**Chishikikai** ---- | {{:wiki:chishikikai.png?nolink&100|}} || ^ The symbol commonly ascribed to Chishikikai. ^^ ^ Classification | Syncretic | ^ Theology | Partially Mahagaurava theology | ^ Region | [[Tenzan]] | ^ Primary religious body | Chishikikai Center | ^ Headquarters | Suraden (蘇羅殿), Etsu Ward, Keiyū Metropolis | ^ Head of faith | President Mito Keisei | **Chishikikai** (Tenzanese: 知識會) is a [[Tenzanese New Religion]] of lay [[Nirvanism|Nirvanists]]. Inspired by, but not part of [[Tengeshū]], it is rooted in the [[White Flower Sutra]] as well as reverence for ancestors, and presents a simplified path for spiritual development accessible to ordinary people. Chishikikai emphasizes personal responsibility, ancestral veneration, and moral self-cultivation through study of the White Flower Sutra, without reliance on priests or formal temple rituals. Unlike traditional Tengeshū, it operates outside monastic structures and prioritizes a grassroots, laity-centered form of engagement, often with house meetings and community-driven initiatives. The movement played a significant role in shaping other New Religions of Nirvanist orientation. While its growth has stabilized, Chishikikai remains the largest Tenzanese New Religion, with claim to several million members. Well-known are its disciplined study groups, civic engagement, and continued emphasis on self-betterment through dharmic principles and filial piety. {{tag>religion tenzanese_new_religions nirvanism chishikikai}}