Amatsu Norigoto and Amatsu Norito
Amatsu Norigoto is Sukyo Mahikari's main purification prayer. Amatsu Norito is the name of purification prayers used in Shinto, Aikido, Omoto, and Sekai Kyusei Kyo (SKK). ("Norigoto" and "Norito" both basically mean "prayer".)
You may remember in primary kenshu that new kumite are cautioned to make sure they say "taka amahara", in order for the prayer to reach the righteous gods, rather than the term "taka magahara" that appears in Shinto prayers. For some reason, I had the impression that Amatsu Norigoto was basically a Shinto prayer that had been modified by Yoshikazu Okada, so I started looking for the Shinto version. A Google search on "Amatsu Norigoto" turned up nothing, but "Amatsu Norito" produced lots of hits.
I found various Shinto versions of Amtasu Norito, including a very long version which you can reach from the top link on this page. This version does not look much like the SM Amatsu Norigoto, but it does include the "taka magahara" phrase (3rd line) that Okada warned about. Perhaps there is a Shinto version somewhere that Okada adapted to form his Amatsu Norigoto, but by far the closest Amatsu Norito that I found is the SKK (or Johrei) version seen on this site. This SKK version, in turn, is very similar to the Omoto version of Amtasu Norito seen here.
Below I've given a line-by-line comparison of the SM, SKK, and Omoto prayers, along with the English translation of Amatsu Norigoto found at the Logan's site.
The blue text is SM's Amatsu Norigoto. Under that, the text of SKK's Amatsu Norito appears in black, then the Omoto version is in green text.
You'll notice that many lines are either similar or the same. The main differences between the SM and SKK prayers is that the SM one omits some parts of the SKK version, and adds in a couple of SM-specific lines. The names of the gods are also changed to reflect SM teachings.
Line 1 has no equivalent in the SKK version, and appears related to the kenshu teachings on the principle of Pa, so this line was probably just added to the start of Amatsu Norito by Y. Okada. Line 2 is similar to the SKK text (which is a shortened version of the Omoto text), but it adds in the "manifests as fire" part (moe-ide-masu). Line 3 is the same in all versions, except that in the SM text, "mikoto" is changed to "michikara" (divine power).
Line 4 is Y. Okada's description of his god, and replaces lines 4 and 4b of the SKK text (which are very similar to the Omoto text). Line 5 is the same as the SKK version except for using "harahido" instead of "haraido", but is identical to the Omoto text. The content of Line 6, about purifying impurities, is much the same in the SM and SKK versions, but the SM version adds in "of the spirit" (tamahi no). Line 7 asks for purification, and again the three versions are similar, except that the SM version adds in "by True Light" (mahikari mote).
Line 8 is an SM-specific line asking to revive the power of a child of God, and has no equivalent in the SKK and Omoto versions. Line 9 is almost identical in all three versions, and lines 9b and 9c have simply been omitted from the SM prayer.
Line 10 is identical. The Omoto Amatsu Norito that I found stops with Line 10. In the repeated part towards the end of the prayer, Line 12 is identical to the SKK version, and in Line 11, the name of the SKK god is simply replaced with the name of the SM god. Line 11b in the SKK version is a similar repetition, naming a different god, but this is omitted in the SM version. The final repeated line is almost identical in the SKK and SM versions.
1. In the divine spiritual world of infinitesimal but truly existing high energy particles
1. Gokubi jisso gengen shikai
1. [no equivalent line for SKK and Omoto]
2. in the throne of heaven where the spirit of God is now manifesting itself as fire
2. Taka-amahara ni kamu tamahi moe-ide-masu
2. Taka-amahara ni kamzumari masu
2. Taka amahara ni (mototsumi oyasunu ohokami amata no kamigami o tsudoite toko towa ni) kamizumari masu
3. by the power of the divine fire and water principles
3. Kamurogi Kamuromi no michikara mochite
3. Kamurogi Kamuromi no mikoto mochite
3. Kamurogi Kamuromi no mikoto mochite
4. Father of all living existence and man, Amatsu Su of True Light, Creator God
4. Bansei to hito no mioya kamu amatsu su no mahikari ohomikami
4. Sume-mioya kamu Izanagi no mikoto Tsukushi no Himuka no Tachihana no
4. kamu Izanagi no mikoto Tsukushi no Himuka no Tachihana no
4b. [no equivalent line for SM]
4b. Odo no Ahagi-hara ni Misogi harai tamou toki ni nari maseru
4b. Odo no Ahagi-(ga)hara ni Misogi harahi ta(mafu) toki ni nari maseru
5. and great gods of purification
5. harahido no okami-tachi
5. haraido no okami-tachi
5. harahido no ohokami-tachi
6. our various impurities of the spirit
6. Moro-moro no sakagoto tamahi no tsu-tsumi kigare o ba
6. Moro-moro no magagoto tsumi kegare o
6. Moro-moro no magagoto tsumi kegare o
7. please purify by True Light
7. mahikari mote harahi kiyome misogi tamaite
7. Harai tama-e kiyome tama-e to
7. Harahi tama-e kiyome tama-e to
8. please revive in us the original power of a child of God
8. Kami no ko no chikara yomigaerase tamae to
8. [no equivalent line for SKK and Omoto]
9. these our wishes
9. mosu koto no yoshi o
9. maosu koto no yoshi o
9. maosu koto no yoshi o
9b. [no equivalent line for SM]
9b. Amatsu-kami kunitsu-kami ya-o yorozu no kami-tachi tomo ni
9b. Amatsu-kami kunitsu-kami ya-o yorozu no kami-tachi tomo ni
9c. [no equivalent line for SM]
9c. Ame no fuchi-koma no mimi furitate-te kikoshi-mese to
9c. Ame no fuchi-koma no mimi furitate-te kikoshi-mese to
10. most humbly and respectfully we pray
10. Kashikomi kashikomi mo maosu
10. Kashikomi kashikomi mo maosu
10. Kashikomi kashikomi mo maosu
11. Father Creator, original God of True Light
11. Mioya motosu mahikari oho-mikami
11. Miroku Omikami
12. please bless and protect us
12. mamori tama-e sakiha-e tama-e
12. mamori tama-e sakiha-e tama-e
11. Father Creator, original God of True Light
11. Mioya motosu mahikari oho-mikami
11. Miroku Omikami
12. please bless and protect us
12. mamori tama-e sakiha-e tama-e
12. mamori tama-e sakiha-e tama-e
11b. [no equivalent line for SM]
11b. Oshi-e-mioya nushino-kami mamori tama-e sakiha-e tama-e [repeated]
(pause for silent prayer in SKK version)
13. Bless our spirit, may it flourish in Thy kingdom forever.
13. Kan-nagara tamahi chi ha-i mase
13. Kan-nagara tamachi ha-e mase
13. Bless our spirit, may it flourish in Thy kingdom forever.
13. Kan-nagara tamahi chi ha-i mase
13. Kan-nagara tamachi ha-e mase
You may remember in primary kenshu that new kumite are cautioned to make sure they say "taka amahara", in order for the prayer to reach the righteous gods, rather than the term "taka magahara" that appears in Shinto prayers. For some reason, I had the impression that Amatsu Norigoto was basically a Shinto prayer that had been modified by Yoshikazu Okada, so I started looking for the Shinto version. A Google search on "Amatsu Norigoto" turned up nothing, but "Amatsu Norito" produced lots of hits.
I found various Shinto versions of Amtasu Norito, including a very long version which you can reach from the top link on this page. This version does not look much like the SM Amatsu Norigoto, but it does include the "taka magahara" phrase (3rd line) that Okada warned about. Perhaps there is a Shinto version somewhere that Okada adapted to form his Amatsu Norigoto, but by far the closest Amatsu Norito that I found is the SKK (or Johrei) version seen on this site. This SKK version, in turn, is very similar to the Omoto version of Amtasu Norito seen here.
Below I've given a line-by-line comparison of the SM, SKK, and Omoto prayers, along with the English translation of Amatsu Norigoto found at the Logan's site.
The blue text is SM's Amatsu Norigoto. Under that, the text of SKK's Amatsu Norito appears in black, then the Omoto version is in green text.
You'll notice that many lines are either similar or the same. The main differences between the SM and SKK prayers is that the SM one omits some parts of the SKK version, and adds in a couple of SM-specific lines. The names of the gods are also changed to reflect SM teachings.
Line 1 has no equivalent in the SKK version, and appears related to the kenshu teachings on the principle of Pa, so this line was probably just added to the start of Amatsu Norito by Y. Okada. Line 2 is similar to the SKK text (which is a shortened version of the Omoto text), but it adds in the "manifests as fire" part (moe-ide-masu). Line 3 is the same in all versions, except that in the SM text, "mikoto" is changed to "michikara" (divine power).
Line 4 is Y. Okada's description of his god, and replaces lines 4 and 4b of the SKK text (which are very similar to the Omoto text). Line 5 is the same as the SKK version except for using "harahido" instead of "haraido", but is identical to the Omoto text. The content of Line 6, about purifying impurities, is much the same in the SM and SKK versions, but the SM version adds in "of the spirit" (tamahi no). Line 7 asks for purification, and again the three versions are similar, except that the SM version adds in "by True Light" (mahikari mote).
Line 8 is an SM-specific line asking to revive the power of a child of God, and has no equivalent in the SKK and Omoto versions. Line 9 is almost identical in all three versions, and lines 9b and 9c have simply been omitted from the SM prayer.
Line 10 is identical. The Omoto Amatsu Norito that I found stops with Line 10. In the repeated part towards the end of the prayer, Line 12 is identical to the SKK version, and in Line 11, the name of the SKK god is simply replaced with the name of the SM god. Line 11b in the SKK version is a similar repetition, naming a different god, but this is omitted in the SM version. The final repeated line is almost identical in the SKK and SM versions.
1. In the divine spiritual world of infinitesimal but truly existing high energy particles
1. Gokubi jisso gengen shikai
1. [no equivalent line for SKK and Omoto]
2. in the throne of heaven where the spirit of God is now manifesting itself as fire
2. Taka-amahara ni kamu tamahi moe-ide-masu
2. Taka-amahara ni kamzumari masu
2. Taka amahara ni (mototsumi oyasunu ohokami amata no kamigami o tsudoite toko towa ni) kamizumari masu
3. by the power of the divine fire and water principles
3. Kamurogi Kamuromi no michikara mochite
3. Kamurogi Kamuromi no mikoto mochite
3. Kamurogi Kamuromi no mikoto mochite
4. Father of all living existence and man, Amatsu Su of True Light, Creator God
4. Bansei to hito no mioya kamu amatsu su no mahikari ohomikami
4. Sume-mioya kamu Izanagi no mikoto Tsukushi no Himuka no Tachihana no
4. kamu Izanagi no mikoto Tsukushi no Himuka no Tachihana no
4b. [no equivalent line for SM]
4b. Odo no Ahagi-hara ni Misogi harai tamou toki ni nari maseru
4b. Odo no Ahagi-(ga)hara ni Misogi harahi ta(mafu) toki ni nari maseru
5. and great gods of purification
5. harahido no okami-tachi
5. haraido no okami-tachi
5. harahido no ohokami-tachi
6. our various impurities of the spirit
6. Moro-moro no sakagoto tamahi no tsu-tsumi kigare o ba
6. Moro-moro no magagoto tsumi kegare o
6. Moro-moro no magagoto tsumi kegare o
7. please purify by True Light
7. mahikari mote harahi kiyome misogi tamaite
7. Harai tama-e kiyome tama-e to
7. Harahi tama-e kiyome tama-e to
8. please revive in us the original power of a child of God
8. Kami no ko no chikara yomigaerase tamae to
8. [no equivalent line for SKK and Omoto]
9. these our wishes
9. mosu koto no yoshi o
9. maosu koto no yoshi o
9. maosu koto no yoshi o
9b. [no equivalent line for SM]
9b. Amatsu-kami kunitsu-kami ya-o yorozu no kami-tachi tomo ni
9b. Amatsu-kami kunitsu-kami ya-o yorozu no kami-tachi tomo ni
9c. [no equivalent line for SM]
9c. Ame no fuchi-koma no mimi furitate-te kikoshi-mese to
9c. Ame no fuchi-koma no mimi furitate-te kikoshi-mese to
10. most humbly and respectfully we pray
10. Kashikomi kashikomi mo maosu
10. Kashikomi kashikomi mo maosu
10. Kashikomi kashikomi mo maosu
11. Father Creator, original God of True Light
11. Mioya motosu mahikari oho-mikami
11. Miroku Omikami
12. please bless and protect us
12. mamori tama-e sakiha-e tama-e
12. mamori tama-e sakiha-e tama-e
11. Father Creator, original God of True Light
11. Mioya motosu mahikari oho-mikami
11. Miroku Omikami
12. please bless and protect us
12. mamori tama-e sakiha-e tama-e
12. mamori tama-e sakiha-e tama-e
11b. [no equivalent line for SM]
11b. Oshi-e-mioya nushino-kami mamori tama-e sakiha-e tama-e [repeated]
(pause for silent prayer in SKK version)
13. Bless our spirit, may it flourish in Thy kingdom forever.
13. Kan-nagara tamahi chi ha-i mase
13. Kan-nagara tamachi ha-e mase
13. Bless our spirit, may it flourish in Thy kingdom forever.
13. Kan-nagara tamahi chi ha-i mase
13. Kan-nagara tamachi ha-e mase
posted by Anne at 8:05 PM
11 Comments:
Anne
I'm wondering back in 1959 when he had his "revelations" from God whether Y Okada was ordered by God to plagiarise the prayer from SKK for his own organisation. Its interesting to see that there is really nothing original about SM. Its all been done before.
With Sukyo Mahikari it's a case of The Emperor is Wearing No Clothes!My sincere thanks to those former kumite who are courageous to speak out about SM's fabrications.
butterfly
Fascinating to read the comparisons between the different 'takes' on Amatsu Notigoto... good work!
And also amazing how much the blasted thing is burnt into my brain. I can still recite it nearly perfectly, even nearly 10 years after leaving. Yuck.
At last I found the translation of Amatsu Norito, I know the prayer from Johrei, but I did not know the meaning. Thank's for publishing the translation. It is very inspiring.
Stunning! I have just met SM and all this information on it at the same time. It makes one wonder who's mistaken and who is interested in having people confused. Or worse, a)are we talking about false prophets?; b)are we being tempted out of God´s mercy by insidious doubt?! May God shine a light upon us all!
By the way, should Anne take a look at Wikipedia, she would read that SKK was founded a couple of years after SM -- and that both come from the original Sekai mahikari bunmei kyodan, founded by Yoshikazu Okada in 1959. As to the prayer, well, it would seem that it was adapted from Shinto traditional prayers, but who is sure of anything when it comes to religion?
Oops I meant " ... should butterfly read...", not "Anne". Could you please correct that before publishing? Thanks.
Hi Euni,
I guess it can be done, but I wouldn't want to change anyone's comment...your second comment fixes what you wanted anyway.
According to the Encyclopedia of Shinto (http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=636), SKK dates from around 1934, although it had a different name then, and it was renamed SKK (Sekai Kyusei Kyo) in 1955, so it DOES predate SMBK.
You say "It makes one wonder who's mistaken and who is interested in having people confused." If you are new to both SM and all the criticisms written about it, I can understand perfectly that you would not know who to trust. The only option I see is to read absolutely everything you can find...ultimately we all must decide for ourselves.
There is a summary of some of the reasons why former members do not trust SM (and links to lots of other material) here: http://www.geocities.com/anne_9_8/
Just remember that we former members who try to warn other people against joining SM have nothing to gain by doing so. I just don't want to see other people be manipulated by the same deceptions that I fell for.
All the best,
Anne
I don´t know how can someone be disappointed by helping people and trying to be the best person you can. Good luck with your digging.
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
Sorry for my bad english. Thank you so much for your good post. Your post helped me in my college assignment, If you can provide me more details please email me.
I think what is important is how one has benefited from one's practice, whatever it may be.
If it helps, carry on, if it does not, you can carry on or quit.
A placebo that heals is better than a prescription that does not even if the prescription is supported by clinical test.
Good afternoon readers, I have never been a part of SM however I have recently been researching all aspects of SKK myself. After stumbling across many articles in relation to Mahikari I realized the similarities and decided to research myself. When I asked some of the senior members of SKK in Japan, I was dumbfounded to discover that SKK has never talked bad or tried to expose anything in relation to Mahikari however, Mahikari at one point in time was a Minister for SKK and that is why His teachings are strikingly similar to Mokichi Okada's teachings. Mahikari was also dismissed as a minister due to various reasons which I waill not relate and also, there is a picture on the web with Mahikari and Rev. Ajiki (One of the first SKK Pioneers in the United States to introduce Johrei with Rev. Higuchi). So, I am not here to put anyone down however we must all have compassion for those actions that deceive others. Mahikari was a member of SKK but SKK will not go out of their way to try and humiliate anyone however the evidence is available.
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