E27051

     The effectiveness of Johrei, which is incomparably greater than that of modern medical science seems to be gaining considerable publicity in recent years among people in general. Concerning this, though, sometimes an unexpected trouble comes up. I would like to write on this point.
     However effective Johrei may be we cannot claim that everyone who receives Johrei can be healed; I think common sense can tell you that. Unfortunately though very rarely, once in a while we encounter a person who receives Johrei and then dies. Those who have been against Johrei choose this as a good opportunity and are happy to make an issue of it, as if to say, “See? This is what I thought would happen.” Newspapermen take advantage of it, too, and write it up in the papers as if they have been waiting for such an opening, as you all know.
     On the other hand, in the medical field, even within the limited scope of our knowledge we have heard of one individual who died right after receiving an injection from a doctor; another who had been guaranteed recovery but became gradually worse instead, until he succumbed after all. We have also often heard of a person who passed away as the result of an unsuccessful operation. People ordinarily take such cases for granted and few ever have doubts about them or put any blame on the doctors involved. In rare instances a close relative of the deceased may take offense and wish to bring suit against the doctor. However, such a case usually remains unsettled for a long time and the plaintiff is often persuaded to let the matter drop, resigning himself to the pattern of destiny.
     In comparison with this, however good a result our Johrei may have people ordinarily think the person has been healed by the power of the mind and dismiss it at that. Yet, if there should be an undesirable result, no matter how small, those who have little understanding of our work take it up and begin to blame or attack us in no time, as stated before. Indeed, I should say that their false believe in medical science has reached that extreme point. This is not new, for there have been many similar examples in the past. I believe all the pioneers of any good work are destined to experience this kind of suffering. As I think deeply about why such illogical things go on in our so-called advanced society, the reason comes to my mind as follows:
     From the point of view of the national policy, everything is based on material science, so naturally almost everything that is not included in that field is shut out as superstition; the authorities are no such a level that they lack fixed principle.
     However advanced material science may be now it is not almighty, so people should think of the fact that there must be many things which cannot be solved by science alone. We really do not know what else to say but to call it “strange” that they do not turn their eyes to this point. It is the almost blind trust they have that makes them expect the answer for everything to come solely from this source when it is more advanced. This is because they have become victims of their false belief in science.
     What great harm this false trust is causing humanity we cannot even measure. The most notable is the error of thinking of medical science itself. Because of its deep-rooted false convictions, it is still unaware of that and continues to believe medical science is the only thing to rely on and so it does not pay attention to whatever effective healing may appear or whatever useful condition or object may come to help society. In short, we may say that today’s Japan is in a state of complete scientific feudalism.
     We cannot declare that there is no reason at all for this state of affairs. Before this scientific age was born society was overrun with quite a number of superstitious beliefs which exerted harmful influence on it, as can be seen in our recorded history. Science has been quite useful in correcting these evil practices, but as time has gone on people have been led to extreme lengths in their worship of science, until even their souls seem to have been possessed by it.
     In this way, most people believe science to be the highest thing. Yet, their sickness has not been healed by it, so as a result some have become skeptical, have abandoned medical science and have turned to one of the existent religions, at least for peace of mind. Still they have not been satisfied, have finally thought of trying a new religion, and have come to us.
     I have used the expression “scientific feudalism.” Let me give an example of this thinking in the past in the idea of “loyalty and patriotism” which was so long popular in Japan, until the end of World War II. In those days that was believed to be the highest moral standard. If someone happened to advocate democracy he was immediately thrown into prison. This is still fresh in our memories. In the same way, people today revere science as if it were their highest moral standard, and this is why they show such strong disapproval of our teaching—with the same feeling society had toward democracy in those old days.

“Kagaku Hōken,” originally published on the front page of Eikō, Issue 149, March 26, 1952, was reprinted in the anthology Igaku Kankei Goronbun Shū (Collected Essays on Medical Science) that did enjoy a limited circulation. Igaku Kankei Goronbun Shū contains no publication data, but internal evidence suggests that its editing stopped several months preceding Meishu-sama’s death. Furthermore, since the book lacks publication data, whether the volume had Meishu-sama’s imprimatur or not is unknown, so details concerning this volume are probably impossible to research. “Kagaku Hōken” has appeared previously in translation. In this translation, three Japanese sentences have been deleted from the beginning of the fourth paragraph. Citation is given below for reference.