Outrageous Payments for the Purification of the Spirit

B. Outrageous payments for the purification of the spirit, the mind and the body as a guarantee against illnesses.

Mahikari prefers to call them ‘donations’, not payments. Call it whatever you want, but when it’s mandatory it’s all the same thing. Mahikari would argue that donations are not mandatory, but when your option is to pay or risk your spiritual connection with God being severed…I would say that sounds pretty mandatory to me. It’s difficult to find text in the Goseigen stating specifically that you are supposed to offer donations…most of it just babbles on about compensation…however, anyone who has ever been a member of Mahikari, especially if you have chosen to move up to secondary or tertiary levels, knows that the Kanbu is constantly harassing you about making donations and paying your monthly membership fee.

Part of the reason that the Goseigen is so vague on the subject of donations is because the demand for donations didn’t really come about until Keishu took over the organization. Of course, Kotama asked that his followers make donations with a positive attitude, however he also stressed that if the money was not offered out of the goodness of ones heart, that God would see right through you and it was better to not donate at all.

The monthly membership fee was something that was taught when Keishu started sending her monthly lessons to the dojos around the world when Kotama died. Shortly after she started claiming to be God’s rep. on earth…she began taking it upon herself to write lessons and lectures, which were sent to dojos globally. I believe a couple of her ‘sermons’ have since been added to the Goseigen…two of them if I am not mistaken. I remember getting a copy of the little pages to put inside my Goseigen…I believe one was about donations and the other…serving God by protecting the current leader of Mahikari at all costs?...something to that effect…I tried to forget.

The only thing the Goseigen does say is… “Once thou have known God’s revelation and Law and have understood the law of offering gratitude for all good and bad from the bottom of thy heart, thou shall not allow man to neglect the mind to make recompensation for God’s blessings.” 79 (JP130)

This doesn’t come out and directly say “HEY, give me all your money!” But it sets the premise for Keishu’s later teachings about donations. Offering gratitude for all good and bad…well… lets think about how one can offer gratitude…there are only two ways (as Mahikari teaches) to offer gratitude…1: Offering okiyome…2: Donations…offering okiyome would be the choice for someone who lacks money…however, members are also taught that to take okiyome without offering a donation is like stealing from God.

Primary Kenshu text book pg. 89 says…
"In everyday life, if you wish to enjoy a more comfortable journey, you must pay for the comfort... In our approach towards God, this principle also applies. So, for the price of your happiness, as apology for your accumulated sins, and as appreciation for protection you received during the month, it is important to give your donation with a sonen of sincerity in helping to carry out God's plan and to make the ceremony grand."

Okay…what did that just say? You must show appreciation for the protection you received during the month…doesn’t that imply that you are paying for protection? You also pay for omitama, which is supposedly your protection from evil spirits that might harm you…isn’t that not paying for protection?

"When you do not willingly offer Otamagushi or do other services to God you must face other forms of compensation, which may be a great loss, as purification."

Okay…now this sounds like a threat…though I am sure Mahikari would call it a ‘warning’. If you do not make donations you will have to compensate in other ways…such as a ‘great loss’…now it doesn’t say what kind of loss so the readers mind is left to wonder. It could be the loss of a loved one, loss of money, loss of ones home, loss of transportation, death…there are so many things a person can lose.

"Even if you say you believe in God, it is only false praise unless you express your sonen in material form. Sukuinushisama has kindly taught us how to believe in God with words such as 'Respect the significance of donations'."

I find it rather sad that Mahikari members think that God is interested in something as trivial as copper, silver, and paper money. God’s kingdom is paved in gold, what would He do with copper and silver? Those metals are cheap in comparison and besides…He’s God, He can snap His fingers and make money appear. For that matter…Keishu Okada must be rich…think about it, if every Mahikari member donated $1 or it’s equivalent every day…she is getting approximately $100,000-$500,000 a week…it’s ridiculous. However, Mahikari warns its members about people who might suggest, dare I say it, ‘that they use their money the way they want.’ Mahikari cannot deal with lost revenue, so they have cut off any possibility for members to question why they are donating.

Primary Kenshu Textbook pg. 84

"People often say, "That's a money-making religion. They're telling you only the good things. You are stupid. You are being fooled. It's your right to work, earn and spend as you like by yourself. If God has great love, it's natural that He saves us.”

Maybe if people keep saying that it’s a money making religion…perhaps it’s true? I don’t know…all these former members on the internet must not know what they’re talking about. We’re just grinding our axes…even though we’re the ones who have nothing to lose or gain from this. Mahikari is the one trying to prevent lost revenue. I feel bad for the members that think that they can pay their way into God’s favor. God loves everyone. He doesn’t rate you based on how much you pay…if He did you would then be paying for God’s love.

These are the words of those who don't know clearly the difference between the wrong way and the true way, or the true God and an evil deity. Moreover these are the people who have never experienced anything mysterious. What a pity if you are wheedled by these people into going away from the entrance of Mahikari's house, the place of salvation of the supreme God (Su-God). That would mean leaving the gate of happiness and taking the road to hell by yourself. You would only have gotten a glimpse of the inside. Now please be careful, for this itself is the sign of the revival of disorders caused by evil spirits."

Well…I guess I am taking the road to hell by myself…and you know what? It feels good. You members cannot imagine what it’s like…to have a mind of your own, make your own decisions, to enjoy life without obligation, to enjoy the world God has created for you with open eyes…it’s amazing. I thank God every day for taking me away from the entrance to Mahikari’s house…

(Thanks to KitKat for finding all the Primary Kenshu texts.)