When I say there is a secret to happiness, you may think I am speaking about some kind of magic. Definitely not. It is a very simple truth. Unfortunately, most people do not realize that in this simple truth lies the secret to happiness.

There are probably very few individuals in society who can be described as actually happy, fortunate people. There are countless numbers of individuals who are suffering in some way from unemployment, sickness, poverty, discord, disbelief, and frustration.  Experiencing these types of failures is like being shackled and in prison.

We may ask ourselves why God, after creating human beings, allows them to suffer?  Why does he not convert this world into a place where there is more happiness than misery?  Good and evil have existed since the beginning of the human race.  These two forces, completely opposite in nature, have been in constant friction and struggle, and the conflict is still going on.  When we contemplate this closely, we come to realize that it is also a fact that it is because of the friction between good and evil that today's civilization has attained its present level of progress.

People often ask me, "If God is Love and Mercy, I can't understand why He allows man to do bad things and commit sinful acts and then punishes him, as is said on the Christian day of judgement.  If God had not created evil, would it not be unnecessary to judge and punish a man?"  This logic is quite reasonable, and I have sometimes felt the same way.  If I were the Creator of man, it would be easy to explain this, but since I too am simply one of those created by Him, how can I give a total explanation?  Let us lay aside any such questions, for the time being, concentrate on how we can find the way to happiness, and begin to put it into practice.

As I constantly teach, the way to happiness lies in helping others to become happy.  This is all that is necessary for us to do.  A good way to use this key is one which I have followed myself for a long time, with wonderful results. To put it simply, it is to do as much good as possible - to strive to do good deeds whenever one can.

We should all do our best to make others happy.  For example, a wife should do her best to encourage her husband so he is able to work in good spirits.  A husband should be kind to his wife so that she has peace of mind and is happy.  It is natural for parents to love their children, but they should also bring them up with wisdom for the good of their adult lives. They should not use coercion but teach them to obey their parents with love and respect and to do their school work with pleasure.

In all areas of our daily lives, we should do our best to give hope to those with whom we come in contact. Our attitude at work, both toward those who have higher positions and those who have lower positions, should be the same; we should work with love and consideration for all. Administrators should have the welfare of the people as their first concern, forgetting their own interests, and act as good examples.  Of course, to the extent of their ability, all people should try their best to do as much good as they can, using all the wisdom they have. Those who do much goodwill become happier than those who do little good.

When individuals who perform good deeds increase, imagine what will happen to our nation and then to all mankind.  The nation will become an ideal country of the world, and it will be accorded respect by the rest of the world. As a result, the unhappy problems will disappear, and paradise on earth free from disease, poverty and conflict will become a reality.  Everyone will then surely experience boundless happiness.

However, the world today is full of people who are telling lies, imposing upon others, and always thinking of their own interests.  Indeed, it is not too much to say this is a planet full of negative individuals. To make matters worse, most people tend to think that this state of hell is a natural one, and they do not dream of doing something to change it for the better. There are even those who try to hinder our attempts to change this world of suffering into a paradise. These individuals become unfortunate through their own choice. They act in a way that will cause them to be sent to the lowest parts of the spiritual realm, so from our points of view, they are the most pitiable, most foolish of individuals.  We pray for them to be awakened to the truth and saved by God.

By reflecting deeply on these teachings, we can see that true happiness and fulfillment are not too difficult to attain.