Portugal I.V. (46 years old, female)

〔Fibromyalgia of unknown cause〕

　In 1993, I went to the hospital because of an intermittent sharp pain. Then, my doctor diagnosed me with fibromyalgia.
　The cause of this illness has not been medically revealed. My brother, a cardiac surgeon, asked a doctor he knew to see me. I also went to other hospitals to take various medicines. However, although the symptoms improved temporarily, the pain became even more severe after a few hours.
　The pain of this illness is difficult for people to understand. Thus, people around me seemed to accept me as a lazy person. I was extremely depressed and didn’t even know what to rely on. I had no hope for the future. Sometimes I didn’t know what I was living for, so my mind and body were in a deep dark state.

〔Symptoms improved at the MOA Lisbon Clinic〕

　In May 2001, when such a situation continued, my friend introduced me to the Lisbon Clinic. I decided to visit the clinic. At the clinic, the staff explained about Okada Purifying Therapy .However, I was still skeptical. Still, I wanted to be cured, so I decided to try it.
　After about an hour of my first Purifying Therapy, the sharp pain in the knots disappeared. I felt better. I thought, “This therapy may improve my conditions.” I then asked the staff to offer me continued Purifying Therapy. I continued to go to the clinic one to two times a week for about 7 months. Then, the pain in the knots that had been occurring intermittently improved. At the same time, my feelings became calm, and I gradually became able to have hope of living. In December 2002, I wanted to perform Purifying Therapy myself, so I joined MOA and received a MOA pendant.

〔Understanding of my brother〕

　My brother, who runs a medical clinic, was interested in Purifying Therapy because he was watching me as my symptoms gradually improved. Then, in May 2006, we visited the MOA Clinic together. At that time, the staff recommended that we participate in a Purifying Therapy Seminar at the Souto Zuisenkyô. We decided to participate together. While listening to the seminars and strolling around the Zuisenkyô, I deepened my understanding of the way of life that respects and adapts to Nature that MOA aims for, as well as the Okada Health and Wellness Program.
　After attending the seminar, my brother began to receive Purifying Therapy at the MOA Clinic. We also participated in a Health Promotion Seminar for physicians held at the Souto Zuisenkyô in May 2007 and a Purifying Therapy Seminar held in July at the MOA Clinic. Perhaps my brother has deepened his understanding of MOA activities and Purifying Therapy. He is now introducing Purifying Therapy to patients who come to his medical clinic.

〔Deeply moved by the work of the staff〕

　However, I myself thought that it was good as long as my symptoms improved. I began to visit the clinic less as my pain disappeared. Sometimes I did not receive Purifying Therapy for several months. And when the symptoms worsened, I would seek the therapy at the clinic. I sort of repeated this process.
　In the fall of 2007, my depressive symptoms recurred due to work problems and I started receiving Purifying Therapy again at the clinic. At this time, the staff sometimes came to my house. He offered to arrange flowers. He even planted flowers with me in the garden. In June 2008, I became depressed again due to the death of my friend and stress at work. Again, by experiencing Purifying Therapy and ikebana twice a week at the clinic, I improved within a month.
　When I was sick, I was deeply moved by the devoted staff at the clinic that cared for me. From the bottom of my heart, I thought, “I want to be a person who can serve others.”

〔Purifying Therapy for the father of a friend〕

　Around the same time, I heard from a friend that his father was hospitalized for cancer. I went to see him. When I saw him, I wanted him to improve, so I briefly explained about Purifying Therapy. I then performed the therapy for about an hour. Then he said, “It’s been a while since I felt so good. Please tell me more about Purifying Therapy.” I didn’t have enough knowledge to explain the principle to him. I revisited him after obtaining the materials from the staff of the clinic and asked him to read them. My friend’s father seemed to understand the Purifying Therapy. He continued to receive the therapy one to two times a week. Although it is a terminal cancer situation, he said “it feels good” and “thank you very much”. These words made me happy.
　I have read the manuscript by Mokichi Okada, “Unless we make others happy, we ourselves can never become happy.” Up until now, I had understood it with my head, but through this experience, I realized that by serving people, I can feel happy.
　Thinking back to the days when I didn’t even have the hope of living, now that I have found such a way of life, I am truly filled with gratitude and joy.