Teachings of Sukyo Mahikari

and Sekai Kyusei Kyo

(Part 2)

Version 1.1. Editor: Mike Day, April 13, 1997.
Updated September 13,1997

Editor's Introduction

This is a report on some clear differences between the teachings of Kautama (born Yoshikazu) Okada founder of Sukyo Mahikari (SM), and Mokichi Okada (no relation) founder of Sekai Kyusei Kyo (SKK) or Church Of World Messianity. The sources for this information and the meaning of the publication references are listed in Part 1. I have summarized each difference under its heading.

Man's Mission and the Divine Plan

These quotes sound very similar, but I think the tone is important. The SKK approach towards Man's Mission is positive, the SM approach is "fulfill you mission or else ..."

SKK:

FP299: "Man is born into the earth dimension with the mission of establishing an ideal world. This is God's Plan, so when he lives and functions in harmony with the Plan, man can live and work most happily in perfect health. This is an eternal, immutable truth."

SM:

S23: "The modern age is a time when those people who do not fulfill their mission of spreading the teachings of the divine plan to others, being afire with a passionate, unselfish love for others, with love for mankind, are of necessity destined to be judged by God."

The Mission of Japan

The key words in the SM quote are "His Deputies to govern this world." So according to SM the Mission of the Japanese is to govern the world. For SKK it is "to help the people of the world to enjoy life through beauty ... "

SKK: True mission of Japan (FP266)

"[Japan's mission is] to help the people of the world to enjoy life through beauty and thus to contribute to the elevation of civilization. ... the Japanese people in general have a sharp sense of beauty, and ... they excel in manual arts."

"In brief, my wish is simply to help realize the primary mission of Japan as a country of beauty, as a paradise for the world."

SM:

G275 "... God created the races of five different colors. ... There are two kinds in the yellow race (KIBITO)--that is, OBITO and KIBITO--the so to speak head family and branch family. The land called HINOMOTO, in which thou are living, is the Land of Spirit's Origin (...). ... He placed O-BITO (the King race) here and dispatched and spread all five races throughout the world as branch races. It is the peerless (FUJI) place in which God placed the ones with the role to unite (SEBERU), called SUMERA, as His Deputies to govern this world. Those who are the original race of the five races in respect to the spiritual origin were called YAMATO ... . It was called YAMATO ... because this place was a great paradise full of love and harmony and called the Garden of EDEN. ..."

On Governments

SM apparently does not accept democracy on any level: "Nowhere in this universe, ... is there any actual democracy. It is absolutely impermissible to God. " On the other hand, SKK seems to support the concept, at least on Earth.

SKK:

FP247: "... I believe that the terms "world nation" and "world government," which have been advocated by many individuals in the United States of America for several years, indicate nothing other that the ideal world which is being born. When that happens, a president of the entire planet must be elected ... "

SM: S21: Democracy versus Theocracy

"It is generally believed and accepted that we are living in a democratic age. Within our organization, however, the principle of democracy is not acceptable. Nowhere in this universe, neither on Earth nor in Heaven, is there any actual democracy. It is absolutely impermissible to God. The principle of this universe is none other that theocracy, Divinity as the leading principle. ...

"The age during which civilizations will be based upon Divinity leading, in which God himself leads mankind as in the Age of the Gods is called the Age of Theocracy. ...

"Therefore the words, orders and indications of the Oshienushi (the master of divine teaching), the representative of Su no Kami on earth. should be supreme, to at least kumite. It is accordingly requested that you pay special attention to the above."

On Other Religions

In some respects, the teachings are similar. SKK prefers to unite all faiths, while SM claims that religions have "lost their power" and exist to protect their own profits, and that therefore mankind must "transcend" religions.

SKK:

FP310: "You must be especially careful of any religion which has secrets that followers are admonished not to reveal to outsiders; you may conclude that such a religion is controlled by evil forces. A good religious faith has no secrets and is thoroughly open, bright and happy."

FP18: "In order that such a world may become a reality, however, there must come into being a spiritual movement that can unify all the faiths of the world, one that is so powerful spiritually all of the earth's people will accept and believe its teachings."

SM:

S25: "There is no need for observance and support of the religious teachings found in the various established religions which exist merely for the sake of protecting their own profits. ... They have lost their power to perform spiritual miracles and give salvation and cannot save mankind or solve the world's problems. ... "

S29: " ... if you can walk from place to place giving the Light of Salvation to mankind, whether it is called the Light of Kannon, the Light of Christ or the Light of Yahweh (Jehovah), it will be all right. ... "

YPB6: "Unless Hito ...in the whole world unite themselves with [God] .. they cannot welcome the coming Holy Century ... Regardless of religious denominations all mankind in the world should master and practice what is written in this book ... Sukyo ... transcends the realm of human religions."

On Japan's Role In WWII

SKK is apologetic about Japan's role in WWII. SM has no comment on the subject that I can find.

SKK:

FP302: "As we apply this to the present state of Japan [1947], we can understand the reason why almost all of the Japanese people are suffering miserable conditions today as the result of Japan's defeat in World War II. It is nothing other than the purification of the clouds this country formed by invading other countries, exploiting other races, and killing many people."