In America there exist a Buddhist Culture of Arrogance and Ignorance that surrounds the "Black Buddhist God "Shakyamuni Buddha". The quickest way to learn about this Buddhist Culture of Arrogance and Ignorance in America is to bring up the ill-refutable history and evidence of the "Black God" Shakyamuni Buddha. If you bring the question of a Black Buddha some Whites, Japanese and Negroes go ballistic while other will plea the 5th Amendment.
I began practicing Buddhism in Memphis, Tennessee in 1974. My Buddhist hero and master was SGI leader Daisaku Ikeda. I purchased any book by Sensei Ikeda that I could get my hands on. In the book "The Living Buddha" I recall Daisaku Ikeda naming the Buddha Shakyamuni Buddha as an "Aryan." Conflicting was my reading the book Malcolm X on Afro American History. Who does a Black man listen too Malcolm X the great Black Hero or Daisaku Ikeda one who is called a "Living Buddha?" I researched Malcolm X references in a book called the Analacypsis written by English Historian Godfrey Higgins in 1833. Higgins explain about the "Negro God." When I challenged Daisaku Ikeda the SGI leader turned on me and I departed the SGI organization.
Nichiren Shoshu Priest come to America from Japan with a culture of Arrogance and Ignorance when it comes to African/American people. Clearly such ignorance and arrogance has played a negative effect on the growth of Buddhism in America. In the above pictures I am at Taisekiji addressing these issues. In the 1st picture is Rev. Kuwabi and Rev. Takahashi. Both Priest tried to challenge me regarding our Proud Black Buddhist website. I begged both Rev. Kuwabi and Rev. Takahashi to take the matter just across the hall to the Nichiren Shoshu overseas bureau. Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism in America manifest itself as a dominate culture that inhibits the growth of African/Americans.
The one place in American that African/Americans can find solace and Cultural Expression is at the Black Church in America. America's 1st original music "Negro Spirituals" came from the Black. Many of America's greatest singers came from the Black Church. Many African/American found solace in the Islamic Religion via the Nation of Islam which preached a message of "Black Nationalism." Islam produced the Great Malcolm X while Christianity produced Dr. Martin Luther King. Buddhism in America manifest itself in America in a way that inhibits African/American cultural expression by way of its dominate Japanese Culture. Both SGI and NST subordinate African/American cultural expression.
President Barack Obama former Pastor Jeremiah Wright
In 1972 I met Rev. James Bevel who was a member of SNCC who was an aide to Dr. Martin Luther King who brainstormed the March Selmer to Montgomery with Dr. King. In 1972 we traveled to the Black political convention in Gary, Indiana. Rev. Bevel influenced me to quit college and join the Black revolutionary movement full time. Many people who are now giants in history as a youth I was around them and I was a part of the movement.
Today I am writing an African/American Buddhist History lecture. This is not something that I take causally. I live the movement with my life. What is happening to Buddhism in America is tragic. Also it is insulting to me as an African/American to see how Japanese Buddhist teachers in America are so very arrogant and insulting to African/American people. Our African Ancestors struggled and those who came before me struggled for future generations. Do not continue to let Japanese people insult you or to insult African/American people or your intelligence or historical facts.
Those of you who read and study Buddhism should "Get Real." During Nichiren Daishonin's time the Buddha Nichiren Daishonin dealt with "Punk Priest." In the Gosho "Propagation of the wise Nichiren Daishonin writes: "Even if a person of wisdom who embraces the correct teaching existed, how could he propagate it without lay believers who supported him." This Priest like many of the Nichiren Shoshu Priest in American have this idea of "Japanese Superiority. The teachings of Buddhism is Zuiho Bini or practicing Buddhism to the local laws in customs. In America we respect Dr. Martin Luther King. We have a National Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday. President Obama on January 21, 2013 used the King Bible for his inauguration. In 2008 I asked this Japanese Priest to visit the Civil Rights Museum to learn about the "Culture of Memphis, Tennessee and to say a prayer for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This Priest refused. The Japanese want you to respect their culture, however they have little or no respect for African/American culture.
In 1975 Rev. Iwaki's father Gojakaied me and all of us pioneer Buddhist Members in Memphis. While we were learning Buddhism he was in diapers. This "Little Punk" comes to Memphis and disrespect Dr. Martin Luther King and African/American people. Disrespect is a "Punk Move." What you have in Nichiren Shoshu Priest in America is a culture of arrogance and ignorance. This Priest had the nerve to tell me to leave culture out of Buddhism. Rev. Iwaki refused to discuss the historical African account and history in Buddhism. He asked me to give him proof, when I showed him the hair on the Buddha he just ignored me. The Buddha writes; "Follow the law and not the person. Let us get to the African/American Buddhism History Lecture.
This is a picture of Nichiren Shoshu Priest Shingi Iwaki. In 2008 when he was assigned as Chief Priest in Chicago he refused to do a prayer or even consider AfricanAmerican culture and history. This is a disrespect and a punk move.