Editing Sukyo Mahikari (section)

==Organization and membership==
===Headquarters, regional headquarters, and local centers===
The headquarters of Sukyo Mahikari is located in [[Takayama, Gifu|Takayama City]], [[Gifu Prefecture]], Japan. 
Sukyo Mahikari has established regional headquarters in Australia-Oceania, Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and North America, with centers located in over 100 countries.<ref name="Sukyo Mahikari, About"/> 
Within the United States and Canada, Sukyo Mahikari has 21 spiritual development centers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sukyomahikari.org/northamerica.html|title=Sukyo Mahikari North America - Visit a Center|website=www.sukyomahikari.org|access-date=2020-01-27}}</ref>

In Takayama and surroundings, the religion's holy sites are:<ref>{{cite web | title=Facilities | website=崇教眞光公式サイト | url=https://www.sukyomahikari.or.jp/en/infofaci/index.html | access-date=2025-05-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=インフォメーション｜崇教眞光公式サイト | website=崇教眞光公式サイト | url=https://www.sukyomahikari.or.jp/infofaci/index.html | language=ja | access-date=2025-05-03}}</ref>
*Headquarters: The World Shrine 世界総本山 (''Motosu Hikari Ōkamu no Miya'' 元主晃大神宮)
*Aiwakan 愛和館, the second shrine 第二神殿 (also called "The Second Noah's Ark" 第二のノアの方舟)
*Hikaru Seidō 光聖堂 (consisting of Hikaru Shinden 光神殿 and Seishu-den 聖珠殿) in the southeastern foothills of [[Mount Kurai]] 位山. Hikaru Shinden memorializes [[Kōtama Okada]], and Seishuden memorializes Keishu Okada. Both memorials are built like [[Mayan pyramid]]s.
*The Inner Shrine (Okumiya) of the World Shrine (世界総本山奥宮) on the summit of Mount Kurai was inaugurated on October 18, 1984.

Other major buildings in the Takayama area are:
*[[Hikaru Museum]]
*Sukyo Mahikari Youth Center 眞光青年会館, located at the eastern base of [[Mount Kurai]]
*Hikaru Art Gallery 光アートギャラリー / Headquarters Annex 本部分室

===Membership===
Sukyo Mahikari had approximately a million practitioners who form its membership as of 2011.<ref name="World Religions"/><ref name="Adherents.com"/>

Becoming a member of Sukyo Mahikari does not require giving up any pre-existing beliefs or accepting Sukyo Mahikari as the only path or faith. Sukyo Mahikari teaches that the art of True Light and the universal principles transcend religious denominations  and differences in ethnicity, nationality, and ideology. Sukyo Mahikari promotes cooperation and understanding between religious organizations toward establishing a sustainable and peaceful society. The emphasis the organization places on the spiritual unity of human beings has resulted in a membership that reflects a diversity of religions and nationalities.<ref name="Chang 2007 50"/>

Sukyo Mahikari does not practice any form of [[tithe]]. The organization is sustained by the voluntary contributions (offerings) made by members. Rather than the amount, emphasis is placed on making offerings with sincerity. People are encouraged to make offerings that are voluntary and not beyond one's means. There are no mandatory contributions. However, there is a set amount for the appreciation offering to attend the introductory course and the spiritual cord maintenance offering. Members are encouraged to offer the monthly spiritual cord maintenance offering, which is approximately  $7 in the U.S. and a similar amount in other regions.<ref name="Sukyo Mahikari North America"/>  Cornille writes that there are a number of types of offerings in the organization: the spiritual cord maintenance offering; True Light appreciation offering; the special protection appreciation offering, and so on.<ref>{{harvnb|Cornille|1991|p=269}}</ref>