamashita, Akiko (1998), 'The "Eschatology" of Japanese new and new new religions: from Tenrikyo to Kofuku-no-Kagaku' in ''Japanese Religions'', Vol. 23, January 1998, NCC, Kyoto, Japan, pp.125-42
==External links==
*[http://www.kofuku-no-kagaku.or.jp/en/ Kofuku-no-Kagaku JAPAN (IRH JAPAN)The Institute for Research in Human Happiness]
*[http://www.irh-hawaii.com/ Kofuku-no-Kagaku USA (IRH HAWAII) The Institute for Research in Human Happiness]
*[http://www.irhnewyork.org/index.html Kofuku-no-Kagaku USA (IRH NEW YORK) The Institute for Research in Human Happiness]
*[http://irhcolorado.net/ Kofuku-no-Kagaku USA (IRH COLORADO) The Institute for Research in Human Happiness]
*[http://www.irhheurope.org/ Kofuku-no-Kagaku EUROPE (IRHH EUROPE) The Institute for Research in Human Happiness, Europe]
*[http://www.irhaustralia.org.bigpondhosting.com/# Kofuku-no-Kagaku AUSTRALIA (IRH AUSTRALIA)]
*[http://www.irh-india.org/India/ Kofuku-no-Kagaku INDIA (IRH INDIA)]
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[[Category:Shinshukyo]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1986]]
[[ja:幸福の科学]]