| Mahikari | |
|---|---|
| 真光 | |
| Type | Japanese new religion |
| Founder | Kōtama Okada |
| Origin | 1959 |
| Separations | World Divine Light,a.k.a. Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyōdan (世界真光文明教団) Sukyo Mahikari (崇教真光) Yokoshi Tomo no Kai (陽光子友乃会) Mahikari Seihō no Kai (真光正法之會) Subikari (ス光) |
TheMahikari movement (Japanese:真光) is a Japanesenew religious movement (shinshūkyō) that was founded in 1959 byYoshikazu Okada (岡田 良一) (1901–1974). The word "Mahikari" means "True (真, ma) Light (光, hikari)" inJapanese.[1] The movement currently consists of various splinter organizations; the largest ones are currentlyWorld Divine Light (世界真光文明教団) inIzu andSukyo Mahikari (崇教真光) inTakayama. Both of these organizations refer to their headquarters as Suza (主座) ("God's throne"), since they are the shrines for the supreme Su-god (ス神,su-kami). Both organizations also refer to their spiritual leader asOshienushi orOshienushi-sama (教え主[様]).[2]
The original Mahikari organization was founded byKōtama Okada (born Yoshikazu Okada) in 1959. The organization was originally namedL. H. Yokoshi no Tomo (陽光子友乃会,Yokoshi Tomo no Kai, "Lucky, Healthy, Association of Bright / Positive People").
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.
The fundamental teachings of Mahikari appear inThe Holy Words (御聖言,Goseigen) andThe Yōkōshi Prayer Book (陽光子祈言集,Yōkōshi Norigoto-shū) (lit. 'Prayerbook of the Sunshine Children'). Other books Mahikari doctrinal books includeMioshie-shū (御教え集, "Holy Teachings" andMahikari shokyū kenshū sankō-sho (真光初級研修参考書, "Mahikari Primary Training Reference Book").
Following the passing of Kōtama Okada on June 13, 1974, Mahikari split into several different organizations.
Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan, also known asWorld Divine Light (WDL) outside Japan, is headquartered in the mountainous interior ofIzu, Shizuoka. Its main temple is the Su-Za World Sōhonzan (主座世界総本山,Suza Sekai Sōhonzan), which is often simply known as the "Su-Za" (主座 / ス座).
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.[3]
The organization's spiritual leader is known as the Oshienushi (教え主) or Oshienushi-sama (教え主様):[4]
Sukyo Mahikari is headquartered inTakayama, Gifu. Its headquarters is also known as the World Shrine (世界の本尊,Sekai no Honzon).[2]
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.
Other religious organizations that have similarities includeSekai Kyūsei Kyō (theChurch of World Messianity, whichKōtama Okada was originally a follower of) andOomoto. In Sekai Kyūsei Kyō, a practice calledJōrei (purification of the spirit) is undertaken. Similarly in Mahikari,okiyome (お浄め) ("purifying"), also known astekazashi (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.[5]