Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: The Laws of Justice
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 7/7/1956
WEBSITE: https://ryuho-okawa.com/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY: Japanese
http://happy-science.org/ryuho-okawa/ * http://okawabooks.com/ * https://happyscience-na.org/about/ryuho-okawa/ * https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/my-afternoon-with-a-failed-japanese-cult
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: n 89142670
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/n89142670
HEADING: Ōkawa, Ryūhō, 1956-
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010 __ |a n 89142670
035 __ |a (OCoLC)oca02715668
040 __ |a DLC |b eng |e rda |c DLC |d OCoLC |d DLC
046 __ |f 1956 |2 edtf
100 1_ |a Ōkawa, Ryūhō, |d 1956-
370 __ |a Tokushima-ken |2 naf
377 __ |a jpn
400 1_ |a 大å·éš†æ³•, |d 1956-
400 1_ |a å·å¤§éš†æ³•, |d 1956-
400 1_ |a 오오카와 류우호오, |d 1956-
400 1_ |a Ook’awa, Ryuhoo, |d 1956-
667 __ |a Machine-derived non-Latin script reference project.
667 __ |a Non-Latin script references not evaluated.
670 __ |a His YuÌ„topia kachi kakumei, 1989: |b t.p. (OÌ„kawa RyuÌ„hoÌ„) jkt. (r; b. ShoÌ„wa 31; founder, “KoÌ„fuku no Kagaku”)
670 __ |a Pukhan kwaŭi ch’ungdol ŭl yegyŏn handa, 2013: |b t.p. (오오카와 류우호오 = Ook’awa Ryuhoo) jkt., etc. (大å·éš†æ³• = OÌ„kawa RyuÌ„hoÌ„; b. 1956 in Ilbon Tok’usima-hyŏn; grad., Tokyo Taehak Pŏphakpu & New York Sirip Taehak Taehagwŏn, kukche kŭmyungnon; est., Haengbok ŭi Kwahak Group)
953 __ |a eg07
PERSONAL
Born July 7, 1956, in Tokushima, Japan; married Kyoko (divorced); married Shio; children: Hiroshi, Sayaka, Masaki, Yuta, Arisa.
EDUCATION:University of Tokyo, graduated; attended the City University of New York.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and spiritual leader. Founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Happy Science religious organization, 1986—, and the Happiness Realization Party. Previously, worked in New York, NY, for a trading company.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Ryuho Okawa is a Japanese writer and spiritual leader. Born in Tokushima, Japan, he earned a degree from the University of Tokyo. Okawa then joined a company that specialized in trading and was sent to work in New York. His office was in 1 World Trade Center. During the time he was based in the United States, he took courses at the City University of New York. Okawa claims to have experienced a spiritual awakening on October 6, 1986, after which he quit his job, despite having recently been promoted. He also founded the Happy Science religious organization and returned to his home country. His countrymen have not always seen the Happy Science movement in a favorable light. Some members of the Japanese press have criticized the movement and have referred to it as a cult.
In addition to leading his spiritual movement, Okawa is a prolific writer. He has written numerous books that have been published in multiple languages. In 2011 Okawa obtained the Guinness World Record for “most books written in one year by an individual.”
The Essence of Buddha and The Next Great Awakening
Among the numerous books Okawa has published is The Essence of Buddha: The Path to Enlightenment. In this volume, Okawa compares his own abilities to those of the Buddha. He begins by discussing the early life of the Buddha and explaining how he came to be enlightened. Okawa analyzes key Buddhist teachings and offers his own take on those lessons. A Publishers Weekly critic suggested that Okawa’s writing sometimes “becomes sentimental, even oddly evangelical.” The critic concluded: “Though some readers will find this book informative, more will finish it with questions regarding Okawa’s personal beliefs.”
The Next Great Awakening finds Okawa discussing the potential future of the planet. He suggests he is the second coming of Buddha and details his role in helping Earth to transition into the Planet of Love. Okawa offers his theories on human evolution and the concept of the soul.
The Laws of Justice
In The Laws of Justice, released in 2016, Okawa discusses the four key principles of Happy Science, which are progress, wisdom, love, and self-reflection. Those who implement these principles are said to have the potential to achieve self-fulfillment. He explains how one can harness these principles to better his or her life. Okawa also discusses world peace and comments on how religious and political conflicts are damaging our world. He explains that the United States is leading a movement in support of human rights, democracy, capitalism, and liberalism. It is up against a group of countries that oppose those ideologies. Okawa includes six lectures meant to bring peace between these two groups.
In a review of the book in Publishers Weekly, a contributor remarked: “Ryuho Okawa’s new book, The Laws of Justice, could not have come at a more appropriate moment. The Japanese thinker, whose books, according to his publisher, IRH Press, have sold more than one hundred million copies worldwide, takes on our turbulent times in this latest effort, offering potential paths to a peaceful society.” The same contributor also pointed out the differences between this volume and Okawa’s other works, stating: “Whereas most of his titles focus on spiritual and religious ideas, The Laws of Justice has a political message.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, March 3, 2003, review of The Essence of Buddha: The Path to Enlightenment, p. 71; September 26, 2016, review of The Laws of Justice, p. 24.
ONLINE
Los Angeles Times Online, http://articles.latimes.com/ (October 19, 1991), Mari Yamaguchi, article about author.
Ryuho Okawa Home Page, https://ryuho-okawa.com/ (July 14, 2017).*
About Ryuho Okawa and His Aspiration
Ryuho Okawa is a spiritual leader, an extraordinary visionary and an enlightened teacher who is dedicated to exploring the path to happiness and to creating a better world. In 1986, he founded Happy Science in Japan – a spiritual movement with the purpose to bring true happiness to humankind based on the teachings of universal Truth.
As a wise and compassionate teacher, Ryuho Okawa has a great aspiration to help overcome the conflicts occuring around the globe caused by misunderstandings in religion, politics and even in education, by offering a higher perspective, guidance and a grand vision for humanity. He has great hope that each of us can transform our lives, live with spiritual purpose and meaning, and unite in a positive direction, beyond the differences of our beliefs, creed, race or language, to improve society and help to create an ideal world.
My gift to you is this message: Think big! So always dream big in your heart, and work persistently, step by step, to make your dreams come true. Be determined to build the future of your dreams.
BY RYUHO OKAWA
From the book “Think Big!” | Preface | p.11
Ryuho Okawa in His Youth and Awakening Rise
Ryuho Okawa was born on July 7th 1956, in Tokushima, located in the western region of Japan. During his educational years, the young Okawa made great efforts and excelled in his studies until he could enter one of the most prestigious universities of Japan, the University of Tokyo, majoring in the field of law.
After graduating from the University of Tokyo, Ryuho Okawa joined a trading company and was relocated overseas to the New York headquarters, where he studied international business and finance. Despite having great prospects in the world of business, destiny had another path awaiting – a path on which he would devote his whole life to serving a greater cause.
On March 23rd 1981, at the age of 24, Ryuho Okawa had a spiritual awakening and attained Great Enlightenment with the mission to bring happiness to all of humanity.
1960: A Young Okawa in Primary School
1960: A Young Okawa in Primary School
1968: A Young Okawa in Secondary School
1968: A Young Okawa in Secondary School
1981: Okawa in New York
1981: Okawa in New York
Ryuho Okawa’s Achievements and Teachings of Truth
Since Ryuho Okawa’s great calling, he has worked tirelessly and with boundless passion each day to share universal Truth to people and guide them to happiness.
On November 23rd, 1986, Ryuho Okawa started teaching universal Truth, the Laws. That day is now celebrated in many countries as the day of the Great Turning of the Wheel of Dharma, the day that Truth was first taught to the public.
On March 8th, 1987, he began teaching the Principles of Happiness: the Fourfold Path of Love, Wisdom, Self-reflection and Progress. Three decades later, Ryuho Okawa’s diligent efforts have blossomed into a treasure trove of wisdom for humankind, an extraordinary achievement in human history, that comprises over 2500 lectures on Truth (Dharma lectures) that covers a diversity of fields such as religion, science, world affairs, culture and arts, the medical field, politics, academics and business.
In addition to speaking at public events to tens of thousands of attendees in Japan, he has conducted lectures worldwide over 5 continents in 14 countries such as the USA, UK, Brazil, Australia, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Uganda. Even today, Ryuho Okawa continues with boundless passion to share Truth with as many people as possible with the great aspiration that each and every person can awaken to true happiness.
A Best-selling Author of Over 2100 Books
In addition to conducting over 2500 lectures on Truth, Ryuho Okawa has also published over 2100 books in Japan and worldwide, selling over 100 million copies, including many bestsellers such as The Laws of the Sun, Invincible Thinking and Think Big! Discover the key books on Ryuho Okawa’s core teachings and also his latest book releases.
Ryuho Okawa is a renowned spiritual thinker, leader, and author in Japan with a simple goal: to help people find true happiness and create a better world. To date, Okawa’s books have sold over 100 million copies worldwide and been translated into 27 languages. His books address vital issues such as how our thoughts influence reality, the nature of love, and the path to enlightenment. In 1986, Okawa founded Happy Science as a spiritual movement dedicated to bringing greater happiness to humankind by uniting religions and cultures to live in harmony. Happy Science has grown rapidly from its beginnings in Japan to a worldwide organization. The spiritual workshops Happy Science offers are open to people of all faiths and walks of life and are rooted in the same simple principles of happiness that inspired Okawa’s own spiritual awakening. Okawa is compassionately committed to the spiritual growth of others; in addition to writing and publishing books, he continues to give talks around the world.
Ryuho Okawa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ryuho Okawa (大川 隆法? Ōkawa Ryūhō, born Takashi Nakagawa[1] on July 7, 1956 in Tokushima Prefecture) is the CEO and founder of the Happy Science religious organization and the Happiness Realization Party in Japan.[2]
Ryuho Okawa
(1)Happy Science Sydney-1a.jpg
Happy Science Shoshinkan(temple) in Sydney, Australia
Native name 大川 隆法
Born Takashi Nakagawa[1]
July 7, 1956 (age 60)
Yoshinogawa City, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan
Nationality Japanese
Alma mater University of Tokyo, City University of New York
Organization Happy Science, Happiness Realization Party, Happy Science Academy, Happy Science University
Title Founder and CEO of the Happy Science religious organization and the Happiness Realization Party [2]
Spouse(s) Shio Okawa
Children Hiroshi Okawa, Sayaka Okawa, Masaki Okawa, Yuta Okawa, Arisa Okawa
Awards Guinness World Records as “the most books written(52) in one year by an individual” (2011), The film "The Mystical Laws" was awarded the Remi Special Jury Award 2013 at the 46th WorldFest Houston International Film Festival[3]
Website Ryuho Okawa official website
Life and career[edit]
After graduating from the University of Tokyo, he joined a Tokyo-based trading house. While working at its New York headquarters on the 40th floor of the 1 World Trade Center from 1982-1983, he studied finance at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Just as he got promoted, he resigned his business career and started Happy Science on October 6, 1986.
Happy Science is one of many Japanese new religions, or shinshūkyō, which are looked upon as "controversial" by the mainstream press and public.[4] According to The Japan Times, "for many, the Happies smell suspiciously like a cult".[5] Even though Happy Science protested against Aum Shinrikyo before the 1995 Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, comparisons have been drawn between the two groups[5] and they often clashed in the media during the 1990s.[6]
Since the founding of Happy Science, Okawa has reportedly published over 2000 books[7] most of which are transcripts of his video recorded lectures[8] with 10 films based on his teachings: The Laws of the Sun, The Laws of Eternity, The Golden Laws, The Terrifying Revelations of Nostradamus, Hermes - Winds of Love, The Rebirth of Buddha, The Mystical Laws, The Final Judgement, The Laws of the Universe, and I'm Fine My Angel.[2] The three books The Laws of the Sun, The Golden Laws, and The Laws of Eternity(a.k.a. The Nine Dimensions)[clarification needed] are the trilogy of books that contain the core teachings of Happy Science.
He was married to Kyoko Okawa (大川 きょう子? Ōkawa Kyōko), former leader of the Happiness Realization Party and self-proclaimed "reborn Aphrodite and bodhisattva of wisdom and intellect",[5] but it was reported in February 2011 that they had divorced.[9][10] Happy Science announced that she had been permanently expelled for allegedly causing great personal and administrative damage to the organization, libeling the organization in various newspapers, and besmirching the name of Lord El Cantare.[11]
He is now married to Shio Okawa, who is believed by members of Happy Science to be the incarnation of the goddess Gaia.[12]
Okawa was the target of a failed assassination attempt by Aum Shinrikyo in January 1995 using VX agent.[13]
Ryuho Okawa born on July 7, 1956 in Tokushima Prefecture) is the CEO and founder of the Happy Science religious organization and the Happiness Realization Party in Japan
After graduating from the University of Tokyo, he joined a Tokyo-based trading house. While working at its New York headquarters on the 40th floor of the 1 World Trade Center from 1982-1983, he studied finance at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Just as he got promoted, he resigned his business career and started Happy Science on October 6, 1986.
Since the founding of Happy Science, Okawa has reportedly published over 500 books, with 7 films based on his teachings like: The Laws of the Sun, The Laws of Eternity, and The Golden Laws.[2] These three books contain the core teachings of Happy Science.
Furor Over Man Claiming to Be Japan's Messiah : Evangelism: Ryuho Okawa has alarmed many with his ultranationalist teachings. He says the United States is destined to be destroyed and China to become slave.
October 19, 1991|MARI YAMAGUCHI | ASSOCIATED PRESS
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TOKYO — Lights go off. White smoke rises on stage. A round-faced, chubby man in a dark business suit appears in a spotlight before thousands of admirers. He claims he is Japan's Messiah, the reincarnation of Buddha.
The man portrays the Japanese as a chosen people destined to destroy the United States and the Soviet Union and make China "a slave."
Not too long before this recent speech in Yokohama, Ryuho Okawa was widely dismissed as just another evangelist on the fringes of a work-driven nation starved for spiritual identity.
Lately, however, he has begun to alarm many Japanese with his ultranationalist preaching and his bullying response to a skeptical news media. What's more, his group's membership is swelling.
At Okawa's 35th birthday celebration in July, for which 50,000 supporters gathered, he claimed that membership in his 5-year-old Institute for Research in Human Happiness has grown to 2 million.
In his book "Nostradamus: Fearful Prophecies," Okawa asserts that only the Japanese Leviathan will survive the imminent end of the world after destroying the United States and the Soviet Union:
"In the 21st Century, there will be no enemies for Leviathan. It will slash throats of the old eagle and the exhausted red bear, and laugh at the aging Europe. It will use China as a slave and Korea as a prostitute."
Elsewhere in the book, he mocks American "civilization, which produced nothing more than weapons, cars, Coca-Cola and hamburgers. . . ."
Okawa's ideas have been viewed as fascist or even reminiscent of Japan's militarism of the 1930s, when the government portrayed its aggression in Asia as a "co-prosperity sphere" imposed by a nation born to rule.
"It's rather scary, and reminds me of the rise of Nazism," says Hiromi Shimada, assistant professor of literature at Nihon Women's University.
Many were alarmed last month at a demonstration of Okawa's resolve.
A weekly magazine, Friday, had quoted an ex-leader of another new religion as saying Okawa had suffered from depression. So Okawa's followers flooded Kodansha Ltd., the magazine's publisher, with hate calls and facsimile messages for days, virtually blocking business.
Okawa's group then sued Kodansha, Friday and several writers, demanding $11 million in compensation for "disgracing Okawa." Supporters of Okawa have demanded that the magazine be banned.
"I felt this kind of action to be extreme and violent and that it endangered the media's freedom of speech," said Takeshi Maezawa, who writes on media issues for the Yomiuri newspaper.
Though some people question Okawa's sanity, others say he is just a very smart businessman.
"It is well-planned and organized, and very much manipulated," said Shigeru Nishiyama, a religion expert at Toyo University.
Many taxis in Tokyo's metropolitan area carry the group's promotional brochures and major bookstores have big Okawa sections. Television commercials advertise his books.
Annual revenues are about $45 million, most of it from donations, according to Teikoku Data Bank, an independent research company.
Group spokesmen admit that up to 90% of their members do nothing more than subscribe to a monthly magazine, "Science of Happiness," for $100 a year. But they say as many as 200,000 people have become "true members." Critics put that number as low as 20,000.
To become a true member, one has to read 10 of Okawa's books and pass exams on them. The conservative, achievement-oriented approach is an eerie echo of Japan's educational and economic system, right down to Okawa's headquarters on the fourth floor of a 30-story high rise in central Tokyo.
The movement is the largest of several "new religions" to crop up in Japan in recent years. With total membership in the millions, the cults often employ mystic rituals. But none is believed as nationalistic as Okawa's.
Researchers say 40% to 60% of new religion members are in their 20s and many are trying to fill a spiritual void left by Japan's single-minded postwar drive for economic strength.
Others are turning to new religions as a kind of how-to course in worldly achievement.
Born in 1956, Okawa studied law at Tokyo University. He gave up his hope of becoming a lawyer or a government official after failing his exams and joined a major trading firm, he said in "The Laws of the Sun," one of his bestsellers.
The turning point came in 1981, when a spirit spoke to him.
"My hand which held the pencil started to move as if it had its own life, and wrote, 'Good news, good news.' . . . When I asked who it was, it signed, Nikko," a Buddhist saint.
In 1986, he started the group on the advice of many other spirits, including Jesus Christ and Japan's sun goddess, Okawa said.
His gospel consists of ideas from a patchwork of established religions and historical figures, among them Jesus Christ, Moses, Confucius, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. Okawa considers himself the reincarnation of some of them.
"I came here as more than the Messiah," he says in another book. "This universe, this world were based on my words and my teachings."
QUOTED: "Ryuho Okawa's new book, The Laws of Justice, could not have come at a more appropriate moment. The Japanese thinker, whose books, according to his publisher, IRH Press, have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, takes on our turbulent times in this latest effort, offering potential paths to a peaceful society."
"Whereas most of his titles focus on spiritual and religious ideas, The Laws of Justice has a political message."
Ryuho Okawa's 'The Laws of Justice': the mega-selling
Japanese author and spiritual leader offers a road map for
achieving world peace in his latest book
Publishers Weekly.
263.39 (Sept. 26, 2016): p24.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Ryuho Okawa's new book, The Laws of Justice, could not have come at a more appropriate moment. The Japanese thinker, whose books,
according to his publisher, IRH Press, have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, takes on our turbulent times in this latest effort,
offering potential paths to a peaceful society.
Okawa, who, according to IRH Press, has written some 2,100 titles (many adapted from speeches, lectures, and interviews he has given dating
back to the 1980s), is the founder of the spiritual movement Happy Science. A former businessman working for a Japanese company based in
New York, Okawa was inspired to found Happy Science in the late 1980s. He began laying out the tenets and ideas for Happy Science in 1986
and formally established the group as a religion in Japan in 1991.
Dedicated to helping people achieve spiritual happiness, Happy Science is based on a set of four principles: love, wisdom, self-reflection, and
progress. Each principle encourages self-fulfillment. In The Laws of Justice, Okawa specifies that love teaches us how to "give ourselves freely,"
wisdom helps us find "insights of spiritual truths," self-reflection helps us achieve "a mindful, nonjudgmental lens," and progress emphasizes "the
positive dynamic aspects of our spiritual growth."
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The Laws of Justice is a departure from much of the work Okawa has published to date, as Bob Newman, a publicist working on the book,
explains. Whereas most of his titles focus on spiritual and religious ideas, The Laws of Justice has a political message. It proposes, Newman says,
"how world leaders, academic thinkers, and thoughtful readers can bring the world together."
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
How does one book come up with solutions for such a seemingly intractable problem? Newman says that whereas Okawa believes most books
tackle world peace by focusing on "diplomatic and political relationships," The Laws of Justice "looks at the roots of how human beings act and
communicate in communities both nationally and internationally." By doing this, Newman says, Okawa offers possibilities for "how, in the future,
human beings can find common ground and better understand each other's feelings, opinions, and agendas."
Okawa believes that the world is in the throes of a precarious and dangerous moment, with the growing threat of global terrorism and the rise of
ISIS, the growing tension around the use of force by police in the U.S., and more. Okawa explains that as the U.S. presidential campaigns bring
many of these issues to the fore, his ideas, as laid out in The Laws of Justice, offer a "new vision" for world peace, and one that is "required" right
now. "This vision," he continues, is based on six of his lectures that compose the book, which puts forth the notion that government affairs,
political events, and spiritual values are actually deeply connected.
Elaborating on this notion, Okawa believes that both world conflicts and religious conflicts are on the rise because so many "world economies are
shattered." Okawa sees "a unique religious movement as the solution."
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The Laws of Justice, which is subtitled How We Can Save World Conflicts & Bring Peace, explains, according to Okawa, "the reason why people
forever undergo revolutions in pursuit of democracy."
By connecting domestic and international conflicts with spiritual values, Okawa shows how religion can be used as a unifying force in the world.
"There are two major trends opposing each other in the world today," Okawa writes in The Laws of Justice. "One centers around the United
States. This force is comprised of countries that want its support and spread the ideologies of democracy, liberalism, fundamental human rights
and market economies. The other is a force comprised of countries that will suffer if these ideologies spread across the world."
In the hope that the tension between these two opposing factions won't lead to war, Okawa offers these six lectures presented in The Laws of
Justice--originally given in Japan between 2013 and 2015--to demonstrate how religion can be used as a way to protect human rights and
encourage governments to establish and support democracies.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Ryuho Okawa's 'The Laws of Justice': the mega-selling Japanese author and spiritual leader offers a road map for achieving world peace in his
latest book." Publishers Weekly, 26 Sept. 2016, p. 24. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA465558177&it=r&asid=25968195e6ed128fccd9b8dfbf062e1b. Accessed 12 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A465558177
---
QUOTED: "becomes sentimental, even oddly evangelical."
"Though some readers will find this book informative, more will finish it with questions regarding Okawa's personal beliefs."
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The Essence of Buddha: The Path to Enlightenment.
(Religion)
Publishers Weekly.
250.9 (Mar. 3, 2003): p71.
COPYRIGHT 2003 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
RYUHO OKAWA. Time Warner Books UK (Trafalgar Square, dist.), $15 (102 p.) ISBN 0-316-85935-4
Claiming that he possesses "the same transcendental powers as Shakyamuni" Buddha himself, Okawa, founder of The Institute for Research in
Human Happiness, offers his unique perspective on several core Buddhist concepts. He begins by briefly reviewing pivotal moments in the life of
the historical Buddha. He then describes and comments on the Eightfold Path and the Six Paramitas, specific disciplines--such as diligent
meditation and the giving of offerings--designed to activate the believer's latent inner wisdom and hasten enlightenment. The remainder of the
book is devoted to Okawa's take on such Buddhist concepts as the void, the law of causality and reincarnation. Unfortunately, Okawa's distinctly
religious, even sectarian, perspective makes his explanations something of a curiosity. With the steadfast conviction of a true believer, he grounds
his discussion in an esoteric cosmology where seekers of truth are beset b y evil spirits and devils, a "science of the spirit. goes beyond Einstein's
theory of relativity" and powerful spirit beings inhabit multiple dimensions, overseeing the development of beings on many planets, including
Earth, over tens of millions of years. The writing itself, though pleasantly formal, at times becomes sentimental, even oddly evangelical
(exceptional seekers can gain quicker spiritual progress if they "allow tears of repentance...to stream down their cheeks"). Though some readers
will find this book informative, more will finish it with questions regarding Okawa's personal beliefs than with a deeper understanding of the
essence of Buddha. (Apr. 15)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Essence of Buddha: The Path to Enlightenment. (Religion)." Publishers Weekly, 3 Mar. 2003, p. 71+. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA98776623&it=r&asid=5722dc250f4912e0b54fca746e14368d. Accessed 12 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A98776623
---
QUOTED: "This is a wonderful book which explains how the earth is destined to become the Planet of Love in a New Age."
"Okawa brings up notions that could have a revolutionary impact on how we operate on earth- well into the foreseeable future. Perhaps, his musings will result in a new Middle East once the ideas contained in this book take root!"
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(2/2011) Book Review: The Next Great Awakening
Basilandspice.com.
(Feb. 21, 2011):
COPYRIGHT 2011 Basil & Spice
Full Text:
Reviewed by: Dr. Joseph S. Maresca
The Next Great Awakening: A Spiritual Renaissance by Ryuho Okawa (New Atlantis Books/2011)
This is a wonderful book which explains how the earth is destined to become the Planet of Love in a New Age. Okawa has 12 million followers
in 70 countries. He is believed to be the reincarnation of Buddha. He has regularly filled stadiums of thousands in Japan and elsewhere.
Okawa states that it is the role of Buddha consciousness to systematize God's teachings and disseminate the law of the mind across the planet.
The concept of a Utopia is right thinking and unconditional love. The seventh-dimensional realm in the "Real World" is inhabited by people who
love and nurture others freely and without preconditions. An ideal society begins with an image of it in your own mind.
For the past two decades, Okawa has taught that our true identity is not a physical body but rather an invisible soul. I adhere to this concept
because it is inconceivable that everything we know just disappears when we die. Humans have a vast DNA network that serves as a virtual
blueprint for life and its continuation.
William Paley states in his "Natural Theology" that complexity does need design; therefore, there must be a G-d or a Divine Being. Dr. Benjamin
Fain believes in a similar notion. The concept of a Supreme Being permeates Christianity, Judaism, Islam and other global religions. If we
acknowledge the existence of a deity, the next logical question is as follows: Who created the deity?
Okawa believes that the human body has undergone many different forms. There was the Atlantean race, the Lamudian race and many other
humans, a good many of whom looked quite different from the way humans look today... Among the civilizations that have perished long ago,
such as Atlantis, there were very small humans, as well as giant ones.
The author believes that Venus was the site of the first life some 5.5 billion years ago. Eventually, a race of Venusians was created. The race
resembled humans with an IQ of approximately 300. The paradise created on Venus exuded love, wisdom, self-reflection and progress as the
ultimate learning modality. Surprisingly, there can be no progress without an honest self-reflection, wisdom and love as conditions precedent.
Practically speaking, this learning modality has applicability everywhere on earth and the Middle East in particular.
The book has some excellent arguments for the design of our solar system. Future space exploration will confirm or refute Okawa's arguments.
We know that Saturn's orange moon Titan has hundreds of times more liquid hydrocarbons than all the known oil and natural gas reserves on
Earth. (NASA's Cassini spacecraft)
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The hydrocarbons literally rain from the sky. Vast deposits are collected in lakes and dune formations. Practically speaking, commercialization is
decades away. Nonetheless, Saturn's Titan has the potential to become a permanent game changer later this century and thereafter.
"Titan is just covered in carbon-bearing material, it's a giant factory of organic chemicals," says Ralph Lorenz, Cassini radar team member from
the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
"This vast carbon inventory is an important window into the geology and climate history of Titan."
Saturn's Titan has significant liquid hydrocarbons. The inherent design of this portion of our solar system may have the energy needs to leapfrog
to other solar systems unbeknownst to us right now.
In summary, Okawa brings up notions that could have a revolutionary impact on how we operate on earth- well into the foreseeable future.
Perhaps, his musings will result in a new Middle East once the ideas contained in this book take root!
Joseph S. Maresca Ph.D., CPA, CISA, MBA : His significant writings include over 10 copyrights in the name of the author (Joseph S. Maresca)
and a patent in the earthquake sciences. He holds membership in the prestigious Delta Mu Delta National Honor Society and Sigma Beta Delta
International Honor Society. In addition, he blogs and reviews many books for Basil & Spice. Visit the Joseph S. Maresca Writer's Page.
Copyright (c) 2006-2011, Basil & Spice. All rights reserved.
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Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"(2/2011) Book Review: The Next Great Awakening." Basilandspice.com, 21 Feb. 2011. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA249618354&it=r&asid=6310cd310c47153bb22e0302e868c35d. Accessed 12 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A249618354