Mahikari Religions

The Mahikari movement (Japanese: ) is a Japanese new religious movement (''shinshūkyō'') that was founded in 1959 by Yoshikazu Okada (岡田 良一) (1901–1974). The word "Mahikari" means "True (真, ma) Light (光, hikari)" in Japanese. The movement currently consists of various splinter organizations; the largest ones are currently World Divine Light ( 世界真光文明教団) in Izu and Sukyo Mahikari ( 崇教真光) in Takayama. Both of these organizations refer to their headquarters as ("God's throne"), since they are the shrines for the supreme . Both organizations also refer to their spiritual leader as ''Oshienushi'' or ''Oshienushi-sama'' (教え主 ��.

Foundation

The original Mahikari organization was founded by Kōtama Okada (born Yoshikazu Okada) in 1959. The organization was originally named L. H. Yokoshi no Tomo (陽光子友乃会, ''Yokoshi Tomo no Kai'', "Lucky, Healthy, Association of Bright / Positive People").

Beliefs

Kōtama Okada claimed that his role involved spreading God's Light and the universal principles to humanity.

The art of True Light is a practice meant to purify one's spiritual aspect as an expedient toward attaining happiness. Radiating Light from the palm of the hand is a method of purification that cleanses the spirit, mind and body, and is said to help open the way to resolving all manner of problems. Okada spent much of his time in the early days of the organization giving Light to people throughout Japan. In 1973, he visited Europe, and the art of True Light started spreading throughout the world.

Kōtama Okada believed that if people lived in accordance with "universal principles," they would cultivate their spirituality, and naturally come to use science and technology that was integrated with an understanding of spirituality, to find solutions to pressing issues facing humanity. Mahikari encourages people to incorporate these universal or divine principles in their daily life by practicing virtues such as altruistic love, gratitude, humility and acceptance of the will of God. Kōtama Okada proclaimed the fundamental tenet of the organization, "The origin of the earth is one, the origin of the universe is one, the origin of humankind is one, and the origin of all religions is one." He emphasized that all human beings share a common origin and that people should work together to create a peaceful world of love and harmony, transcending the barriers of religious denomination, nationality, ideology, and so on.

Okada claimed that God has a plan ("the divine plan"), and in preparation for a heaven-like civilization on earth, the world was entering a time of great upheaval. Okada said that an increase in what he called the spiritual energy of fire would result in abnormal weather phenomena such as flooding, fires, and water shortages, and encouraged people to transition from a way of life based on excessive materialism to a sustainable way of life in harmony with the environment and universal principles.

Texts

The fundamental teachings of Mahikari appear in and (). Other books Mahikari doctrinal books include ''Mioshie-shū'' (御教え集, "Holy Teachings" and ''Mahikari shokyū kenshū sankō-sho'' (真光初級研修参考書, "Mahikari Primary Training Reference Book").

Mahikari organizations

Following the passing of Kōtama Okada on June 13, 1974, Mahikari split into several different organizations.

* 1963: " Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan" ( 世界真光文明教団) – The name when the organization was first registered as a religious entity. In 1974, Sakae Sekiguchi assumed the leadership of this organization with about 15% of the original members.
* 1978: "Sukyo Mahikari", was registered by Keishu Okada ( 岡田恵珠; born Sachiko Okada 岡田幸子), the daughter of the founder, after an amicable settlement following the passing of the founder. About 85% of the original membership followed.

Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan

Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan, also known as World Divine Light (WDL) outside Japan, is headquartered in the mountainous interior of Izu, Shizuoka. Its main temple is the , which is often simply known as the .

Outside Japan, it calls itself the World Divine Light Organization to distinguish itself from Sukyo Mahikari. World Divine Light has branches in Houston, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, New York, Chicago, Honolulu, and Vancouver.

The organization's spiritual leader is known as the Oshienushi (教え主) or Oshienushi-sama (教え主様):

*First Oshienushi: Kotama Okada ( 岡田光玉; 1901–1974) (divine name: Seiō 聖鳳)
*Second Oshienushi: Sakae Sekiguchi ( 関口榮; 3 March 1909 – 1994)
*Third Oshienushi: Katsutoshi Sekiguchi ( 関口勝利; 1 September 1939–) (current leader)

Sukyo Mahikari

Sukyo Mahikari is headquartered in Takayama, Gifu. Its headquarters is also known as the .

Others

Other organizations with relatively minor membership that stem from Mahikari include Yokoshi Tomonokai ( 陽光子友乃会), Mahikari Seihō no Kai ( 真光正法之會), Subikari ( ス光), Shin-Yu-Gen Kyusei Mahikari, and so on.

Organizations with similarities

Other religious organizations that have similarities include Sekai Kyūsei Kyō (the Church of World Messianity, which Kōtama Okada was originally a follower of) and Oomoto. In Sekai Kyūsei Kyō, a practice called Jōrei (purification of the spirit) is undertaken. Similarly in Mahikari, ''okiyome'' (お浄め) ("purifying"), also known as ''tekazashi'' (手かざし) ("laying of hands"), which involves radiating divine Light from a high dimension emanated from the Creator God. This Light is said to purify the spirit, mind, and body, of human beings and is made possible through a divine pendant called Omitama.

See also

* Japanese new religions
* New religious movement
* Religions of Japan

Notes

References

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External links

Sukyo MahikariSekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan

World Divine Light Organization
(international branches of Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan)
Yokoshi Tomo No Kai

{{New religious movements

Religious organizations based in Japan
Religious organizations established in 1959
Japanese new religions
1959 establishments in Japan
Shinto new religious movements
New religious movements established in the 1950s