The Mahikari movement (Japanese: ) is a Japanese new religious movement (shinshà «kyà Â) that was founded in 1959 by Yoshikazu Okada (岡ç° è¯ä¸Â) (1901âÂÂ1974). The word "Mahikari" means "True (çÂÂ, ma) Light (å Â, hikari)" in Japanese. The movement currently consists of various splinter organizations; the largest ones are currently World Divine Light () in Izu and Sukyo Mahikari () in Takayama. Both of these organizations refer to their headquarters as ("God's throne"), since they are the shrines for the supreme . Both organizations also refer to their spiritual leader as Oshienushi or Oshienushi-sama (æÂÂãÂÂ主[æ§Â]).
The original Mahikari organization was founded by Kà Âtama Okada (born Yoshikazu Okada) in 1959. The organization was originally named L. H. Yokoshi no Tomo (é½å ÂÃ¥ÂÂÃ¥ÂÂä¹Âä¼Â, Yokoshi Tomo no Kai, "Lucky, Healthy, Association of Bright / Positive People").
KÃ Âtama 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.
KÃ Âtama 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. KÃ Âtama 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 and (). Other books Mahikari doctrinal books include Mioshie-shà « (御æÂÂãÂÂéÂÂ, "Holy Teachings" and Mahikari shokyà « kenshà « sankà Â-sho (çÂÂå ÂÃ¥ÂÂç´Âç Âä¿®åÂÂèÂÂæ¸, "Mahikari Primary Training Reference Book").
Following the passing of KÃ Âtama 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.
The organization's spiritual leader is known as the Oshienushi (æÂÂãÂÂ主) or Oshienushi-sama (æÂÂãÂÂ主æ§Â):
Sukyo Mahikari is headquartered in Takayama, Gifu. Its headquarters is also known as the .
Other organizations with relatively minor membership that stem from Mahikari include Yokoshi Tomonokai (), Mahikari Seihà  no Kai (), Subikari (), Shin-Yu-Gen Kyusei Mahikari, and so on.
Other religious organizations that have similarities include Sekai Kyà «sei Kyà  (the Church of World Messianity, which Kà Âtama Okada was originally a follower of) and Oomoto. In Sekai Kyà «sei Kyà Â, a practice called Jà Ârei (purification of the spirit) is undertaken. Similarly in Mahikari, okiyome (ãÂÂæµÂãÂÂ) ("purifying"), also known as tekazashi (æÂÂãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂ) ("laying of hands"), which involves radiating divine 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.