Johrei

As part of the discipline, there is often a focus on the practice of "sonen" which is described as an alignment of Reason, Will and Feeling with a heartfelt prayer to God for the wellbeing and happiness of all.[10]

Another feature of Johrei is the practice of surrendering - offering up all human experience to God with gratitude in the knowledge that everything teaches us something, though it may not be clear at the time. As each and every thought and feeling well up in the mind and heart, both good and bad, they can be surrendered into the hand of God,[11] so the Johrei member is not overwhelmed by the purification and can carry on with an open heart and clear mind.

Practitioners wear a blessed pendant called an O-Hikari which is hung at the solar plexus level. It has the Japanese symbol for light written on or in it, copied from Okada's sacred art calligraphy and is blessed by the current Kyoshu Spiritual Leader.[12] It is a symbol of membership of a Johrei organisation and the member's dedication to Meishu-Sama and his teachings.[13] It is said to represent the member's connection to Heaven[14] and when not worn, it should be kept in a high place or stored in a special box. If dropped, the O-Hikari should be blessed newly by the local Johrei Minister and the member should pray to understand how this situation could reflect their thoughts and beliefs about their relationship with Heaven, and they should seek to resolve whatever arises.

Despite presenting itself as a form of alternative medicine, the Johrei Fellowship maintains that it does not prescribe, diagnose, or treat physical illnesses and that their focus is on spiritual health and world peace instead of physical health. The mission of Johrei is to bring about ideal conditions on Earth, replacing illness, poverty and strife with health, prosperity and peace, but Johrei is not about restoring physical health. The ultimate objective must also include the necessary spiritual elevation and understanding which make possible each individual's constructive participation in creating Paradise on Earth.[17]

Okada started to develop a hands-on massage based therapy. During this time, he gained a dedicated following and published a number of magazines and books, personalising his healing technique into Okada Purifying Therapy.

In 1925, Okada explained he had a vision of the Buddhist Bodhisattva Kannon (Kuan Yin) and she gave him the divine light, along with a command that Okada proclaim himself a prophet.[4] He later established the Great Japan Association for the Veneration of the Bodhisattva Kanon, with divine healing as its main purpose.[4] He started teaching the channeling of light and was keen to leave behind the physical therapy asserting that he had only invested in it because the government was suspicious of New Religions and it was the only way he could practice the spiritual purification at that time. He told his followers that the world was moving into the age of light and great purifications would occur. As a result, people would get very sick but God had blessed him with this new healing method to save many souls from suffering as possible. In 1935 the organisation developed into the World Church of Messianity Sekai Kyūsei Kyō, also translated as the Church of World Salvation. Okada's grandson Kyoshu-Sama now heads the organisation and has re-Christened the movement back to its originally intended name, the World Church of Messiah.

Johrei was introduced to America in 1953, and there are numerous[19] Johrei centers throughout the United States, Thailand, Brazil, Europe, Africa, and many other countries worldwide.[20]

Edzard Ernst, in his book Alternative Medicine – A Critical Assessment of 150 Modalities, says that Johrei groups have many of the characteristics of a cult.[1] Okada had many devoted followers, and he prescribed strict ways of doing things. Proponents say this was not uncommon in Japan at the time. He did however encourage his followers to embrace modern life, to see films and he is reported to have a deep love and care for all individuals, and strong desire to help all people who were in suffering.[22]

Johrei notably gained a negative image due to complaints levelled against the Mahikari sect, a parallel organisation run by another Mr. Okada, Yoshikazu, no relation. Mahikari - meaning "true light" also practiced an almost identical form of Johrei and prayers but this movement attracted a lot of criticism for generating an environment of fear, power abuse and control, lying to followers, forgery of ancient artifacts,[23] and promoting harmful activities and beliefs.[24]

In 2020 the World Church of Messiah, announced that Johrei via raising the hand is not the final will of Meishu Sama. The Church explained that Okada had told his followers repeatedly in the 1950s, “From now on, we enter the world of sonen. Johrei is not so important anymore. Sonen comes first, so pray in your hearts.” He taught that the divine work of salvation went from the phase of the visible form of Johrei of raising one’s hand, to the world of the invisible form, the “world of sonen.” Okada said he received a message from God that the Age of Light had dawned for humanity and he should not raise his hand for Johrei any longer as God was sending Johrei all the time to everyone. Okada gave himself Johrei all the same, and found that he developed a headache. Thereafter he warned his followers, but after his death, this message was lost and people continued to practice Johrei in the way he had earlier shown them. The World Church of Messiah now maintains it is intended that Johrei be received directly from God, as "God is always facing us and is ministering Johrei to us".[25] The Church clarified "Meishu-sama is teaching us that even for people whose illness is not healed, even for people for whom no miracles occur, even for people with incurable diseases, there is salvation. There is the light of eternal life. God radiates that light within us. Meishu-sama is teaching us to come, come to that light of God, and you, then, will be saved."[26]

Various groups worldwide which are unaffiliated to the Church still continue to practice Johrei in the original way such as in Shumei[27] and the Johrei Fellowship.[28]