Spiritual Freedom

The Story of Jesus: As Told By Sukyo Mahikari

2007-04-16T11:02:00.000-07:00

To the majority of the world, Jesus Christ is considered the savior of our souls. He is the Prince of Peace, born of a virgin, holy, Son of God; who died on the cross to save all of mankind, whether aware or not, from their iniquities. This is who the Bible says Jesus was. The Bible is the well-documented history of the life and death of Jesus Christ and the creation of mankind. 39% of the world believes Christ is Lord…and others like Islam and Buddhism might not support that Christ was God in the flesh, but they still mention Christ in their doctrines and the Koran calls Jesus a great prophet.

Now I want to discuss who Sukyo Mahikari says Jesus was. Kotama Okada claimed that he, himself, not Jesus was the savior. So you can probably guess that SM opinion of who Jesus was strays significantly from the Bible and the Koran. According to Sukyo Mahikari, Jesus was man, a great prophet, but a man nontheless; born of a earthly mother and father. It’s doctrine also claims that Jesus was never crucified, rather his brother (depending on who you ask this might be a twin brother) died on the cross as a sacrifice so that Jesus might live. In fact, Jesus lived to be 106 years of age, got married, and is buried in Japan…where he remains to this day.

Quite a difference in the history of a very important man. Now I am going to tell you why Biblically Sukyo Mahikari’s doctrine doesn’t hold water. In order to do this Biblical support is necessary.

Jesus Before Pilate

Matthew 27:11-26

11Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

12When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.

13Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?"

14But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

15Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

19While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."

20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

21"Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor.

"Barabbas," they answered.

22"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!"

23"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

24When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"

25All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"

26Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

What was the point of that scripture? Well…basically my point is this…the Romans and the Jews hated Jesus so much that they would rather set a convicted murderer free, over Jesus; which means that Sukyo Mahikari’s whole idea that Jesus’ brother died as a sacrifice for him is nonsense. If those people would rather allow Barabbas to walk amongst them rather than set an innocent man free, I don’t think that they would allow Jesus’ brother to die in his place either.

The Pharisees really wanted Jesus dead because he was a threat to their position. As for those Sukyo Mahikari members who proclaim that Jesus’ brother was a twin…you’d be incorrect. The Bible did say that Jesus had siblings, but they were all born after him. Jesus was the oldest child of Mary and there are no documents anywhere that speak of a twin.

A New Purpose

2007-03-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

I used to write this blog because I wanted to make sure that all the facts about Sukyo Mahikari that had remained buried were exposed, but now that I feel I have done that I want this blog to stand for something more. I want it to focus on healing and on the love of God that is for everyone if they just accept it. When I die and I meet my maker and He asks me what I did to undo the wrong I did while in Sukyo Mahikari I want Him to say “Well done, good and faithful one.” I want Him to know that I pointed to Him enough to make a mark on things…because if I do nothing, if I remain neutral and keep what I know to myself…well, let me tell you a story…

A fire broke out in a five story apartment complex in New York City. The fire department was called and the first to respond to the scene was a fireman named Michael Robertson. Michael had just purchased a new C.D. player as a gift for the Fire Chief and was in the fire engine tinkering with the device as the fire devoured the rooftop of the apartment building. He sat in his car for 10 minutes before taking action to extinguish the flames. On lookers watched in horror as a woman jumped from her fifth story apartment, covered in flames, clutching her baby to her chest as she hit the ground. In the end a family of six were burnt alive. During the trial the fireman seemed unaffected by what had happened and before his sentencing he asked that the judge take into consideration that the gift for the Fire Chief was very expensive and state-of-the-art. What do you think his sentence should be? 10, 20, 30 years? Life in prison? Death? Take a moment to ponder this before you read on.

Now, what did you give him? Well, every time we have opportunities to tell people about God and Christ, but don’t, we’re no better than that fireman. We’re allowing our friends, family, and acquaintances to be burnt alive because we don’t care enough to take action; to take the time to have a heart to heart with them. I do not plan on being that fireman. If I start to preach a little bit, please forgive me, I don’t want to be the one to push you out of reach, but I just love everyone so much that I am going to be a fool for God. I just ask that you receive what I have to say with an open heart. I know some of you have been hurt, I know some of you have your own pre-conceived ideas about God, but when we hear the truth we know it…deep down even though we often try to stifle it. Deep down we all knew that something about Mahikari was not right and we chose to ignore it because it fit into the kind of life we wanted to lead. That’s the thing with a lot of people…they chose the religion that is going to allow them to continue living the same lifestyle they’ve always lived and Sukyo Mahikari is a catch 22 because not only can you live the same life, well besides having to come to dojo to offer okiyome, but you can also erase your sins based on how much time you spend at the center. It’s 100% saved by your efforts and not God’s grace. Rescue yourself.

For those of you who have been commenting on my blog and sending me emails I ask you to not be afraid of this subject matter. If you have an opinion, be it good or bad I say speak it out. I won’t get upset. If you feel like religion is something private that shouldn’t be discussed on a blog then that’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it, but let me know. If something I say touches you in some way, let me know. I am still going to center this on SM, but from now on I am going to take the kind of approach that God wants me to take. If that’s too much for you and you no longer want to read, I’m sorry, actually no I’m not, because even if I offend some people I know I’ve made them stop and think and I know the love of God is eventually going to get to them, if not through me then through someone else God puts in their path.

Saved by Works

2007-03-07T11:48:00.000-08:00

JEREMIAH 14:13-15
13 But I said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, the prophets keep telling them, 'You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.' "

14 Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. 15 Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, 'No sword or famine will touch this land.' Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine.

This post is directed more towards the former Christians who have joined Sukyo Mahikari. I’ll start out with a basic statistic: Christianity is the most predominant and recognized religion in the world, making up 39% of the entire population globally. It is only logical to assume, at least in America, that a majority of Sukyo Mahikari members were once Christian or have at least heard of Christianity. Based on that it brings the question…where did we go wrong? How could we miss the signs? Did we not read our Bible’s? There were so many warnings about this; warnings from God…from Jesus…the Disciples…how did we miss it?

MATTHEW 24:23-28

23At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24For false Christ’s and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25See, I have told you ahead of time.

26"So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

And there are many more. God warned us about people like Yoshikazu Okada. He told us that people would come and perform miracles, claiming that they were the savior, but we were not to believe them because our savior had already come. God told us that the enemy would attempt to turn us away from Jesus by sending these people; people who would seem so sincere…who could do miraculous things (like healing for example) to try and bait us away from Jesus. Kumite…we took the bait.

Satan has power over those who do not believe. People who have accepted Christ have authority over the devil, but those who haven’t or who struggle with doubt are fair game. Satan loves those kinds of people because they are impressionable; he can twist his lies anyway he wants and they are going to retain all of it, if not most of it.

It’s funny, I used to blame the Sukyo Mahikari higher ups for entrapping Kumite in their lies, I used to harbor so much hatred for Yoshikazu and Keishu because some of the most kind, sincere, altruistic people I know are stuck in Sukyo Mahikari, but now that I am more savvy as to how the devil works I can put blame where blame is due. I am by no means saying that the devil is a match for God…as my Pastor says there’s a great big God and a little bitty devil, but for those who have not put on the armor of Jesus Christ…they do not have the protection the rest of us have.

Some might ask, “How do you know that Sukyo Mahikari isn’t the way?” My rationalization is simple really…I am going to believe a religion that has been around since 30 A.D. as opposed to one that’s been around for 46 ½ years. I am going to believe in a savior, whose death was so important to our world that our dating system is based on the time of his death…B.C.-Before Christ and A.D.-After His death or Anno Domini, which is Latin for ‘In the year of our Lord’ depending on who you ask. I am going to believe in a savior who loved me so much that he died for my iniquities.
However, some members of Sukyo Mahikari do not believe that Jesus died on the cross. Instead they believe that he was buried in Japan when he passed away at the ripe old age of 106. They teach their followers that his brother died on the cross in his place so that Jesus could live on and continue to teach, get married, and have children. The enemy was smart here…he knew that in order for Christians to believe that Yoshikazu Okada was the savior and convert them to Sukyo Mahikari, he’d have to replace Jesus as the savior in the eyes and hearts of believers.

Sukyo Mahikari acknowledges Jesus as a prophet…well, if Jesus was a prophet…the way Sukyo Mahikari and so many other religions claim…it is common knowledge that a prophet cannot lie. Jesus said he was God in human form…not that he was a PART of God…not that he was LIKE God…but that he WAS God. Now…let’s examine the possibilities; either A, B, or C is true. A: Jesus was a liar and you should never follow a liar, B: He was a lunatic and you shouldn’t follow a crazy person, or C: He was who he said he was…which means he was the son of God, born of a virgin, never sinned, and died on the cross for our wickedness. Period. The end. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to Father except through me.” Not “no one gets to the father unless they take Kenshu, get an omitama, offer okiyome to erase their impurities, and worship Yoshikazu Okada.”

Kumite, former Christians, what were we thinking? It was so clear and yet we wondered off the path. But don’t lose hope, there’s some good new!
Okay picture this…you’re in jail because of the bad things you’ve done in your life. The judge tells you that you will be set free if you pay your fine. However, your fine is 7 billion dollar! There is no way you can pay it! You’re just about to despair when Jesus walks into the courtroom and pays your fine in full. You’re free to go, but what will you do with your new-found freedom? Commit the same sins and run up your fine again? Or honor the man who gave you your freedom? It’s your choice. Jesus is the bridge between us and God...it is because he died on the cross that we can reach God and that our sins are forgiven if we repent.

Romans 10:9-10 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

I don’t want to get up in your face, or put the pressure on, or make you run away…I just want to show you the love that Jesus has shown me. The most important thing about me is that God loves me - not that I loved Him, but that He loved me and sent His son as an atoning sacrifice for my sins. I did NOTHING to deserve this, in fact, I deserve eternal condemnation, but by His great mercy He saved me. It's not about ME being right, it's about glorifying Him

Luke 15:1-7 1Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

God wants us all; regardless of what we’ve done. How crazy is that; God, Lord of the universe seeks us! He wants fellowship with us! No matter how many times we’ve screwed up he still waits for us.

LUKE 15:20-24

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

Forgiveness is always waiting. His arms are always open. God isn’t an angry father, waiting for us to return home so He can smite us…no, He is the father who is waiting for us, longing for us, who wants to pour His love and grace upon us when we’re ready to commit to Him. He has the best robes for our bodies, a ring for our finger, and sandals for our feet, he wants to throw us a feast…no matter what we’ve done. How awesome and praise worthy is that?

I leave you with this last verse…

Ephesians 2:8-9 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

We are not saved by our works. Stop sitting on your knees at dojo offering okiyome! You are saved by God’s grace; not by the amount of sins you erase while you’re at dojo. Sukyo Mahikari would have you believe you can save yourself, but it isn’t true! You can’t save yourself! Not by a pendant or any other means…it is all God’s grace.

Light Bearer

2007-02-14T14:56:00.001-08:00

I was recently confronted with a question from a member of Sukyo Mahikari. It was an excellent question, but not one I was able to answer without consulting my Bible. I told her I would get back with her after I had consulted the scriptures, but after I finished researching I thought; Wow! This would be a great topic for a blog!

She asked me: If Sukyo Mahikari is incorrect and is in fact a false religion; how could I explain the miracles and healing that took place? Something that was not of God surely could not produce the positive results experienced by so many members. Had I not experienced something positive and mysterious as well while receiving true light?

It was a wonderful question and one I was willing to answer after a little prayer and Biblical research. In order to answer this question I had to do a little research on Lucifer; the fallen angel, more widely know as Satan or the Devil. Lucifer was an archangel, created before mankind. He lived in the Garden of Eden but later fell due to his own pride and foolish desire to replace God and “sit on His throne”.

The Bible talks extensively about him in Ezekiel and he is mentioned throughout the Bible multiple times. Seven books in the Old Testament and every writer in the New Testament refer to Satan. Of the 29 references in the New Testament, Jesus is speaking in 25 of them.....his schemes are exposed, and we can begin to understand them. Paul wrote that we should not let Satan take advantage of us by being ignorant of his devices. (II Corinthians 2:11)

The question was formed: Could Satan, Lord of Darkness, be a healer? Examination of this question would prove that the answer is ‘YES’. Here is why…

God created nothing evil; a perfect being could never create something that wasn’t basically good. However, He gave us free will; the option to choose whether we are going to glorify Him with our actions or glory in the sin the world has to offer. Why did He give us free will? Because He wanted us to love Him of our own accord; He didn’t want a planet full of mindless robots who parade around in worship because they have to, because they know nothing else. He wanted us to TRULY love him; with our whole hearts. He wanted us to come to Him. The world fell into sin when Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil; after the fall a wedge was formed between man and God and the only way we could get to God was by following the sacrificial law set forth in Leviticus.

Jesus was the last and final blood sacrifice; because He sacrificed Himself we can now get to God simply by accepting the free gift He gave us on the cross. If we accept His gift of salvation we go to Heaven. We are not saved by our works; not by sitting on our knees and offering okiyome, but by grace alone.

When man fell it was like a domino effect was triggered. Satan was now in his own version of paradise. He was free to tempt us and do everything in his power to obstruct us from going down the right path towards God. Satan caused illness; not God. Satan is the one who tries to injure us; not God. That’s not to say that God cannot use these negative experiences in our lives for good; He is always merciful to those who cry out to Him.

Generally, people travel to dojos to receive okiyome so that their toxins, injuries, and illnesses might be cured. Kumite exalt Okada; claiming that he has given them the secret to life. Okada however, was working hand and hand with Satan; whether he realized it or not. He violated the commandments and led hundreds of people away from God to suit his own greed and presented himself as the messiah. Satan is the source of disease; the sin he stirs brings about illness. Isn’t it reasonable to assume that the cause of the ailment can provide the cure to those who are following him, even if unknowingly? He wants you to believe that you have been cured; if he convinces you of that and you are out in the world preaching a false doctrine, leading multiple people away from Christ why wouldn’t he spare you your agony in order to reach a means?

Something I did notice while I was receiving okiyome was that I felt fine before I started receiving it, but once I had started, it was as though a feeling of lethargy came over me whenever I stopped receiving. It was almost as though I was addicted to the okiyome. Whenever I went long periods without receiving divine light I found that I would become more angry and more irritable; feeding the lie that I needed it to function and further proving in my mind that Okada’s teachings might be correct on some levels. The problems was I would feel relief for a while after I had received, but within a few days if I had not received I was like a raging bull or completely depressed. Of course, Kanbu attributed it all to attaching spirits who didn’t like the divine light and encouraged me to receive more. See how cleverly Satan’s plot is weaved? The more time spent at dojo, the more false doctrine shoved down my throat, the deeper my depression and indoctrination and the more encouragement that I needed even more okiyome from Kanbu.

The name Satan was given when he was an angel; Lucifer, means light bearer. One who bears light. Okiyome is also called divine light. You do the math.

Healing Prayer

2006-09-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Ecclesiastes tells us to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven…

Even a time to heal.

I ask all former members of Sukyo Mahikari and even current members of Sukyo Mahikari to read this prayer to yourself.

This is a prayer for you. A prayer for healing at this time.

May you be healed of your sickness.
May you be healed of your emotional wounds.
May you be healed of your sins.

And may the Lord make His face shine upon you and give you peace.

In the name of Jesus Christ…

Amen.

Wide-Eyed

2006-08-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry for my lack of writing. I have been busy since my second child was born this last month. Her name is Ashlyn Paige and she was 16 inches long and 3lbs 3ounces when she was born…she was two months early so she is currently staying at the hospital, but the doctors think she will be ready to go home in September. I had to deliver her by C-section so if I have any other children in the future; which I doubt, as my diabetes is becoming a problem…I will have to deliver that child the same way. Anyways, enough about my last month or so.

When I heard this song, it reminded me of SM. I was curious to see if anyone else understood why. Read it and leave a comment. J

Wide-Eyed

When I met him on the sidewalk
He was preaching to a mailbox
Down on 16th Ave.
And he told me he was Jesus
Sent from Jupiter to free us
With a bottle of Tequila and one shoe
He raged about repentance
He finished every sentence
With the promise that the end was close at hand
I didn’t even try to understand

He left me wide-eyed
In disbelief and disillusion
I was tongue-tied
Drawn by my conclusions
And so I turned and walked away
And laughed at what he has to say
And casually dismissed him as a fraud
I’d forgot he was created in the image of my God

When I met her at a bookstore
She was browsing on the third floor
For a yoga magazine
And she told me in her past life
She’d been some plantation slaves wife
She had to figure out what that might mean
She believes the healing powers of her crystals
Can bring balance and new purpose to her life
Sounds nice…

She left me wide-eyed
In disbelief and disillusion
I was tongue tied
Drawn by my conclusions
And so I turned and walked away
And laughed at what she had to say
And casually dismissed her as a fraud
I’d forgot she was created in the image of my God
Not so long ago
A man from Galilee
Fed thousands with his bread
And his theology
And the truth he spoke
Quickly became the joke
Of educated, self-inflated, Pharisees like me…

And they were wide-eyed
In disbelief and disillusion
They were tongue-tied
Drawn by their conclusions
Would I have turned and walked away?
And laughed at what he had to say?
And casually dismissed him as a fraud?
Unaware that I was staring at the image of my God…

One of the things I have been struggling with personally is my new found intolerance for any religion besides my own. I suppose SM made me a little more leery of any religion that is unfamiliar and foreign to me. I have been praying a lot and asking God to make me less judgmental, but it is difficult when you have been hurt so deeply by something like this. I put this song up because I was hoping to get some support from other people who are in the same boat as me. I hope I am not the only one.

Sukyo Mahikari: Why it CANNOT Coincide with Christianity

2006-06-12T15:12:00.000-07:00

Sukyo Mahikari likes to use the fact that they can coincide with all religions as a marketing tool to gather members. This convenient tactic works initially because okiyome is universal (according to Sukyo Mahikari). It doesn’t matter what you believe, okiyome should always be the main focus. As long as you are focusing on cleansing your sonen and purifying your spiritual body, what you believe as far as doctrine goes is irrelevant. This is what all potential members of Sukyo Mahikari are told; and at first, it is true. However, Sukyo Mahikari does not stop there…it is presupposed that members will start believing the Sukyo Mahikari doctrine the more they attend ceremonies and okiyome sessions at dojo. Eventually, it becomes impossible to keep all of ones previous beliefs in tact. Sukyo Mahikari would have potential members believe otherwise, but below are a list of quotes from the Goseigen that go against the beliefs of other religions.

The Principle of Selecting God (Senshin No Gi)
Revelation @ 1:00AM on May 30, 1959

Quote 1: “There are various gods. There is (Su-No-Kami, Nonno-No-kami). There are His assistant gods, their vassal gods, and still vassal gods of these vassal gods. There are many kinds and levels. The physical bodies of holy gods, God’s children, are humans and all creatures begin to die, and it became necessary to create the astral realm.” 46(JP 79-80)

-In Christian theology one of the commandments (the set of universal rules that unite Christians) states that “Thou shall have no other Gods before me”. In Sukyo Mahikari they believe that although there is one supreme ruler, there are also several smaller Gods, this beliefs stems from Shintoism, which is the most populated religion in Japan. This is an immediate contradiction with Christian faith, as Christians are adamant that there is ONE God, not One ruling God governing a heaven filled with several demi-Gods assistant-Gods, and vassal-Gods. There is no mention of any other God’s in Biblical text, on the contrary there are several stories of communities being wiped out by God’s jealous wrath at them worshipping any God other than Himself.

Sukyo Mahikari might argue that they are not putting any God’s before the supreme ruler God, but that is not entirely true. Sukyo Mahikari holds Kotama Okada just as high as God. In fact, in some of the youth poetry that is written they are quoted as saying, “Su God and our Master are dancing, too. Holding hands and celebrating with me and with you!” This leads one to believe that Heaven is governed by both God and “Savior” Kotama Okada. Sukyo Mahikari

This causes one to draw the conclusion that in Sukyo Mahikari, the relationship between Kotama and God mirrors that of the Christian relationship of Jesus Christ and God. Some of you still might not see a problem with this, but now allow me to point out that Jesus Christ in Christian theology is God is human form, part of the holy trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). See what I am getting at? Jesus was God in human form, God Himself, Kotama was not. Therefore, it is unacceptable for a Christian to regard SM doctrine as correct without contradicting beliefs.

Quote 2: “Men will become chaotic by using so-called religions which they have been selfishly taking advantage of. They will eventually bring about a world of Reversed Way and be reprimanded by great gods (Ohokami) and great buddhas (Ohobotoke).” 48 (JP 83-84)

-Again, here we see more references of other “great Gods” that will reprimand non-believers. However, despite that we see the first indication that religions that do not teach Sukyo Mahikari doctrine are “so-called” religions. Later, in Tertiary Kenshu, one learns Sukyo Mahikari’s version of events as far as the life of Jesus Christ is concerned. For those of you who do not know, this states that Jesus Christ was not crucified, but rather his twin brother took his place on the cross, and Jesus lived until the ripe old age of 106.

Why does SM teach this? Well, in order to truly convert Christians, they have to eliminate the idea that Jesus Christ is the Savior; in order to be truly indoctrinated in Sukyo Mahikari one must believe that Kotama Okada is the Savior. Recognizing that it is impossible to have more than one Savior, SM removes Jesus’ divine works, giving him a smaller role as a messenger God. Now, any true Christian knows that Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father, except through me.” This means that no one goes to heaven unless they accept Jesus into their hearts as the savior of their souls.

The Source of Happiness (Sachi No Moto)
Revelation @ 5:00AM on June 15, 1959

Quote 3: “However, I shall tell thee that god’s true mistake in the prayer and art to create and complete all creatures in the most ancient era was committed in the very beginning.” 54 (JP 93-94-95)

-Here is problem number three. Sukyo Mahikari would be so bold as to say that God makes mistakes! In Christianity one is taught that God is perfect in every possible aspect. Everything happens because He wills it and He does not make mistakes. Everything, the good and bad, happen because He wills it; because it is apart of the greater scheme of things. God is sovereign, everything happens for his good and our glory. And we know that in all things god works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Romans

The Time to Eliminate the Spiritual Poisons (Dokki Shojo No yo)
Revelation @ 3:00AM on August 15, 1959

“It is the present intellectually poison man who has soiled and defiled the supreme and wondrous works of God’s Wisdom, filled it up with villainy and has neither realized the blunder, nor the necessity to apologize to the creator. Isn’t it correct that man has hardened its brain to the core with poisons and argues for the sake of arguing with whatever minute part of wisdom he still possesses? Man is counterfeiting everything and is proud of it; swaggered and self-conceited, insisting on his science, wisdom and freedom of his pursuit of knowledge. He has changed the divine science into a monstrous science, God’s knowledge into one that will self-destruct and true medical science which should be the sublime science into something completely different, far from the divine principle of perfect health (Ken).” 60 (JP 102-103-104)

-Here we see a blatant contradiction. In the last quote Sukyo Mahikari made the claim that God makes mistakes, however, here they try to push the idea that God’s knowledge is supreme to human knowledge. Which is it Mahikari? Is God perfect or not? It seems to me that Sukyo Mahikari tries to make God human at one point and then divine in another.

“Intellectual poison has polluted Hito (man), the child of God, from all directions, who at one time was a Godly man, and changed him into a clot of poison that has even penetrated his brain where it still remains.” 61 (JP 105)

-Here the Goseigen says that man was once Godly. In the Christian faith we are taught that no one is Godly, we are all God’s children, made in His image, but the Bible says that no one is perfect, which means that no one is like God or Godly.

“The seed people are of extreme importance to the creator in order to establish the next civilization. Unless man is purified, he cannot become seed. That is the reason why I allow them to eliminate their poisons.”

-Here is another bold quote by Sukyo Mahikari. Here, they insinuate that God needs us! Us! Mere mortals! No, Sukyo Mahikari, not so. This also does not gel with Christianity. Any Christian knows that God does not need us, He wants us, but that is a different story. Sukyo Mahikari tends to give God less power than He has. What they do not realize is that if God wanted to create a new civilization, He could do it and He could do it with the snap of a finger without the help of Kumite. I think many people fall into believing Sukyo Mahikari because it makes them feel as thought they have a purpose; the purpose to purify and prepare people for the next civilization. Christians believe that the only reason we have free will is so we can find our way to God so He can earn our love. God could have easily made us all God-fearing/loving mindless drones whose only purpose is to worship Him day in and day out, but He didn’t, because when we come to Him and choose to love Him, it is more rewarding for Him. That is our only job on earth, to love God.

“However, modern man has gone too far. It is because of human greediness. It has tempted man to use medicine as a means to make money and has also tempted him to consume it.”

-Christians are firm believers that God gave us the ability to make medicine because He wants us to use it. Here is a similar analogy: Christians believe that sex is a wonderful thing, however, only within the sanctity of marriage…the same goes for medicine. God gave us the knowledge to create it in order to heal us, but when we start crossing the boundaries and venturing to cloning and trying to be Gods ourselves, that is when we have overstepped the line. As for man using medicine for money, yes some us it for greed, but as long as other are still benefiting from its positives, it is a necessary evil.

“There are some who are kin to God. Some who are endowed with a soul and a art that are necessary for the next civilization. Some souls are obedient enough to immediately reform themselves. Thou shall eliminate their spiritual poison with the “afterfire of God’s Love,” although thou cannot do it alone. I let the holy spirit of true light hole communion with thee so that thou can eliminate their poisons and teach mankind the Art of Spiritual Purification. This is one of the missions of the Holy Spirit of Yo. Thus men can be free from spiritual, mental, and physical poisons and ripen to be pure seed-man. This is the first step in becoming a true child of God, who can be developed further to become divine. Should the present condition continue, the world of Yotsu-a shall come. If thou can understands the truth of the World of Yotsu-a, thou can fulfill the mission of a true herald of God.”

-Here we start to see the pompous side of Kumite. The Goseigen talks about how Kumite are purer than the rest of the world and how their mission is above all others. The Bible says, “There is no one righteous; not even one. There is no one who seeks, no one who understands.” This verse plainly states that no one is good, no one is better than anyone else, we are all sinners of an equal degree.

“You are essentially God’s children. You have “godhood.” Therefore, humans shall eventually become ones who are able to do what is done by God sometime in the future.”

-Here Sukyo Mahikari again shows its pompous side by saying that eventually man will become like God and be able to do things that God can do. However, to most Christians this would be considered blasphemy. If we become Gods ourselves, then what purpose would God serve? If we could do what God does, then what separate God from us? Nothing.

“Thou shall become a “child of light” and foster holy servants who can give light. It is thy meritorious feat. It is the source for salvation of people. It is time to extend the palm of your hand without hesitation.”

-Salvation is through Christ alone. The Goseigen states by extending the palm on can achieve salvation. Christians believe you are saved by your love of God alone. Your love of God and Jesus Christ is the only thing that will save you in the end. Your works mean nothing. The Bible says, “If I speak in tongues of angels, but have not love, I’m only a resounding noise. If I have the gift of knowledge, and if my faith moves mountains high, but have not love, I am nothing.” Christians believe this 100%. You could be the kindest person in the world, but without a relationship with God you will NOT be saved. Why would a creator permit you to come and be with Him, if you have not served Him faithfully? If you have not repented and given Him your love?

“There is distortion in all Shintoism, Buddhism, and Christianity. Here also exists one of the causes of another quake in this world and the chaos of the world. Thou shall correct them to the best of thy ability.”

-Again more talk of other religions being wrong.

“Although the end of the world is approaching, those who are serving with sincerity shall be forgiven.”

-More talk of works being the source of salvation; AKA the more you pay the more you gain.

Spirits & Black Magic in Sukyo Mahikari

2006-05-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

I have been reading Joe’s blog and one of the things I noticed he talks about regularly is the black magic and conjuring spirits that were used at the dojo from which he practiced. I did not really witness much of what I consider to be black magic…but as far as conjuring spirits go…its hard to be sure. It depends on whether you believe a person lashing out during an okiyome session is a disturbed spirit that fears the light or a spirit that is attacking the person because okiyome possesses some kind of negative power (conjuring spirits).

It was said that Kotama Okada was released from his position as an SKK minister after dabbling in spirit conjure, among other things. According to SKK ministers, Okada began practicing Johrei (okiyome) in a way that provoked the surrounding spirits. Johrei centers do not typically have problems with spirits, but Kotama practiced Johrei in such a way that spirits would start to become angry and lash out. Of course, Kotama would teach in his doctrine that if a spirit is communicating during okiyome that it is a positive thing, as the spirit has been provoked because the light is so strong…it means the spirit will eventually leave.

This is not true, however, according to modern Wicca, Pagan, and Voodoo practitioners. I have read a bit about these Neo-Pagan religions who practice magic and from what they claim it is very simple to conjure/provoke a spirit. The most typical way to do this is through a séance, but there are other ways such as channeling. Channeling is somewhat like okiyome in the sense that the person attempts to open themselves up spiritually and blank their mind and receive the light; this makes them more vulnerable to angry spirits taking possession according to the modern day witches. Okyiome is similar to channeling because of the ritualistic aspect of it which, according to Wiccan practitioners, attracts spirits.

Some of the Wiccan sites I have looked at have said similar things, “People who are spiritually curious are usually spiritually sensitive. A spirit can be easily channeled by a spiritually sensitive person. The main objective of a negative spirit is possession of your body and mind. The spirit wants a home and is looking at your body as its next house. Spirit possession is widely misunderstood. Possession usually happens gradually and in stages. How does a person get possessed? The more spiritual sensitivity you have the more open you are to possession.
Risk increases with pendulum diagnosis, succumbing to trances (possibly okiyome), metaphysical healing (again possibly okiyome), and drugs.”

According to Wiccan sites; possession is usually not a total possession. The person usually has the majority of control. The person can live and function in their life; however, it takes a large amount of control to attempt to live normally. The spirit is always there confusing the person's thinking clamoring for attention.

Usually the spirit is friendly enlightened, and protective until the person tells it to leave permanently. Then the spirit gets agitated and begins to show its true nature. The nature of the spirit is one of hatred. The spirit then concentrates energy to destroying the person.
According to Wiccans, spell casting is becoming more and more accepted by mainstream society, for one simple reason; it works.

One can’t help but wonder what else Yoshikazu Okada was dabbling in while he was experimenting in various religions. Sukyo Mahikari released a statement saying that Kotama participated in several different religions; could Wicca, Voodoo, or Paganism be one of them?

I find it profoundly disturbing that Okada was a minister of the SKK for many years, received Johrei from the practitioners in their dojo…but yet for some odd reason, never allowed members of Mahikari to offer him okiyome. Could it be that the SKK was right and okiyome offered in the fashion from which Kotama taught is dangerous? Was he really conjuring spirits intentionally that could harm the spiritually sensitive individual? Something to think about.

Apocalyptic Sect

2006-04-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

I: Sukyo Mahikari is an apocalyptic sect (only its members will be saved).

Most religions seem to think that they are the chosen ones, and that all others are going to hell or some variation of hell. While Mahikari teaches reincarnation it paradoxically teaches that members must prepare for the Baptism of Fire, when the world will end and only members of Mahikari who are enlightened enough will go on to live in God’s civilization. All other religions are false pseudo-truths. Here are some quotes from Primary Kenshu Textbook, reiterating that fact…

Sukuinushisama said, "Religions can no longer be of service to God. Therefore phenomena of perishing will occur in religions themselves. So, past religions will deteriorate. It can't be helped.”

“Fortunately, all of you (Mahikari members) are people who were drawn towards God just at this time of the Conversion of the Divine Will. In fact it was inevitable, but from your point of view you probably think it was a coincidence that you come to receive Mahikari Kenshu. You are permitted to participate in the Plan of God.” Pg. 153

This text indicates that all other religions are false and only people who have attended Mahikari Kenshu are “permitted to participate in the Plan of God”. As we all know according to Mahikari, God’s plan is to save as many people before the Baptism of Fire occurs and wipes out all of mankind, but kumite.

Here is another quote from the Primary Kenshu Textbook… “The Baptism by Fire will come, and there is no other way for mankind to be saved but to make a U-turn in sonen".

The only way that one can change their sonen is by offering light, which requires you to join Mahikari. Receiving okiyome from a kumite is not enough as it does not get rid of sins and impurities as quickly. It is better to offer okiyome and then receive okiyome, thus melting twice as many sins and impurities.

The text continues to say… “So God is urging Yōkōshi (Mahikari members) to build a Shrine for Su God to provide a calming down of such phenomena. We have to pray to God asking for time to be given to us so that Yōkōshi, at least as many as possible, can repent. And it is our responsibility to prepare a holy place for the descent of Su God. We have to fulfill this promise no matter what happens. It is a covenant between God and Sukuinushisama.

Sukuinushisama told us precisely, "Since this covenant was made, I cannot save you unless I build it throughout my life. Otherwise my power of salvation will be taken away by God". Therefore, for Yōkōshi it is absolutely essential to construct Suza no matter what.

If we don't achieve this, Yōkōshi cannot be saved. For this reason a great destiny has been bestowed on Yōkōshi by God. God is not bestowing all the salvation on us wastefully. I want you to realize that we have responsibilities as well.” Pg. 164-165

Let me translate that in laymen’s terms, “Give me all your money, build a huge shrine, worship me day in and day out or you’ll be wiped out.” But wait there’s more. Tertiary Kenshu states: “Our (Mahikari members) mission is to search for seed people as soon as possible to increase in numbers; for initiations. That is God’s arrangement. We must reach as many people as possible and unless we do this we will not be harmonized with God’s sonen and will not be in tune with God. If humans don’t make sufficient effort they will be left behind and will not be able to ride on God’s will.” Pg. 16

How terrible it must be for kumite to believe that God is such a tyrant. How terrible to believe that He cares for you that little that He will wipe out everyone who does not receive primary kenshu. What kind of God is that? Not the kind I would like to serve. If God is such a tyrant then I want no part of Him.

“The great mission was given to Sukuinushisama to seek people from the coming century-this system of giving initiation. We should seek for seed people. By receiving omitama, on the third day of this initiation, without discrimination of sex or age, God’s light will come through. This is the teachings of Mahikari and no other is necessary. Other teachings and philosophies of religions of the past could only bring intellectual understanding; it was impossible to lead people beyond the law to the unseen spiritual field.” Pg. 22

Sukyo Mahikari is a Totalitarian Sect

2006-04-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

(Mahikari Tai Members Marching at Ceremony)

(Nazis Marching During Parade in WWII)

H: Sukyo Mahikari is a totalitarian sect (use of the swastika, the symbol of Nazi and extreme-right movements).

This is common knowledge to all Mahikari members. Mahikari Tai members have a swastika on their uniforms. Okada taught that the swastika was a Japanese symbol of peace. All Tai members have this on their uniforms except for those in the United States. If they had that garbage on their sleeves here they would probably get jumped when they went to have their parade.

This is one thing I never understood. How can these youth members know what the swastika stands for to most people, and yet still wear it proudly? They should be ashamed of themselves in my opinion…and what do the Jewish Mahikari members think? Oh, yeah…I forgot, the Holocaust was the Jews faults in the first place so they should be fine with it. I am not going to say much else, I am only going let you look at this photograph and judge for yourself. This photo gives me goose bumps. It looks very reminiscent of the Nazi marchers.

As for right wing…Mahikari teaches that democracy cannot exist. They want a theocracy. A theocracy is a government with God as the head, but most people will attest that they have never heard God speak to them directly, which makes it difficult for God to govern a country if He remains silent. Which means what? That there has to be a middle man to talk with God and relay His message to the people who do not have direct communication with Him. Who would that person be? None other than Keishu Okada, who supposedly speaks directly to God while the rest of us are left in the dark. So...what does that mean for those of us who do not believe that Keishu has any more direct communication with God than anyone else? That Keishu will be the one running the government through this theocracy, not God. Sorry to foil your plan Mahikari, I am not buying it.

Concerning the swastika and it's meaning: Kotama taught that the horizontal line of the swastika symbolized water power, which was the US and all countries to the west. He taught that the vertical line of the swastika symbolized fire power and the east, which would be Japan. He preached that fire power was going to over power water power because water could only flow vertically, while fire was versatile. Through these subtle suggestions he pushed his chauvinist Japanese propoganda; teachings his followers that Japan was holy and better than all other countries and would eventually rule.

Severing the Links with the Family and Friends

2006-04-18T08:17:00.000-07:00

G: Severing the links with the family and friends.

At first, Mahikari encourages new members to try and persuade their family and friends into joining the cause. The Goseigen states that if a member cannot get their own family to join, they will be unable to save anyone else. Due to this it is extremely important for Mahikari members to try and offer their families light, take them to the dojo, tell them about the basic teachings, as much as possible in order to garner a new member. It is forgivable if the member is unable to pull their mother, father, siblings, or other older family members into the sect, however, it is frowned upon if they are unable to get their spouse and children to join.

Members are told that if they cannot get their families to join that it is because of the member’s sins and impurities and that they need to donate more money, offer more light, and do more divine service. Once members families join Mahikari, Kumite are pressured to get their friends to join, there is even a prize if they can get at least ten new members into the sect, it’s called a Goshintai (holy shrine). The Goshintai is awarded to members when they bring in enough members; however, it is more work than a reward.

The links get severed when someone wants to leave Mahikari or when they want to tell the member the truth about Mahikari.

When someone leaves Mahikari officially, members are told that the departing member was spiritually disturbed. Spiritual disturbance is the typical response from Mahikari, regarding anything that does not follow their beliefs or criticizes their doctrine. Once a person had been labelled spiritually disturbed, Mahikari members are urged not to communicate with that person, as spiritual disturbance is contagious. All former members are either a) spiritually disturbed, b) throwing God’s gift in His face, C) not strong enough to continue the divine plan.

The other circumstance when a member is asked to sever the link between family and friend is when the person they are pitching Mahikari to disagrees with the teachings. This usually occurs when a members has read up on Mahikari and knows what an axe wound it really is.

I remember one circumstance when a woman I knew was friends with a kumite. She wasn’t a member, but she was interested in Mahikari because her intended was a member. She read what she could to try and find out what it was like, and then would speak with her kumite friend about what she had learned. Usually her kumite friend would tell her to disregard the internet as all the former members on the net were “overacting”. She even went so far as to say that Garry Greenwood was dramatizing events in his book All the Emperor’s Men.

The kumite encouraged the young woman to read Dr. Tebecis book instead, but the woman assured her that she would read everything she could in order to make a concise decision. After reading all she could find she decided that Mahikari was not the path for her. When she spoke with the Kumite about her decision and attempted to explain what she had read that had brought her to that conclusion, the kumite listened, but then ceased communication immediately afterwards. This Kumite threw away a perfectly good friendship because she was an extremist who was only looking to get another member…probably wanted that Goshintai prize at the end of the tunnel, if she didn’t already have it. (You know who you are if you’re reading this, Miss Texas Dojo) Maybe you need to take the time to read your Goseigen…I’m pretty sure it says:

How can you become men free from disease and poverty and ones with love and harmony? If you cannot respect others as you respect yourselves, you are desecrating God’s children and have made light of the Parent God

The Goseigen also says that not even Kumite are safe from the Baptism of Fire, so I would start praying if I were you. You might be going to the same place that woman who chose not to join Mahikari is going.

Once a potential member has made up their mind about Mahikari and decided not to take Primary Kenshu, they are discarded because they aren’t even good enough to be friends with a kumite. You are either with Mahikari or against Mahikari. There is no in between. There is no, “I don’t agree with your beliefs, but you’re a good person so lets continue to be friends.” No, there is none of that. You’re either a Mahikari member, or you’re not worth their time.

I have Asher’s permission and I am going to use him as an example here. Asher’s mother is in the process of disowning him because a Doshi told her that she needed to dust off the dirt from her feet; he would pull her down before she would pull him up. Kana, if you’re reading this you are a disgrace of a mother. I could never abandon my child for anyone, or anything. You have a very intelligent, kind, and talented son and you don’t deserve him. In my opinion you should have been sterilized, but then that wonderful child wouldn’t be here so I take that back. I hope you have a great life clutching onto those false teachings until kingdom come.

Proselytism Targeting Vulnerable People

2006-04-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

F: Proselytism targeting vulnerable people.

There is a specific group of people who find their way to Mahikari. The first group of people are those who are ill, terminally or otherwise. These people come to Mahikari normally because they read the information on the website or hear about Mahikari through members, who present a testimony of people who have been “cured” by true light. This gives the ill person hope and they begin attending the dojo in order to cure their illness, if for some reason the illness goes into remission, the members automatically attribute it to the light. Mahikari members always assume that A caused B because B followed A.

This group of people are extremely vulnerable, because they just want to get well. They will try anything to cure themselves. I have diabetes, but when I was younger I had juvenile diabetes which is much more severe. I was told by the doctor that my kidneys could never go through the strain of having children, but I had wanted kids my whole life. When I joined Mahikari and my friend told me that okiyome might be able to make me strong enough to have children, I was sceptical, but I would have tried anything. I have a son now, but the strain was tremendous and I won’t be able to have anymore children. The doctor feels that one more might kill me.

The second group of people are the environmentalists and humanitarians. Mahikari appeals to the side of them that wants to save the world from its current state of chaos. The Mahikari philosophy of connecting everyone and creating a peaceful society appeals to these ideological people. Mahikari constantly pushes the environment issue; it is one of the main discussions that take place during monthly ceremony.

These people are vulnerable because of their bleeding hearts. They are kind, wonderful, compassionate people, who see how nasty this world has become and want to make a difference. They want to prevent war and live peacefully. Mahikari teaches that through the divine teachings we will all be connected (races and religions) and peace will eventually ensue. After the building of Suza the world will start reverting back to the Garden of Eden. These people want to believe this lie so badly that they remain in Mahikari. Eden hasn’t come back yet, and I bet those people are still waiting for Keishu’s lie to come true.

The third group of people is the ones who want an easy way out when it comes to God. These people normally work a tremendous amount of time and struggle to accept a God that is jealous, vengeful, and destructive if not obeyed. The Bible says that you are judged by your faith alone, not by your works. This is hard for some people to deal with because in order to be faithful they would first have to love God and obey His will. Mahikari appeals to these people because they like the idea of paying for forgiveness and spending an hour a day giving light in order to erase sins, rather than putting out the effort of actually getting to know God. Now…that’s not saying that Mahikari doesn’t preach about a vengeful God, they do, the Goseigen also states that not even kumite are safe from the Baptism of Fire, however, there seems to be a common belief amongst kumite that they are all saved despite the Goseigen’s warning. I remember so many people who would come only on monthly ceremonies, pay their membership fee, and leave immediately after. It was as though they thought God only judged them by the amount of money they paid.

These people are not vulnerable at all, just lazy.

The fourth group is children. When I say children I mean people from the ages of 0-25…I don’t think I was fully an adult until I was in my mid-twenties. Mahikari has always taught that it is important to have as many children as possible in order to raise them as kumite. As soon as you are married you are encouraged to begin a family, trust me, I know. I was pressured to start a family as soon as I got married at 20.

Once the child is born they are raised in Mahikari, naturally they adopt the same beliefs their parents practice; they learn what they see. It’s all fun and games until their tenth birthday. As soon as that child turns ten they begin being harassed by members of Kanbu to join Mahikari. As if that isn’t bad enough the child begins being harassed by their parents because not only is Kanbu harassing the child, but also the parent to encourage the child to become a member.

I remember one man I spoke with recently, he’s now 22 but he spoke with me about his experience, he said, “My mom, dad, and older brother were all members…I felt obligated to join when I turned ten and everyone started asking me about Kenshu. Almost like it was a birthright I had to accept. I took the class against my better judgment and before I knew it I was in Mahikari Tai and a Tai-Cho. Now I have left the organization and I don’t think I would have joined if the pressure hadn’t been present. Giving light didn’t appeal to me, even at that age.”

If your parents are members everyone assumes that you will be too and most children don’t have the courage to say how they feel. They feel like they will be disappointing everyone if they don’t take Kenshu. They are by far the most vulnerable because they won’t speak for themselves.

And last we have the religiously conflicted person. These people have a problem with traditional religion and seem to go from religion to religion until they find one that fits their own theories about life and the after-life. Reincarnation appeals to most people because they like the idea of second chances. Most people fear the harsh Christian philosophy of, “Follow the Bible or you’ll go to hell.” Mahikari suggests a much lighter sentence which states that if you are bad you will not go to heaven, but rather a place where you will be purified and then reincarnated into a new life until you chose Mahikari as your religion and then you will graduate to the next level. To the religiously conflicted person, this sounds pretty good, most people like second chances. You can screw up as much as you want and get away with it forever.

Exploitation of cheap labour and voluntary work

2006-04-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

E: Exploitation of cheap labour and voluntary work as a form of purification of the soul and of redemption.

There is no possible way that Mahikari can deny this claim. All anyone need do is contact a Socho, Hancho, or anyone else who works at the dojo who is not directly below Keishu or the head of their countries sector. Keishu’s Doshis are well paid to maintain her house, serve as bodyguards, garner new members, and God knows what else. High level Kanbu members like Dr. Tebecis are very wealthy because of their increased wages. Mahikari pays for their homes, cars, food, and anything else they want.

Sochos, on the other hand, get paid a teachers salary, sometimes less, and are told that they are erasing their sins and impurities by maintaining the dojo. Some Sochos even live at the centre if they are not married with children.

Hanchos don’t get paid at all, but instead are told that they should be honoured to do divine service for Su-God. I once knew a Hancho who was at the dojo every night (neglecting her family in order to offer divine service), working with children during monthly ceremonies, bringing in flowers, aiding Doshis with Kenshu classes, taking Tai members on fieldtrips, bending over backwards for Mahikari and did she ever see a dime? No, instead she was asked to donate even though she was doing all of this divine service.

Fear is used in order to keep members from complaining about divine service. They are told that Kumite have more sins and impurities than normal people, that is why God has called them to be members of Mahikari, to erase their sins and impurities faster through true light, divine service, and evangelism.

Guilt is another factor used to keep Kumite in line. Kumite are told that they must make sure that their families are all members. “If you cannot even save your family you will not be able to save anyone else.” is often what Kumite are told. Kumite are also told that if someone they love refuses to become a member that it is because of the kumite’s sins and impurities, not the reluctant person’s impurities. Kanbu will then encourage them to do more divine service, telling them that the sooner they erase their own impurities the sooner their loved one will join. This encourages members to spend more time at the dojo, and instead of building a relationship with the person they want to bring into Mahikari, neglecting them in the process of spending every waking moment at the centre.

What it boils down to is this; Mahikari members are told that there are three ways eliminate your sins and impurities.

1) Offering True Light (No donation with true light means stealing from God)
2) Making Donations (Always the best way)
3) Divine Service (IE: volunteering to look after the centre, organizing ceremonies, purchasing flowers, harboring members of Kanbu when they visit, taking care of shrines and Goshintai, cleaning the centre, taking last minute trips to other states or countries without question and at their own expense, etc)

As you can see any kind of physical labor is considered divine service and therefore members should be grateful and do these task without expecting compensation.

Financial Extortion Justified by Various Spiritual Reasons

2006-04-13T07:22:00.001-07:00

C. Financial extortion justified by various spiritual reasons (i.e. donation of 10% of one’s income to receive True Light, courses, etc.)

Now, we all know that it’s quite an expense to join Sukyo Mahikari. Most churches simply allow you to join, but in order to join Mahikari you must first meet the approval of the Kanbu…(IE: You must be devoted and you must be willing to keep up with the fees.) Nowadays it’s getting harder and harder to join Mahikari…Kanbu are not above telling someone that they need to spend more time receiving okiyome and studying the teachings before they become members. Kanbu will tell you that the reason behind this is to ensure that the person is spiritually mature enough to become a Kumite.

However, we former members have a theory of our own…spiritually mature could translate into brainwashed enough to believe everything they are going to throw at you in Primary Kenshu. Once you are ready…to take the Primary course (in the US) you pay $100-$120…that in itself is steep for a lot of people. I knew a man once who wanted to join, but his income would not allow it. He was living off of roughly $1200 a month. Kanbu worked with him…they allowed him to make payments (anything to get the money). Once you join there is a 10% tie you are supposed to reach monthly…however, that’s not uncommon…Christian religions suggest the same thing in order to maintain the church. The difference is that Christian religions don’t make God out to be a money hungry tyrant who demands that you pay or He cuts you off. Christian religions teach that you give what you can.

My husband has just recently stopped making donations to Mahikari…I guess he decided that Keishu probably has enough to take care of herself for the rest of her life. Anyways, the Doshi approached him last monthly ceremony and asked him if he wanted to make a donation. He said he had noticed it had been a while since my husband had offered “gratitude”, monthly or just to receive okiyome. My husband told him that he didn’t want to give a donation and he told me later that I should have seen the look on the Doshi’s face. He said it was priceless. The point I am trying to make is that Mahikari teachings don’t just talk about offering money, the Kanbu is not above blatantly asking for it. It’s like the Sheriff of Nottingham coming after the villagers for their taxes…goodness…I bet Mahikari members could use Robin Hood right about now.

Okay…after you join you make a donation whenever you visit the dojo…which is roughly between $1-$10…depending on the person. Then if you want to move up to secondary levels, you pay $700-$740. Tertiary is the steepest because have to travel to Japan for the classes, but the cost is $1000-$1200. In the end…someone who joins and move up to tertiary levels has paid roughly $1800…that doesn’t include donations…say a person donates $5 every time they visit the dojo…now say that person visits the dojo every day (which many do) that means $35 a week…by the end of the year they would have spent $1825. Now, say they stay in Mahikari for approximately seven years…that’s about how long it takes most to move up to a tertiary level…in those seven years in donations they would have spent $12,775. Now add that together with the cost of taking all the Kenshu classes and you have $14,575…that’s a lot of money.

Granted, we would have to subtract money for when the person is ill or goes out of town…but as you can see the amount is still staggering.

And how about that 10% tie? Well let’s play a game shall we? My father makes approximately $2500 a month. $2500 multiplied by .10 is equal to $250…that means someone like my dad (who makes a pretty average living) would have to pay $250 a month to maintain a monthly membership in Mahikari. That’s $125 bi-weekly and $8.93 a day. Now…$8.93 a day multiplied by 365 days in a year is equal to $3259.45. So if my father was at the tertiary level in Mahikari, donated $5 a day for okiyome, and paid his monthly membership fee…annually he would pay $17,834.25.

Now…total, in a year my father makes $30,000…with Mahikari fees it ends up being over half of his pay. Is it extortion? Many people would say no because the people involved give willingly, but again…they would be cut off from God if they didn’t, right? Not only that, but they are donating to a cause that has so much shrouded truth hidden in it’s depths…you have to ask would they be donating this money if they knew the truth? Probably not…so yes, I think extortion is the appropriate word to use.

Outrageous Payments for the Purification of the Spirit

2006-04-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

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.)

Rejection of Scientific Medicine to the Benefit of Religious Healing Techniques

2006-04-13T07:15:00.000-07:00

A. Rejection of scientific medicine to the benefit of religious healing techniques such as the laying on of hands, the purification of the spirit, the mind and the body.

As all former members can attest, Mahikari is very opposed to both science and medicine. The Goseigen is crystal clear on the supposed “dangers” of taking medication and relying on science for answers. Yet Mahikari members quoted on this site are attempting to deny Mahikari’s anti-science stance. “Some people receive True Light with the hope that they will be healed or that their condition will improve. The aim of the art of Mahikari, however, is not to heal illnesses but to revive the original divine power of men, children of God, through purification of their spiritual, astral and physical body, to allow them to participate in the accomplishment of the divine work and to make progress on the path of divinisation. The art of True Light is no substitute for medical or psychological therapy. Sukyo Mahikari recommends, therefore, that if a person has a physical problem, he should see a qualified medical doctor or physician. Similarly, if a person has an emotional or mental problem, he should seek the help of a professional therapist or counsellor.”

As usual, we, the former members are wrong.

Clearly we’re all just crazy and making everything up. Professional therapist or counsellor? I seem to remember my In-Laws giving me quite a hard time whilst studying psychology. They would say that people didn’t need to talk to psychologists; they needed to receive light and join Mahikari. Let me remind everyone reading this, that my father-in-law was once a Socho…I have no idea what his position is called now; something insanely high up there. My point is, that if someone as high up as my father-in-law is saying therapy and counselling is wrong, there a strong possibility that most Mahikari members feel the same way. Or at least they are taught to think the same way. I am just going to begin by quoting the Goseigen.

It is the present ‘‘intellectually poisoned’’ man who has soiled and defiled the supreme wonderous works of God’s wisom, filled it up with villiany and has neither realized the blunder, nor the necessity to apologize to the Creator. Isn’t it correct that man has hardened his brain to its core with poisons, and argues for the sake of arguing with whatever minute part of Wisdom he still possess? Man is counterfeiting everything and is proud of it ; swagger and self-conceited, insisting on his science, wisdom, and freedom of his pursit of knowledge. He has changed the Divine Science into a monsterous science, God’s knowledge into one that will self destruct. And ‘‘true medical science’’ which should be the ‘‘ sublime science’’ into something completely different, far from the Divine Principle of perfect health. 60 (JP 102-103-104)

Ahhh...I see. Well, call me crazy, but I think that sounds pretty opposed to science, don’t you? Primary Kenshu notes also talk about how you cannot depend on intellect for anything. The minds of man is useless and pondering why parts of Mahikari doesn’t make sense will only confuse the spiritual mind. Mahikari’s advice on how to deal with the fact that some of the teachings are difficult to understand? Don’t think about it. Don’t question it. Just be sonao. Focus on the sublime and not the scientific.

Intellectual poison has polluted man, the child of God, from all directions, who at one time was a godly man, and changed him into a clot of poison that has even penetrated the brain where it still remains. 61 (JP 105)

Do humans recognize a means to stop this intellect and power ? Unfortunately, no they do not. They will end up being blown away. 62 (JP 106-107)

Let me start out by saying, I find it difficult to picture God saying that human being will be blown away. There is another verse in the Goseigen that says something to the effect that anyone who doesn’t follow Mahikari will be ‘‘beaten to a pulp’’. Can’t see God saying that either. The above text indicates that because man is so thirsty (greedy, if you believe the Goseigen) for knowledge and power they will end up being blown away.

Mahikari believes science is the wrong way, the only way is spirituality. Spirituality and Science cannot co-exsist together. I don’t know about the other former members, but when I first joined Mahikari, there was a constant emphasis on ‘the end of the world’, the ‘dawn of a new society that only kumite will survive’.

I know members in Australia who even say Kanbu went so far as to make them pack an emergency bag of what they would take with them if the end should come. My husband is still a active member of Mahikari ; and although the ‘end of the world’ theory is rejected by many now, my husbad says Kanbu now preach about how man, with their nuclear weapons, will destory the world. Hence supporting the Goseigen text that states men will be ‘‘blown away’’.

This ties into the whole idea that science is wrong. Men created bombs by using scientific knowledge, thus the world will be blown away because of bombs made by men through the use of science.

Modern man have gone too far. It is because of human greediness. It has tempted man to use medicine as a means to make money and has also tempted him to consume it. It is because of his avarice. It has made man desire only the pleasures of comfort without delay. There is no reaping before sowing in the arrangement with God. Avarice is one of the greatest causes of negative karma. 62 (JP 106-107)

For those of you who don’t know what the word avarice means, the definition is: Avarice: Immoderate desire for wealth; cupidity.

The Goseigen states that God gave men natural remedies to cure severe illness. Those sorts of ‘‘medicine’’, if you can call it that, is acceptable in the eyes of Mahikari. Things like green tea, herbs, and organic foods are tolerable. However, those things should always be complimented with okiyome. Anything made by a pharmaceutical company that has to be bought or paid for is wrong. The fact that man has marketed science made medicine is unforgivable; science is evil and the bane of man’s existence. Anything that is not organic and of God is wrong. This text also goes onto to say,

“It has made man desire only the pleasures of comfort without delay. There is no reaping before sowing in the arrangement with God.’’

Let me put it this way...say you have a headache, you take some Tylenol, your headache pain goes away...there’s nothing wrong with that, right ? Wrong ! Not in a Mahikari world. Whenever you are ill (as Mahikari teaches) instead of taking medications that only masks the pain (again as Mahikari teaches) you should simply suffer through it and be greatful that God is cleansing away your toxins. Otherwise you are ‘‘desiring the pleasure of comfort without delay’’...basically God expects you to suffer through sickness and maintain a sonao attitude. This attitude of no medication or treatment has even gotten some of it’s members killed. Case in point? On the Mahikari Exposed site

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~skyaxe/christiane.htm

there is an experience story written by a woman named Christiane. She talks about how her husband was diagnosed with a sever illness that the doctor instructed they handle right away. However, instead of heeding the doctor’s warning, Christiane consulted a member of Kanbu, who told her that the doctors were only in their profession to make money. Christiane told her husband they had nothing to worry about and just continued to give her husband okiyome...not long after that her husband passed away due to complications brought on by his condition. All the Kanbu member could say was that because her husband died in such a violent way, her family and ancestors had just rid themselves of severe spiritual impurities and negative karma.

Wow...pretty cold hearted if you ask me. There is no comfort in the standard Mahikari responses. Now, let me bring this post to a close...Mahikari says that all non-organic medicine was made by man, not God to poison the body and mind...rather than God gave man the ability to create these medications to improve their health and prolong their lives...so if the Mahikari belief is correct and man is independent of God...then God is not in control of the world as we know it. He just watches as we destroy ourselves. I think I’ve proved my point. Mahikari Says...Science+Medicine=Destruction and Evil...

Sukyo Mahikari Observatory

2006-04-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

During my next series of posts I am going to be responding to this website:

http://www.hrwf.net/html/sukyo_mahikari_observatory_on_.html

I started reading this thinking that it was an anti-Mahikari site, but what I found was that it is more pro than anything. It defends Mahikari on all of the issues listed below, attempting to look neutral, but in the end siding more with Mahikari than the former members who have been there. I am going to break this down slowly, using references from the Goseigen and other texts, to show the fallacies in this article. List of allegations concerning the dangerous nature of the movement

A. Rejection of scientific medicine to the benefit of religious healing techniques such as the laying on of hands, the purification of the spirit, the mind and the body.

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

C. Financial extortion justified by various spiritual reasons (i.e. donation of 10% of one’s income to receive True Light, courses, etc.)

D. Use of the donations for financial operations and investments abroad.

E. Exploitation of cheap labour and voluntary work as a form of purification of the soul and of redemption.

F. Proselytism targeting vulnerable people.

G. Severing the links with the family and friends.

H. Sukyo Mahikari is a totalitarian sect (use of the swastika, the symbol of nazi and extreme-right movements).

I. Sukyo Mahikari is an apocalyptic sect (only its members will be saved).

Keishu Okada

2006-04-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

The following is my personal speculation. I am not liable if the name of Keishu Okada gets smeared through this post. I have stated that these are my personal assumptions based on my knowledge of Mahikari and the history of Keishu Okada and Kotama Okada.

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made…” Genesis 3:1

The bible uses the symbol of the serpent in the Garden of Eden to represent Satan. In the Bible, snakes are used to symbolize evil and deceit throughout its teachings. As I have been reading other blogs, talking with former Mahikari members, and sucking up all the latest Mahikari news…I have come to find that in my mind, much like Satan was the villain of Christianity, so too is Keishu Okada the villain of Mahikari.

Not necessarily an obvious villain; just as Satan pretended to be a friend of Adam and Eve’s when all the while he was plotting to make them fall from grace by disobeying God…paradoxically Keishu pretends to be God’s representative on earth, praying for the lives of mankind, while in reality she is well aware that she has no more power in deciding the fate of the world than you or I.

Throughout this post I plan to point out and examine all the lies surrounding Keishu Okada’s past. I will tell you her version of events and then my own version. This is strictly speculation, but you have to admit it is speculation that makes sense.

Alright…here we go….

Keishu Okada was born in 1925, which would make her 81 years old. Since becoming the head of the Mahikari faith, Keishu has said little, if anything about her past. Where she was born, who her parents were is a complete mystery. How she met Okada is an even bigger mystery. In most biographies she isn’t even mentioned until Okada falls ill and needs a replacement. There is a reason for that, I’m sure. Mahikari likes to keep anything scandalous or incriminating under wraps. Many websites wouldn’t dare say anything negative about her; for fear that someone might hit them with slander charges. Well…I am going to say how I feel. In the United States we are protected by freedom of speech, which means I am allowed to say whatever I want, about whomever I want, and the target of my article can’t do a thing about it. Here is my version of events…

Keishu Okada was born in 1925 in Japan. Her family were members of a religious group called the SKK: Sekai Kyusei Kyo or Johrei if you live in America (founded in 1935 when Keishu was 10.) The SKK is an organization which practices a healing technique in which the hand is raised a few inches in front of the forehead or any other various points, in order to heal a person through a spiritual energy.

(Sound familiar?)

SKK members remember Keishu and her family well. When Keishu had just turned 30, she met a married SKK priest named Yoshikazu Okada. They formed a friendship and soon a sexual relationship. Around this time Yoshikazu was relieved of his duties as a member of Kanbu in the SKK due to sexual misconduct and unorthodox teachings.

I have read everything I could find on this particular subject and the articles never seem to reveal the woman’s name with whom Yoshikazu was sexually involved with. Having experienced the ugly side of sexual misconduct in a Japanese religion (check out my Memoirs of a Kumite blog for details on that), I can say that Kanbu is not kind to members who take part in sexual activities outside of wedlock. I can only imagine the repercussions for a member of Kanbu.

How shameful.

I would be willing to guess that the woman was Keishu Okada. When Yoshikazu was kicked out of the SKK he was enraged. In his anger he created a new religion called Mahikari, when he was 58 years old. Keishu soon left the Johrei as well and was one of the first to join Yoshikazu, or Kotama as he was being called by then, on his religious quest.

You never hear about any of this in Mahikari…why? Because Yoshikazu chose certain verses from the Bible and from Buddhist teachings to prove that he was the one true Messiah. The Buddhist teaching states that, 3000 years after Buddha’s death, a layman with no previous religious experience will rise to show everyone the true path. Yoshikazu wanted everyone to believe that he was this layman in the prediction. Therefore, some of his history had to be eliminated in order to achieve this illusion.

Mahikari has just recently fessed up to the fact that Kotama was a member of the SKK among other religions. Eventually there was so much evidence contradicting the supposed truth that Keishu’s representative made a statement to explain that Kotama had been involved in other religions whilst on his spiritual quest. It only took Mahikari 30-something years to admit it. What is also funny to me, Anne pointed this out recently, how Yoshikazu wanted to denounce all other religions as pseudo-truths, but yet he sure did use them quite frequently to credit himself. Of course Mahikari members will say that since he was a Messiah he had the ability to differentiate from what was true and what was false…completely brainwashed, I repeat, completely brainwashed. God gave you common sense, people, use it. I feel like an idiot for believing any of this garbage.

Back to the story…Keishu and Kotama continued their relationship, but for some reason neglected to get married; probably because Kotama was already married at the time. Eventually his wife caught wind of what was happening, so she divorced him and took their two children with her. After that scandal there was no way Kotama could marry Keishu; his reputation would be ruined and everyone would know why his marriage ended in divorce court. They continued to keep their relationship a secret, however, former members have been quoted as saying that the relationship was quite obvious, but no one questioned their great savior’s judgment. Eventually Kotama legally adopted Keishu in order to have an excuse for her constant presence.

After the adoption Keishu’s life became rather quiet. We hear nothing else from her until she is involved in the infamous legal battle. When Kotama passed away, it was assumed by everyone that his best friend, and second in command, Sekiguchi, would take his place. He had made that clear when he was well enough to speak and communicate his wishes. Because of this clarity, he felt no need to leave a last will and testament restating the fact. Despite this, Keishu remained by her “fathers” side while he was dying. When he passed she left his bed chambers and told several Kumite that her father had anointed her the new spiritual leader. No one was in the bedroom; no one heard the conversation…though many have said that in his state of sickness and delirium, Okada couldn’t have relayed such a message. Keishu took Sekiguchi to court, but in the end there were too many witnesses stating that Sekiguchi was supposed to be the new leader, and not Keishu. In her anger, she split off the supposed one true religion and created Sukyo Mahikari (a carbon cut copy of Mahikari, but with her as the leader).

After she started her own organization, she made sure that much more emphasis was put on donations and gratitude. She also began referring to herself as God’s representative on earth. In later years, she set her sights on expanding to other countries besides Japan. She saw dollar signs $$$$ in her new religion and she wanted to utilize it. Many members followed her when she created her own religion, believing her tales of her father changing his mind at the last possible minute. However, many stayed with Sekiguchi.

I suppose I find it hard to understand how people can believe someone who lied about so many things. How can you believe a word that comes out of her mouth after she had been proved a liar time after time after time? She has a silver serpents tongue…it a shame that so many people are blind to that fact.

FAQ's

2006-04-13T07:05:00.000-07:00

Since starting this blog I have received several emails from people asking me all sorts of questions about Mahikari. Many have family members and friends involved in the sect and are curious about what their loved ones are doing whilst at the dojo. Others just want more information. Here are some of the basic questions I get asked daily about Mahikari. I hope this helps the readers who are contemplating joining Mahikari. All of these questions will be answered in my opinion based on my personal belief system.

Was Mahikari the first organization to practice The Art of True Light?

-The answer to this is no. There is another group that offers okiyome, or as they call it Johrei. They were once called the SKK, but now I believe they are simply going by the name of the energy in which they believe they can radiate through the hands, “Johrei” (pronounced Jo-Ray). They were founded by a man named Mokichi Okada (no relation to Yoshikazu Okada) in 1935, approximately 24 years prior to Mahikari. So as you can see, the organization is in no way original as it claims. Here are some of the Johrei’s official sites so you can look at the staggering similarities for yourself. The comparison is clearly there…things such as sangetsu flower arrangements to spiritually enlighten you, yoku gardening is practiced by the Johrei as well, okiyome, environmental education, omitamas (they have pendants but unlike Mahikari they do not believe that the pendant is necessary in order to offer okiyome)…everything that Mahikari practices, the Johrei practice as well.

http://www.johrei.ca/ http://johreidc.org/index.html

What should you do with your pendant once you leave Mahikari?

-Burn it! Just kidding…seriously now, this is a personal choice and not one that should be taken in stride. You shouldn’t be wearing it and caring for as you have done in the past that merely feeds the sickness you are trying to rid yourself of. I wore my pendant for a long time after leaving and it was merely prolonging the healing process. I think you should dispose of the omitama the way you feel is right. It is a burden that is being lifted off your shoulders and you should deal with it the way you see fit. I burned mine because that was what was going to be therapeutic for me. Some people return them to the dojo to make a statement, others keep them, some throw them away, some bury them (like a funeral, I suppose)…it just depends on what feels right to you.

Have you ever witnessed a spirit disturbance?

-I have witnessed nothing more than what occurs at Pentecostal churches, however in those churches, I believe they say that when a person acts as though they are possessed it is because they are receiving the Holy Spirit…not because they are spiritually disturbed. Pentecostal churches see those reactions as a positive thing, whereas Mahikari believes them to be negative and evil. Whenever something like that occurred, I couldn’t help but find myself thinking, “Maybe they’re faking it. Maybe they are just trying to make us believe they’re possessed.” Now that I think back on it, with all the lies Mahikari has told, they are not beyond asking someone to act out as though they are possessed. I personally don’t believe that spirit disturbance exists. I remember a woman coming to our dojo a long time ago, none of us had ever seen her before, but she claimed to be visiting the US with her family. When she was receiving okiyome she began screaming and kicking and lashing about as though she was disturbed. The Doshi then proceeded to enter the room at the perfect moment and save the day by “talking things out” with the spirit. The woman calmed down and then all was well. We never saw her again. I have always wondered if maybe Mahikari would pay someone to come to the dojo and act out of sorts in order to strengthen members’ belief in spirit possession. The fear of being possessed if ever leaving Mahikari is an excellent scare tactic. My other theory would be that during the shallow meditative state some people enter during okiyome…maybe something occurs almost like a form of hypnotism…causing people to behave as though they are disturbed. I have never witnessed a spirit disturbance that occurred whilst a regular kumite offered okiyome…it always seemed to happen when a Socho, Doshi, or a high member in Kanbu was offering. This causes me to believe that maybe Kanbu are taught a different technique for offering okiyome that causes a bizarre reaction.

How does Sukyo Mahikari vary from Kotama’s original organization Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyoden or SMBK?

-I have heard so many Kumite telling potential members that the reason Mahikari gets such a bad reputation is because of the SMBK. The SMBK was Okada’s original organization, after his death there was a power struggle between Sakae Sekiguchi and his adoptive daughter/concubine, Keishu Okada, for the secession of the leadership. Due to Keishu’s frivolous claim that her father asked her to lead his organization on his death bed…and with no witnesses to back up the claim, Sakae Sekiguchi was given leadership of the group. SMBK is now run by Katsutoshi Sekiguchi; Sakae’s son. Both groups follow the same book, the Goseigen, and practice Okada’s teachings…yoku gardening, flower arranging, okiyome, building of Suza…they are one and the same other than the fact that their current leader is different. The claim that Sukyo Mahikari has acquired a bad reputation due to the SMBK is another of Keishu’s frivolous accusations…the SMBK tries it’s hardest to stay out of the limelight. Sukyo Mahikari is the half of the organization that seems to be constantly in the news and pushing for publicity. I don’t seem to remember SMBK getting bashed quite as hard as Sukyo Mahikari on the internet either. For those of you who have been told by Kumite that the organizations are different, rest assured, they are one and the same.

Is it true that Mahikari members are discouraged from reading anything that is opposed to their teachings?

-Very true. Within the walls of the dojo there are publications written by Mahikari members. Most of the information is written about personal experiences and about the greatness of Kotama Okada. When in doubt members are encourage to read the publications at the dojo or speak with Kanbu to put their mind at ease. However, if you only talk with Mahikari members you will only get the Mahikari answers. Kumite are told by the Kanbu that any members, who reads negative internet or book sources, are spiritually disturbed and are begging to have attaching spirits latch on. They are told that the authors who write negative things on the internet are disturbed and should be paid no mind. Kanbu have also been quoted as saying that former members have an “axe to grind”…the truth is, former members are attempting to tell their stories on the internet to inform people of their experiences with Mahikari. We have nothing to gain by exposing the truth, whereas Mahikari is totally dependent on offerings from members. Departing members means lost revenue. I encourage everyone to read all you can about Mahikari if you are considering membership…the good and the bad. At least then you will be making an informed, independent decision.

Faithless: After Mahikari

2006-04-13T07:02:00.000-07:00

It seems like Mahikari not only causes psychological damage, but also spiritual damage. Since departing Mahikari I have spoken with many former kumite; and what I have found through talking with them is that after Mahikari, for many of them, spirituality, faith, and God are things of the past. So many have left Mahikari since it first began in the late 60’s and the number of former members continues to rise. The constant devotion and donations to Mahikari is no longer an acceptable way of life for many people. Leaving Mahikari is a traumatic experience, if you were unfortunate enough to get sucked into believing all the teachings. It is probably one of the hardest things, many Kumite will ever do. ZT talked about this in one of his recent posts…he talked about what hurts; and leaving Mahikari causes a lot of hurt when someone has devoted themselves so completely, entirely, and selflessly to the cause. You wake up one morning and realize that everything you thought was essential to life…seems so asinine and stupid. You find yourself wondering around incoherently, wondering what to do next. There is a void in your life, a space…you start thinking…

What am I going to do instead of going to dojo? What are my friends going to think? What will my family say? Am I spiritually disturbed and that is why I am thinking these things? Should I still care for omitama…Goshintai? Maybe I am just overreacting and there is a perfectly good explanation for these terrible findings? Did I really waste (X) amount of years on Mahikari? Would God allow me to be lead astray like this for so long?

It is those very questions and doubts that keep so many people locked in the Mahikari spell all their life. Can you imagine what someone like Dr. Tebecis would do if the truth about Mahikari suddenly registered in his mind, if all of a sudden it just clicked and he realized all the lies that he had been told and all the lies he had spread to others? What would Dr. Tebecis’ life be like without Mahikari? It’s his bread and butter, his everything, if he was suddenly without it the entire foundation upon which he has built his life would come tumbling down. I know so many people who live and breathe the dojo; they schedule everything around whether or not they will be able to get to dojo.

Some quit their jobs and devote every waking moment to Mahikari and the dojo. Could you imagine what their lives would be like without it? It would virtually stop.

They might still have their families, but then again if their families are kumite…they might not. That is what it is like to leave Mahikari for those of you who don’t know and are thinking about joining. In the end you are so dependant on Mahikari, the Kanbu, okiyome, and the dojo that you don’t know what to do without those elements in your life. You lose so much, especially if you were unfortunate enough (like myself) to pull your family and friends into it.

When you’re ready to leave, doesn’t mean the people you love will be ready to leave.

It isn’t as easy as Kumite make it out to be. Kumite say you can leave whenever you want, but when you do, you are shunned. Mahikari and its members won’t talk to you anymore because you’re disturbed, and to associate with you would be like holding themselves back spiritually. But that isn’t the worst part.

As I said, for many, after Mahikari is a life without spirituality and God. I would be willing to say that 75% of ex-members I have talked to have either become agnostic or atheist since leaving Mahikari. Their faith in God is completely shaken because they believed whole-heartedly in the Mahikari cause…only to find that it was lies.

When I ask them why they don’t believe they will say, “If God exists, why did He point me in this direction? Why did He allow me to become victimized by this cult?”

My answer to them is always the same, whether they want to hear it or not. God didn’t point you in this direction; YOU went in that direction because you wanted to. God didn’t allow you to become victimized by a cult, YOU allowed yourself to be victimized by a cult.

Some of them have lost 20 or more years because of Mahikari. I have read comment after comment on former member sites that say, “Mahikari has ruined spirituality for me for the rest of my life.” That is how much this cult is hurting people. It turns everyone involved into a mindless lemming, following the crowd, being obedient, and paying, paying, paying.

Many will not leave Mahikari (like Dr.Tebecis)…why?

Not because they’re weak people, but because of the embarrassment of having to admit they were wrong and because of the fear of what is beyond the dojo walls. They start thinking…what next? What can I do with my life now? Where do I direct my focus? Where do I use this energy and desire to improve the world? What will I do instead of Mahikari?

That is was keeps people involved in Mahikari long after giving light has lost its reward. If you are lucky enough to get out, some come out stronger and ready to take on the world, others become reclusive and faithless. It is a tragedy that Mahikari has the ability to turn once vibrant and spiritual people into half of what they were before.

It’s like a leech that sucks the life from you and then discards you. I have been lucky, but if you’re reading this and are truly considering Mahikari as a spiritual path, remember this…you might not be as lucky.

My Answers to Dr. Tebecis

2006-04-13T06:49:00.000-07:00

I have been reading over Dr. Tebecis’ “Answers to the Critics” from Thomas David’s pro-Mahikari site. What I am finding is that the answers simple aren’t good enough, not good enough to satisfy me anyway. I am going to break this down bit by bit and by the end of this we should have Dr. Tebecis’ “Answers to the Critics” and my answers to Dr. Tebecis. Here is what the Doc had to say about internet sites such as mine…

Media publicity

There is an extreme view on the Internet that Sukyo Mahikari has a hidden agenda – that the Emperor of Japan is going to rule the world and that the organization is a front to achieve this. Such a distorted view simply could not subsist in Japan. Practically everyone in Japan knows that members of the Imperial family are strictly traditionalistic when it comes to religious matters, following traditional Shintoism and all the rites and practices that come with it.

-This is true; nowadays most people do know that the emperor is just a symbol. However, Mahikari wasn’t created in 2006…Okada had his first revelation in 1959, exactly 14 years after WWII, where the emperor of Japan had just lost his power and right to claim his divinity. Many people were angry that the emperor was forced to step down and still followed him. Okada was one of those loyal followers, having been in the army and served his country. So whether or not Japanese people know that the emperor is just a symbol is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that Okada incorporated his devotion for the emperor of Japan into his teachings, and encouraged his followers to be loyal to the current emperor. Mahikari members are taught that one day the emperor will reassume his position as the leader of the world. Someone who only takes primary Kenshu will not find out anymore than surface data, but those who become enlightened enough to take secondary and tertiary Kenshu find out rather quickly about the importance of the emperor. So the question isn’t whether or not Japanese people know the Emperor is strictly traditionalistic, the question is whether or not Kumite know that the Emperor is strictly traditionalistic.

The Emperor of Japan, as any head of state or person in high office, would not show favoritism to any religious organization in Japan or elsewhere.

-I don’t know about that. If I was an Emperor and I had a religious group who was willing to worship me and place me back in the dictator position I was in prior to WWII…if I was going to be able to rule over a country again…I think I would be a little enthusiastic about it. I think I might show favoritism towards a group who was willing to worship me like a God. That’s like saying a celebrity who is getting free clothes from a famous fashion designer is not going to show favoritism towards that designer for giving them free merchandise. It’s an absurd thing to say. If Donna Karen is going to give me free clothes and jewelry, but Louis Vuitton, who makes equally as beautiful clothes, wants me to wear his dress but he wants me to pay for it…who do you think I am going to go with? It’s the same thing. If the Emperor has a choice to support a religious group who would rather keep him in his current position, versus a group who wants him to be in a leadership role again, where he has more power and prestige, which do you think he will favor?

Why has this view appeared amongst some previous Sukyo Mahikari members? It could be because the founder gave teachings that things started in the “land of the origin of spirit”, and that in extremely ancient times there was a leader from the land of the origin of spirit who was the representative of God for the peoples of the world. These teachings need to be taken in context. In ancient times when humankind appeared on earth, there was no country called Japan, no nationalities or borders, only land. People were all of the same origin and spread out to different parts of the world. Japan today is a part of what in ancient times was called the land of the origin of spirit.

-Stop right there…let’s reread that comment, shall we? “Japan today is a part of what in ancient times was called the land of the origin of spirit.” And I guess that means that the rest of the world wasn’t a part to the Land of the Origin of the Spirit. I guess that means the other land masses just came up from nowhere. Despite science telling us that it would take eras to form something of the scale and magnitude of a continent.

Sukuinushisama said that the people of the land of the origin of spirit does not only refer to Japanese people. Various teachings of Sukyo Mahikari point not to ‘a chosen people’ but to the importance of having harmony amongst people of all backgrounds as brothers and sisters. For example, in the Yokoshi Prayer Book, a verse of a divine song (entitled “The Land of the Origin of Spirit”) says, Japanese and Jewish people, you are not the chosen ones. Another says, Americans, Russians, Chinese, Japanese and Jewish people are all brothers. It is absurd that you now have discord among yourselves.Related to this matter is another allegation made in the media and on the Internet – that Sukyo Mahikari is racist, in particular, that it is anti-Semitic. There is no truth in this allegation. The passage cited above from the Yokoshi Prayer Book already makes this clear.

-See my last post…Letter to Thomas David...

Sukyo Mahikari welcomes all people, irrespective of their religion, race or background.

-As long as they are willing to conform to a Japanese way of life and accept Mahikari as their primary religion.

There are a number of Jewish Sukyo Mahikari members in Australia, with whom I communicate. The first Mahikari doctor in Australia is a Jewish woman whom I guided to Mahikari in 1976. In Canberra, I often talk with a good friend of mine, a Jewish man who became a Sukyo Mahikari member in Perth years ago. This man used to be the principal viola player for the London Symphony Orchestra and also had a position with the Carl Pini String Quartet. He told me: “The Light and the Mahikari teachings have not only furthered my progress as a musician and teacher but they have deepened my understanding of Judaism”.

-“They have deepened my understanding of Judaism.” I can see where Mahikari might deepen his understanding of Judaism. Mahikari teaches about karma; which teaches us that everything that happens throughout our lives is due to our negative karma. We have accumulated negative karma through our past lives. Perhaps the reason it has deepened his understanding of Judaism is because he now knows that the Holocaust happened because his ancestors or maybe even he in a past life, failed to construct a temple to enshrine Su-God. Thus everything that happened to Jews throughout history can be blamed on no one but the Jews. Due to their karma, it’s their fault and they deserved it. They should be thankful for the suffering they endured because it means that their negative karma is diminishing because living through trials cleanses away toxins and negative karma. Now, if that is how this man means Mahikari has strengthened his understanding of Judaism…because he can now accept the atrocities that happened because he knows he was deserving of it, I completely understand. The guilt factor is something most kumite come to accept and understand. All negative things that happen are the fault of the person they are happening to.

Another Jewish member in Canberra was the vice-principal of a high school and told me that she found the Mahikari practices invaluable in helping to fulfil her role as an educator. There are many Jewish kamikumite throughout the world. Also, I have attended Sukyo Mahikari ceremonies in the World Shrine where Jewish rabbis and dignitaries made complimentary remarks about the organization in their public speeches.

-This might be an assumption, but I would be willing to suggest that most people who make these public comments, have only taken primary Kenshu, if that. Therefore, they learn only what Kanbu want them to learn; the basics and nothing more. Those people know nothing about the future teachings that discuss the inaccuracy of all religions other than Mahikari and about the superiority of the Japanese race.

I feel that any misconceptions about Sukyo Mahikari controlling or looking down upon other races will gradually be dispelled as the organization spreads and people find out how altruistic and universal it really is.

-Not if I can help it. I guess that prediction was incorrect, considering that many people are leaving Mahikari and Dojos are fighting to pay their bills. Not to mention (I speak for the US only) people are becoming more cult-aware and are learning how to detect these kinds of greedy, money obsessed, cults before they get in too deep. Besides, most people’s lives are too busy to participate in something as time-consuming as Mahikari.

Another matter worthy of clarification is the allegation on the Internet that Sukyo Mahikari has links with the movement, Aum Supreme Truth, in Japan. The Japanese police have discredited Aum Supreme Truth as a terrorist organization, so it is understandable that people who know little about Sukyo Mahikari would be shocked by any report that the organization has a connection with Aum Supreme Truth. There is no connection with Aum Supreme Truth and never was.

-Just because Mahikari hasn’t bombed any subways cars yet, doesn’t mean there was never a connection.

It is true that a Japanese one-time Mahikari member who came to Australia became a member of Aum Supreme Truth, but she did this many years after she had given up Mahikari. I knew her well – Ms Yasuko Shimada, who came to Adelaide in South Australia in 1974 and helped plant the first seeds of Mahikari in Australia, a little over a year before I came across Mahikari in Japan. She married an Australian man and was able to gain Australian citizenship. She was certainly a pioneer for Mahikari in Adelaide. However, for various reasons she got divorced and gave up Mahikari in the early 1980s, years before Aum Supreme Truth was even founded. We heard from acquaintances that she was trying different religions.

-The poor woman was probably searching for something else to replace her previous Mahikari activities with. After leaving Mahikari many members have a rediscovery period that can be both traumatic and painful. It’s only natural for someone to search for something to fill the new gaping void in their life. Thus, if Ms. Shimada was experimenting with religions, there is a very strong possibility that this experimentation was brought on by the damage done by Mahikari. It’s like a drug addict coming down from a high; they overindulge in other things, such as food, to satisfy their addiction...to fill that void. Okiyome is an addiction in itself, an addiction that can leave a person feeling empty after leaving. These former members have been so accustomed to getting this “fix” of okiyome, so accustomed to centering their world around getting to the dojo, that without Mahikari they feel empty and not sure what to do with themselves after they leave. I blame Mahikari for any misfortune this woman had. I have experienced the same pain that she and many other have had to endure. You feel lied to, manipulated, and used…

As far as I know, Mahikari members lost touch with her for years and were surprised by media reports that she had become a member of Aum Supreme Truth years later.

-Lost contact? Or cut her off because she wasn’t a kumite anymore and therefore not worth having as a friend?

People come and go in all kinds of organizations, and there is no way any organization can be responsible for what people do elsewhere years after leaving that organization.

-I beg to differ. The emotional trauma one experiences when leaving Mahikari is enough to make anyone crazy. Members become so dependant on the organization…they ask the leaders for advice and permission to make big decisions, they are told to be obedient to the leaders as a child is to a parent, they are taught to lean on Mahikari with every fiber of their being, and most importantly they are discouraged from thinking for themselves… when someone leaves Mahikari, the newfound freedom is more than they know what to do with. The day opens up when going to Dojo for half the day is taken out of ones schedule.

Of course, history has shown that sometimes organizations registered as religions have, in fact, had hidden agendas or have exploited people. It was a good move by governments, not only in Japan but around the world, to investigate religious organizations to assess how genuine they are. Mass suicides in religious movements in Europe and Canada a few years ago, as well as the sarin gas murders by Aum Supreme Truth in Japan, prompted governments to look closely into religious organizations, resulting in some reassurance for the public. The Japanese government enacted religious law reforms in which all religious organizations were scrutinized, and there were a number that were either closed down or are under surveillance. From all this, it became clear that in Japan, Sukyo Mahikari is held in high regard as an organization that stands for good in society. Media reports in Japan have cited Sukyo Mahikari as one of the fastest growing new religions attracting the public. More and more research reports on new religions in Japan are also indicating their surprise that Sukyo Mahikari is growing rapidly, not only in Japan but overseas.

-Was growing in the 80’s and early 90’s…now the spell seems to be broken and we former members can breath easier knowing that less and less people are being hurt by this organization; and just because the Japanese government recognizes it as a religion, doesn’t mean other countries do. In the United States, Mahikari is considered a cult; no better than the Moonies or Manson Family.

When shocking allegations appear about religious movements that are not well known, some people are quick to use the words ‘brain-washing’, ‘sect’ and ‘cult’ even though they know little or nothing about the organization concerned, or even what defines a sect or cult.

-Well…we former members know a thing or two about Mahikari. If Mahikari is being labeled as a cult on the internet, it is deserving of that title. We former members who have lived through Mahikari and experienced it have earned the right to call Mahikari what it really is; a cult.

Sukyo Mahikari is not very well known in society outside of Japan when compared with mainstream organizations that have been in existence for centuries, so it is understandable that the public can become alarmed by negative claims in the media and on the Internet.

-I will do my best to keep the public alarmed. They have every reason in the world to be leery of Mahikari.

I was in Australia in 1997 when media reports criticizing Sukyo Mahikari in Australia appeared. At that time, I was the Regional Director of Sukyo Mahikari Australia-Oceania Region. Understandably, a number of Mahikari members became confused, particularly because of some anxiety from their non-Mahikari relatives. In order to help allay people’s concerns, I invited the Australian Federal Police to come to our Sukyo Mahikari Headquarters in Canberra and examine our records, files, accounts or anything else they wished. Three Federal Agents came, and during the amicable conversation they raised no concern about the integrity of Sukyo Mahikari. In fact, they offered their support, indicating that they would come quickly to our aid if any problems occurred from people who did not know the facts and wanted to cause trouble.

-Did they read the Goseigen? Did they read the Kenshu notes and class material? I bet not.Otherwise they would have seen the truth about Mahikari. Not to mention anything incriminating could have been stashed or moved to someone’s home by then.

In 1996 a Parliamentary Commission in Belgium investigated dozens of religious and spiritual organizations, including Sukyo Mahikari. At that time media reports labeled Sukyo Mahikari as a ‘dangerous sect’. Sukyo Mahikari staff members contacted the Department of Justice in Brussels about this allegation and the Commissioner General of the Criminal Investigation Department (Department of Justice) in Brussels replied in writing on 26 May 1998 that he had not given any indication that the organization was dangerous and that he is not responsible for the interpretations by the media. Even the organization for observing sects, “Information and Advice Centre on Harmful Sectarian Organizations”, legally established in 1998 as a consequence of that parliamentary commission, replied in writing on 13 December 2001 that in the documents of the Centre there is no evidence of anything presented before a judge, of illegal practices, harming individuals, families or the society, or disturbing public order, by Sukyo Mahikari.

-If this had taken place in the United States, things would have been different.In England, on 4 March 1999, Scotland Yard wrote to Sukyo Mahikari’s lawyers in London confirming that “nothing untoward was found” when officers visited the London Mahikari Centre and that as far as they were aware, Sukyo Mahikari was “not being investigated by the Metropolitan Police for any suspected criminal offence”.

-The damage Mahikari does is psychological, not physical. You can’t look for psychological damage in files. You have to experience if for yourself.

Negative publicity can have a good outcome. It usually makes people look more carefully at organizations and how genuine they really are, and as a result many people can be reassured and even discover the value of the organization. Within Sukyo Mahikari as well, many people’s faith has been strengthened through these experiences. Also, we now feel that we have a responsibility to not be so passive but to help society know more about Sukyo Mahikari so that people can make informed choices.

-And we as former members have a responsibility to not be so passive but to help society know more about Sukyo Mahikari so that people can make informed choices. We are doing the same thing Dr. Tebecis is doing, but counteracting his efforts.

The Mahikari organization has been spreading mainly by word of mouth. Other than some public talks, public activities and media coverage, there have been no high-pressure campaigns or advertising. Also, not much Mahikari literature has been available for the public.

-True, Mahikari has started to make things even more secret in order to pull in more members. Crazy teachings are pushed aside until the person is brainwashed enough to accept everything without question.

However, the Mahikari organization has always been open in that the general public is welcome to visit Mahikari centers, to experience the Light of God, to talk to members, read the literature, and attend ceremonies, study classes and so on.

-As long as they don’t read the negative publications on the internet; as long as they get the Mahikari perspective of things and no one else’s perspective.

There is no obligation to continue, although of course, members are pleased if someone wishes to do so.

-Of course, more money to Ms. Okada so she can pray for us and save the world. Yea!

People may visit once or twice or come dozens of times. They may become members or not. There are people who leave the Mahikari organization, in which case their views are respected.

-Yeah…so I guess he’s going to deny that those people are clearly spiritually disturbed. Respected? Ha! How about cut off and regarded as possessed by spirits? That sounds more accurate.

There are also some people who wish to come back to the Mahikari organization years later, and do so. Unlike the early years when people could become Mahikari members with little or no prior preparation, nowadays, most Sukyo Mahikari centers have guidelines for preparation in order to help potential members to really know what they are getting into. Such people are encouraged to receive the Light of God many times, to attend some activities, read the literature and talk to members so they can make informed choices. Young children may also become members, but only if at least one of their parents is a member. Teenagers require the permission of their parents if they wish to become members.

-More preparation is done to separate the weak minded from the rebellious.

Sukyo Mahikari derives no income from any business. It is totally funded by voluntary donations made by members. It is taught that offerings only have significance if they are made willingly and with gratitude.

-Guilt money that people feel obligated to pay because they are so ashamed of themselves for things they have done in their past lives. They pay for forgiveness. So of course it is donated with willingness, they want to be forgiven for their wrong doings. All the bad things that have happened to them are their fault.

As Sukyo Mahikari spreads and as more literature on Mahikari becomes available to the public, I envisage that more and more people will be able to see what this organization stands for and evaluate it appropriately.

-The literature is written by members and is biased to their opinion. Unless you read both the positive and the negative and draw your conclusions after you have read everything, you will not be making an informed choice.

Letter to Thomas David

2006-04-13T06:46:00.000-07:00

Well...I was interested in seeing what a kumite would think about the questions that plagued my mind whilst still a part of Mahikari. I wrote a letter to Thomas David, a kumite and youth member in Australia. I asked him a few questions, that I figured he would be more than happy to answer in order to defend Mahikari and their practices. He seemed like a kind (yet misguided) young man, and I was interested in his opinion. However, I received no response. Not even a letter to decline to answer. Could it be that kumite have no way to answer these kinds of questions? When I was a kumite, it seemed to me that we were called to always defend our faith no matter what. I suppose that's changed in the last two to three years. Anyway, here were my questions and if Mr. David ever decides to thoughtfully respond to these questions, I will replace this post with his and my "interview" answers.

Dear Thomas,

Greetings. My name is Darcy Cobbden. You might know me from my Mahikari blog on the net. As you probably also know, I spent my late teens to mid twenties involved in Mahikari and have grown quite opposed to it since leaving in the recent years. My husband and several other family members are still very much involved in Mahikari and I have been trying to motivate them to leave for the last few years. You’re probably wondering why I am writing you. Let me start out by saying that I am not writing to attack you or to try and push my opinion down your throat; I am just interested in your opinion as a human being and as a member of Mahikari. I looked over your site and was quite impressed with it. You have done an excellent job of displaying the positive aspect of Mahikari. I can tell that you truly love your faith and are genuine about helping people and spreading the teachings. I wanted to ask you a few questions, if I may. Feel free to omit any questions you feel uncomfortable with. I always try to get both sides of every story and since religion is something my husband and I have just agreed to disagree about, I don’t feel comfortable asking him about Mahikari anymore. I’ll answer these questions with my opinion as well, so you can get to know me as I hope I will be able to get to know you. Consider this a little friendly debate, if you are willing to participate.

1. How did you get involved in Mahikari? I became involved in Mahikari when I was 18. A friend of mine had been a member for approximately a year when I met her. She took me to dojo and eventually I joined the organization.

2. Do you feel that Mahikari is anti-Semitic? If not why? (I know your site talks about this in the answers to the critics section, but I was curious about your opinion, in your own words.) I am on the fence here. The idea that Hitler was an instrument of God and that Jews deserved their lot…is difficult for me to digest. When you look at the photos of the Holocaust…see the children dying and sick, it’s hard for me to believe that God would be so cruel as to inflict that upon any of his children, whether they failed to properly build a temple or not…and if that truly is the reason for their fate, does that mean that God is a materialistic God, that He would punish an entire group of people for not building a gold encrusted temple? My husband argues that it’s their Karma, but if that is the case did I deserve to get abused as a child? Was that due to my Karma and should I just accept it as an appropriate punishment? My husband says no, but what is the difference? That’s like saying a child with cancer deserves to die. I don’t believe that Mahikari has ever come out and said, “We hate Jews” but at the same time, can you not understand where some people draw these negative conclusions from? Mahikari does say that Jews were punished appropriately by God, basically saying that the Holocaust was a necessary evil that took place and that the Jews deserved what they got due to their negative Karma. Most people would say that is rather anti-Semitic, even though it is a basic principle of Karma in all religions and not necessarily just a principle of Karma in Mahikari. How do you feel about this?

3. Do you think that Mahikari conceals information about the teachings? When I was a first introduced to Mahikari, I was a Christian, I was assured by everyone that religion wasn’t important and that I could still attend Christian church and follow those beliefs, that giving okiyome was the only thing that mattered…however, after taking Primary Kenshu, I came to find that the Mahikari teachings said that Jesus was never crucified, that someone else replaced him on the cross, that he was buried in Japan, and studied Shintoism prior to spreading his own doctrine. That means that it would be impossible for me to practice my religion as was claimed by kumite originally. In order to follow Christianity you have to follow a few guidelines, these guidelines are as simple as ABCA: Admit that you are a sinner and that you need a savior.B: Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is the Lord.C: Confess your sins and commit your life to HimD: Don’t wait until it’s too lateHow would I be able to follow those beliefs and yet be a devoted and obedient kumite? It is impossible. Mahikari basically implies that the Bible and all other religions are nothing but lies, so how can you tell people they can continue to follow those paths? Wouldn’t they then be following falsehoods and lies? Why then does Mahikari withhold that information from perspective members until they have attended Kenshu? Or do you feel that all information is available to them from the start?

4. Christians are a primary target for Mahikari recruitment, due to the fact that 76% in the United States alone is Christian or Catholic. There are 2.1 Billion Christians or 33% worldwide. Do you think Christians would be as willing to join Mahikari, if kumite came out from the time they first attended the dojo and told them that Jesus was never crucified? I honestly don’t think I would have ever joined Mahikari if I had known then what I know now. If someone had told me that Mahikari doctrine teaches that Jesus was never crucified…I think I would have run out of there as fast as my legs could carry me. Mahikari basically states that the Christian savior was a coward and that he allowed someone else to die in his place…that his sacrifice was something that never occurred. It’s my opinion that members conceal that information from perspective members (especially Christian perspective members) in order to prevent that kind of negative reaction. Christianity and other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism, conceal nothing from perspective members…it’s always available and common knowledge. While Mahikari has levels of spiritual involvement…the more you pay the more you get to know.

5. Mahikari believes that it is the one true religion. However, there is now not just one Mahikari organization, but two. When Okada died, as you probably know, there was a power struggle over Mahikari. In the end it was split into two factions. How do you know that Sukyo Mahikari is the correct organization? How easy would it have been for Ms. Okada to lie about her adoptive father/lover anointing her as the new spiritual leader? No one witnessed Okada ever telling her that she would be his successor. The new leader of the original Mahikari has Okada’s omitama. There are also now two Suza’s. So how can kumite follow her without knowing the truth? In my opinion, maybe God split the organization because he disapproved of it. Why else would he allow the splitting of the supposedly one true religion? The key word is one, isn’t it? The origin of the world is one; the origin of all religions is one? If it is supposed to be the one true religion, why did Ms. Okada fight so hard to split it? Isn’t she undoing what her father set out to accomplish? Why not be sonao and just accept that someone else was going to be the leader of Mahikari?

6. Speaking of Suza…wasn’t the building of Suza supposed to turn the world into the new Garden of Eden? Wasn’t spiritual disturbance supposed to be ended? What happened? Seems to me that spiritual disturbance has gotten worse, not better. Maybe God was angry that there were two temples built. Obviously God is not going to want to spend his enshrinement in more than one place. What do you think?

7. Also, something I never quit understood, if there is only one God, why is the prayer to the Material Gods spoken before all main events. Wouldn’t that mean that Mahikari was polytheistic…since Gods are mentioned multiple times…material Gods, messenger Gods, etc…?

8. Do you believe in the devil? I was actually just curious about this. Some Mahikari members I know do believe in Satan, others don’t.

9. What is your opinion on the SKK? They are an organization that offers okiyome as well. They were founded almost twenty years prior to Mahikari. Some people say Okada was a member of the SKK before forming Mahikari. What do you think? And how can Mahikari claim to be original due to the ability to offer okiyome when this organization does the same thing? Further more, the founder of the SKK has stated that the pendant is not needed to offer okiyome, but that it is only a symbol that the wearer is a member. How do you feel about that?

I will think of more questions as they come to me. Thank you for taking the time to read this and thoughtfully respond. I will be more than willing to answer any questions that you might have for me was well.

All the Best,

Darcy Cobbden

It has been a few days and yet no response from Thomas. Do you think maybe I upset him? Or that he couldn't think of anything to say to my debate questions and answers? If any of you want to apply your opinions to these questions, feel free.

Mahikari Kids and Parents

2006-04-13T06:41:00.000-07:00

This is not a part of my story, but I wanted to write this while it was fresh in my mind. I am just going to let my mind wonder and my hands flow over the keyboard and hope that something comes out of this. Since departing Mahikari I have spoken with several former members…many of them my age, or a little younger. I have found that the youth, especially the youth in America, are more easily deprogrammed from Mahikari. I have my theories about this…though there could be several conclusions. My main hypothesis is that because America is such a free and liberal country that most kids here don’t want to be suppressed by things as essential as school, let alone things as time consuming, unnecessary, and thought-stifling as Mahikari.

Children here, from a very early age acquire an opinion, and quite frankly, a strong opinion. They are shaped by everything; television, their parents, friends…mostly by friends. In a country in which Mahikari is recognized only as a cult, not a religion like in Japan, the number of members is rapidly decreasing. In a last minute desperate effort to gain more recognition and new members, Mahikari Kanbu have been encouraging members to indoctrinate celebrities, or pseudo-celebrities (such as mayors, congressmen, and politicians.) Several Dojos have had to move to smaller and smaller buildings in order to pay the rent because donations and monthly membership fees are not cutting the mustard anymore.

How is Mahikari fighting this?

Well, despite trying to initiate celebrities, several kumite in their early twenties are being pressured to get married and have children sooner. After speaking with several former kumite, ranging in the ages of 20-27, I found that the Kanbu would subtly try and coax them into beginning their families immediately after getting married, if not married; they were encouraged to find another kumite and get married. The reason? To make more seed people, of course. In the US, Mahikari members are finding that members are hard to garner. US citizens are skeptical and want little, if anything to with anything that comes off even the slightest bit cultish. People in their late thirties and older, are set in their ways and don’t want to change. People in their twenties are more concerned with themselves and with enjoying life. Joining Mahikari, wasting their hard earned money, and sitting at a dojo on their knees for hours on end is not on their to-do list.

I visited several Dojos throughout the States, all under an assumed name and my old membership number, what I found from looking at the Dojos is that most of the people that were there were all in their late thirties, early forties, and long past their child bearing years. Most of them had discovered Mahikari in the late 70’s early 80’s when the hippie philosophy of hug the trees and live in harmony, was still acceptable. The few children who were there were probably 10-13 and remained in the nursery, uninterested in what their parents were doing. I spoke with some of the children and came to find that all of them had already taken primary Kenshu…the earlier they are indoctrinated the better…but most of them said they didn’t like offering light. When I asked why, most said, “My mom/dad always brings me here. I want to hang out with my friends…or It makes my knees hurt and I hate being quiet.” It seems as though Mahikari is losing its hold on the youth in the United States, which means that decreasing numbers are soon to follow.

So what are the parents doing to prevent their children from straying?

Control, control, control.

Mahikari parents are more controlling than ever. Mothers are becoming…dare I say eccentric about getting their kids to the dojo and keeping them at the dojo, isolated from their friends and outside influences that might taint their perception of how the world works. I have seen parents who would threaten to “ground” their kids if they did not attend dojo.

I have seen parents who will only allow their children to associate with other Mahikari members. I have seen parents who have quit their jobs in order to stay home and school their children the Mahikari way. I have seen parents who send their children to Japanese Universities, which teach only the history of Japan and the Japanese way of life (and Mahikari says that they do not imply that Japan is better…?). I have seen Mahikari members who have fallen in love with people outside of the organization, whose parents threaten to inflict 9 kinds of hell if the member even fathoms committing themselves to their boyfriend/girlfriend and leaving. I have seen kids in their twenties unable to make decisions or themselves because the Mahikari, “Be like a child” philosophy had been so implemented in their minds. I have seen parents who threaten to disown their children if they ever leave Mahikari or make a decision which is not first approved by the parent.

A lot of Mahikari kids…from the ages of 20-25 still live with their parents; mainly because their parents crave the ability to control so much that they cannot stand the idea of their kids leaving. Perhaps…being sonao 24/7 while at the dojo, makes them crave the ability to control at least a small portion of their lives; as a result the kids are the ones who become the controlled. What kind of life is that for these kids; always having to confirm their choices with their parents? It seems like Mahikari parents are more interested in what makes them happy and not about what makes their children happy.

Which brings the question…are Mahikari members really happy?

I have known so many members who were the picture of perfect control, grace, and humility at the dojo, loved by all kumite, but then at home they became something else entirely; yelling and screaming at their children, completely forgetting the way a true kumite is supposed to behave. What good are the teachings if they are only applied at the dojo where there is an audience?