Anthony "Amp" Elmore note: "The Japanese Priest Hood is not relevant to the "Hood." While many of us Nichiren Buddhist praise the "Priesthood" we at the "Proud Black Buddhist Website" call for Priest "From the Hood." We ask the question how can you not from the "Hood" understand and become sensitive to those who live in the Hood? In Memphis, Tennessee the Nichiren Shoshu Priest disregarded, disrespected and destroyed Budhism in the "Hood."
Please click on the above picture of the Buddhist meeting in Memphis held on August 16, 2008 and learn a story regarding the Priesthood and the hood. Rev. Iwaki represents the Nichiren Shoshu Priesthood and Mr. Shaka Khalphani represents the "Hood." In Memphis, Tennessee the Nichiren Shoshu Priesthood never taught anything other than "Japanese Culture." Mr. Khalphani asked the Priest a question. Not only did this African American man asked questions, Shaka had the courage to "question the ignorance" of Buddhist teaching being perpetrated at the Buddhist meetings in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis because a "culture of Priest worship. We at the "Proud Black Buddhist Website" challenged the Japanese abusive systems being taught in Memphis, Tennessee. Currently the entirety of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism "Imploded in Memphis, Tennessee." Rev. Iwaki who we understand is no longer the Chief Priest in Chicago almost singlehandedly destroyed Buddhism in Memphis. In the mist of the Buddhist destruction in Memphis, Tennessee Mr. Shaka Nkosi Khalphani jumped ship and bailed out of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism in Memphis, Tennessee. Shaka wisely joined the Nichiren Shu Buddhist sect. We say wisely joined because he has been able to learn more of the great Buddhist teachings and enhance his "Buddhist Faith." Had Mr. Shaka Khalphani remained a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist his ability to learn and teach Nichiren Buddhism would have been marginalzed.
Our Friday October 4, 2013 I visited the home of Mr. Shaka Khalphani. Shaki invited me to observe his "Nichiren Shu" prayer service. In 1997 Nichiren Shoshu Priest Rev. Sugeno visited our home and he observed my "Gongyo" (prayer service.) This Nichiren Shoshu Priest explained to me that he had "Connected me to my Gohonzon." While I practiced with the SGI for decades this special Nichiren Shoshu Priest connected me to my Gohonzon. Nichiren Shu is a different Nichiren Sect from Nichiren Shoshu.
I observed my friend Shaka do his "wonderful prayers." My friend Shaka was able to "connect me to his Nichiren Shu Gohonzon." It is a great service whereas you can be connected to the "Buddha Nichiren Daishonin." In the "Gosho," The strategy of the Lotus Sutra (the writings of Nichiren Daishonin) the Daishonin writes; "it is the heart that is important."
My friend Shaka was the passionate Shaka of the old days who had a complete Buddhist library. Shaka had been engaging with Buddhist Scholars over the past 4 years. It is clear to me that he is among those who had engaged themselves to get a "Doctorate Degree." Where he may not have a certified degree Shaka has gain more sholarship in Buddhism. We can clearly point to Mr. Shaka Khalphani as a Buddhist scholar in our community.
Just spending a short time with my friend Shaka he is "hotheaded" and stops himself when he realize that he is on his "soapbox." The type of passion that Shaka has is the type of passion that can re-invigorate Buddhism in the African American Community. While I am a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist we African Americans do not need more of the Nichiren Shoshu Priesthood we need more "Priest from the Hood." Nichiren Daishonin writes; "it is the heart that is important." What kind of message do I send to my child, my wife, and my community when clearly a Nichiren Shoshu Priest destroyed Buddhism in our community. Rev. Iwaki had the audacity to come to the home Anthony "Amp" Elmore and ask Anthony "Amp" Elmore to leave "culture out of Buddhism. Anthony "Amp" Elmore made it clear to Rev. Iwaki that not only does he run his own home no Priest, not even a "Super Priest" as Nichiren Shoshu propagate has the authority to tell any American to leave "Culture out of Buddhism."
Anthony "Amp" Elmore Jr. calls Shaka "Uncle Shaka." Little Anthony at the time of this writing is 15 years old and he attends a "Collegiate private school in Germantown" just outside of Memphis. In grade 9 they study "World Religion" Elmore notes; "I would never bring anyone to an anti-intellectual Buddhist environment as we have endured in Memphis over the past two decades. We encourage scholarship." When you visit the home of Mr. Shaka Khalphani he has among the best Buddhist libraries in America.
More important than his library is the heart of Mr. Khalphani when he was an SGI, a Nichiren Shoshu and now he is a Nichiren Shu Buddhist Mr. Khalphani brings value to our community. While there are things that I disagree with Mr. Khalphani when it comes to certain Buddhist doctrine he is among the best we have in our community.
Mr. Khalphani is "Jazz Connoisscier." As a youth he studied drumming at a music conservartory school. Not long ago he worked in Memphis, Tennessee for years as a "radio music host." Shaka as a youth lived as a "Jehovah Christian Witness." Shaka joined NSA Buddhism that later emerged into the current SGI organization. Later he went from the SGI to Nichiren Shoshu.
As a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist Shaka traveled to Japan many times. He became so familure with the Nichiren Shoshu Temple grounds that he could give tours to new people who graced the temple ground. The scholarship and background of Mr. Khaphani gives him a great background to teach Nichiren Buddhism.
