Sad to see another hate crime incident

"Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world -

Last week, CBS News (Oct.18, 2017) reported: "Staten Island Neighborhood Shocked After Swastika, Anti-Semitic Graffiti Are Scrawled On Garage."
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/10/18/staten-island-swastika-garage/

it is always sad to see that the people hate other people because of their racial, sexual or religious orientation, and sad for me to see that  the swastika symbol is used for hate crime or discrimination against a particular race.  The original symbol of swastika that the Buddhists and Hinds have been used for over two thousand years is a sacred symbol with positive meaning - "good luck" "auspiciousness" and "blessings."  It is the act of respecting the sacred symbol.  ... Maybe, one way of looking at this incident is that this stupid guy wrote peaceful and blessing symbol in contrary to his intention, as a funny story (It may not be seen it this way yet at this point of history). 

 It is also always annoying me that people called the symbol as "swastika" when it is used for anti-semitism.  In that case, it should be called "Hakenkreuz" or literally Hook-cross.  The cross in the Europe has anti-Semitic usage in the long history such as crusades.  Hillier himself never used the word "Swastika" but he always called it Hakenkreuz.  

Only English translation is used the word "Swastika,"  In my opinion, it is a bad translation.  Because of this double meaning of swastika, American and European people cannot tell the differences between Hitler's "Cross" and Eastern "Swastika."  Eastern swastika has nothing to do with the Christian cross which has been used for crusade and anti-Judaism. I strongly feel that you need to make two entries for 卍 or 卐.

In Japan, Buddhist symbol 卍 is called "Manji"(character of thousand virtues) and Hitler's cross 卐 is called "Haakenkuroitsu" or "Kagi-juji"(hook-cross). Two words means two different symbol, though it looks the same.  

Whoever draw the Hook-cross on the garage door in the news committed two bad karma - discrimination (hate crime) and disrespect / disgrace to the symbol (wrong usage!).  Swastika is coming from the "Svastika" in Sanskrit as meaning of good, auspicious, good luck, virtues, and peace.  It means when the media or people use the word swastika for bad meaning, they create negative karma as well, because it is the act of disrespect to the Sanskrit language and culture, where especially the swastika symbol has been important symbol in Indian and Asian culture. 

On the other hands, I have seen the encouraging news a few months ago from New York Post (Aug. 24, 2017) - "Villagers refused to take down 'peaceful' swastika."
http://nypost.com/2017/08/24/village-refuses-to-take-down-swastika-because-its-good-luck/

Once you know the truth, you don't want to lie about it.  In many cases in the West, it is just ignorance of the people about the swastika symbol,  unless some people have ill intention to destroy the peaceful swastika symbol from the world, looking down and disrespect other cultures and religions. 

In my opinion, we need more truths to be revealed in our illusive and delusive world,  May the sacred  swastika on the Buddha's chest illuminate all beings with the light of Wisdom and Compassion.

Tian Tan Buddha "Big Buddha" in Hong Kong

 (Photo: TK Nakagaki)

Peace,

T.K.

“Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world - 

If you want to know more, read “The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross” by T.K. Nakagaki (2017).

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/08/21/the-history-of-a-controversial-symbol

😊Website for "The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross."

Moon Festival & Swastika

"Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world -

Moon Festival ("o-tsukimi" in Japanese)  is something I enjoy, especially eating moon-cakes!  

It is also time for prayer of blessings, as it started as celebration of the harvest.  This year, I was invited to join the opening day of the 4th Liberation Ceremony for Land and Water in New York by Chinese Buddhist community on October 5, held in Pearl River, NY.  A few hundreds of monks, nuns and lay people  gathered for the opening day. 

My eyes nowadays go to the swastika symbol.  The main Buddha statue in the main shrine has a big golden swastika on his chest.  Several smaller shrines have the Buddhas with golden swastika on their chests as well.  The decorated cloth also have many swastika designs.  These swastikas symbolize auspiciousness, good virtues, good luck to chase away darkness. 

After the service, the vegetarian food were served to all the participants. As desserts, I received the mooncake, whose cover has the design of swastikas.  The swastika symbol is all over the place for this auspicious ceremony. 

For my eyes, they were very beautiful and joyful.  It is sad that the western people don't have the same eyes because of misappropriation of the symbol by Nazi Germany and hate group with wrong usage. 

My responsibility is to share the truth of the swastika symbol in the Eastern religious traditions and to prevent from perpetuating ignorance about the swastika symbol. May the western society be aware of the firm and long existence of positive and sacred swastika symbol. Publishing is a great step for me!  

Peace,

T.K.

“Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world - 

If you want to know more, read “The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross” by T.K. Nakagaki (2017).

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/08/21/the-history-of-a-controversial-symbol

😊Website for "The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross."

Formation of Manji Project Team!

"Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world -

After the article by The New Yorker came out (August 21, 2017 issue), I have received various surprisingly positive feedback. I was expecting more negative responses, to tell the truth, yet I really have not received much negative comments. This result has made me feel more comfortable to share the truth of the swastika symbol in public.

I am hoping to arrange more public talks at various places from this fall. If you are interested, please feel free to contact tknakagaki@gmail.com. I am also interested in hearing your comments. If you are traveling different parts of the world and happen to find the swastika symbol, please take a photo and send it to me!

The person from Oklahoma sent me e-mail saying that in his native city of Bartlesville, Oklahoma an old bridge constructed in about the year 1905 also bears the swastika in its decoration. He promised to send me a photo when he returns. I am looking forward to seeing the photos.

The person who lives in New Jersey emailed me saying he will send me two pieces of basket with swastika symbol by Eastern Cherokee. I also got a person in Los Angeles area who sent me a long e-mail for her interest to be a supporter of my project.

My friends sent me congratulation messages for the article and book. Some of them admire my braveness to publish this book in spite of the norm of the society about the symbol.

I really appreciate those who took their time to reach me with their thoughtful comments. They really encourage me to go forward with swastika education project. Maybe I should think about forming "Manji project team" (Manji is a Japanese term for swastika) seriously for the purpose of providing education about swastika symbol.

Let me share some of my photos with swastika symbol when I went to South India and Sri Lanka last year.

Swastika in Buddha's foot at Archeological Museum in Chennai.

 Hospital sign with swastika symbols in Sri Lanka

Buddha's Foot Print at Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka ... Can you find 卍？

 It's time to go back to work after the summer vacation! Have a wonderful week! 

Peace,

T.K.

“Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world - 

If you want to know more, read “The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross” by T.K. Nakagaki (2017).

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/08/21/the-history-of-a-controversial-symbol

😊Website for "The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross."

Who made this symbol controversial to begin with?

"Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world -

It is coincident that The New Yorker's article on the swastika symbol came out, right after the incident of Charlottesville, Virginia on August 12.  It was a sad incident that protests turned violent.

People need to really practice the original indian meaning of Aryan (Arya) and swastika (svastika) which symbolizes the ones who practice and realize Aryna teachings.  Arya originally means "noble"  - like Four 'Noble' Truth (Arya-Satya or ariyasacca), nothing to do with race, or ethnicity.  People who practice Arya /Noble teachings are called Aryan.

White-supremacy groups who act violently are definitely NOT Aryan from Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain standpoints of view.  Aryan is the one who practice Ahimsa, non-violence, no-harming anyone.

He who harms living beings is, for that reason, not an ariya (a noble One); he who does not harm any living being is called an ariya.[i]

---

[i] Dhammapada Chapter XIX “The Just.” Verse. 270.

The swastika represents the one who live Aryan Noble life with deep wisdom and compassion.  Therefore, the swastika symbol means happiness, peace, light coming from noble teachings.

Now is time to stop false Aryan and false swastika, and bring TRUE Aryan (Arya) and TRUE swastika (Svastika).  When one has a chance to know the truth, it is time to learn the truth.  It is the moment to open your eyes, and transforming the delusion.

The swasika is originally sun symbol which break the darkness.  The real swastika is something that we really need now, instead of pushing the sun into the dark closet.

Because the Western Society made this swastika symbol controversial, isn't it the Western society's responsibilities to clean it and return to where it belongs.

It is my sincere request "Please do not make this symbol further defiled and more controversial.   Thank you."

If you have not read the article by the New Yorker.  Please go to  the link of "The History of a Controversial Symbol": http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/08/21/the-history-of-a-controversial-symbol

Please share with your friends and let me know any comments and suggestions.

Peace,

T.K.

“Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world - 

If you want to know more, read “The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross” by T.K. Nakagaki (2017).

😊Website for "The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross."

Please read the New Yorker's article on swastika!

"Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world -

It is a great news for ME!  ...

Ms. Anna Russell was kind enough to join my book talk on "The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross" and book signing on July 30 in Queens, NY. She interviewed me and those who attended the talk.  I am grateful that the New Yorker has covered my swastika dialogue project on the new issue (August 21, 2017).

Here is a link to the article "The History of a Controversial Symbol" 

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/08/21/the-history-of-a-controversial-symbol

I hope that this small article will get more attentions, encourage people to read the book and begin a dialogue at different levels.  I am planning to have more talks at different places to bring awareness about the swastika.  No more ignorance!  Let's talk and begin our conversation.

Here is my 'swastika' poem.

Soon or later, the truth will come!
Wiping out, covering up, and
Attempting to make the symbol negative,
Such actions may create more illusion.
Teaching and revealing the true fact
Is essential to really deal with any issues.
Keep our eyes and mind open!
All we need is courage to face the truth. (by TK Nakagaki)

Peace,

T.K.

“Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world - 

If you want to know more, read “The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross” by T.K. Nakagaki (2017).

😊Website for "The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross."

#Taboo means to hide inconvenient truth(s)

"Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world -

"Truth" sounds good, but some truths are harsh, and don't want to accept them. Basically truths which make you happy or beneficial and convenient is good, and welcomed, but the truths which make you unhappy or inconvenient are not welcomed, and may push them away, cover them and  hide them under the ground with  signs saying "Don't not open. Do not touch. It is dangerous. It is evil."  They could be labeled as "taboos."

What do we need to deal with the truth? We need to have courage to face the truth, embrace both convenient and inconvenient truths.  Do not fear!  Then be patient. It may take time to understand it well.  Face it directly without avoiding it. Breathe and relax. Taboo means to hide inconvenient truths, so try to avoid bias views and find the neutral and reasonable truth based upon the reliable resources.

In a way, what I try to do by this book is to dig the swastika under the dirt, and clean it up. So that people can see it well.  A lot of people have told me that it is dangerous to touch the swastika.  You can not recover it anyway.  Do not waste your energy.  Why don't you use your energy for something else?

Well, I may be stupid but have decided to touch the forbidden swastika, and see it closely.  I examine it one by one, and deeper and broader. Is it really evil as many Western people describe? Who call the symbol swastika?  What does swastika mean?  How did the eastern sacred swastika symbol come to the west?  More and more questions rise.  Ask questions and try to find answers to the questions, then again ask questions.  Keep asking and keep answering.

This process has resulted as my book. Have I finish the circle of questions?  Maybe main circle or basic information necessary to see the swastika is now available out of the dirt, I believe.  It means we can begin something - awareness campaign, dialogue, education, and more research.

Ignorance always in the end results suffering, delusion and illusion.  We don't want to build our lives based upon false and lies, though this could be society where we live nowadays. I want to choose my life based upon the truth, or at least closer to the truth.  

I have chosen the path of true original swastika, - light, good, peaceful, virtuous, compassionate, auspicious one, instead of false hateful and evil swastika of the west.

Troy is the place where the swastika symbols were introduced to the west, resulted from excavation, led by H. Schliemann in 19th century. This is Ephesus near Troy, Turkey.

Gate of Hagia Sophia in Istambul, Turkey.

I visited Turkey in 2013 right after I published the book on "Manji (Swastika) and Hakenkreuz" in Japan. Since then, wherever I visited different countries, I take photos of swastika symbol, and gather various swastika photos. Once I started to pay attentions to the symbol, I realize how sad the swastika symbol was used with wrong meanings and still continue to be used with wrong meanings in the west.

Peace,

TK

P.S. I will have a book talk and signing this Sunday, July 30 in Queens, NY.  Please join us! It is one to the public.

“Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world - 

If you want to know more, read “The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross” by T.K. Nakagaki (2017).

😊Website for "The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross."

#Buddhism #Swastika #Interfaith #Symbol #Dialogue & #Peace: Stop ignorance, and be aware of true facts!

#Buddhism #Swastika #Interfaith #Symbol #Dialogue & #Peace: Stop ignorance, and be aware of true facts!: "Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!” - Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world - ...

Stop ignorance, and be aware of true facts!

"Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world -

Hope that you had a good Fourth of July holiday. 

During the holiday weekend, I attended the Summer Camp by the Buddhist Association of the United States at Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, NY.   The camp consists of teens, youth, family and adults. 

I gave teachings to four classes about traditional Buddhist symbols and I focused on a swastika symbol which was sadly misused and defiled by the Western society.  The participants were very enthusiastic to learn the Buddhist swastika.  Young people have only learned the western evil image of swastika at school, but never learn about sacred and good swastika, and how it became evil from sacred symbol.

These young people see the swastika at the temple but only explanation they have heard was that the Buddhist swastika is the opposite direction from Nazi’s symbol.  But in the sutras, Buddhist scriptures, it says the swastika is right turn which is the same as the Nazi’s or Hindu and Jain. Also the sutra says, either right or left (front or back) have the same meaning of auspiciousness, greatness, and good luck,.

I felt encouraged by their positive reactions from the participants. Now, I have another public talk at 20-47 129th street, College Point, NY 11356, on Sunday, July 30, at 4:30pm – 6:30pm.  Please join a discussion on my book “The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross.” 

Swastika appears on different occasions 

(Lanterns with swastika on the Buddha's birthday celebration, NYC)

Buddhas Statue with golden swastika on the chest

(Chuang Yen Monastery, Carmel, NY)

Peace,

TK

“Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world - 

If you want to know more, read “The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross” by T.K. Nakagaki (2017).

😊Website for "The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross."

Time for me to talk more about the Swastika!!!

"Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world -

I wonder how I should go from here after I published the book "The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross."  My friends have suggested to give talks on swastika symbol at various places.  Based upon the advise, I will start to do so  Please let me know if you want me to speak!!!  You can reach me to my e-mail: tknakagaki@gmail.com.

So, this weekend, I will be speaking on the swastika symbol for Buddhist Summer Camp to various audience - Adult, children, teen and youth, at Chuang Yen Monastery in Camel, NY.  I will see how they will react to my talks.  They are Buddhist groups so I am sure this talk is not so controversial but it is nice for Buddhists to know what the symbol really means.

Research for Swastika symbol has been a great learning lessons for myself. Though I expected to find many swasikas in Asian Buddhist cultures, I did not expect that the swastika has been used in many other parts of the world.

To my surprise, the swastika symbol is the most common symbol among various religions and cultures in the world, and now it is the symbol missing when we have interfaith gatherings.

Why so common?  Is it accident?  Probably not.  Once we realize that the swastika is originally the symbol of the sun, it makes sense that the swastika has been valued in human history.  The sun is the center of our human activity, and source of life on the earth.

Here are some photos of the swastika in ancient society. I took photos when I visited Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. Explanations are taken from the displays.

Terracotta neck-amphora (storage jar), Euboean (Greece), ca. 560 B.C.

Said to be from Capua

Terracotta tripod kothon (vessel for perfumed oil), Boeotian (Greece), second quarter of the 6th Century B.C.,

Attributed to the Group of Boeotian Dancers

Terracotta neck-amphora, Greek, Fourth quarter of the 8th Century B.C.

Terracotta bowl on high stand, Greek, Fourth quarter of the 8th Century B.C.

 In general, when we say "swastika," it refers to:

To take care of the swastika symbol is to respect our human culture in our world. In my opinion, the swastika is the world heritage symbol in the world.  It is wrong to think that swastika means Nazi's symbol which has known only for 80 years.  The swastika symbol is here with human race over 2500 years. Do you see these swastikas in Greece as evil?  

Peace,

TK

“Nazi Did Not Invent the Swastika!”

- Swastika has been used as a peaceful symbol for over 2,000 years in many parts of the world - 

If you want to know more, read “The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross” by T.K. Nakagaki (2017).

😊Website for "The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross."