Mahikari

Sukyo Mahikari is a nonprofit spiritual and community service organization with centers in more than 75 countries.^[1][2] Originally founded by Kotama Okada in 1959 under the name L.H. Yokoshi Tomo no Kai,^[3][4] Sukyo Mahikari was registered on 23 June 1978 by Keishu Okada as part of an amicable settlement following the passing of Kotama Okada.^[5] In 2006, membership was reported to be close to 490,000,^[6] but the organization has expanded to a current membership of one million.^[7][8]
According to one scholar, the drop-out rate after the 3 day initiation course is over 50%.^[9] Dr. Catherine Cornille writes in a research paper that the attrition rate is high. She also states "The emphasis on miracles and magic in Mahikari, on the other hand, accounts for the large turnover of members, ..."^[10]

Contents [hide] 1 History 2 Beliefs and practices 3 Status 4 Reception 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links

[edit] History

Main article: Mahikari

[edit] Beliefs and practices

The stated purpose of the organization is to foster the ability in people to develop a world of true peace by understanding and practicing light energy and the universal principles in all aspects of life.^[11]
Sukyo Mahikari teaches the transmission of light energy through a practice referred to as "the art of True Light (Mahikari)" which issues from the palm of the hand. The organization claims that this energy purifies and revitalizes the spirit, mind, and body.^[12] Practitioners believe that the light energy represents the wisdom, love and will of God.^[13]
In addition to the practice of light energy, Sukyo Mahikari teaches the concept of universal principles that, when practiced together with light energy, is claimed to allow one to more quickly attain personal growth.^[14]
Sukyo Mahikari claims that the documents owned by the Koso Kotai shrine proves that Jesus Christ came to Japan at the age of eighteen in order to study and perform austerities, and that Jesus returned to Japan, where he died at the age of one hundred and eighteen.^[15]
Sukyo Mahikari teaches that the Japanese emperor sent emissaries throughout the world to lead civilizations in regions such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India, so that every place on earth was influenced by the ancient Japanese (McVeigh 74).
It teaches that Japan is at the center of original civilization and that the Japanese were the first of God's creatures. Further, it teaches that all languages, cultures, religions, and civilizations originate in Japan.^[16]
Some researchers have noticed that the cosmology, values, and rituals of Sukyo Mahikari are similar to those of another new Japanese religion, Sekai Kyūsei Kyõ (which in turn was strongly influenced by Oomoto), Shintoism, Buddhism and Japanese folk religion.^[17]
Cornille writes, "There is the monthly membership fee (reisen hōji onrei ); the daily offering for receiving and giving the light (okiyome onrei); the expression of gratitude for protection (otumuguslii), and special gifts for the local dō jōchō, the headquarters in Japan, or the project for building a mausoleum for the founder. In addition, the dojo receives a considerable income from registration fees for courses. For major projects, however, such as the building of a new dojo, funds may come from headquarters in Japan."^[18]
Some studies that have been conducted on the alleged spirit movements and manifestations (Glossolalia and altered state of consciousness) that occur during the transmission of light ^[19] conclude that they could be attributed to personality disorders.^[20]

[edit] Status

In addition to the world headquarters in Takayama, Japan, Sukyo Mahikari has established regional headquarters in Australia-Oceania, Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and North America, with centers located in over 70 countries. Within the United States and Canada, Sukyo Mahikari has 21 spiritual development centers.^[11]

[edit] Reception

Sukyo Mahikari claims that, over the past two decades, members have been involved in charity and social services around the world, such as in Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal (planting of trees and revival of national parks), in Angola (activities for children, elderly people, and beautify urban areas) and in both New York and Hawaii (for environmental cleanup activities).^[21] In August 2004, Los Angeles mayor James Hahn presented Sukyo Mahikari of North America with a proclamation commending the organization for its efforts in helping to create a peaceful and harmonious society;^[22] and in September 2009, Mayor Mufi Hannemann of Honolulu presented Sukyo Mahikari with a certificate declaring September 27 as Sukyo Mahikari Day in Honolulu in recognition of beach and park cleanup activities that the organization has conducted there over the past ten years.^[23]
On May 6, 2010, the New York Center of Sukyo Mahikari was presented with a High Performance Building Plaque from The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in pursuing a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver rating from the U.S. Green Buildings Council. The plaque was given in recognition of energy-efficient measures incorporated into the new center that will help cut its energy costs by $8,400 per year and reduce its carbon footprint in New York City.^[24][25]
Greenwood's All the Emperor's Men^[26] created extensive damage to Sukyo Mahikari in Europe and Australia. Members raising questions based on the book were told that 1) the movement has a general policy discouraging the use of the internet; and 2) the fact that the member raised the question was evidence that the member was weak and had personal problems in need of a spiritual solution".^[27] The authors further state that: "Sukyo Mahikari lost more than half of its membership in certain western countries."
In France, the group was classified as a cult in the 1995 and 1999 parliamentary reports^[28][29], even if France decided on 27 May in 2005 to stop releasing periodically a comprehensive list of active cults.^[30]
In 1997, the Belgian parliamentary commission established a list of 189 movements containing Sukyo Mahikari.
French anti-cults association UNADFI said in its non-peer reviewed periodical BULLES that Sukyo Mahikari is dangerous because it would discourage medical care, that the purification obsession and the announcement of an impending apocalypse can lead to guilt and anguish. It has provided no attributable evidence of either claim.^[31]

[edit] See also

• Religions of Japan

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Chang 2007, p. 139
2. ^ "Sukyo Mahikari,History". http://www.sukyomahikarieurope.org/en/organisation.html.
3. ^ Chang 2007, pp. 137–8
4. ^ "Sukyo Mahikari,History2". http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/easia/mahik.html.
5. ^ Chang 2007, pp. 138–139
6. ^ "Sukyo Mahikari,Membership1". http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=664.
7. ^ "World Religions". http://www.ecentrify.com/discuss/religion/3statistics.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-15.
8. ^ "Adherents.com". http://www.adherents.com/adh_rb.html. Retrieved 2011-02-15.
9. ^ "William Sanborn Pfeiffer, "Mahikari: New Religion and Japanese Popular Culture", Journal of Popular Culture, Volume 34, Issue 2, pp: 155–168.". http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/119006038/PDFSTART.
10. ^ Cornille1991, p. 283
11. ^ ^{a b} "Sukyo Mahikari, About". Sukyo Mahikari North America. http://www.sukyo-mahikari.org. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
12. ^ "Sukyo Mahikari, Light Energy". Sukyo Mahikari North America. http://www.sukyo-mahikari.org. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
13. ^ Chang 2007, p. 50
14. ^ "Sukyo Mahikari, Universal Principles". Sukyo Mahikari North America. http://www.sukyomahikari.org/universalprinciples.html. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
15. ^ "Book review of Dojo. Magic and Exorcism in Modern Japan (WINSTON DAVIS)by John S. Brownlee University of Toronto". http://socrel.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/46/2/187.pdf.
16. ^ C. Cornille, "New Japanese Religions in the West: Between Nationalism and Universalism", Chapter 1, in "Japanese new religions: in global perspective, Routledge publication, Volume 1999 pp. 19, 2000, ISBN 0-7007-1185-6
17. ^ Cornille 1991, p. 266
18. ^ Cornille1991, p. 269
19. ^ T Fitzgerald," Things, Thoughts, and People out of Place, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 22/1-2 1995
20. ^ Susan Kwilecki, Religion and Coping: A Contribution from Religious Studies, Journal for the scientific study of religion, Volume 43, Issue 4 Page 477 – December 2004
21. ^ "Sukyo Mahikari, Partnerships". http://www.sukyo-mahikari.org/partnerships.html. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
22. ^ "Resolution by Councilmember 15th District, President of the Council, Mayor of Los Angeles, California" (in English). City of Los Angeles, California. 2004. http://www.sukyomahikari.org/images/lamahikari.jpg. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
23. ^ "Proclamation by the Mayor of Honolulu, Hawaii" (in English). City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii. 2009. http://www.sukyomahikari.org/images/hawaii_proclamation.jpg. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
24. ^ "NYSERDA Press Releases". NYSERDA. http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Press_Releases/2010/PressReleas20100506.asp. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
25. ^ "FORBES Press Release". Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/feeds/prnewswire/2010/04/29/prnewswire201004291100PR_NEWS_USPR_____LA95866.html. Retrieved 2010-07-21.^{[dead link]}
26. ^ "Greenwood, Garry A; All the Emperor’s Men: ISBN 1-876084-17-0". http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5691&Itemid=11.
27. ^ Morten T. Højsgaard, Margit Warburg, "Religion and cyberspace", Routledge publishers, ISBN 978-0-415-35763-0, September 2005 pp. 112-113.
28. ^ "Rapport fait au nom de la Commission d'enquête sur les sectes — Les sectes en France" (in French). Assemblée Nationale. 1995. http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/rap-enq/r2468.asp. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
29. ^ "Rapport fait au nom de la Commission d'enquête sur les sectes – Les sectes et l'argent" (in French). Assemblée Nationale. 1999. http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dossiers/sectes/r1687anx.asp. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
30. ^ "La fin des listes noires" (in French). Le Point. 23 June 2005. http://www.lepoint.fr/content/societe/article?id=19641. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
31. ^ "Que sait-on de... Mahikari" (in French). BULLES (UNADFI) 63. 1999. http://www.prevensectes.com/mahikar3.htm. Retrieved 28 July 2010.

[edit] References

• "Sukyo Mahikari North American Region Site" (webpage). pp. about. http://www.sukyomahikari.org/. Retrieved 2009-09-10

• Mahikari, Sukyo (edited by Sidney E. Chang) (2007). God's Light and Universal Principles for All Humanity: An Introduction to Sukyo Mahikari. LH Europe. ISBN 2-9599717-0-1

• Clarke, Peter Bernard (1994). Japanese New Religions in the West. Routledge. ISBN 1-873410-24-7

• Cornille, Catherine (1991). "The Phoenix Flies West: The Dynamics of the Inculturation of Mahikari in Western Europe" (pdf). Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 18 (2–3): 265–285. http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/publications/jjrs/pdf/345.pdf. Retrieved 2011-02-16

• Mahikari, Sukyo (1993). "Daiseishu, Great and Holy Master". L.H. Yoko Shuppan Co.Ltd

• McVeigh, Brian J. (1997). Spirit, Selves and Subjectivity in a Japanese new Religion. Lewiston, NY: Mellen. ISBN 0-7734-8430-2

• Tebecis, Andris K. (2004). Is the Future in Our Hands? My Experiences with Sukyo Mahikari. Canberra, Australia: Sunrise Press. ISBN 0-9593677-4-8

• Yasaka, T (1999). Hope for a Troubled Age. L H Yoko Publishers Tokyo

[edit] Further reading

• Clarke, Peter B. (ed.). A Bibliography of Japanese New Religious Movements: With Annotations, Surrey, Japan Library, 1999 ISBN 1-873410-80-8
• Clarke, Peter B. (ed.). Japanese New Religions: In Global Perspective, Surrey, Curzon Press, 2000 ISBN 0-7007-1185-6
• Davis, Winston (1982). Dojo: Magic and Exorcism in Modern Japan. Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-1131-3
• Greenwood, Garry A [1] All The Emperor's Men: An Inside View Of The Imperial Cult – MAHIKARI. Revised Edition January 2005. ISBN 0-9585279-0-3
• Hexham, Irving & Karla Poewe. New Religion...es., Boulderstview Press, 1997.
• Hurbon, Laennec. Mahikari in the Caribbean, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 18/2-3: 1991, 243–64.
• Knecht, Peter. Aspects of Shamanism: An Introduction, 2003.
• McFarland, Horace Neill (1967). The Rush Hour of the Gods: A Study of the New Religious Movements in Japan. Macmillan. ISBN 0-02-583200-X
• McVeigh, Brian J. (1992). "The Master Metaphor of Purity: The Symbolism of Power and Authority in Sūkyō Mahikari." Japanese Religions 17(2):98–125.
• Murakami, Shigeyosu and Paul L. Swanson, Religion and Society in Modern Japan:.., Asian Humanities Press, 1991, 239–256.
• Weston, Erin Leigh (2002). "Transcultural Possessions in/of Mahikari: Religious Syncretism in Martinique" (pdf). Japanese Studies Review 6 (1): 45–62. http://www.fiu.edu/~asian/jsr/Table%20of%20Cont%202002.pdf. Retrieved 2007-09-23
• Broder, Anne (2008). "Mahikari in context" (pdf). Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 35 (2): 33–362. http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/publications/jjrs/pdf/798.pdf. Retrieved 2010-08-04

[edit] External links

• Sukyo Mahikari Japan
• Sukyo Mahikari North America
• Sukyo Mahikari Europe and Africa
• Sukyo Mahikari India
• Sukyo Mahikari Australia Oceania