Great Construction

Medical Science and Johrei

     That my movement differs fundamentally from religions that have existed until the present is a subject I constantly mention in articles and tell groups, so I am sure my followers do work to spread the message to the public at large. But modern society is vast and complicated, and getting this point across to all is not easy. Especially those who consider themselves part of the thinking classes in Japan do not view my work any differently. At the very mention of the word “religion,” they lump them all together, and this prejudice interferes when journalists and scholars are called upon to investigate my movement. The true significance of my work has had no chance of being understood.
     We differ from other religions in that we put most of our efforts into the healing of disease. Members of the public generally interpret what happens during our treatment more or less in the following way. Since this is a form of faith healing, a suggestion is first made to the ill person. “Neither doctors nor medicines will cure your illness. You will certainly be healed if you ask God. Diseases are caused by sins. I will apologize to God for your sins on your behalf, so it will be all right” and the lost lamb swallows this suggestion. They conclude that since this healing depends on mental suggestion, it can only effect cures in a limited number of cases, in certain types of disease only, as in mental and nervous ailments, such as nervous exhaustion, or in external conditions such as neuralgia, rheumatism, stiff neck and shoulders, where our healing method is considered a form of massage or hand manipulation therapy. But diseases of the organs, like those of the lungs, the heart, the stomach and colon are said to be untreatable by faith healing and massage, and that there is no other recourse but to rely on modern medical science for treating these serious diseases.
     But to our way of thinking, this attitude on the part of the general public is not simply greatly flawed, it is completely opposite to what actually occurs. Our method of healing is Johrei, and we do it without touching the body at all. In fact, those who channel Johrei, hold their hands a foot or so away from the recipient. Any member of the general public who sees Johrei being channeled to someone will naturally think it preposterous, that recipients are being made light of, and that it must be completely superstitious.
     Contrary to expectations, though, serious diseases are easily healed with Johrei. It is no exaggeration to say that if medical science’s efficacy is measured at one, Johrei’s efficacy is one hundred. In addition, whereas medical science has divided itself into fields of specialization, such as surgery, internal medicine, neurology, gynecology, pediatrics, and so forth, anyone who is a Johrei channel can heal anything that is considered a disease, whether mental or organic.
     Another point to consider is that members of the general public do not come to us for help when they first realize they have a problem. The ways of the world call for them to go to a doctor. But in serious cases, recovery may not go as expected, and indeed they may change doctors, or go to more specialized doctors and larger hospitals for help. Those who still do not improve are likely after a lot of confusion and doubt to turn to alternative medicines and to traditional faith healers. Even so, they probably get no relief, and as their condition continues to worsen, they come to their wits’ end, not knowing whether they are going forward or backwards. They reach a point where they will grasp at any straw and they hear about Johrei. They may have had bad experiences with different kinds of faiths in the past and warnings in the mass media about tricky or dishonest religions probably run through their heads. They hesitate, but based on the enthusiastic urgings from others or because of their unbearable pain, they decide to give Johrei a try.
     Most of the people who come to us for the first time are doubters. When they actually set out to try Johrei and go to one of our centers, the big sign in front, “So-and-so Branch, Church of World Messianity” tells that them they have found us, but they are disappointed to see a rather small house, usually no bigger than the dwelling of the average wage earner. Having decided to come, though, they enter the small gate, and open the main door where they receive a second shock: no more than two or three rooms with rather worn furnishings. They look for the “doctor” and all they meet is a receptionist. They are directed to a cushion on the floor and they think they will finally meet the “doctor” in charge, but who they meet does not match their expectations since most of the people working full-time for Johrei are former wage earners, shopkeepers, farmers, or artisans. The manner in which they speak could in no way be considered intellectual, and they say disheartening things the visitor has never heard before, such as “medicines are poison” and “doctors create disease.” The newcomer is completely befuddled.
     Finally Johrei begins. Nothing resembling an instrument or device appears, the “doctor” merely waves a hand through the air. For people who have been educated since childhood to believe that diseases are healed with medicines and instruments and that the atmosphere is composed only of air and nothing else, the idea that difficult diseases can be healed by a person’s hand floating through the air seems to be something apart from science, like bewitchment by a fox. Any thought they might have had that the efficacy of Johrei is due to some kind of mental or emotional suggestion is quickly dispelled. Rather, doubts about Johrei only increase.
     Now let’s look at the circumstances behind medical science. In all technically advanced countries, Japan included, medical science is encouraged and supported by the national government and great importance is attached throughout all levels of education. Scientists in all parts of the world have devoted hundreds of years of research to medical science and have furthered our knowledge in infinite and complex ways, so people deeply believe and are convinced that there is no way to cure disease other than through doctors and medicine. Under such conditions even psychosomatic-based therapies have no chance, and the advantage lies completely with modern medical science. Anyone who sees a large, modern hospital, in a big building like a gorgeous hotel, equipped with the latest instruments and apparatuses staffed by specialists in every field, led by medical doctors who hang their graduation certificates and honors on the walls of waiting rooms like trophies, assisted by angels in white hurrying up and down the halls, is going to be completely awed, overwhelmed, and convinced of the validity of the progress of medical science and believe that medical science is able to cure any condition or disease.
     I have contrasted the wonders of modern medical science with our own simple method of healing disease. But what about the end results? As I said in the beginning of this article, they are completely contrary to expectations and this is shown by the recovery through Johrei of those whom medical science has abandoned. There is no other way to describe our work than to say that Johrei is the miracle of the twentieth century.
     At this point, we should pause to consider that if modern medical science were indeed so wonderful and could heal any condition or disease, there should be no more diseases, and certainly no need for unscientific, uncertain faith healing and alternative forms of medicine, no need to entrust our valuable lives in the hands of such seemingly nonsensical methods. But the reality is that varieties of therapies other than modern medical science continue to thrive. Because Johrei is effective and our tenets are accurate in all other respects, the number of people who feel they can trust Johrei completely, that they can leave medical science behind without worry, is growing daily. Here, medical doctors and those involved in the medical professions should give great consideration to the fact that the efficacy of Johrei is not derived from suggestive or psychosomatic effects whatsoever.

Eikô, Issue 142, February 6, 1952
 translated by cynndd