Answers for Kumite Children
1. I hear the word "cult" all the time. What is a cult?
Here is a simple test to tell if a group is a cult or not. Ask yourself these questions about the group:
1. Does the group use tricks, lies or excuses to get members and to keep them?
2. Does the group say that it is "better than all other groups", and is it organized so that people can't complain, discuss, vote, criticize, or change the group?
3. Does the group claim that the founder knows all the answers, and tolerates no discussion or questioning of his or her teachings?
4. Does the group say that nothing is more important than to get more money, people or anything else into the group, and that this is more important than honesty or friendship or families, maybe because it is such an emergency that the world must be saved right away?
5. Is the money collected used only a few "special people instead of for the members or the general population?
If you answered "yes" to all these questions, then the group is definitely a cult.
People who study groups have looked at Sukyo Mahikari and answered "yes" everytime. See why:
6. It pretends to be a self-help group, and doesn't tell the true beliefs of the organization until one has paid over $1000 and donated a lot of money to the ‘cause’; the suggestions that one can "still participate in their original religion while practicing SM and not have to sacrifice their beliefs" is a trick because the result is always that SM is the one true path and eventually you will see that your previous faith is a pseudo-truth - and of course, "SM can help you find the true path". An honest group would tell their beliefs prior to you joining.
7. Kumite say they are superior to the rest of the world, and calls the rest of the population "spiritually disturbed" instead of simply "anti-SM ".
8. Everything must be done exactly as Kotama Okada said/wrote. Discussion or disagreement is considered "a spirit disturbance" and gets you reported to Kanbu, which means you are in trouble.
9. Members are taught that the only way to repent of their sins/bad karma is to donate money, offer okiyome, and bring in new members. Kumite are constantly pressured to find new members because they are told that God is getting impatient with the state of the world and will bring on the Baptism of Fire (the end of the world) if more money and effort is not dedicated towards SM.
10. The money that SM receives that does not go towards maintaining the centre gets sent directly back to Keishu Okada (the adopted-daughter of Kotama Okada) and is used to ensure that she lives in the best possible conditions (nice home, cars, first-class flights, five star hotels) while she preaches against materialism and asks members to take out second mortgages on their homes in order to donate and make membership fees. Some staff members live in terrible conditions or are forced to live in the Dojos because they are underpaid.
As you see, that makes Sukyo Mahikari a "cult".
2. Do people hate Sukyo Mahikari?
Most people in the world have never heard of Sukyo Mahikari. Most people who have heard of it don't hate anything or anyone. And some of the people who are angry about things SM has done were in SM themselves, and are angry at themselves for helping to hurt people when they were in SM. Some people have had their lives destroyed by SM and have never recovered. Some have recovered, but have lost their families. Many are still suffering. These people don't like Mahikari, as you might guess. Generally the feelings of ordinary people who have heard of SM is that:
o "they are weird"or
o "they are scary"or
o "they are the meanest, greediest lying cheating cult in the country"
These feelings are a direct result of kumite following Kotama Okada's advice about what are good skills to "handle" an anti-Mahikari individual. Sooner or later, most people will notice when they are being or have been lied to. That is why most people are not kumite. Guess what: people do not like to be lied to (do you?). Everyone is a free person, just like you.
3. My parents almost never have time for me. Why?
Your parents may be fooling themselves about what is important. Many Kumite believe that unless they devote their time to SM they will lose all their friends/families, that God will stop loving them and cut them off, that God will end the world, or that they will become spiritually disturbed. SM does not have a concept that children are special in the way that they need love and care, only that if the parents attend dojo enough and become spiritually purified enough that their children will naturally follow in their path (if the upstream is clean the downstream will become clean as well). Most Kumite think children are just kumite in small bodies who will eventually follow SM teachings and help purify others to save them from the Baptism of Fire.
4. I want to get help. What should I do?
If you know people in your family that are not in Sukyo Mahikari (aunt, uncle, grand-parents, or possibly your mom/dad's ex), try to contact them. They will understand you - they probably know about the mess you're in.
If your whole family is in SM, many other people outside SM can help you. You should look for an adult you feel good about, who you can talk to easily.
If your school is not part of SM, that would be a good place to start. Your teacher, your school's principal or nurse or psychologist (counselor) -- you can turn to any of them for help.
Others:
o a social worker
o the children advocacy center (call 800-4ACHILD or 800-422-4453)
o the state children/family department (in Florida: Department of Children and Families DCF)
o American Family Foundation (AFF)P.O. Box 2265Bonita Springs, FL 33959(212) 533-5420(212) 249-7693 Message Center
And of course, there is the internet where you can get a lot of helpful information.
5. But Sukyo Mahikari is the most ethical group on the planet!
Says who? SM itself. If you look in the dictionary for "ethics", you will see that the word ‘ethics’ means: a set of principles of right (good) conduct.
Here is an example: In the early years of Mahikari a few members of the Mahikari Tai youth group were tragically killed in a car accident. These youth members had promising futures in SM and were respected by everyone, but when the car crashed despite the youth members wearing their omitamas (meant to protect them) the Kanbu told everyone that it was because these youth members were sexually active outside of marriage that God chose to punish them. There is no proof that these kids were doing anything immoral, but SM Kanbu still lied because they had no way of explaining how these children had died despite wearing their omitamas. Lying is not very ethical. A truly ethical behavior would be to stay honest, even if it means admitting that omitamas do not protect the wearers from anything.
6. How are other churches different from Mahikari dojos?
You do a lot of different things like sing, play games at youth group, and learn new lessons once a week. You do not have to listen to experience stories all the time or offer/receive okiyome every day. Good pastors and clergy answer your questions, instead of telling you ‘don’t think just give okiyome and you will eventually understand’. You don’t report to Kanbu whenever someone in the youth group doesn’t believe in the teachings. This is called rating and is not cool.
Youth Group is done so that you have to respond to questions or solve problems. If you have difficulties understanding, you can get help from your parents, other kids, the youth minister or additional hired or volunteer "helpers”. There are many different churches but almost all will tell you to think for yourself and to peacefully react with different kinds of people; not just Mahikari members.
7. How is life outside of Mahikari?
Life is full of surprises. You have challenges all the time. You have to make your own decisions. You can do a lot, as long as you don't harm anyone else - because other people are also free. And yes, you make mistakes.
8. But Okiyome WORKS!
So you have noticed that some aspects of Mahikari work. For example, you felt better after okiyome. It is true, sometimes you believe in it and it works. The name for this is the "placebo effect" - methods that do nothing, but cure anyway. It works because strong belief releases a drug that your own body produces ("endorphins"). No obscure "light". But have you noticed how often it has not worked? Then the excuse is "you have a lot of toxin build-up and need to receive more okiyome". A rather cheap excuse, if you ask me. Sadly, people die because they try such methods instead of going to the doctor. The doctor cures you, without the need of believing that something works. Why is this so? Because medicine is tested in a way that the first people who take it are separated in two groups: the one who gets the real stuff, and the one who gets a fake one. The experiment is designed so that even the nurse who gives the medicine and the doctors who check if it works don't know if the patient gets the real or the fake medicine!
That is the difference:
Sukyo Mahikari: "It works because it works"
Medicine: "It works because independent experts have observed it works"
9. A Kanbu member touches me in a way I don't like. What can I do?
If he touches your genital parts or tells you to touch his, then it is a crime, even if the Kanbu member is a Doshi or Socho. Please do not report it to Sukyo Mahikari because they won't do anything! Go right to the police and tell all. If you think you could trust your parents in the past, and then discuss the matter with them. You do not have to feel guilty. It is the fault of the other person.
10. Has anyone ever died because of Sukyo Mahikari?
Yes, there are experience stories on the Mahikari Exposed site that mention people who have died because them believed in the teachings of SM and did not seek medical care. Also check out Lara’s blog, her younger sister passed away from cancer because SM Kanbu told her parents that chemotherapy was poisonous.
11. Can I trust my fellow Kumite?
No, usually not. They will put Sukyo Mahikari over friendship - you have certainly observed this before. They will tell all you told them to Kanbu and then to your family.
12. Will Sukyo Mahikari use my past personal experiences against me?
Yes, possibly. They have done so in the past, and will do it in the future. They will do everything they can to ensure that you feel guilty and do not leave the organization. But remember also that their threats of God not loving you or of God destroying the world are pure lies, e.g. "You will be cut off from God is you stop wearing omitama and don’t receive okiyome". This is called "blackmail", and they should go to jail for it! So assume from the beginning that they will do it, and prepare your mind for it.
13. I was born and educated in Sukyo Mahikari. What will happen?
You might have some trouble to adjust to the real world. Recommendation: start reading newspapers (The St Petersburg Times), magazines (TIME), easy "books" (The Reader's Digest). The three I mentioned are what Sukyo Mahikari fear the most, although these are pretty ordinary writings! Try also meeting ordinary people and learn to see how they communicate.
14. Is there anything that I am not told by Sukyo Mahikari?
Yes, quite a lot! Here it is:
1. Kotama did not have revelations from God as he claimed nor did he create an original religion, he was a pathological liar, although Sukyo Mahikari has spent lots of money trying to hide his past and prove his teachings. Kotama was not a hero or a savior - he was a fake, a coward and a cheat.
2. Kotama and Keishu Okada were once members of the SKK; a religion almost identical to Mahikari in practice and belief. Keishu’s family were all members of this organization and Kotama was a minister. However, Kotama was kicked out due to accusations of using black magic and sexual misconduct; reportedly with Keishu who would become his adoptive daughter.
3. Okada was a soldier in WWII and helped organize the Rape of Nanking where Japanese Soldiers raped and killed hundreds of Chinese women.
4. Okada was married with children prior to forming Mahikari, but got divorced (hypothetically when his wife found out about he and Keishu’s relationship), yet in Mahikari divorce is unacceptable. He had no further association with his ex-wife or children after the divorce.
5. In the SKK there is not a problem with evil spirits manifesting in people who are receiving okiyome, or as they call it Johrei. Only in Mahikari do spirits manifest, primarily because Okada dabbled in black magic and incorporated that in his technique of giving okiyome. He was reportedly warned by Kanbu in the SKK to cease offering okiyome in that manner because it was dangerous to the individual receiving.
6. Okada was a heavy smoker, yet he preached about putting toxins into the body.
7. A member of Aum Supreme Truth was once a member of Mahikari; the psychological damage kept her dependant on the support of a cult for the rest of her life.
8. There aren't 8 million Kumite. There aren't even 1 million according to former members. More like 500,000 at most.
1. I hear the word "cult" all the time. What is a cult?
Here is a simple test to tell if a group is a cult or not. Ask yourself these questions about the group:
1. Does the group use tricks, lies or excuses to get members and to keep them?
2. Does the group say that it is "better than all other groups", and is it organized so that people can't complain, discuss, vote, criticize, or change the group?
3. Does the group claim that the founder knows all the answers, and tolerates no discussion or questioning of his or her teachings?
4. Does the group say that nothing is more important than to get more money, people or anything else into the group, and that this is more important than honesty or friendship or families, maybe because it is such an emergency that the world must be saved right away?
5. Is the money collected used only a few "special people instead of for the members or the general population?
If you answered "yes" to all these questions, then the group is definitely a cult.
People who study groups have looked at Sukyo Mahikari and answered "yes" everytime. See why:
6. It pretends to be a self-help group, and doesn't tell the true beliefs of the organization until one has paid over $1000 and donated a lot of money to the ‘cause’; the suggestions that one can "still participate in their original religion while practicing SM and not have to sacrifice their beliefs" is a trick because the result is always that SM is the one true path and eventually you will see that your previous faith is a pseudo-truth - and of course, "SM can help you find the true path". An honest group would tell their beliefs prior to you joining.
7. Kumite say they are superior to the rest of the world, and calls the rest of the population "spiritually disturbed" instead of simply "anti-SM ".
8. Everything must be done exactly as Kotama Okada said/wrote. Discussion or disagreement is considered "a spirit disturbance" and gets you reported to Kanbu, which means you are in trouble.
9. Members are taught that the only way to repent of their sins/bad karma is to donate money, offer okiyome, and bring in new members. Kumite are constantly pressured to find new members because they are told that God is getting impatient with the state of the world and will bring on the Baptism of Fire (the end of the world) if more money and effort is not dedicated towards SM.
10. The money that SM receives that does not go towards maintaining the centre gets sent directly back to Keishu Okada (the adopted-daughter of Kotama Okada) and is used to ensure that she lives in the best possible conditions (nice home, cars, first-class flights, five star hotels) while she preaches against materialism and asks members to take out second mortgages on their homes in order to donate and make membership fees. Some staff members live in terrible conditions or are forced to live in the Dojos because they are underpaid.
As you see, that makes Sukyo Mahikari a "cult".
2. Do people hate Sukyo Mahikari?
Most people in the world have never heard of Sukyo Mahikari. Most people who have heard of it don't hate anything or anyone. And some of the people who are angry about things SM has done were in SM themselves, and are angry at themselves for helping to hurt people when they were in SM. Some people have had their lives destroyed by SM and have never recovered. Some have recovered, but have lost their families. Many are still suffering. These people don't like Mahikari, as you might guess. Generally the feelings of ordinary people who have heard of SM is that:
o "they are weird"or
o "they are scary"or
o "they are the meanest, greediest lying cheating cult in the country"
These feelings are a direct result of kumite following Kotama Okada's advice about what are good skills to "handle" an anti-Mahikari individual. Sooner or later, most people will notice when they are being or have been lied to. That is why most people are not kumite. Guess what: people do not like to be lied to (do you?). Everyone is a free person, just like you.
3. My parents almost never have time for me. Why?
Your parents may be fooling themselves about what is important. Many Kumite believe that unless they devote their time to SM they will lose all their friends/families, that God will stop loving them and cut them off, that God will end the world, or that they will become spiritually disturbed. SM does not have a concept that children are special in the way that they need love and care, only that if the parents attend dojo enough and become spiritually purified enough that their children will naturally follow in their path (if the upstream is clean the downstream will become clean as well). Most Kumite think children are just kumite in small bodies who will eventually follow SM teachings and help purify others to save them from the Baptism of Fire.
4. I want to get help. What should I do?
If you know people in your family that are not in Sukyo Mahikari (aunt, uncle, grand-parents, or possibly your mom/dad's ex), try to contact them. They will understand you - they probably know about the mess you're in.
If your whole family is in SM, many other people outside SM can help you. You should look for an adult you feel good about, who you can talk to easily.
If your school is not part of SM, that would be a good place to start. Your teacher, your school's principal or nurse or psychologist (counselor) -- you can turn to any of them for help.
Others:
o a social worker
o the children advocacy center (call 800-4ACHILD or 800-422-4453)
o the state children/family department (in Florida: Department of Children and Families DCF)
o American Family Foundation (AFF)P.O. Box 2265Bonita Springs, FL 33959(212) 533-5420(212) 249-7693 Message Center
And of course, there is the internet where you can get a lot of helpful information.
5. But Sukyo Mahikari is the most ethical group on the planet!
Says who? SM itself. If you look in the dictionary for "ethics", you will see that the word ‘ethics’ means: a set of principles of right (good) conduct.
Here is an example: In the early years of Mahikari a few members of the Mahikari Tai youth group were tragically killed in a car accident. These youth members had promising futures in SM and were respected by everyone, but when the car crashed despite the youth members wearing their omitamas (meant to protect them) the Kanbu told everyone that it was because these youth members were sexually active outside of marriage that God chose to punish them. There is no proof that these kids were doing anything immoral, but SM Kanbu still lied because they had no way of explaining how these children had died despite wearing their omitamas. Lying is not very ethical. A truly ethical behavior would be to stay honest, even if it means admitting that omitamas do not protect the wearers from anything.
6. How are other churches different from Mahikari dojos?
You do a lot of different things like sing, play games at youth group, and learn new lessons once a week. You do not have to listen to experience stories all the time or offer/receive okiyome every day. Good pastors and clergy answer your questions, instead of telling you ‘don’t think just give okiyome and you will eventually understand’. You don’t report to Kanbu whenever someone in the youth group doesn’t believe in the teachings. This is called rating and is not cool.
Youth Group is done so that you have to respond to questions or solve problems. If you have difficulties understanding, you can get help from your parents, other kids, the youth minister or additional hired or volunteer "helpers”. There are many different churches but almost all will tell you to think for yourself and to peacefully react with different kinds of people; not just Mahikari members.
7. How is life outside of Mahikari?
Life is full of surprises. You have challenges all the time. You have to make your own decisions. You can do a lot, as long as you don't harm anyone else - because other people are also free. And yes, you make mistakes.
8. But Okiyome WORKS!
So you have noticed that some aspects of Mahikari work. For example, you felt better after okiyome. It is true, sometimes you believe in it and it works. The name for this is the "placebo effect" - methods that do nothing, but cure anyway. It works because strong belief releases a drug that your own body produces ("endorphins"). No obscure "light". But have you noticed how often it has not worked? Then the excuse is "you have a lot of toxin build-up and need to receive more okiyome". A rather cheap excuse, if you ask me. Sadly, people die because they try such methods instead of going to the doctor. The doctor cures you, without the need of believing that something works. Why is this so? Because medicine is tested in a way that the first people who take it are separated in two groups: the one who gets the real stuff, and the one who gets a fake one. The experiment is designed so that even the nurse who gives the medicine and the doctors who check if it works don't know if the patient gets the real or the fake medicine!
That is the difference:
Sukyo Mahikari: "It works because it works"
Medicine: "It works because independent experts have observed it works"
9. A Kanbu member touches me in a way I don't like. What can I do?
If he touches your genital parts or tells you to touch his, then it is a crime, even if the Kanbu member is a Doshi or Socho. Please do not report it to Sukyo Mahikari because they won't do anything! Go right to the police and tell all. If you think you could trust your parents in the past, and then discuss the matter with them. You do not have to feel guilty. It is the fault of the other person.
10. Has anyone ever died because of Sukyo Mahikari?
Yes, there are experience stories on the Mahikari Exposed site that mention people who have died because them believed in the teachings of SM and did not seek medical care. Also check out Lara’s blog, her younger sister passed away from cancer because SM Kanbu told her parents that chemotherapy was poisonous.
11. Can I trust my fellow Kumite?
No, usually not. They will put Sukyo Mahikari over friendship - you have certainly observed this before. They will tell all you told them to Kanbu and then to your family.
12. Will Sukyo Mahikari use my past personal experiences against me?
Yes, possibly. They have done so in the past, and will do it in the future. They will do everything they can to ensure that you feel guilty and do not leave the organization. But remember also that their threats of God not loving you or of God destroying the world are pure lies, e.g. "You will be cut off from God is you stop wearing omitama and don’t receive okiyome". This is called "blackmail", and they should go to jail for it! So assume from the beginning that they will do it, and prepare your mind for it.
13. I was born and educated in Sukyo Mahikari. What will happen?
You might have some trouble to adjust to the real world. Recommendation: start reading newspapers (The St Petersburg Times), magazines (TIME), easy "books" (The Reader's Digest). The three I mentioned are what Sukyo Mahikari fear the most, although these are pretty ordinary writings! Try also meeting ordinary people and learn to see how they communicate.
14. Is there anything that I am not told by Sukyo Mahikari?
Yes, quite a lot! Here it is:
1. Kotama did not have revelations from God as he claimed nor did he create an original religion, he was a pathological liar, although Sukyo Mahikari has spent lots of money trying to hide his past and prove his teachings. Kotama was not a hero or a savior - he was a fake, a coward and a cheat.
2. Kotama and Keishu Okada were once members of the SKK; a religion almost identical to Mahikari in practice and belief. Keishu’s family were all members of this organization and Kotama was a minister. However, Kotama was kicked out due to accusations of using black magic and sexual misconduct; reportedly with Keishu who would become his adoptive daughter.
3. Okada was a soldier in WWII and helped organize the Rape of Nanking where Japanese Soldiers raped and killed hundreds of Chinese women.
4. Okada was married with children prior to forming Mahikari, but got divorced (hypothetically when his wife found out about he and Keishu’s relationship), yet in Mahikari divorce is unacceptable. He had no further association with his ex-wife or children after the divorce.
5. In the SKK there is not a problem with evil spirits manifesting in people who are receiving okiyome, or as they call it Johrei. Only in Mahikari do spirits manifest, primarily because Okada dabbled in black magic and incorporated that in his technique of giving okiyome. He was reportedly warned by Kanbu in the SKK to cease offering okiyome in that manner because it was dangerous to the individual receiving.
6. Okada was a heavy smoker, yet he preached about putting toxins into the body.
7. A member of Aum Supreme Truth was once a member of Mahikari; the psychological damage kept her dependant on the support of a cult for the rest of her life.
8. There aren't 8 million Kumite. There aren't even 1 million according to former members. More like 500,000 at most.
posted by Asher Kennedy at 12:42 PM
6 Comments:
MAhikari is a sick organisation. The people are freaks & should work in a circus. This religon should be stopped before it gets any more crazier and loopy. THESE PEOPLE ARE SICK SICK SICK puppy dogs!
i love dogs
i love jesus
Thanks for your comments anonymous. Please feel free to comment again, but please use a screen name so that we can identify you from the others who choose to remain anonymous.
Hi all, I am Jim from Singapore. I left Mahikari for close to ten years, and I am only 26 now. Unfortunately, for my teen formative years, I was a Mahikari Tai. It was a terrible experience. I only kept my sanity by being with my school friends instead.
One incident still scarred me. There was this Mahikari Tai drill session, and the seniors proposed a drill competition with eyes closed. It claimed to exercise our concentration and minds to commands. I was in my school uniformed group, and it was among the top in the country. So drills were no problem for a 14 yr old me at that time. In this Tai competition, those with mistakes to the drill commands r being knocked out. Finally, it dwelled down to me and another boy. Apparently this other 14 yr old boy, was the popular one. He joined much earlier than me. Everyone, and hey really EVERYONE was cheering for him! To the seniors, I do not belong spiritually, as I never attended prior drill sessions. I was the outcast as I am new! It's not difficult to say who lost, I gave up with disgust. I never really rebounded from that incident in future Tai activities, I just went cos my parents asked me to.
I am advising Mahikari parents who thought Mahikari Tai is a good form of spiritual training for their kids to think doubly twice. It may had hurt them psychologically, lowered self-esteem, and even warped ideals.
If not for my commitment in school, I might had tried to terribly belong in Mahikari Tai, and hurt my growing up social life. my life.
this"organization" shuld be banned for the united nacions as mental public issue to the people, really is dangerus for the youth very dangerus
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