Interview with Judy Kosovich, A Sukyo Mahikari Volunteer Interview with Judy Kosovich, A Sukyo Mahikari Volunteer
AR: I happened to come across Wikipedia page about Sukyo Mahikari where it was written that it’s a religion. May I ask if it is a religion?
JK: It is less limiting than a religion. Most people who join continue practicing their religion as well as being members of Sukyo Mahikari. We have many Christian members in the US, but also Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. There are also many members who were not practicing any religion when they joined Sukyo Mahikari and are content to limit their spiritual practice to this one. Most people find that the teachings of Sukyo Mahikari deepen their understanding of their own religion. There are some priests, rabbis, and Buddhist monks among the members. Most of the Muslim members are in Africa, though I know several Muslim members in the US.
AR: What are the core values of Sukyo Mahikari which make it to be ‘religion’? Feel free to elaborate!
JK: The most important values are gratitude, acceptance, and humility. Ideally, one should be grateful for all things, from the morning until night. Hardships are opportunities to grow and to “cleanse” spiritually. Blessings should not be taken for granted. Acceptance is based on respect for Divine wisdom over human wisdom, though personal effort is very important. Humility has the aspect of compromise (even if you are right), as well as giving credit to others for accomplishments, even if you were the one in charge. Sukyo Mahikari is considered a religion because it is God-centered and focuses on matters of spirit. I think of it as an interfaith organization. Its teachings explain how monotheism, polytheism, and pantheism are each true but that none completely explain the spiritual realm. It is their integration that can bring about greater harmony in the world.
Judy Kosovich in International Interfaith Rally
AR: Don’t you think even after the rise of secularism and the dominance of science in many countries like US, human beings are still in search of something super-natural, something religion-like and something spiritual?
JK: People may not know that they are searching, but they have emptiness and they try to fill it with material wealth, power, and sex with only very limited success. In bringing this practice to a science-based culture, it is best to say very little because people can always find something to disagree with. If they can manage to receive Light several times (to be able to notice a trend), they are better able to put aside their “knowledge” and see a higher truth. One of the teachings of Sukyo Mahikari is that because both science and religion seek ultimate truth, they will one day be united. I would add to that until that happens, they will compete for funding.
AR: Are the effects of ‘the managed light’ you practice in Sukyo Mahikari scientific? I mean do they have scientific proof or background?
JK: There have been experiments but it is difficult to quantify the effects because attitude plays such an important role. It is very difficult to quantify or study attitude because even the person with the attitude may not know, so how will an observer know? It is not only the attitude of the person receiving the Light but also the attitude of the person giving it that matters. I find information in scientific literature that helps me to understand Light though. For example, the book “The Reflexive Universe” by Arthur Young has a great discussion of the properties of light that also applies to the light we give. I think the work of Claude Swanson as (see www.synchronizeduniverse.com) is also helpful. Jim Oschman (author of Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis) is also doing work that relates to Light and, based on his recommendations, I have recently obtained books on sacred geometry. I would love some collaborators in exploring the scientific basis of this practice. My curiosity has been aroused.
AR: For every goal to be accomplished you need time and money. How does the organization Sukyo Mahikari work? How do members deal with time and money?
JK: The vast majority of members are volunteers so wages are not a big expense. Offerings are made to keep centers operating and for various other expenses. People offer according to their means and according to their heart. There is a small monthly offering involved in being a member. In Pakistan, it is $3. My first 3 trips to Pakistan were fully paid for by me. Sukyo Mahikari did not send me. I offered a prayer at the Main World Shrine and asked what service I might offer in the coming year. Before that prayer, I had no thoughts of coming to Pakistan. Now that there are some members in Pakistan, some of my expenses are paid by Sukyo Mahikari.
As to others, I have heard many amazing experiences of making offerings. For example, in constructing what we call the Main World Shrine in Takayama, Japan, one man who had a tofu shop was not able to compete with the large grocery story that opened nearby. He decided to close his shop and get a job. He used the last of his savings to make an offering and the next day, he was approached by the grocery store to supply their tofu needs, as well as tofu for their affiliated stores. Of course, offerings made with expectations of a reward do not yield the desired results. As to time, most people notice that if they spend some time giving and receiving Light, they make better decisions about how to manage their time and challenges are addressed with greater wisdom. Also, circumstances mysteriously change. Thus, there is less sacrifice involved than one might expect. At the same time, the attitude of giving without expectation is very important. If one is seeking rewards, they will not come. If one gives from the heart, amazing things happen. Sometimes people do not realize that they have expectations until they are disappointed with the results, and sometimes, they leave Sukyo Mahikari disappointed, never realizing that the problem was with their attitude when giving.
AR: Do you think that in the countries like Pakistan where there’s almost no space for any other religion-like thing (you better know about the sectarian and religious genocide), the idea of Sukyo Mahikari may work? May we expect the light-culture in Pakistan too?
JK: If the people of Pakistan have the desire to serve others and their country, the Light could spread quickly. If most people only want to receive it, then the benefits to them and to Pakistan will be small and the practice will not spread quickly. It is not the organization, the teachings, or the Light that will cause limits for Sukyo Mahikari, it is the hearts of people. As I mentioned before, this is a practice that augments religion, so the only competition is how one divides one’s time.
That is one of the most important decisions in life, how to spend time. Of course, there are many ways to help people without being a member of Sukyo Mahikari. I should also add that in my experience, Pakistanis are much more open to receiving Light than Americans are. I conclude from this that Pakistanis are more open-minded. It is easy for me to give Light from early morning until late at night in Pakistan but I would find it very difficult to find as many Americans who would say yes, except at certain kinds of gatherings where the reason people come is to have new experiences. For example, a practice that is spreading is “Fairie Festivals” to celebrate spring. People wear strange clothes and gather for music, dance, shopping, eating, and adventure, usually at farms. Below given are some pictures from one such event.
Fairie Festival
Large Group of People in Fairie Festival
AR: Thank you so very much for sharing these photos. May I call those who are followers of SukiyoMahikari as ‘the Followers of Light’?
JK: The word “Light” is used in many religions, so followers of Light would be ambiguous. ‘Givers of Light’ would be less ambiguous, but still ambiguous. We believe that positive words, a smile, kindness, also involve Light. Perhaps the best descriptor would be “members of Sukyo Mahikari”. The Japanese term, which is used in many countries, is “kumite.” A rough translation would be hands of God or hands serving God. That is because we give Light with our hands.
AR: What advice would you give to me and my readers?
JK: Practice gratitude, acceptance, and humility, not verbally but from your heart. This will lead to true joy. Experience receiving Light and, if you want to help others in this way, become a giver of Light. Be as open as you can be to new ideas. Become aware of your biases and don’t trust the first idea that comes to you without thinking about other points of view. Rely on your heart for making decisions. Smile as much as you can. Apologize more. If you are engaged in conflict, both of you are doing something wrong. Find your part and apologize without making excuses [Tweet this]. You will be amazed at the results. Forgive. Don’t judge. Be polite when driving.
AR: Wow! You have subtly elaborated how to live a life. Any additional thing you would like to say? May be about the issues of youth or Pakistan or US or something like that!
JK: If you can read this, you can teach someone else to read. Cuba has one of the highest literacy rates in the world because one year, volunteers, many of whom were children, spent the summer teaching people to read. Tweet this
AR: Thank you so very much for sharing your insight. It was amazing to know about you. I personally got much motivation to write here more and do more simple pretty things.
JK: Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts and point of view and to tell your readers about Sukyo Mahikari and other things. I hope that everyone who is interested will find a way to experience the Light. I will be returning to Pakistan in the months ahead.
AR: Oh yeah that would be amazing! We are excited to see you here.
JK: Thank you. See you.
