Mahikari kids
I've just been looking over ZT's new blog about his experience of leaving Mahikari after spending all his teenage years as a kumite, along with his mother and sister. It must be so hard for someone in his position to leave Mahikari! [Feb 2007 note: The posts on this blog were removed several months later.]
I joined and left Mahikari as an adult, so I obviously have no experience of what it must be like for kids who are born into a Mahikari family or who join as a family. It must take tremendous guts to break free of the dual influence of family and Mahikari at the same time. This is one case where I can't help being glad that teenagers tend to rebel!
If anyone who was a Mahikari kid is reading this post, maybe you could look at ZT's blog and offer comments? Swapping notes and providing mutual support has got to make a difficult process a bit easier.
Personally, I would love to hear how Mahikari kids have managed to break free.
Please leave a comment here about your experiences. Then, if others comment on your comment, etc., this thread might even help some of you create a network of people to talk to. You can also use the "Contacting contributors" link under Previous Posts (once we have some contributors to contact, of course!)
I joined and left Mahikari as an adult, so I obviously have no experience of what it must be like for kids who are born into a Mahikari family or who join as a family. It must take tremendous guts to break free of the dual influence of family and Mahikari at the same time. This is one case where I can't help being glad that teenagers tend to rebel!
If anyone who was a Mahikari kid is reading this post, maybe you could look at ZT's blog and offer comments? Swapping notes and providing mutual support has got to make a difficult process a bit easier.
Personally, I would love to hear how Mahikari kids have managed to break free.
Please leave a comment here about your experiences. Then, if others comment on your comment, etc., this thread might even help some of you create a network of people to talk to. You can also use the "Contacting contributors" link under Previous Posts (once we have some contributors to contact, of course!)
posted by Anne at 4:44 PM
5 Comments:
The link to CZ's Blog no longer works - have they deleted their Blog?
Oops! Thanks KitKat. My mistake. I've fixed it now.
Sorry CZ!
I would have loved to read CZ's blog. It's a shame he took it down. I have noticed lately that several people have either removed their blogs or taken down their expirience story. Anne, the story you quoted in the Karma article has been removed from Mahikari Exposed. It's such a shame. People build up the courage to speak their mind about their expirieinces and then former kumite hassle them into removing it if it pertains to them at all. I don't know if that was the case with either CZ or the woman who wrote that story, but all I can say is...to the kumite who might be reading these entries and articles...please be respectful. You might not like what we have to say, but you do have to accept our opinion. It's not fair to go and cause conflict in someone elses lives just because you know them and dislike their opinion. We respect the fact that you enjoy participating in Mahikari, it's your choice. If you don't like what we have to say you have the choice of not reading it. What do you do when you dislike the subject matter of a movie? You don't watch it. Similarly, if you don't want to hear negative or things that contradict Mahikari, you shouldn't read it. And if you are looking for the anti-Mahikari aspect, you need to ask yourself why you are looking for it. Possible doubts in Mahikari? Give it some thought. It is considered spiritual disturbance to be seeking out negative Mahikari info.
Anyways, off my soap box. I have so much to say about this particular subject. Children in Mahikari. First of all, I think it is completely unfair. Plain and simple. It's wrong. It robs a child of the pleasure of being young and forces them to take on responsiblity at a delicate age. At the age of ten, when a child just wants to have fun and be a kid, Mahikari members ask them (no, pressure them) into taking primary kenshu. There they are given a pendant and told to take care of it better than they do themselves for it is more precious than their life. Not only that, but they are also told that if they don't give okiyome (the last thing a ten year old wants to be doing) and wear the pendant 24/7 unless showering, they will be attacked by attaching spirits and could suffer from extreme spirit disturbance. Why not just tie a child up, put them in a dark closet and force them to watch The Exorsist over and over again. It has the same effect. Tell them that they will become Reagan McNeil if they don't wear their pendant. Saves you the trouble of putting the through three days of Kenshu. I don't know about anyone else, but as a ten year old, if I had been told the things that we are taught at primary kenshu, I would have never left my house and slept in my parents bed for the rest of my life. They simply are not able to cope with those fears and that repsonsilbity at that age. Now, I know what kumite would say...but Christian and Jews teach their children their beliefs from birth. Yes, but last time I checked, they don't try and scare their children into perminant membership by telling them that God will stop caring about them without their pendant. On the contrary they teach that God will always love you, no matter what you do. They teach that God loves Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, OJ Simpson. That doesn't mean God likes what they have done, but they will never be without God's love. God's love is unwavering. Mahikari doesn't teach children about the love of God, but rather about the obidience to Mahikari. I feel terrible for those children. I hope God can undo the damage that their parents have done.
I've been reading others comments on independent web-sites and blogs and am extremely greatful that they exist. I became a member on Dec 10 2004 and felt an emmense difference in my spirit. With the help of the holy spirit, and one particular loved one I was able to start questioning myself and sat for a day online reading through experience stories. I was aware of the ordeal I put my spirit through by September 2005, yet I still needed to gain myself back.. I was only zoned in to Sukyo Mahikari for 9 months, but it was an intense period for me since I got intensely involved. I would sincerely practice it by myself, I read the book of holy words and gave light as much as I could. I feel like I am finally myself again.
I also realized that I was a ready victim for Sukyo Mahikari. With a mind frame or system of thought that was blocked or flawed, which Sukyo Mahikari could use to build on. In my instance the block was minipulation. I somehow completely ignored all instances of minipulation in my life, to the point where it did not exist in my system. I would create all sorts of reasons or excuses for people who minipulated me. I simply, for some reason or other.. refused to believe that minipulation existed. When I finally crashed spiritually with Sukyo Mahikari, I had to face minipulation.. because my spirit was on the line. I had to admit that I was being minipulated. Minipulation became clear to me, and many situations in my life that I still felt scarred by also cleared up. I needed to realize minipulation for my mind not to continuously linger on those past experiences. In a way, sukyo mahikari was like an intruder holding a gun to my head telling me to grow, learn and accept this world or else I would belong to him.
I feel greatful for my experience. However, I know I'm writing this comment because there is something I haven't resolved with Sukyo Mahikari yet. I don't know how to feel okay about my family being a part of it. I do feel locked out. I feel locked out from a dark room.. a dark room that my loved ones are sitting in. I am that extremely protective and stuborn Libra. I can't stand not being able to protect my mom's and sisters sanity.
I live away from my family, so it is not hard for me to be myself and have my own ideas. It's just that when they are in Sukyo Mahikari, they can't feel love. I know they can't feel it, because I was there. They use the language all the time.. but they can't feel it, it's kinda crazy, becuase it's like they become immune to the words.
All I can do is hope, and always answer their calls.
Hi Anonymous,
It's good to hear from you and to read how you not only freed yourself from Mahikari but also learnt from the experience! You're right, Mahikari is very manipulative...firstly during recruitment, and later on to discourage people from leaving.
At least your mother and sisters have your example...if they can see that you are well and happy despite leaving Mahikari, it might make it easier for them to leave someday. Did they join Mahikari at the same time as you, or have they been members longer?
Have you seen my Open Letter to Kamikumite? I wrote this letter in the hope that it might help some members to realize just how little evidence there is to support Mahikari doctrine. You know your family...do you think they might respond well to this letter?
I think most kamikumite have doubts at some stage. Most also have times when they feel more inspired and enthusiastic by Mahikari than usual, perhaps immediately after an inspiring study period, or just after becoming a group leader or being given some sort of special role. If you think the Open Letter might help them, I suggest you try to pick a time when they are not feeling quite as enthusiastic as usual about Mahikari...
If you do decide to show them the Open Letter, please email me (click on my profile to find the email address) and let me know how you go. Of course, you can also email me directly, if you like, if you think I can help in any other way.
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