In 1991 I departed the then SGI Buddhist organization because of racial hypocrisy and I documented my concerns and I wrote a letter to NSA members in 1991 and later I wrote follow up letters to SGI Buddhist members regarding my direct practice of Buddhism via our Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist organization. Our Proud Black Buddhist website is a direct result of our attempt to reach SGI members who no longer would accept our direct mail regarding SGI ills or our concerns.
After departing the SGI I have become a Hokeko of direct temple member and I have learned many things and I too have concerns about Hokeko or Nichiren Shoshu. Greater, than my concerns regarding the SGI or Hokeko is my sense of gratitude and my heartfelt desire is to always pay my debt or gratitude to those who taught me. I have the greatest respect for the “Three Treasures:” the Priests, the Buddha and the law.
There are two things that the SGI and Hokeko or Priesthood have in common and as Japanese both organizations micro-manage the religion in the spirit of Japanese culture. In the more than 60 years that the organizations manifested itself on American soil I have yet to see any significant American Buddhist scholars or any authoritative Buddhist protagonist to emerge from either organization.
I am reminded of a conversation that I had with an African/American male leader from New York who told me that if any information that I had was not from a Nichiren Shoshu Priest it was not real and on the other hand many SGI members feel the same way about their beloved SGI President Daisaku Ikeda. Many members when they are alone are not motivated to engage the Buddhist practice.
The free and uninhibited spirit of Buddhist propagation is not supported by either the SGI or Hokeko Buddhist organizations or such prohibitions are a travesty and runs counter to Nichiren Daishonin's great Buddhism. Top Buddhist leaders should be more than Japanese leaders.
We must never forget that we are Americans and that it is okay to honor our American traditions and revolutionary spirit. We Americans do have a dream and in order for Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism to prosper in America or to grow anywhere the religion must find “Cultural Expression.” Please note; if you can control the cultural expression of a people you will be able to control that people. Let me put this in another way that you might be able to understand this better. Dr. Carter G. Woodson the “Father of Black history wrote” "When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his 'proper place' and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary."
Dr. Carter G. Woodson understood the process of slavery and mental conditioning and he wrote a book called the “Mis-education of the Negro” and he started Black history because he understood that if Black people could find a sense of history they would find cultural expression and lift themselves up. It is a clear fact that ancient Africans practiced Buddhism and such information could inspire Africans and African/Americans to take faith in Buddhism, however it seems that both the SGI and Nichiren Shoshu is suppressing this information. Nichiren Shoshu members let me tell you something that may break your heart ; “the Nichiren Shoshu Priest or Buddhist organization in America is dealing in direct mind control that is inhibiting or controlling the thinking of its members and this is wrong for Nichiren Shoshu to practice such despicable policies.” Nichiren Shoshu should deal in honest dialog and answer the question about ancient Black Buddhist as the largest stature in Japan reveals as clear cut evidence and history.
Please note that I must be very careful not to slander our Nichiren Shoshu Priests the Gosho the Fourteen slanders reads; “However, there is a difference if one chants the daimoku while acting against the intent of this sutra. There are various stages in the practice of this sutra [and various forms of slander exist accordingly].” We in this lecture must be careful not to act against the intent of the Sutra and create a grave slander.
Let me give you a clear cut history of how Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism via the SGI found a bit of cultural expression in America and how the SGI maliciously and purposefully manipulated that cultural expression . I joined NSA or Nichiren Shoshu of America in 1975 and there was an African/American retired military man by the name of Joseph Thomas who is now deceased who introduced many of us to Buddhism in Memphis, Tennessee.
Mr. Thomas had a deep bass voice and he could delineate the teachings of Christianity and Buddhism and he could clearly explain the superiority of the scientific and logical Buddhist teachings. More importantly those of us who practiced found actual proof in the practice and changed our lives.
In Memphis there were phenomenal Buddhist meetings in the heart of the inner-city. Every day one could visit these meeting and you would find enthusiastic Buddhist discussion dispersed in an African/American cultural format. We were called the Memphis NSA “South Chapter.” The South Chapter had a culture of its own.
Let me deviate a bit and explain culture in a way that lay people could understand. In the South Chapter you could go to Buddhist meetings and fine wonderful human relationship, people are interested in learning Buddhism but we are also interested in human relationships and the Buddhist practice is a living entity. At the Buddhist meetings there was fine and wonderful people
Many people loved the human relationships and great Buddhist teachings. NSA Buddhist engaged in natural human relationships and this is what comprise our culture. In Memphis, Tennessee we had Buddhist meetings on Friday and Saturday nights and the meetings were packed. The meetings were packed because you had interested men and women culturally assembling around this Buddhist teachings and there were other social ties.
