Church of Perfect Liberty
From Wikinfo
The Church of Perfect Liberty (or Perfect Liberty Kyodan or simply, PL) is a Japanese new religious movement, founded in 1946, that teaches that a state of mind that parallels Perfect Liberty - total mental freedom - can be achieved, leading to a life that is a continuous, conscious self-expression. Its main precept is "Life is Art." The sect teaches that its leader, currently Takahito Miki, is a "living savior."
Unique among post-war new religious movements for using English language words in its name, PL is also unique in that it is not affiliated with any other religion, and is said to have derived none of its doctrines from other faiths, as other NRM's have.
The movement is well known in Japan for its high school, PL Gakuen, which has a strong baseball program.
The PL Peace Tower, a 600 foot high non-sectarian monument, was erected in 1970, and was dedicated to all those from the beginning of human history who have died in war. It is the site of an annual gathering during which prayers for peace are made.
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History
The movement was founded by the Rev. Tokuharu Miki (1871-1938), who served as a Zen Buddhist priest of the Obaku Sect. He is referred to as the First Founder by adherents.
In 1912 he met the Rev. Tokumitsu Kanada, who instantly cured his chronic asthma by a sacred ritual. He asked Kanada to teach him this ritual so he could cure disease, and became his disciple.
Before his death, Kanada told Tokuharu that his Tokumitsu Church had 18 Precepts, but there were three more which were to be revealed to complete the teachings. Five years later, the three precepts were revealed, and he established the new Tokumitsu Church in 1924 and became the First Kyoso (Oshieoya, Founder). In 1931, the name was changed to the Hitonomichi Church, meaning "the way of humans."
The Church spread rapidly throughout Japan, Korea, China and to other Southeast Asia countries and its members numbered one million in a short period of time. In 1936 however, the Church was suppressed by the military government and ordered to disband. On July 6, 1938, the Rev. Tokuharu Miki died.
The Second Founder, the Rev. Tokuchika Miki (1900-1983), succeeded his father. He was also imprisoned, but was released in 1945. At Tosu City in Saga Prefecture, on September 29, 1946, Tokuchika Miki reestablished the Hitonomichi Church, but under the new name of the Church of Perfect Liberty, declaring the truth, "Life is Art."
On September 29, 1947, he revealed the PL 21 Precepts, the basic teachings of PL. The Church expanded rapidly all over Japan and in 1953, construction began on the present Headquarters in Tondabayashi, on the edge of Osaka. Tokuchika Miki organized the "Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan" and chaired it for many years. He visited Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II to discuss world peace. He died in 1983.
The Third Founder, the Rev. Takahito Miki (b. 1957), the adopted son of the Second Founder, succeeded to the divine position of Oshieoya in 1983. He has since visited over 700 PL churches throughout the world.
1970 saw the construction of the 600 foot tall PL Peace Tower, a monument to all the people who have died in war, from the beginning of time.[1]
Today, the church claims to have more than one million followers worldwide and 500 churches located in ten countries.[2]
Most of the parishes are located in Japan. However, due to the active missionary work in the 1960s PL was established in South America and the United States as well. In the 21st century it also has a presence in Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Peru. The Oceanian headquarters was founded in the 1990s in Brisbane, Australia. Small communities exist in Europe as well, especially in France, Portugal and Hungary.
Doctrine and practices
Adherents to PL do not have to leave their current faith in order to join, and are actually encouraged not to do so.
The Founder is seen as the "living savior." Each week, during the Sunday Service, adherents spiritually receive his blessing to renew their faith and are purified by him. Members are strongly urged to attend Sunday Services. If a member cannot attend, a blessing can be received by telephone.
Adherents participate in PL devotion by giving and listening to testimonies of others and by hearing a sermon about PL teachings.
Four Major Ceremonies are celebrated throughout the year - New Year's Day (January 1); Founder's Day (August 1); The PL Anniversary (Establishment Day) (September 29); and the Founder's Birthday (December 2).
Much stress is placed on world peace, as well as the 21 Precepts, of which "Life is Art" is the first and "Live in Perfect Liberty" is the last. The 21 Principles call for avoiding anger, stubbornness, greed and dishonesty and urges adherents to share the faith of PL with others.
The 21 PL Precepts
- 1. Life is art.
- 2. To live is to express one's self.
- 3. God appears through one's self.
- 4. Being annoyed limits your expression.
- 5. One's self is lost by being emotional.
- 6. Efface your self-conceptions.
- 7. Everything exists in relativity.
- 8. Live as the sun.
- 9. Human beings are all equal.
- 10. Love yourself and others.
- 11. Always be with God.
- 12. Everything has a way according to its name.
- 13. There is a way for men and a way for women.
- 14. World peace is everything.
- 15. All is a mirror.
- 16. All things progress and develop.
- 17. Grasp what is most essential.
- 18. Each moment is a turning point.
- 19. Begin once you perceive.
- 20. Live maintaining equilibrium between mind and matter.
- 21. Live in perfect liberty.
References
- ^
- ^ Church of Perfect Liberty (September 27, 2007). "PL Home Page". http://web.perfect-liberty.or.jp/index.html. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
