Editing Ryuho Okawa (section)

====Role as Buddha and El Cantare====
In Happy Science, Okawa is known as the Buddha, both the Enlightened One and the reincarnation of Gautama Buddha, and the embodiment of El Cantare, the Grand Spirit of the Terrestrial Spirit Group, called "Lord El Cantare" within Happy Science.<ref name=fukui2004p118>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=118}}</ref><ref name=fukui2004p65 /> The name "El Cantare" means "beautiful land of light, Earth".<ref name=fukui2004p65 /> El Cantare is also known as the "Eternal Buddha". This Buddha is related to the Creator God, known as the "[[Adi-Buddha|Primordial Buddha]]". Many members believe Okawa is an incarnation of the Creator.<ref name=fukui2004p118 /> Okawa is believed to have many past incarnations. These include a king named La Mu on the continent [[Mu (mythical lost continent)|Mu]], a king named Thoth on the continent [[Atlantis]], a king named Rient Arl Croud in the [[Inca Empire]] located in ancient South America, Ophealis and [[Hermes]] in ancient Greece, and the Buddha in India.<ref name=fukui2004p65 /><ref name=winter2013p429/>

As El Cantare, Okawa is the main figure of worship in Happy Science. Members have faith in El Cantare.<ref name=fukui2004p118 /> Their worship gives them "comfort, energy, courage, hope, steadiness, and a sense of being guided and looked after."<ref name=fukui2004p118 /> The organization's {{Nihongo|object of worship|御本尊|gohonzon}} has a photo of Okawa as El Cantare. El Cantare is said to have chosen to be incarnated in Japan because both Eastern and Western civilizations are merged there. When the two civilizations coexist harmoniously, an element of the Utopia would be realized. Thus Japan is the ideal place for Okawa to run a utopian movement which will bring about a new age in the 21st century. Okawa said El Cantare has two roles: a Savior, like Amitabha Buddha, and [[Vairocana|Mahavairocana]], the Buddha's essence which represents enlightenment.<ref name=fukui2004p118 />

El Cantare is believed to be needed in this world because the world is in a crisis. Dark thoughts exist in the world, which cause disasters, including wars and other conflicts.<ref name=fukui2004p118 /> In Happy Science's doctrine, like attracts like; the cultivation of the Light of Buddha attracts more light, and the cultivation of dark thoughts attracts more dark thoughts. Dark thoughts currently outweigh the Light in the world, creating the need for a [[Utopia]] which reverses the situation. This Utopia is to be realized by El Cantare and his followers.<ref name=fukui2004p119>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=119}}</ref>

Because Okawa identifies as both the Buddha and El Cantare, Fukui (2004) believes that he fits both types of prophet which sociologist [[Max Weber]] believes exist: the exemplary type who leads people to salvation through exemplary living and the emissary type who declares their demands to the world. Okawa plays the exemplary role as the Buddha by embodying the correct way of living and by guiding people to enlightenment. Okawa fulfills the emissary role as El Cantare by providing "hopes of salvation."<ref name=fukui2004p118 />