Bias from Both Sides
I was looking on Amazon.com, trying to see if I could purchase a copy of Winston Davis’ book Dojo: Magic and Exorcism in Modern Day Japan when I came across the one and only review written on the site about the novel. The name of the individual was not provided; it simply said “a Reader”, however the author of the review was not pleased with the book, and his/her review would probably discourage kumite who are considering departing Mahikari from reading it. The review said:
As a practitioner of Sukyo Mahikari for over ten years, I found this book somewhat baffling if not down right insulting. Although the author seems to take the objective perspective of a scientist/researcher, what I found was mis-information, mis-interpretation and frankly, a very biased, point of view. Winston Davis finds the Mahikari practitioners phrase "Try it and see", a "manipulative" one. How else can one understand a phenomenon unless one is willing to look at it from many points of view? One can only see the surface from the outside. And, what is found within, through direct in-depth experience, can change the view of the surface.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804711313/sr=1-2/qid=1145907137/ref=sr_1_2/002-3312553-8088020?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=books
Well…first of all, Winston Davis has past involvement in Mahikari; therefore he did experience it and look at it from both the surface and the outside. His experiences are completely relevant to people who might be considering Mahikari as a spiritual path, as they need to see both the positive and the negative aspects in order to make an informed decision.
I have no problem with someone reading all there is to read about Mahikari and still deciding to join the organization, at least those people know what they are getting into before hand. However, I have a major problem with people who get sucked into Mahikari by current Kumite because of the appealing front Mahikari presents. Kumite are very welcoming, friendly, and open people…they have to be if they are to get you to join, gain your trust, and gain access to your pocket book.
You wouldn’t join an organization that was filled with nothing but cold people, would you? I am not saying all Kumite are aware of the scam the organization is attempting to pull off, but I know members of Kanbu who cannot possibly be unaware of what is going on.
In the end no matter who the book is written by…be it a former member or a current member…the bias is going to sway more one way than the other. Even an outsider’s approach would be biased, as Mahikari looks very appealing and inviting when you are just looking at the surface. You really don’t know what is going on until you take Secondary Kenshu, as Primary Kenshu teachings are the only ones taught during ceremonies in order to be “non-member friendly.”
Kanbu wouldn’t want to present the bizarre teachings when there are people there who are just giving Mahikari a try, without commitment. They have to get you to pay the $150 membership fee before they tell you anything more than their environmental stance; then you will be permitted to know some of the truth, but still not all of it.
As for Mahikari’s “try it and see” stance…I wouldn’t say manipulative as much as I would say deceptive. Most Kumite don’t even realize they are being manipulative and the word manipulative implies that the perpetrator is fully aware of what he/she is doing.
When you go to dojo for the first time to receive light you are told that in order to get the full experience and see miracles that you must join the organization, as one cannot fully understand without actually offering okiyome and one cannot offer okiyome without an omitama. So as displayed above, “try it and see” quickly turns into “you have to join to fully understand”.
Once you join and still lack the understanding you believe you should have, you are told by Kanbu to “not think, just offer okiyome and you will eventually understand”, eventually you get so tired of not understanding that you just stop asking and start accepting.
“Try it and see”? When you decide to leave the organization you are ridiculed by Kumite. They will not speak to you anymore and deem you spiritually disturbed. It is impossible to merely “try it and see” because you eventually have to join to fully experience Mahikari…and when you do join and leave…you lose all your friendships in the process. So if you decide to listen to Kumite and “try it and see”, remember getting in and trying it out is easy, it’s getting out that’s the pisser.
I was looking on Amazon.com, trying to see if I could purchase a copy of Winston Davis’ book Dojo: Magic and Exorcism in Modern Day Japan when I came across the one and only review written on the site about the novel. The name of the individual was not provided; it simply said “a Reader”, however the author of the review was not pleased with the book, and his/her review would probably discourage kumite who are considering departing Mahikari from reading it. The review said:
As a practitioner of Sukyo Mahikari for over ten years, I found this book somewhat baffling if not down right insulting. Although the author seems to take the objective perspective of a scientist/researcher, what I found was mis-information, mis-interpretation and frankly, a very biased, point of view. Winston Davis finds the Mahikari practitioners phrase "Try it and see", a "manipulative" one. How else can one understand a phenomenon unless one is willing to look at it from many points of view? One can only see the surface from the outside. And, what is found within, through direct in-depth experience, can change the view of the surface.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804711313/sr=1-2/qid=1145907137/ref=sr_1_2/002-3312553-8088020?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=books
Well…first of all, Winston Davis has past involvement in Mahikari; therefore he did experience it and look at it from both the surface and the outside. His experiences are completely relevant to people who might be considering Mahikari as a spiritual path, as they need to see both the positive and the negative aspects in order to make an informed decision.
I have no problem with someone reading all there is to read about Mahikari and still deciding to join the organization, at least those people know what they are getting into before hand. However, I have a major problem with people who get sucked into Mahikari by current Kumite because of the appealing front Mahikari presents. Kumite are very welcoming, friendly, and open people…they have to be if they are to get you to join, gain your trust, and gain access to your pocket book.
You wouldn’t join an organization that was filled with nothing but cold people, would you? I am not saying all Kumite are aware of the scam the organization is attempting to pull off, but I know members of Kanbu who cannot possibly be unaware of what is going on.
In the end no matter who the book is written by…be it a former member or a current member…the bias is going to sway more one way than the other. Even an outsider’s approach would be biased, as Mahikari looks very appealing and inviting when you are just looking at the surface. You really don’t know what is going on until you take Secondary Kenshu, as Primary Kenshu teachings are the only ones taught during ceremonies in order to be “non-member friendly.”
Kanbu wouldn’t want to present the bizarre teachings when there are people there who are just giving Mahikari a try, without commitment. They have to get you to pay the $150 membership fee before they tell you anything more than their environmental stance; then you will be permitted to know some of the truth, but still not all of it.
As for Mahikari’s “try it and see” stance…I wouldn’t say manipulative as much as I would say deceptive. Most Kumite don’t even realize they are being manipulative and the word manipulative implies that the perpetrator is fully aware of what he/she is doing.
When you go to dojo for the first time to receive light you are told that in order to get the full experience and see miracles that you must join the organization, as one cannot fully understand without actually offering okiyome and one cannot offer okiyome without an omitama. So as displayed above, “try it and see” quickly turns into “you have to join to fully understand”.
Once you join and still lack the understanding you believe you should have, you are told by Kanbu to “not think, just offer okiyome and you will eventually understand”, eventually you get so tired of not understanding that you just stop asking and start accepting.
“Try it and see”? When you decide to leave the organization you are ridiculed by Kumite. They will not speak to you anymore and deem you spiritually disturbed. It is impossible to merely “try it and see” because you eventually have to join to fully experience Mahikari…and when you do join and leave…you lose all your friendships in the process. So if you decide to listen to Kumite and “try it and see”, remember getting in and trying it out is easy, it’s getting out that’s the pisser.
posted by Asher Kennedy at 3:02 PM
5 Comments:
Well said!
Your reporting, and analysis of the fallacies, of "try it and see" are spot on.
I have read the book, and as a former member it is a very accurate portrait of the organization and the dojo experience. And as far as the try it and see mentality, when you are introduced to Mahikari, you are not told by the members of all the possible "manifestations" "spirit disturbance" or the rigid, Japanese -style culture you are entering. You are "given light" as if the whole thing is a pleasant parlour experience.
You are also not told there is more than one 'mahikari', you are not told about the true origins, and you are not told that it is incompatible with Christianity. In short, you are lied to from the very beginning.
I apologize for the continued posts, it just seems like so much comes flooding forth with each read and re-read. I just have some additional comments regarding the initial recruiting experience and the actions of SM members when you discuss you are having problems.
First off, I believe most people are recruited by friends with good intentions. Being recruited by a friend or family member is a great hook for the organization, because the recruited has an emotional attachment to the recruiter. The inference is...how can you say no to a friend? Conversely, the members act disappointed if their friends don't try it, because it does not validate their belief in SM. Imagine, your friend, brother, sister, husband or wife actually has a mind of their own! SM cannot tolerate this, so it relies on a divide and conquer strategy that brands the unaccepting as "disturbed". The kumite is then instructed to "secretly" give okiyome to the friend or loved one in hopes they will "purify" and join. Against the person's expressed intent !
On the other end of the experience, if you emote any reservations, ask questions, or drop out of dojo activity, the members cut off contact with you. No one has ever called me to ask if I am even still a member! Never mind the fact I was troubled, because apparently,personal consideration and honest explanations are too good for these so-called religious people. My questions to Doshi regarding the origin lies were met with an attitude of condescension...."yes there are two mahikaris, and johrei, so what"? So where are these supposedly more purified higher level "counselors" when you are having questions of faith??? They certainly aren't exhibiting a Christian spirit to help thy neighbor!
Hey everyone! If you have read Dojo, please write a review of the book on amazon.com...as I said the book only has one review, two if you count the one I just did. That seems to be the only review of the book anywhere and I do not want kumite to get discouraged from reading the book because a member of SM decided it was bias. Please leave a review if you have a chance.
I haven't read the book, but I am going to purchase a copy. If any of you have it scanned could you please send it to me?
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