In 1998 against the advice and reprimand of Nichiren Shoshu Priests myself, Alan Billups, Bill Jiles, Maude Devictor and a young White women by the name of Jessica went to Ghana for the opening of our Nichiren Shoshu Temple in Ghana. Why would a Nichiren Shoshu Priest discourage members from going to Ghana? I was actually asked why I desired to go to Ghana. I saw first hand what the power of culture can bring for growth to a movement. In Ghana I saw the SGI movement and I saw the Nichiren Shoshu movement and clearly there is a reason why 90% of SGI members left Daisaku Ikeda. In 2003 our former Nichiren Shoshu Priest who was at the time the Chief Priest in Washington D.C. at the 5 year celebration in Ghana and he actually resented us African/Americans coming to Ghana. During my Ghana visit I video various ceremonies and the Washington D.C. Priest made a comment regarding my video by asking me why was I in Ghana? Japanese Priest have little of no idea about slavery in America and the important role that Africa plays to us African/Americans and because of their lack of knowledge they are culturally insensitive to African/Americans.

From 1998 I considered the Nichiren Shoshu Temple in Ghana to be my Temple where I felt at home. Although I was the official video professional in Ghana and I took my camera to the head temple in Japan many times I got question and was forbidden to film ceremonies at the temple that I belong to in Chicago.

In 2003 I was at our head temple in Japan and I communicated with
African/Americans about our great achievements in Ghana and I was trying to share information about our website only to be bombarded with complaints from mostly African/Americans who were threaten by our independence. African/Americans told me that we were being exactly like Ikeda by acting independent.


During a Japanese/American exchange meeting I stood at our temple to told them that our Priests should get a clear understanding of American culture and that we Americans are not a melting pot but we are like stew in that potatoes remain potatoes, carrots remain carrots and I insisted that Nichiren Shoshu Priests should be trained about American culture. One female member in Chicago who is half white and Koreans told me that she feared me. One African/American leader in New York told me not to take his picture among thousands at a general meeting at the temple. The New York leader went and talked to a Priest whom he had a relationship with. I challenged the Priest on Japanese protocol and explained to him that Nichiren Shoshu had an oversea cultural bureau that deals with racial issues and I would be happy to bring Overseas bureau Rev. Obyoshi into the discussion because I wanted to deal with racism in the Nichiren Shoshu organization. That priest and all priest feared challenging me because I was about to open up a cup of worms.


The African/American leader who accused me of being like Daisaku Ikeda is like many Nichiren Shoshu members who have a myopic view of the SGI. Nichiren Daishonin writes in the Gosho that we must distinguish “Rocks from Gold.” Let me make one thing clear to all Nichiren Shoshu members and what I am about to write will upset many of you. The SGI was not 100% wrong regarding the past dispute and presently they are 100% correct when it comes to the idea of Buddhism and Culture.


 

Let me tell you how Daisaku Ikeda was wrong based on the Gosho “The Fourteen Slanders; ” But how great is the difference between the blessings received when a sage chants the daimoku and the blessings received when we chant it?” To reply, one is in no way superior to the other. The gold that a fool possesses is no different from the gold that a wise man possesses; a fire made by a fool is the same as a fire made by a wise man. However, there is a difference if one chants the daimoku while acting against the intent of this sutra.”
It is my intention that Daisaku Ikeda acted against the intent of the sutra and this issue can be debated. Let me now get to the title of this lecture “Never Forget That We Are Americans.” The Gosho reads; “If a master has a bad disciple both can remain in hell but if a master makes a good disciple then both can achieve enlightenment.” It is my intent to become a good disciple. The Gosho also reads: “you do not throw away gold because the container which carries it is dirty.”

Let me deal with the good and ill refutable facts regarding the SGI in America. We American Nichiren Shoshu members or Hokeko Members and American SGI members must realize that we are first Americans.

America is not a perfect union but we can make America perfect. When the American constitution was written some of the founders of the very document like Thomas Jefferson owned slaves. The father of our country George Washington was a slave owner. We have come through slavery, a civil war, Jim Crow law, Civil rights laws, voting acts, women's rights, Viet Nam and many horrific circumstances.

It is fascinating that today because of the changes in our laws where an African father and a White mother can produce a child who just a few years ago could not be a paid staff member on the SGI or even sit on the SGI board or directors Buddhist organization in America is now in a position to be the leader of the most powerful nation in the world.

Barack Obama has opened a new vision for America and Barack Obama has opened an opportunity for us Buddhist to do a Hendoku Iyaku or change poison into medicine. However the only way that we can do this is for us to “Never Forget that We Are Americans.” Barack Obama has opened up the dialog and discussion about race in America. In 1991 I wrote about racism in the SGI and in 2008 I have written about racism not only in the SGI but there is racism in Nichiren Shoshu.
The most beautiful thing that we American Buddhist have is the fact that we have a genuine racially mixed family. The issues that we Buddhist have today are not so much race but we have fundamental religious differences. The fact remains that if we were together once we can come together again. At lease once upon a time we did have a paradigm of a global family.

The global family was in some ways disingenuous but we have a base to deal from and corrections can be made. Again; The Gosho “ Paying Debts of Gratitude” reads: THE old fox never forgets the hillock where he was born; the white turtle repaid the kindness he had received from Mao Pao. If even lowly creatures know enough to do this, then how much more should human beings! We Buddhist know where we came from and we came from a relationship of Priest and Lay organization. We know that we owe a debt of gratitude to both the Priest and the laity.

I am on record of being one the most outspoken critics of Daisaku Ikeda and on the other hand I am on record of owning to the SGI a debt of Gratitude. I like what Barack Obama said when he was pressed to disinherit has master and Pastor Jeremiah Wright. Barack Obama said that he can no more disinherit his pastor than he can the African/American community or his White Grandmother that made disparaging statements that made him cringe.

We American Nichiren Buddhist have the greatest opportunity to show America the examples of the greatest racial relationships in the world. Whites, Blacks, Mexicans, Orientals and people of all walks are Buddhist. Some of the best cultural displays in American history were put on by NSA and SGI. In order to make this happen we Buddhist would have to come together in Itai Doshin or “Different bodies, same mind.”

If we Buddhist come together and chant on this matter we can get Tina Turner to help us. Everyone loves Tina and Oprah Winfrey would even come. If Barack becomes President he would even come and once upon a time Steve Wonder use to chant and he would come.

We can get the wrappers and Herbie Hancock can bring his gang and we can invite Daisaku Ikeda to sit on one side of the arena and Nichiren Shoshu High Priest 68th High Priest Nichinyo Shonin can sit on the other side. They may never agree but they will be in a room together. Somewhere along with this idea most will disagree but there are some SGI members and Hokeko members who will like this idea and we will get together and chant and make great things happen. My SGI brothers and sisters let us come together and chant together to make a better America and then a better world.

We must never forget that we are Americans and we have the power of faith to make dreams come true…..

Post Script:

Daisaku Ikeda organized the Boston Research Center and the SGI spends millions of dollars regarding this center. In fact he spent so much money an article was written called Billionaire on Harvard Square. The SGI paid so much money to begin a college in California that the SGI gained the attention of Forbes Magazine. Recently if was reported that Inner City Schools in America are faced with a tragic high school graduation rate of only 52 % while Suburban schools in America have fallen to a dismal 72% graduation rate. What if the SGI committed to organizing one school in America's inner city? The SGI does have good schools and the ability to make a difference in America but does Dr. Ikeda have such a will? Let us chant to change America and make it better. Let us make a difference and chant for our nation.

Nichiren Shoshu has a temple in Africa and they have organized a school at the temple. Japan should solicit some young Africans to become Nichiren Shoshu Priests.