"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.
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.
