What Is Global Justice? (Part 1)
Master Ryuho Okawa’s El Cantare Festival Lecture

On the 5th of December, 2012, Happy Science held an El Cantare Festival, and Master Ryuho Okawa gave a lecture titled “What Is Global Justice?” to the guests of Tokyo International Forum. Happy Science broadcast this event to 3,500 places all around the world via satellite.

We hold The El Cantare Festival at the end of the year to give our heartfelt thanks to the Lord El Cantare. We pledge to establish a utopia on earth based on the teachings of Lord El Cantare who descended to earth in order to save all of mankind.

We have already given a belief introduction to this lecture. However, given the importance of this lecture, we decided to release a lengthy version of it.

1. Which Direction Should We Go?

It’s already the end of the year, and we’re observing the celebration of El Cantare.

I can directly feel the faith of people from around the world. I feel that while I’m Japanese, I’m not Japanese.

I can hear the voices of people of various ethnicities, races, skin colors, and religions. They have great hope in my teachings.

Since “What is Global Justice?” is the title of today’s lecture, I’d like to speak on this topic.

How do we define global justice? In which direction should the 200 countries of this world head? Where are we going? I think this is a topic that someone from some country must talk about to give direction to the rest of the world.

Since I can see far into the future, perhaps my words may not be truly understood for another 5, 10, 50, or 100 years.

However, I have limited chances to speak directly to you in this lifetime. Therefore, I must continue to speak about the direction in which this world should head.

 

2. How Has Justice Been Defined?

4519_02I have used the word justice in today’s lecture title. There are many countries in this world, but each country proclaims their own opinions based on their countries’ interests.

If opinions naturally clash between countries, they’ll argue or criticize each other. They might be unable to settle their differences.

However, most of the time, a country with great power takes on a leadership role, and guides the world. The strongest nation or hegemony defines what justice is, and applies this idea throughout the world. In the modern era, we have the United Nations, which decides what justice is based on the opinions or consensus of numerous countries.

While Japan has had a global leadership position during this period, unfortunately, it’s been unable to make sound judgments and promote good values in the world. I’m ashamed that Japan has had nothing to say to the world.

We must think in the following way:
First, Japan must clearly define what justice is for its own nation.

Then, if what we define as justice clashes with the ideas of other countries, we must take concrete steps to resolve such differences.

There’ll of course be nations that will side with one country or another. However, in the end, all nations should exchange opinions and decide on what justice is on a global scale.

In the past few decades, the United States of America has determined what global justice is and has acted as a leader in the world.

However, the United States is facing some difficult times today.

After the cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union ended in 1990, we thought that the United States would continue to govern the world into the 21st century. However, it’s now 2012, and this no longer seems to be the case.

In the past, the United States and the Soviet Union vied for supremacy. Today, China, the new authority in Asia, has power.

I think that there are various ways to interpret the true intention of the Chinese government. Three years ago, in the general elections of Japan, the Japanese citizens chose the Democratic Party of Japan to lead the nation. At that time, the Japanese were optimistic about their relationship with China; Japan took diplomatic measures to become close with China. They wanted to treat both China and America in the same manner.

 

3. The Happiness Realization Party Advocates Thinking About the Future of This Nation and the World.

At the same time, I launched the Happiness Realization Party, and I fought against the mainstream opinions of the Japanese.

It’s the job of the Happiness Realization Party to advocate political policies that come from God, Buddha, and the high spirits of Heaven. Our mission is to convey the right direction for Japan’s future based on the will of Heaven.

Three years ago, members conducted activities for the Happiness Realization Party to make up for what the Liberal Democratic Party failed to do.
We were unfortunately unsuccessful in the elections, but many people are finally recognizing what we said three years ago.

While it’s wonderful that we’re able to see into the future, it’s also a sad matter.

Three years ago, when the people of Japan were rejoicing over the political change in power, we knew that the change would bring us a bad future. It’s sad that we must act like prophets who bear bad news.

However, religion and politics have historically had a close connection. When a religious leader warned his people of a national crisis, it usually signified political dangers for the country as well. It was a time of crisis for the people, too.

If a politician is unable to gain the support of many people and loses in the elections, he or she will return to being an ordinary person. Therefore, politicians are unable to speak their true minds, because they’re scared of losing in the elections. This is the biggest weakness of a democracy.

However, the politicians of the Happiness Realization Party are able to ignore such restrictions and have continued to say what must be said.

As a result, in the course of three years, we’ve been able to change greatly the public opinion.

What must be done now is to create a country that abides by international rules, clearly states what must be said, and makes the necessary decisions. This is what’s important.

Of course, I understand that in the next 10 days until the election, in order to gather votes and win elections, politicians may want to say only what’s beneficial to them. However, I’d like to ask them to stop thinking only about themselves, to think about the future of this nation and the world, and to make the necessary decisions.

What Is Global Justice?  (Part 1)
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