[1] He is the founder of Johrei, an energy healing ritual that uses "divine light" to dissolve the spiritual impurities that are understood to be the source of all physical, emotional, and personal problems.

According to his official biography,[2] Okada was born to a poor Buddhist family in Asakusa, Tokyo and, after many trials and tribulations, eventually made his fortune in the jewellery business.

After losing his wife, children and then business following an economic downturn and the Great Kanto Earthquake,[3] he started to question the pursuit of material success.

He was initially a follower of the Shinto offshoot Oomoto,[4] a new religion that taught that the much anticipated Age of Light was approaching, where he became popular as a spiritual healer.

Okada talked and wrote extensively about Paradise on Earth and God's Will for humanity – health, wealth and happiness – that we may live in peace and harmony with nature, each other and ourselves.

In terms of healing, the main teaching that he shared was that of Johrei – channelling God's Divine Light of Purification to clear the spirit of a person or place to establish a paradise-like state of health, abundance and happiness.

His premise of healing with light is that clouds developed in the spiritual realm when suffering occurred which when purified caused physical disease or accidents.

Okada wrote and spoke extensively about his relationship with God and encouraged his followers to deepen their faith and dedication and develop their characters with truth, virtue and beauty.

[6] This Western influence proved unpopular with his original followers and after his death was dropped from the teachings shared amongst the community which later was renamed as the Church of World Messianity, 世界救世教 Sekai Kyūsei Kyō, in 1957.

Sandai-Sama was responsible for establishing the Sanguetsu Academy, which works to improve the Japanese flower arranging technique of ikebana for the Messianic Church.

[citation needed] Okada's work was very influential in the areas of Nature Farming, Japanese flower arranging, and art collecting in Japan, while his spiritual influence lives on through various religious organisations.