Glossary

Ancestors

In PL it’s those who have died before us; our predecessors. They include family members, other relatives and even close friends.

Aramitama

A temporary PL prayer symbol that is loaned to a new member.

Founder

A word used in PL for the head of the Church for each era.

Hito-no-michi

“The Way of Humankind,” the organisation which preceded PL and was destroyed by the Japanese military government prior to World War II.

hokyoshi

A PL member who has received their own prayer symbol, is taking care of three or more members and who assists the minister.

Hosho

The PL form of blessed, voluntary offering given by its members. Hosho means “a treasure will be born,” in the sense that if we give we will receive blessings.

kamwaza

An act of God.

Makoto

To do something with one’s full heart and sincerity. (It’s a Japanese word that is given special meaning in PL usage with the emphasis on doing something with one’s complete heart and sincerity.)

Migawari Prayer

A divine emergency prayer to help devoted PL members when a serious Mishirase has occurred, even saving their lives, until a Mioshie is received.

Mioshie

God’s divine instruction given for a Mishirase to help us learn and improve through the pain, suffering and misfortune that we have experienced.

Mioya-ookami

God; the Creator of the universe; the source of our spirits.

Misasage

Voluntarily making effort for the sake of others. Commonly used when voluntarily helping other members or doing tasks for the local church.

Mishirase

God’s divine warning, which is revealed through an illness, a misfortune, an accident, pain, any other type of suffering or through an unusual happening.

Omitama

Serves as an access to God, but is not itself a focus of worship. A Church Omitama is the PL church prayer symbol, set up on the altar in the church where members can pray.

Oshieoya

Oshieoya is the PL spiritual leader who by an oath with God, takes on the responsibilities for the position of Oshieoya. He or she is “a teaching parent.” Oshieoya is the position of kamwaza to be an outlet for the truth to infinitely teach the way for human beings to live.

Oshieoya-sama

A polite term for the spiritual head of the Church of Perfect Liberty (the “sama” makes it more polite than “Oshieoya,” similar to using Dr. or Rev. before someone’s name).

Oyashikiri

The special God-given PL word that was revealed to the Second Founder on May 29, 1958.

Oyashikiri Prayer

The special powerful prayer that PL members perform which reaches directly to God, that was revealed to the Second Founder on May 29, 1958.

Perfect Liberty

Perfect Liberty is the name of our fellowship.

Perfect Liberty

The name which replaced the Hito-no-michi Kyodan after the Second World War. “Perfect liberty” means to live in perfect freedom to fully express our “self” following God’s way.

PL

The acronym for Perfect Liberty Kyodan or the Church of Perfect Liberty.

PL 21 Guidelines

PL’s 21 unique guidelines for living a happy life based on the 21 Precepts and called: “The PL 21 Guidelines for Living a Happy Life.”

PL 21 Precepts

PL’s unique God-given precepts that are the basis of its teachings and were received for this era in 1947 by the Second Founder.

PL Peace Tower

A unique tower dedicated as an inter-religious monument to all those who have ever died as a result of war and serving as a symbol for world peace.

rensei

PL spiritual training at the Holy Land in Japan or Brazil.

Shikiri

A unique PL word that means a sincere promise and commitment to God through prayer that a member is going to do his or her utmost effort to obtain a wish, while asking for God’s helping hand.

Shingei

The art of sharing the PL faith with others.