| Mahikari | |
| Native Name: | 真光 |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Type: | Japanese new religion |
| Founder: | Kōtama Okada |
| Founded Date: | 1959 |
| Separations: | World Divine Light, Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyōdan (世界真光文明教団) Sukyo Mahikari (崇教真光) Yokoshi Tomo no Kai (陽光子友乃会) Mahikari Seihō no Kai (真光正法之會) Subikari (ス光) |
| Number Of Followers: | --> |
The Mahikari movement (Japanese: Japanese: 真光) is a Japanese new religious movement (shinshūkyō) that was founded in 1959 by Yoshikazu Okada (岡田 良一) (1901–1974). The word "Mahikari" means "True (真, ma) Light (光, hikari)" in Japanese. The movement currently consists of various splinter organizations; the largest ones are currently World Divine Light (世界真光文明教団) in Izu and Sukyo Mahikari (崇教真光) in Takayama. Both of these organizations refer to their headquarters as ("God's throne"), sincethey are the shrines for the supreme . Both organizations also refer to their spiritual leader as Oshienushi[-sama] (教え主[様]).
The original Mahikari organization was founded by Kōtama Okada (born Yoshikazu Okada) in 1959. The organization was originally named L. H. Yokoshi no Tomo (陽光子友乃会, Yokoshi Tomo no Kai, "Lucky, Healthy, Association of Bright / Positive People").
Kōtama Okada claimed that his role involved spreading God's Light and the universal principles to humanity.
The art of True Light is a practice meant to purify one's spiritual aspect as an expedient toward attaining happiness. Radiating Light from the palm of the hand is a method of purification that cleanses the spirit, mind and body, and is said to help open the way to resolving all manner of problems. Okada spent much of his time in the early days of the organization giving Light to people throughout Japan. In 1973, he visited Europe, and the art of True Light started spreading throughout the world.
Kōtama Okada believed that if people lived in accordance with "universal principles," they would cultivate their spirituality, and naturally come to use science and technology that was integrated with an understanding of spirituality, to find solutions to pressing issues facing humanity. Mahikari encourages people to incorporate these universal or divine principles in their daily life by practicing virtues such as altruistic love, gratitude, humility and acceptance of the will of God. Kōtama Okada proclaimed the fundamental tenet of the organization, "The origin of the earth is one, the origin of the universe is one, the origin of humankind is one, and the origin of all religions is one." He emphasized that all human beings share a common origin and that people should work together to create a peaceful world of love and harmony, transcending the barriers of religious denomination, nationality, ideology, and so on.
Okada claimed that God has a plan ("the divine plan"), and in preparation for a heaven-like civilization on earth, the world was entering a time of great upheaval. Okada said that an increase in what he called the spiritual energy of fire would result in abnormal weather phenomena such as flooding, fires, and water shortages, and encouraged people to transition from a way of life based on excessive materialism to a sustainable way of life in harmony with the environment and universal principles.
The fundamental teachings of Mahikari appear in The Holy Words (Goseigen) and The Yōkōshi Prayer Book (Yōkōshi Norigotoshū).
Following the passing of Kōtama Okada on June 13, 1974, Mahikari split into several different organizations.
Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan, also known as World Divine Light (WDL) outside Japan, is headquartered in the mountainous interior of Izu, Shizuoka. Its main temple is the, which is often simply known as the .
Outside Japan, it calls itself the World Divine Light Organization to distinguish itself from Sukyo Mahikari. World Divine Light has branches in Houston, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, New York, Chicago, Honolulu, and Vancouver.[2]
The organization's spiritual leader is known as the Oshienushi (教え主) or Oshienushi-sama (教え主様):[3]
See main article: Sukyo Mahikari.
Sukyo Mahikari is headquartered in Takayama, Gifu. Its headquarters is also known as the .[1]
Other organizations with relatively minor membership that stem from Mahikari include Yokoshi Tomonokai (陽光子友乃会), Mahikari Seihō no Kai (真光正法之會), Subikari (ス光), Shin-Yu-Gen Kyusei Mahikari, and so on.
Other religious organizations that have similarities include Oomoto, Sekai Kyūsei Kyō (the Church of World Messianity), Tenrikyo, and Konkokyo. In Sekai Kyūsei Kyō, a practice called Jorei (purification of the spirit) is undertaken. A number of organizations have practices that channel universal energy but it is noted that the emphasis in Mahikari is radiating Light from a high dimension emanated from the Creator God. This Light is said to purify the spirit, mind, and body, of human beings and is made possible through a divine pendant called Omitama.