1. Believing Is the First Step to Enlightenment

The basic point I wish to tell you is the importance of believing. The role of religion is to teach the importance of believing, because without it, religion will lose its raison d’être. Please understand this.

Our name “Happy Science” uses the word “science.” In this world, science is a process of continuous doubting until one arrives at an indisputable conclusion. However, there are things that cannot be arrived at by such a method.

Some people cannot make sense of this world unless they feel it through the physical senses, namely the five senses, the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. But, in fact, by the act of believing, you can see, hear and touch a different realm, one that transcends what can be sensed with the physical body.

So what is that different realm? It is the sacred. It is something not of this world, something holy, something you can never encounter, never come into contact with, in the secular world of human beings. It is sometimes spoken of in English as “Something Great,” or in vaguer terms.

However, I state very clearly that the fundamental truth of religion is that, to put it in Buddhist terms, this world is only temporary, and the world after death is the Real World, the true world. Whether or not you can accept this truth is the first step to enlightenment, the first gateway.

It is the same with Christianity. Can you believe that God, the Heavenly Father, who cannot be seen, is guiding humankind? Whether or not you can accept this is the first stage of enlightenment.

The starting point of religion equally lies here. Can you accept something that cannot be proved by worldly empirical methods? Can you believe in it? This is the first gateway that stands in your way.

2. To Open Up the Future of South Korea

Political leaders need to be strongly aware of their own responsibility

Many people are invited in. I am summoning many people through various means, for example, my books, DVDs and our monthly magazines.

I am inviting the people of South Korea, too. I’m inviting them to join us on the path to the Truth.

However, even now, when we’ve built our Seoul Local Temple, we remain at the level of a few hundred people (at the time of this lecture). I think this is because the true value of Happy Science is not yet understood in this country.

This may seem a rather harsh view, but many modern-day politicians of this country are providing misguided leadership. You have to realize this fact.

Politicians have to take responsibility for whether a country has become better or worse. They are responsible. It is their responsibility as politicians.

When faced with bad results, some people blame other countries, other people or external forces. But such people are not fit to be leaders.

This is rather harsh, but I dare say that although there were many such political leaders in the history of Korea, their way of thinking was mistaken or they were not serious about their duties as leaders.

Leaders must be strongly aware of their own responsibility.

The same goes for your neighbor, the People’s Republic of China. When a political outcome is bad they always blame it on other countries. In particular, they ultimately resort to anti-Japanese education. They can be anti-Japanese if they like, but they must be prepared to take responsibility for their own mistaken policies. As a nation they ought to be aware of that.

Have a clear attitude, “fact is fact and the truth is truth”

I believe that once we perceive that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong, we must go beyond ethnic barriers and clearly assert that.

For example, I think the United States of America is a very advanced country and champion of the world today.

But recently, when I went to the West Coast of America, to our local temple in Los Angeles (on March 23, 2008), I asserted very strongly that America, as a country, has fallen ill and had to be cured.

It did not matter that the person pointing out America’s sickness was Japanese. The question was whether or not such statement was correct. I stated clearly that despite being an advanced country, America was sick and needed to be cured.

Our American members agreed with me and said that their country was sick and had many problems. Feeling the need to follow these teachings and seek what is ideal for their country and for themselves as human beings, the members vowed to spread these teachings.

South Korea is very close to Japan geographically. Throughout history, we have influenced one another culturally. However, in some ways we are close but still far apart. We have to make these countries, near yet far, closer in the truest sense.

What I am now trying to do is to design a new picture of the world. I am trying to present a plan for how the world of the future should be, and unite the world as one.

So, no matter what kind of school education you may have had, please have a clear attitude, “fact is fact and the truth is truth,” and face the Truth with all due respect.

Japanese people are flexible and accept Korean dramas

In Japan now, there is a boom in Korean TV dramas.

A few years ago, “Winter Sonata” was very popular. At that time, the love story of the main characters acted by Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo spread the idea of “innocent love” all throughout Japan.

The idea of “innocent love” brought into Japan from Korea became popular and many young Japanese people reconsidered their view of love. It had a huge influence and changed the life and culture of Japan’s youth.

This is an example of Japan being very open towards Korean culture.

NHK, the Japanese national broadcasting service, is currently showing the drama “The Legend,” starring Bae Yong-joon (at the time of this lecture). I think you are all familiar with this TV series too.

Damdeok or Gwanggaeto the Great, the hero of “The Legend,” actually appears in the school textbooks of Japan. Damdeok is very popular in Korea, but the Japanese also learn about his accomplishments in history textbooks.

Most of Bae Yong-joon’s Japanese fans have forgotten about this, but about 1,600 years ago, Gwanggaeto the Great utterly thrashed the Japanese army, which was allied to the kingdom of Paekche. But that doesn’t bother the women of Japan who become fans and chase around after Bae Yong-joon.

Regardless of what goes on between countries, these women are independent enough to admit and recognize what is good.

In Japan today, I share my popularity with Bae Yong-joon. You may think I’m joking but actually I say that only 30% in jest and 70% in all seriousness.

Here in Korea, Bae Yong-joon is popular among young women, but in Japan, he’s incredibly popular with their mothers’ generation. I’m also very popular with women aged between 50 and 90, so we’re popular with the same demographic. We also happen to have the ability to mobilize the same number of fans.

Abandon the past resentment and openly recognize what is good as good

“The Legend” was first broadcast on NHK’s BS channel and now is halfway through the series of 24 installments on the NHK main channel.

Before coming here, I watched the series twice, partly to study the Korean language.

Gwanggaeto the Great is certainly a great hero, and the director does a great job of showing it. The director clearly means this to be more than just a Korean drama and intends for it to be shown throughout the world. He is trying to show what makes a true king and skillfully depicts Prince Damdeok’s transformation into a king, and then a great king.

This is also, in a sense, strong criticism against Korea’s current political leaders. He is showing that if we look to Korean history, we can find a model political leader.

Many Japanese women are looking at the character played by Bae Yong-joon and wishing that Japanese politicians could be as reliable.

So, what is so good about Damdeok? He has many good characteristics. Apart from his good looks, he is attractive on the inside.

First of all, he has a strong sense of responsibility. He is a king with a very strong awareness that the responsibility is his alone. I really want politicians today to have the same kind of awareness.

Also, he really has the common touch. He goes out among the people and has direct contact with them. He doesn’t stand on his dignity at all, but mingles with the general public and tries to gather all sorts of information. That is a truly great trait.

Also, when there is a crisis, he goes straight into the fray to try and sort it out. This is exactly the attitude required of today’s leaders.
Damdeok reminds me of Hermes, the main character of my book called, Love Blows Like the Wind. They really are alike. The way they think and act is extremely similar. He is a Hermes-type person in every way.

Despite being completely crushed by Gwanggaeto the Great, the Japanese don’t feel the slightest resentment, so I suggest to the Korean people too that it is probably time to let go of what happened in the past.

I believe the Japanese are honest enough to admit and recognize what is good.