MAHIKARI - Search For The Truth The following is the true story of Dean and Jean Logan, regarding their experiences with the Sukyo Mahikari organization.

Mahikari was started in 1959 by a Japanese military-industrialist, Yoshikazu Okada, who claims to have received revelations from God "through a messenger god." Okada also claims that God chose him to be the Messiah. Okada stated that in these revelations, he was given God's plan for the world to come. He also claimed to have received instructions concerning a unique spiritual purification practice that was supposed to remove negative karma (sins) from the soul, as well as removing toxins, and promote healing.

Since 1959, the organization has spread throughout the world. Members who join are given a pendant that they are told gives them a spiritual connection to the present leader, through the spirit of the now deceased Okada, to God, enabling them to perform this spiritual purification, "give Light." Members pay a monthly fee to maintain this connection, and are informed that this spiritual cord to God will be broken if they fail to continue this offering, or if the pendant is violated in any way. Members are advised that they cannot "give Light" without this pendant.

We first heard of Mahikari in 1987, from a short article on television, expounding the peace and harmony among the members, and the reported healings. Skeptical of the organization at first, we were drawn by this "healing method." We joined in 1993 at a cost of $120 each, and were required to sign an agreement that included our promise to donate $25 each per month, and attend a monthly ceremony. Although we felt uneasy about their teachings, as our medical problems improved, we rationalized away our skepticism.

At one point we discussed our ownership of some land in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, with the Mahikari ministers. They suggested that if there was any part of the land that was fertile, we might consider a spiritual organic farm. We were encouraged to take a trip to Japan to work and study on one of their farms, and attend the Fall ceremony at their shrine, Suza. During our visit we observed Mahikari youth marching the streets in a Nazi goose step. Everyone in our group agreed it looked like a parade of Nazi solders. We all wondered why they would use a march step associated with such a disgusting organization as Nazism. We were also uneasy to note the swastikas on their shrine. This was explained as an ancient symbol predating Nazi Germany. Again, we pushed our uneasy feelings aside.

It was our intention to donate a portion of our mountain property to Mahikari for the spiritual farm, if the members seemed interested. We were thrilled when the youth of Mahikari and others, came up to visit and help. During these visits, however, we grew quite concerned when we noticed that the ministers and leaders exercised complete control over the young people. One day, while we were all working clearing a trail, we asked a young woman if she would like a drink of water. She replied that they were not allowed to do anything, even drink water, without permission from the minister. Obiedience was continually stressed. Independent thinking was discouraged. After several discomforting incidents surrounding this control, we decided that we did not want Mahikari directing our spiritual farm.

Their effort to control even reached into members' personal lives. One married couple at our center, expressed a desire to go on a Marriage Encounter (a romantic weekend where couples learn the art of meaningful communication skills in their marriage). The Mahikari minister told them that they should not go, even though he knew nothing about Marriage Encounter. This couple could have benefited a great deal from an encounter weekend. We understand they are now seperated. Members are encouraged to believe that the ministers are God's representatives, and their guidance is coming directly from God.

Our suspicion of the organization increased when a coworker showed Jean a copy of the Encyclopedia of World Religions that stated that the founder, Yoshikazu Okada, had previously been a member of an organization, Church of the World Messenity, that also "gave Light." There was an obvious discrepancy, as Okada's "revelations" state he first heard of raising his hand to give Light in 1959, when in truth he had been participating in this practice for many years before that date. This encyclopedia also indicated that the founder of the Church of the World Messenity, Mokichi Okada (no relation), also claimed to receive revelations from God in 1926. (The Church of the World Messenity is called Johrei Fellowship in the United States.)

We called the California Region of Johrei, and were informed by their head minister, that Yoshikazu Okada had indeed been a member of their organization in Japan for several years. A leaflet sent to us by Johrei showed their members "giving Light" in the same manner we did at Mahikari. The teachings were almost identical. The control Mahikari exercised, however, was very effective, and we again chose to rationalize these findings for a period of time, however, keeping this inconsistency in the back of our minds. We kept this information to ourselves, as Mahikari did not want members to investigate or read books about other organizations. Members were encouraged to report suspicious actions of other members to Mahikari ministers.

Shortly after this, we came upon a book entitled, Hands of Light - A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field, by Barbara Brennan. In that book were the answers to how the Light works. We then began to realized that God has given us all this ability, and other groups just use different techniques to guide this energy. Mahikari encourages members to believe that "God's Light" comes through their leader in Japan, and then to the members through their pendant. We were told at a study class, if their leader in Japan died, the Light would cease.

Still, their control held us to Mahikari, although another red flag went up in our minds. Several month later we visited the Miami Johrei center and purchased three books, Light from the East I and II, biographies of their founder, Mokichi Okada, and Foundation of Paradise, a book of his teachings. Light from the East I revealed that the divine pendant, the hand drawn scroll over the altar, and the practice of spiritual farming, were all original creations of Mokichi Okada (the founder of Johrei). The teachings from Johrei bore a remarkable resemblance to the teachings of Mahikari. We received Light from Johrei in a manner similar to Mahikari.

Although we started to distance ourselves from Mahikari at that time, to show how strong their control works, we still did not make the break. We then obtained a copy of All the Emperor's Men, a book written by Garry Greenwood, a former high-level Mahikari minister. We were finally able to put the pieces of the puzzle together. His investigation into Mahikari was so thorough, and the results left no questions unanswered. Unfortunately, attempts to enlighten other members were often in vain due to the strong control the organization has on them. Some read Mr. Greenwood's book, searching for passages to disagree with or discredit him. Although his investigation left no doubt about the deception, the training they received at Mahikari, forced them to glaze over the obvious inconsistencies within the teachings, and they focused on small differences in their experiences, and Mr. Greenwood's in Australia.

After reading Mr. Greenwood's book, we revisited the Johrei Center in Miami. We discussed at length with the minister our recent experience with Mahikari, and our decision to leave the organization. He had never read the book, or ever even heard of Garry Greenwood. Ministers in Johrei are taught never to make negative remarks about anyone or their religion, but they will always reply with an honest answer. In view of that we asked him point blank, was Yoshikazu Okada (founder of Mahikari) a minister in SKK? He replied, "Yes, he was." We then asked him if Yoshikazu Okada was dismissed from SKK for alleged sexual misconduct. He nodded his head and said, "Yes." We also asked him if Keishu Okada (current Oshienushisama) was his mistress during that time. He again nodded his head, and said, "Yes."

It seems strange that as a high ranking Mahikari minister, when Garry Greenwood stood in front of them speaking about Mahikari, they believed every word he said. Now, as a former minister recognizing deception, he is reaching out to help them and they turn their heads away. Members who do not agree with Mahikari teachings are branded "spiritually disturbed." Is it not spiritual disturbance to allow an organization to control ones' life, dictate what one should read, and discourage someone from making their own decisions without having to ask their leaders for guidance? We must all learn to search inside for this guidance. The answers are all there. Any spiritual organization worth joining should teach self empowerment and not dependence.

Any Mahikari member seriously searching for answers, will find them in All the Emperor's Men. Research of Mr. Greenwood's findings has found them to be accurate. We strongly urge you to get a copy of the above mentioned books from Johrei, and Steve Hassan's, Combating Cult Mind Control. After reading the mind control book, read the revelations of Yoshikazu Okada's Goseigen - The Holy Words, one more time. Try to step back and read with a searching and inquiring mind. This time notice the author continually criticizing mankind, and then condemning criticism. There are frequent negative references to human (pseudo) wisdom. Only divine wisdom is any good, and who has divine wisdom? (Try to remember, we are all divine! God has given this divinity to all of us.) Numerous passages in the book play up to the ego of members by inferring they are the "chosen" people, a common ploy of cult leaders. Note the frequent references to arouse fear and guilt, another technique used by self-proclaimed messiahs to control their followers. Many chapters in the Goseigen are filled with negative, crude statements. Others are just double talk and gibberish and members are told they do not understand because they are not spiritually elevated. Can you really believe these are the words of God?

For those who are tied to Mahikari by the pendant, we have found that the strength of the Light depends upon your beief in your own power, and the clarity of your spiritual relationship with the part of you that is a part of God. No one can take our connection to God away. No man made object can increase or decrease this power. It's all up to you. Many people have told us how strongly they felt the Light we gave while our pendants remained at home, closed up in their boxes. If the Light seems stronger when you wear the pendant, it is because of your belief in what they have taught you. Your belief system controls your life. When you learn to believe in yourself, you will be the one in control. The answers and power are within you. You do not need to stop giving Light if you leave Mahikari. There is no reason to have your hard earned money going over to finance expensive real estate holdings in Japan. No need to follow their rules. You can do hands on as they do in Reike, or without touching as they do in pranic healing. Your mind is the controller. Before starting a healing session, we stand in a circle holding hands in prayer. The results are amazing. Being a member of any group is not a requirement for giving "Light." Anyone can do it. God's Light is there for all of us.

We are now studying pranic healing, an ancient healing art, which is obviously the basis of the energy healing found in Mahikari and Johrei, however, it is much more refined. We encourage those interested in the ancient art of "giving light," to read Pranic Healing, written by Choa Kok Sui. The similarity is unmistakable. The book is easy to read and guides the reader in how to give Light, step-by-step. There is no requirement to join anything, and the writer stresses that any prayers are totally up to the individual's choosing.

Members of Sukyo Mahikari, Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan (SMBK), and Johrei, need to be aware that for centuries the Japanese people had it drilled into their minds that the emperor of Japan is a direct descendent of God, who (they are told) once ruled the Earth thousands of years ago, and it is his destiny to rule the world again. They were taught that whatever they did in the name of the emperor, no matter how deceitful or brutal, would win them a honorable place in heaven. During World War II, Japanese pilots commited suicide by diving their planes into battleships, following in this conviction. Many Japanese cults have been started to fulfill the plan of Japanese supremacy, using energy healing, or other techniques, to draw in unsuspecting members. Innocent people all over the would are being duped into joining in this belief.

Everyone should investigate the entire teachings of any organization before joining. This cannot be done by asking questions of the leaders of those organizations, whose beliefs are firmly entrenched by the teachings they have received. The words of the inspired author Gene Davis seem very relevant: "We are all misusing this life force energy because we have given up the birthright of doing our own thinking. We have closed the door to the knowledge of our inner self. We have cut off the source of our individual knowingness by becoming victims of 'outside' programming. Jesus, the master teacher said, 'The Kingdom of God is within.' ...In the mire of mass control, we have lost our identity as souls, beings, individuals. ...Whether it be in the field of education, religion, or government, we have all become human robots to 'outside' programming."

We have learned the importance of avoiding "outside programming" and the destruction it can cause. As we recognize the hidden motives of various religions and other organizations, we are very grateful to God for guiding us to search for the answers.

We pray that some day the members of Mahikari, Sukyo Mahikari, Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan, will be guided to search for answers. It takes courage and strength to overcome mind control, and learn to recognize the power within.

Dean & Jean Logan - Franklin, North Carolina - USA

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Many former Mahikari members now have their own Web sites. The following are links to some of their Web pages that you might be interested in reviewing:

Related Web Sites	URL
Steve and Yumi Allerton (AU)	http://www.ozemail.com.au/~skyaxe/index.html
The Demon In The Protocols	http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Shrine/5712/

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