Mahikari

Mahikari 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.[1] Kotama Okada claimed he has received the revelations from the Creator God till 13th June, 1974. The revelations allowed to release to public were published as book called Goseigen.

According to his teachings, his main missions were to construct the Suza to worship the Creator and nurture the seed people.

Foundation

The Mahikari organization was founded based on a revelation dated February 27, 1959. Okada said that this revelation related to the mission of bringing purification to the world and humanity. Thus, he founded the organization, "L.H. Yokoshi Tomo no Kai" (陽光子友乃会 – Association of Positive People [children] of Light). In 1963, he registered the organization under the name "Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan" (World Divine Light Organization).

Members names (age) and roles on June 13, 1974.

  1. Kotama Okada (73), spiritual leader (and representative of the organization)
  2. Keishu Okada (45), director of Hohsai department, graduated the special grade course (and the member of the board), later 2nd spiritual leader registered Sukyo Mahikari.
  3. Koya Okada (27), ministry, later 3rd spiritual leader of Sukyo Mahikari.
  4. Minoru kuroda (46), general member, later established kohrin (Subikari, since and became the 1st spiritual leader.
  5. Sakae Sekiguchi (65), director of Sukyo department, and World Shrine establishment committee, later 2nd spiritual leader. CEO of Mitsuya taxi holdings.
  6. Katsutoshi Sekiguchi (35), non member, later 3rd spiritual leader, larer 3rd spiritual leader. Employee of Mitsuya taxi holdings.
  7. Masao Ohno (46), regional director, later established Sekai daiwa yohmei kyokai.
  8. Hideyoshi Tanaka (), ministry fired by Kotama okada, later split from Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan and established yokoshi Tomonokai, became 3rd spiritual leader.
  9. Takateru Nakano (), ministry, later split from Yokoshi Tomonokai and established Mahikari Seiho no kai, and became the 3rd spiritual leader.
  10. kimiyoshi Yoda (58), general member, established shinyugen Kyūsei Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan and became the 1st sukuinushi, the saver.

Okada's world view

Okada claimed that he received a revelation from the Creator God, Mioya Motosu Mahikari Omikami ("Great Parent, Great Origin, True Light, Great God"), or simply, "Su (主, Lord) God." He mentioned his role to pioneer the introduction of the art of True Light, a method of spiritual purification that cleanses the spirit, mind, and body, and serves as an expedient to attaining happiness.

Okada claimed that the world was approaching a time of great upheaval, "baptism by fire," in which humanity will be cleansed through abnormal weather, social turmoil, and so on. He emphasized that humanity had entered this period in earnest from January 1, 1962. Okada said an increase in what he called the spiritual energy of fire would result in phenomena such as flooding, cold snaps, and potable water would becoming increasingly scarce. He said humankind needed to work hastily to develop techniques of turning sea water into drinkable water.

The holy scriptures of Mahikari consist of The Holy Words (Goseigen) and The Yōkōshi Prayer Book (Norigotoshū).

Religious organization with similarities

Other religious organizations that have similarities include Oomoto, Sekai Kyūsei Kyō, Tenrikyo, and Konkokyo. For example, in Sekai Kyūsei Kyō, a practice called Johrei (purification of the spirit) is undertaken. A number of practices channel universal energy but it is noted that the emphasis in Mahikari is radiating Light from the Creator God, which purifies the spirit, mind, and body, and is made possible through a divine pendant called Omitama.

Hikari wa tōhō yori (Light will come from the East)

"In a collection of [Okada's] sermons we find a chapter entitled “Light will come from the East,” which explains that the founders of the world's major religions realized their teachings were revealing a part of the ultimate truth, and that eventually teachings disclosing the entire truth would emerge from the East. [2]

Mahikari organizations

The following organizations (listed in order of establishment date) were influenced by the world-view and practices of Yoshikazu Okada:

  • 1959 : "L.H. Yokoshi Tomo no Kai" (Lucky, Healthy, Association of Sunlight Friends). The start of the Mahikari organization.
  • 1963 : "Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan" – The Mahikari organization became registered as a religious. In 15 years it grew to the organization with 400,000 membership by 1974 when Kotoma Okada passed away.
  • 1974 : June 13th, Kotama Okada received the crucial revelation, passed away on June 23rd, 10 days after the crucial revelation.
  • 1974 - 1982 : Mahikari split, amicable settlement
  • 1974: "Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan", Sakae Sekiguchi as 2nd spiritual leader, around 1/4 of the original member followed. 50,000 to 100,000 worldwide (2007)
  • 1978 : "Sukyo Mahikari" , Keishu Okada as 2nd spiritual leader, around 3/4 of the original members followed. nominal membership – 1,000,000+ worldwide (2009).

Crucial Revelations

According to Keishu Okada, Kotaka Okada had received the crucial revelations on June 13, 1974.

Title; 『S49, 6/13 2am Crucial Revelation in long time absence』

  1. too late, too slow, you Yamato peolpe doing too late....
  2. when you make effort (to make world shrine) toward (at) "Kurodake"玄岳, you shout ”Mt Genkoh玄光山" it is true, however it was dark at that time, kuro/Gen"玄" means dark(kurai, adj, Jp) to remind you Mt Kurai, for the moment, secretly take only "YO",
  3. (take the mitama of "YO", ) and award it to you daughter
  4. let's see if the power/energy can be diverted outside with other arrangement...
  5. additional asking, the place of the world main shrine, Kuraiyama Takayama, shifting to the original is first

The submitted documents were 4~5 page copies of the original document, and many of contents were covered.

The court asked "what is Goshinji?" and if Keishu Okada could submit the original document or they could not recognize all the pages were the series of the same contents written on the same day. Even though all the handwriting were of Kotama Okada, it was very hard to understand the meaning as the sentences or didn't have grammar etc... This document was not taken as evidence to proof Kotama Okada was appointing her daughter as the 2nd spiritual leader.

According to book written by Katsunori Shimada is pointing out that Sakae's book "The truth has been revealed" cut off the above 5th sentence of the crucial revelations, and his lawyer Masao Oono's document neither.

Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan

Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan (World Divine Light Organization) is the name of the Mahikari . Yoshikazu Okada was the first spiritual leader, with the divine name elevated from "Kotama", "Seigyoku" and to "Seio"

After the founder's passing on June 23, 1974, a dispute surrounding succession arose. The case reached an amicable settlement in which Sakae Sekiguchi (1909–1994) became the leader of Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan, and Keishu Okada became the leader of Sukyo Mahikari. Sakae Sekiguchi claimed he received his divine name "SeiHo" by Tenjo, the Shinto automatic writing on Jan 11, 1975. On Jan 3, 1994, Sakae passed away and his son Katsutoshi Sekiguchi became the 3rd spiritual leader and 3 days after Sakae's passing, Katsutoshi claim he had the revelation from the messenger deity of the creacor god and got his divine name "Seisho".

Suza World Main Shrine was established in amagi, Izu in 1987. Latest titun solar panels were installed on the roofs and generating solar power for the eco society. The design of the Shrine came from the inspiration came from Sakae's world journey. It is taking after the Thailand temple Wat Benchamabophit. They also opened the Miroku cemetery for the members near to the suza World main Shrine. Currently Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyōdan is promoting to make local Suzas. USA Suza and Taiwan Suza are under construction.

While Sakae and Katsutoshi are being the spiritual leaders of the organization, they have run their business, Mitsuya holdings. The mitsuya groups started in 1951 have kept to grow till now by M&A. Katsuhiro, the son of Katsutoshi, is the CEO of Mitsuya emitas taxi holding, having 11 group companies with over 1200 employees while Katsutoshi is the chairman of whole Mitsuya holding groups.

Yokoshi Tomonokai

Yokoshi Tomonokai is the name of the Mahikari organization founded by Kiyohide Tanaka ( - 2002), ex-chief of Sukyo department, in 1987 after the court dispute with Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan. Tanaka claimed the divine name of "seiho" was not based on the revelation, and spiritual lead shall take over the divine name of "Seio", and therefore, Kiyohide tanaka was the 2nd "Seio", and Kiyo / Akari Numata as 3rd or 4th "Seio". Yokoshi Toonokai established the World Shrine in Tsukuba.

Tanaka was a ministry of Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan and fired by Kotama Okada.

Mahikari Seiho no Kai

Mahikari Seiho no Kai is the name of the Mahikari organization founded by Takateru Nakano ( - 2002) in 1997 claiming Kiyohide Tanaka is taking the organization into his own hand. Hirasawa succeeded Takateru Nakano and now establishing the World Shrine in Saitama.

Sukyo Mahikari

Sukyo Mahikari is the name of the organization registered by Keishu Okada in 1978, the adopted daughter of Kotama Okada, the first disciple of Kotama Okada. Sukyo Mahikari established the rear shrine in Kuraiyama, and the World main Shrine , SUZA, in takayama in gifu in 1984 accordingly to the crucial revelation given to Kotama Okada on June 23rd 1974. Headquarters is also located in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture. Sukyo Mahikari is affiliated with the Hikaru Museum, a museum that was opened in 1999 based on the tenet proclaimed by the founder Kotama Okada, "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." The museum aims to protect and promote local culture as well as foster international exchange and understanding of ancient civilizations. In 2009, Koya Okada revising his name as Kohoh Okada succeeded th spiritual leader as the 3rd one. He was selected as the chairman of the board of the Federation of the New Religious Organizations in Japan since 2018 June. He was also selected as the chairman of the board of Japan Religious Federation (2019 - 2020), and welcomed the Pope Francis representing the japanese religious world.

27th February has been designated and declared as Sukyo Mahikari Day in Brasil.

Subikari

Kohrin was founded in 1980 by the spiritualist and manga artist Kuroda Minoru (1928– ).Inoue, Nobutaka 1991 Kuroda is a known for his themes of ghost stories or the curses of spirits. Kuroda had been a follower of Yoshikazu Okada and Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyōdan. After Okada's death, Kuroda left that organization and established his organization. They have changed the group name to "Subikari Koha Sekai Shindai" and "Subikari". 4500+ (2007). Its headquarters are in Hachiōji City, Tokyo.

See also

Notes
  1. Yasaka 1999, p. 25
  2. Knecht, Peter 1995, p. 337

References
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