Four Principles
We hold that there are four principles of happiness;
"love," "knowledge," "reflection" and "development."
These four principles are four paths to happiness and utopia. The first is a movement to create a utopia in the mind of each person. Without creating a utopia in the individual minds of the people, it will be impossible for us to improve and advance society. A human society is an aggregate of individuals. It follows that a utopia should first be established in the mind of each individual before it can be established in society and in its institutions or organizations. A grand utopia can then be created within the aggregate of the individual utopias. A utopia for each individual should be sought in the happiness of the individual mind. We research the principles that leads us to that happiness. The second policy is the creation of a utopia for the whole world. this is the creation of the kingdom of heaven on the earth. The creation of a world where all people can live in happiness is what we earnestly seek, and is the ultimate goal of us. From the "private happiness"of each individual to the "public happiness" of the whole society and the whole world -- this could serve as a slogan for us.
LOVE
- The first principle of happiness is love;its pursuit and practice. Love is the light of this world Love sheds light on the minds and hearts of people and society. Love reveals the true nature of man as a child of God. There is no happiness without love. Love is an egg of happiness. When there is no love, happiness cannot hatch forth. the love that creates happiness is the "love that gives" or "love without return." This love is in constant circulation. When offered freely, it flows back to the giver in untold ways. The opposite, the "love that deprives," is "attachment." When we do not release love into the circulation, love does not flow from others into our lives. First, we must give love. This is the beginning.
KNOWLEDGE
- The second principle of happiness is knowledge;Modern society is knowledge-oriented,and this is an era of intelligence. The principles of happiness,which we of this era embrace,must appeal to and be digested by our intellects in order to pass through the "knowledge filter." While we are exploring the "World of Real Existence" beyond this three dimensional world, and carrying out scientific research into the multi-dimensional universe, we must ensure that the contents and results of our research wil appeal to the intellectual and logical nature of man today, and man in the future. As the objects of our research, including the spirit and the soul, are revealed, we will wield the "intellectual scalpel" with courage. We will truly demonstrate a rational spirit throughout our endeavors.
REFLECTION
- The third principle of happiness is "reflection." Reflection involves looking back on one's self and examining one's life. We often attribute our happiness, or unhappiness, to external causes. We tend to think that influences from another person or from our environment make us happy or unhappy. The true causes of our happiness or unhappiness, however, are usually found within ourselves. It is said that,"The mind of a person that we see is a mirror before us." When another person appeals to be malicious, we must deeply question whether or not the maliciousness is a projection of our own minds. Furthermore, we must not blame our environment for our unhappiness. If we can love and embrace our fate as Helen Keller did her triple handicap, our lives will became illuminated. We must confront our own minds and seek "the right mind." sincerely every day. Only when erroneous thoughts and attachments have been eliminated, through reflection, can we discover our truly free inner selves
DEVELOPMENT
- The fourth principle of happiness is "development." We know genuine happiness when we feel that our souls or personalities are growing everyday, or when people around us are realizing lives full of joy, or when we, ourselves. are making progrss in self-actualization as conscientious children of God. Whether or not we are happy depends upon whether or not we are developing. Happiness is not a static condition which can be had when we have attained material success or feelings of achievement. Happiness lies in the process of our development, in the journey we undertake is one of infinite growth towards the one true God, and eternal self-improvement.
(Excerpts from "Introduction to The Institute for Research in Human Happiness")
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