Mahikari movement
The Mahikari movement is a Japanese new religious movement that was founded in 1959 by Yoshikazu Okada . The word "Mahikari" means "True Light " in Japanese. The movement currently consists of various splinter organizations; the largest ones are currently World Divine Light in Izu and Sukyo Mahikari in Takayama. Both of these organizations refer to their headquarters as Suza, since they are the shrines for the supreme Su-god. Both organizations also refer to their spiritual leader as Oshienushi or Oshienushi-sama.
Foundation
The original Mahikari organization was founded by Kōtama Okada in 1959. The organization was originally named L. H. Yokoshi no Tomo.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, 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 The Holy Words and The Yōkōshi Prayer Book. Other books Mahikari doctrinal books include Mioshie-shū.Mahikari organizations
Following the passing of Kōtama Okada on June 13, 1974, Mahikari split into several different organizations.- 1963: "Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan" – 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, 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
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 or Oshienushi-sama :
- First Oshienushi: Kotama Okada
- Second Oshienushi: Sakae Sekiguchi
- Third Oshienushi: Katsutoshi Sekiguchi
Sukyo Mahikari