Thought Control in Mahikari
by Fiona
September 2001, last updated June 2010
- Introduction
- Behaviour Control
- Information Control
- Thought Control <
- Emotional Control
Thought Control
1. Need to internalize the group's doctrine as "Truth"
This was one of the main themes in the Primary Course. One of the first things the candidates
are told is to throw out their old thinking, and embrace a new way of seeing the world. The analogy of
a cup of tea is used - if there was some old tea (your current ideas) in the cup, you couldn't taste a delicious new tea
(Mahikari teachings) properly could you? We were told to 'empty our tea cup' and prepare for the lovely new tea.
- Good vs. evil
The fight of the Righteous Gods, headed by Su God, against the Evil Gods is a major theme in Mahikari.
This battle is extended into members' lives, with the influences of attaching spirits and other invisible battles affecting
them daily.
- Us vs. Them (inside vs. outside)
There is a clear divide between members and non-members, those
who have been 'been a chance' and the 'unenlightened' masses. The
whole battle to be accepted and saved goes to new heights within
the Dojo though, as there is no guarantee that just joining
Mahikari is enough to save you as a "seed person" for the new civilisation to come.
That will only be revealed when
the 'Convulsion of Nature' occurs, and only those who are purified
enough and have been of enough service to God will be saved.
Members are constantly cautioned against assuming that they are
doing well, or have been saved. They have to strive constantly, with uncertainty
and anxiety about their status. To be a "seed person", members must go through hardships, or "spiritual cleansing".
"Before you can find God's secret of the universe, I shall carry out the intensive
spiritual cleansing (MISOGI) of the spirit and soul of God's children. Otherwise, I cannot
use you as seed-people for the next world for establishing the Heavenly Civilisation. Such a
time has come. (Even if science is developed by human souls who are spiritually adversed, contaminated
and chaotic, they can use it only for selish love and evilness.) [Goseigen [The
Holy Words], Warning to the Modern Age, English pg 157, Japanese pg 266]
In daily life, members have many rituals which separate them
from non-members, which constantly reinforce a clear divide. Only members will
purify their groceries with True Light before putting them away, for example.
2. Adopt "loaded" language (characterized by "thought-terminating cliches").
Words are the tools we use to think with. These "special" words constrict rather
than expand understanding. They function to reduce complexities of
experience into trite, platitudinous "buzz words".
There are many of these "buzz words" used by members all the time, words such as "gratitude",
"being sunao" (obedient), "cleansing", and "upstream" are just a few examples.
3. Only "good" and "proper" thoughts are encouraged.
"...negative mental states also generate toxic material within the body. Sukuinushisama
taught that anger, hate, resentment, anxiety, nervousness and so on cause the formation of
toxic products throughout the body." [Tebecis, pg 199]
4. Thought-stopping techniques (to shut down "reality testing" by stopping
"negative" thoughts and allowing only "good" thoughts); rejection of rational
analysis, critical thinking, constructive criticism.
- Chanting
Amatsu Norigoto [Main World Prayer] is the main chant used in
Mahikari . Members are told to chant it powerfully in dangerous
situations, upsetting times, as well as before giving Light, at
Ceremonies, in daily prayers and while purifying the environment.
Some trainings, especially for youth, involve chanting the prayer
non-stop for a long time, 20 or 30 minutes.
- Meditating
Meditation is not permitted in Mahikari, as they say it opens one up to being possessed by spirits.
- Praying
Prayers to God are encouraged every morning on waking up, and
evening before bed, as well as every time members go to the Dojo,
at Ceremonies, when they drive their car, and start or finish a
session of True Light.
- Speaking in "tongues"
During Spirit Investigations some people will speak in other
languages, supposedly the speech of their attaching spirits. There
are reports of young children speaking German (not their native
tongue), or Australians speaking fluent Japanese, or even Latin.
In my 14 years of experience I never heard this happen, and when I
had spirit investigations, most responses were non-verbal
(nodding, shaking the head etc). One time I did respond in
Japanese, but it was with simple words that I already knew, like "Hai" for
Yes.
- Singing or humming
Not used particularly in Mahikari. Japanese Miuta [hymns] are
sung at Ceremonies, but they are quite short. There is a longer
prayer, called Choreii [The Songs of Consoling the Spirit]
which is sometimes sung to people when they receive Light on the
forehead, and might contribute to the semi-hypnotic state.
5. No critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy seen as legitimate
The clearest sign of a member's sins and impurities, and disturbance
by evil spirits, is for them to criticise Divine teachings,
Sukuinushisama [the founder of Mahikari], Oshienushisama [the current
leader], the staff at any Mahikari Dojo, Mahikari advice, or any
Mahikari literature. This is stated in many places throughout Mahikari
teachings, such as Goseigen (The book of holy words), Norigoto (the
prayer book), monthly teachings, and the Primary Course Text Book.
"When there is some mistake in one's sonen [innermost attitude], that
is, when EGO and CONCEIT appear without realising it, or when one falls
into the condition where thorough, unconditional trust in the
absoluteness of God begins to wane, one always either complains or
becomes critical of Divine teachings. This makes a gap in the sonen. It
becomes the person's weak point. That is the time the person will change
into someone who can easily be attached by manipulating spirits. This is
why we must always have the "MENTAL ATTITUDE TO FIGHT BACK THE SPIRIT
(DISTURBANCE)"." [Extract from Teachings of
Sukuinushisama, Pioneering the Age of Light & Gap in Sonen,
given June 1986. Published in Mahikari Australia Journal, Volume 4, No
9, Sept 1986, pg 16]
"People often say, 'That's a money-making religion.' 'They're telling
you only the good things. You are stupid.' 'You are being fooled.' 'It's
your right to work, earn and spend as you like by yourself.' 'If God has
great love, it's natural that He saves us.'
"These are the words of those who don't know clearly the difference
between the wrong way and the true way, or the true God and an evil
deity. Moreover these are the people who have never experienced anything
mysterious. What a pity if you are wheedled by these people into going
away from the entrance of Mahikari's house, the place of salvation of
the supreme God (Su-God). That would mean leaving the gate to happiness
and taking the road to hell by yourself. You would only have gotten a
glimpse of the inside. Now please be careful, for this itself is the
sign of the revival of disorders caused by evil spirits.
[Mahikari Primary Kenshu Reference Textbook, Do Not
Listen to Dangerous Words of Evil Deities, pg 84]
6. No alternative belief systems viewed as legitimate, good, or useful
According to Mahikari's view of world history, God permitted the
development of the major world religions to put the brakes on mankind's
degenerate behaviour. Mahikari calls them man-made 'brake religions' - this
includes Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. They have
'pseudo-true teachings', only part of the truth. The only group with all
the answers is, of course, Sukyo Mahikari. The Sukyo part of their name means
"Supra" as in above, or higher than. Mahikari says that all religions in history
have compromised their teachings by adding human philosophy to them, and that modern
religions have no relevance or power of salvation any more.
"All priests and people of Shinto, Buddhism and Christianity must
return to the original teachings [Mahikari teachings], which existed in the days of Gautama
and Jesus, who followed the Master God, SU. They must become disciples who are able
to radiate the Light of MA (Truth). Otherwise, the day of Judgement and the End of the World shall
come." [Goseigen [The Holy Words], The Age of Four A's, pg 191]
"The time which will come before humans find any counter-measure is
called 'the End of the World'. Therefore, religions have come to an end
and all mankind cannot but altogether choose the way of
Tuning-in-with-God (Kamimuki) [Mahikari teachings]." [Goseigen Religious Belief and Mahikari's Path pg
140]
"If you had not come across this path, most of you would still be suffering from chronic diseases and continuing an
impatient and uneasy life. The same thing can be said for your business enterprises."
[Mahikari Primary Kenshu Reference Textbook, pg 80]
"Those who have an idea of being saved through faith in God and those who are trying to take leadership
for salvation and reformation of the world, should [at] once accept this highest revelation in the human world before anything else."
[Goseigen Introduction pg 8]
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