Portugal D.J. (62 years old, female)

〔From depression to insomnia〕

　I have been depressed since I was 30 years old. I worry about even little events and started to worry too much. Gradually, I started to think about things pessimistically, hated myself, and felt scared of my husband even though he wasn’t doing anything.
　Perhaps because of this mental condition, I couldn’t sleep and became an insomniac. I started taking medicine. Yet, my symptoms would be good one day and bad another day. When I went to the hospital, I didn’t get any advice, and some days, I would just be given medicine. My doctor told me that it was unlikely that I would be cured. I didn’t know what I was living for.
　In 2004, while I was living that way, my eldest daughter got cancer. She then died at the age of 37, leaving behind her only daughter. Being overwhelmed by sadness, I became reluctant to interact with people. I began to stay at home. Even at home, I no longer had conversations with my family. I lost the energy to live. I spent days thinking about dying.

〔Okada Purifying Therapy received at the Souto Zuisenkyô〕

　It was in 2006. Not wanting me to be in such a situation like this, my eldest son said, “I heard that there is a place called Zuisenkyô in Souto where they offer a therapy called Purifying Therapy. It is rumored that many people are getting better. My friends’s long time back pain was cured through the therapy. Mom, why don’t you go there once?” At first, I didn’t feel like going because I thought, “It’s a waste of time because my symptoms won’t heal anymore.” However, after that, I heard that my brother’s sciatica and my sister-in-law’s insomnia had improved. Hearing that, in May 2006, I went to Souto Zuisenkyô with my husband and eldest son.
　I received Purifying Therapy thinking that “this kind of thing cannot cure me.” However, I gradually felt calm in my heart. After going to the Zuisenkyô several times, my family said, “You’re smiling. It’s better than before.” It certainly made me feel better. I felt like I was smiling and having more conversations. I chose to visit the Zuisenkyô every day.

〔People who were in similar circumstances …〕

　After three months, I felt calm and could sleep. Thus, I was spending my life without receiving Purifying Therapy. However, around August 2007, strong depressive symptoms reappeared. “I don’t want to do anything.” “I don’t want to interact with people.” “I’m not going to be cured anymore, and I don’t have to be cured.”
　In January 2008, when such a situation continued, I met Ms. E, who lives down the street near my house. Talking to her, she informed me that she was experiencing depression. In 2003, she got better after receiving Purifying Therapy at the Souto Zuisenkyô. Now, she spends her days without taking medicine. With the recommendation of Ms. E and the strong recommendation of my husband and eldest son, I decided to go back to the Souto Zuisenkyô from the end of January.
　At the Zuisenkyô, E and A were volunteer therapists. A informed me that he too suffered from depression. At the time, he did not have the will to live and only thought of dying. However, from 2003, with Purifying Therapy, his symptoms improved. His life made a turn around and he is very happy today.
　Seeing E and A, who were in similar circumstances as me, now shining lively, I also wanted to know more about the Okada Health and Wellness Program.
　First, I bought two books entitled, “Toward Families Filled with Beauty” and “The Ultimate Wellness Program.” Among them, I was impressed by the content of Mokichi Okada’s article, which states, “Unless we make others happy, we ourselves can never become happy.” I thought that I had only thought about myself until now, so I reflected on it. I joined MOA on May 25, 2008 thinking “I will volunteer for others” in order to obtain happiness.

〔Finding the value of your existence〕

　Since the Souto Zuisenkyô has a MOA Members’ Day three times a month, I began to participate. I administered Purifying Therapy to visitors. At first, I was worried that “Is it effective for me to administer Purifying Therapy?” However, as I administered, several times, the recipients shared with me things like “the pain was relieved” and “I felt better.” I was very happy when I received the words of gratitude, “Thank you,” from them.
　As I gradually became more confident, I began to treat my granddaughter, who has been sick since her mother’s death, on a daily basis. After continuing for a while, my granddaughter started to say, “Grandma, please give me Purifying Therapy.” She says, “I can sleep comfortably when I receive it.” Also, when I gave my cousin Purifying Therapy, she said, “I feel better when I receive it.” After that, I was asked every time she visited me.
　I had been suffering from depression and lived a life that others couldn’t rely on me. However, by being grateful to people through Purifying Therapy, I felt “I’m glad I was alive” and found my own worth.
　On August 17, 2008, there was a group trip event in my community. Until now, I was lethargic, indifferent, and avoided interacting with people. However, by this time my feelings were positive and I was able to participate in local events for the first time in 30 years.
　Nowadays, my husband and eldest son often ask me, “Don’t you need to go to the Souto Zuisenkyô?” “Isn’t it better for you to go and receive Purifying Therapy?” “Are you going to volunteer?” Looking at the changes in my facial expressions and feelings, I think that they too realized the splendor of the Zuisenkyô. I myself haven’t completely recovered from depression. However, I like to go to Zuisenkyô and volunteer so that many people can receive Purifying Therapy.

〔Notes from my husband〕

　My depressed wife was always crying and never left home. No matter what I talked about, she didn’t even try to go out with me, so I gradually gave up and didn’t invite her. The marital relationship with few conversations continued.
　Sometimes she left home in the middle of the night, saying that it wasn’t worth living. As she was thinking about suicide, I couldn’t say it but I spent days of sadness.
　There was a time when I searched for a psychiatrist, but she was only prescribed medicine and it didn’t improve. In addition, my eldest daughter died of cancer. I was resolved to suffer with my wife for the rest of our life.
　In 2006, my eldest son said, “I heard from a friend that he was able to receive a wellness program called Purifying Therapy at the Souto Zuisenkyô and his illness that had not improved for many years was getting better.”
　When I asked my neighbors and relatives if they knew anything about Purifying Therapy, I learned that my wife’s brother and my sister also got better with Purifying Therapy and it had a good reputation. Although my wife was not up for it, I took her to the Souto Zuisenkyô.
　As she continued to go to the Zuisenkyô, I noticed that she gradually began to smile more despite having an expressionless face until now. In addition, the words “Thank you” and “Good morning” have come to appear from her at home. Thus, family conversations have increased. Eventually, she started to grow flowers and decorate them in our house. She even participated in local group trips with me. She used to cry and say “I want to die,” but now she says “I want to cure my illness.”
　I am truly grateful that the encounter with Purifying Therapy has shown signs of resolving our 30-year-old worry.