Whether you call yourself an SGI or a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist or whatever type of Buddhist, the Japanese people and its culture of Buddhism does not recognize Africa's Buddhist Influence. The introduction and recognition of Africa's historical Buddhist relationship opens the possibility of a New and exciting Buddhist Paradigm in America that is Universal and Inclusive and of Justice. Please note and understand that the Japanese people who introduced the religion of Buddhism to us in America did not introduce a true, clear and accurate Historical account of Buddhism. What is even more evident is the fact that many our Japanese teachers do not have a clear account of Africa's influence on Buddhist history. On the other hand there are Japanese teachers and scholars who do know this history and they tell an out right lie and the mislead the world and others regarding the African influence on Buddhist history. Learn true Buddhist history.
The Nichiren Daishonin writes in the Gosho, The true aspect of all phenomena; " Exert yourself in the two ways of practice and study. Without practice and study, there can be no Buddhism. You must not only persevere yourself; you must also teach others. Both practice and study arise from faith. Teach others to the best of your ability, even if it is only a single sentence or phrase." Nichiren Daishonin did not say "Casuality Practice his Teachings." He said "Exert yourself the the two ways of "Practice & Study. Exert means to use a lot of mental and physical effort into a task.
In a Book called the Anacalypsis written by Bristish Historian Sir Godfrey Higgins written doing the time of slavery in America in the 1860's on page 161 Godfrey Higgins tells of a strange phenomena regarding hair that occurs whenever it is explained in history about the Hair on the head of the Buddha Shakyamuni.
"But yet there is one circumstance of very great importance which is peculiar to Buddha, and forms a discriminating mark between him and Cristna, which is, that he is continually described as a Negro, not only with a black complexion, in which he agrees with Cristna, but with woolly hair and flat face. M. Creuzer observes, that the black Buddha, with frizzled or curled hair, attaches himself at the same time to the three systems into which the religion of India divides itself.
Mr. Moore, on his woolly head, says, "Some statues of Buddha certainly exhibit thick Ethiopian lips;* but all woolly hair : there is something mysterious, and unexplained, connected with the hair of this, and only of this, Indian deity. The fact of so many different tales having been invented to account for his crisped, woolly head, is alone sufficient to excite suspicion, that there is something to conceal-something to be ashamed of; more than meets the eye."** Why do Japanese avoid this historical subject? The one clear way to understand this is a Black God is to look at the Black Hair. There are thousands of stories and tales you will learn when you ask about the hair alone. In the above picture I list the SGI. SGI Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda knows the True Buddhist history of Africa's influence of Buddhism in he purposefully misleads the world on this account. On the above picture is Nichiren Shoshu Priest Rev. Yuzui Murata now Chief Priest at Myosenji Temple in Silver Spring MD. We clearly asked Rev. Murata about this clear historical Buddhist fact. Rev. Murata not only mislead me on the subject he was outright arrogant and treated me as if I was ignorant. One of the conditions that exist in America that I have found regarding Buddhism is a "culture of Japanese arrogance" when it comes to dealing with African/American people. The clear-cut evidence that I point out to Japanese people is the "Hair on the Buddha" images located in Japan's ancient Buddhist capital of "Nara." These statues are part of Japan's World historical registry. I asked Rev. Murata to explain about the "Hair." Rev. Murata was terse and told me that he does not deal in "racism." How can asking my Japanese Priest about the hair on the World's largest indoor image of the Buddha located in Japan equate to "Racism?" Rev. Murata and other Japanese via my experience play games, they just "write you off" and use their "Japanese authority" by not giving you an answer. Rev. Murata and Rev. Iwaki are arrogant regarding this subject. This Buddhist Statue is the largest indoor statue of Buddha in the world. This statue is located in the ancient Capital of Japan in the City of Nara. All ancient images of the Buddha is in the Imaga of an Africa. The Buddhist were Naga or Black people of Ancient India and Egypt. In my experience the Japanese will not discuss this issue. In Buddhist teachings in America most people have no idea about the Naga people in Ancient Buddhism. We have in America a culture of ignorance in Buddha. We African/American youth in Memphis studied this subject early in Buddhism. When the Japanese Buddhist leaders came to Memphis, Tennessee they came with a culture of arrogance and ignorance on this subject.
"The reason why Buddha is a Negro, at least in the very old icons, I trust I shall be able to explain in a satisfactory manner hereafter. The Brahmins form a species of corporation, a sacerdotal aristocracy, possessing great privileges; but the Buddhists have a regular hierarchy; they form a state within a state, or a spiritual monarchy at the side of a temporal one. "They have their cloisters, their monastic life, and a religious rule. Their monks form a priesthood numerous and powerful, and they place their first great founder at their head as the sacred depositary of their faith, which is transmitted by the spiritual prince, who is supported by the contributions of the faithful, from generation to generation, similar to that of the Lamas of Thibet." M. Creuzer might have said, not similar to, but identical with the Lama himself; who, like the Pope of Rome, is God on Earth, at the head of all, a title which the latter formerly assumed. Indeed the close similarity between the two is quite wonderful to those who do not understand it.
The monks and nuns of the Buddhists, here noticed by M. Creuzer, take the three cardinal vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience,-the same as the monks and nuns of the European Christians. This singular fact at once proves the identity of the orders in the two communities, and that they must have had a common origin. I know not any circumstance of consequence in their economy in which they differ." |