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The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross: Rescuing a Symbol of Peace from the Forces of Hate by [T. K. Nakagaki]

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T.K. Nakagaki

The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross: Rescuing a Symbol of Peace from the Forces of Hate Kindle Edition

by T. K. Nakagaki (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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The swastika has been used for over three thousand years by billions of people in many cultures and religions—including Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism—as an auspicious symbol of the sun and good fortune. However, beginning with its hijacking and misappropriation by Nazi Germany, it has also been used, and continues to be used, as a symbol of hate in the Western World. Hitler's device is in fact a "hooked cross." Rev. Nakagaki's book explains how and why these symbols got confused, and offers a path to peace, understanding, and reconciliation.

Please note: Photographs in the digital edition of the books are in color. Photographs in the print edition are in black and white.

Print length

200 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Stone Bridge Press
Publication date

September 25, 2018
File size

11625 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Too often conflicts and arguments start from simple misunderstandings. The Buddhist symbol of the swastika is an excellent example of this human miscommunication. What started as a positive and beautiful symbol by the Buddhists was perverted and twisted by the German Nazis. This seminal work by Rev Dr. T. K. Nakagaki finally clearly and beautifully clarifies this simple and unknown truth”

—Rabbi Michael Schudrich, The Chief Rabbi of Poland

"The Nazi association with the symbol is so powerful in modern pop culture, it will be a long time before the swastika can be appreciated again as an expression of the positive, as it is in many ancient and Asian cultures still today. But Dr. Nakagaki's scholarly and moral accomplishment in this book is an important step in the right direction."

—Robert Thurman, Je Tsongkhapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies, Columbia University

“Reverend Toshikazu Kenjitsu Nakagaki has shown intellectual courage and integrity in selecting for his book the controversial symbol of the swastika, stigmatized in the West for its association with ideas of racism and hatred and revered in the East for ages as representing a sacred spirituality. He has done a commendable job in presenting his extensive study and research opening the door for the inquisitive to the significance of this many-faceted icon and its implications for peace and reconciliation in today’s complex world. The book is undoubtedly impressive and deserves wider global attention and readership.”

—Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (2002-2007)

“The Reverend TK Nakagaki renders a great service by rescuing the swastika, or Manji a benign 1,400 year old Buddhist symbol in Japan, from its hateful use by Adolf Hitler and his fascist Nazi thugs. It is must reading for all who care about the healing impact of the world’s great religions.”

—George Packard, Dean Emeritus, the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

"In a brave gesture of cross-cultural significance, The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross offers us a detailed explanation of the positive history and meaning that this profound symbol has had for millions of people over the millennia.”

—Rande Brown, LCSW, former Executive Director of the Tricycle Foundation, publisher of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review

“Distinguished Buddhist teacher T.K. Nakagaki movingly explains the auspicious traditional significance of the swastika for Buddhists, stressing the sharp contrast between its original meaning and its later distortion by the Nazis. This is a cogent and timely call for interreligious understanding and acceptance. Highly recommended!”

—Dr. Leo D. Lefebure, Matteo Ricci, S.J., Professor of Theology, Georgetown University

“Nothing symbolizes evil and hate in our era more graphically than the image that the Nazis emblazoned on their flags. In a globalized world where East and West now meet and mix, profound misunderstandings too easily arise when the German Hakenkreuz becomes confused with the Indian swastika. With careful scholarship, a deep respect for Jewish life and identity, and great sensitivity toward the memory of the Shoah, T. K. Nakagaki has disentangled the Nazi symbol from the authentic meaning of the swastika. In doing so he has also challenged us to resist and refute evil and hate in whatever form they are manifested, and to work for the peace for which the ancient swastika authentically stands.”

--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

About the Author

Rev. Dr. T. K. NAKAGAKI is a Buddhist priest, ordained in the 750-year-old Jodoshinshu tradition of Japanese Buddhism. He was ordained at the Nishi Hongwanji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, in 1980. He graduated from Ryukoku University in Kyoto, majoring in Buddhist History in 1983, and later conducted advanced study in Jodoshinshu Buddhist doctrine at Gyoshin Buddhist Seminary in Osaka, Japan, from 1983-1985. He received an M.A. in Linguistics from California State University at Fresno in 1994, and earned a Doctorate of Ministry in Multifaith studies from the New York Theological Seminary in 2012. Rev. Dr. Nakagaki is currently President of the Buddhist Council of New York, Hiroshima Peace Ambassador, Peace Correspondent of Nagasaki City, Community Clergy Liaison for the NYC Police Department, and former Vice President of the Interfaith Center of New York. He served as a resident priest for Jodoshinshu Buddhist communities in Seattle from 1985-1989, in Parlier, CA from 1989 -1994, and at the New York Buddhist Church from 1994-2010. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07GCSDKQL
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stone Bridge Press (September 25, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 25, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 11625 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 200 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #1,526,297 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #376 in Buddhist History (Kindle Store)
- #838 in Religious Studies - Sociology
- #1,251 in Buddhist History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
16 ratings

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aminahyaquin

POWERFUL AND COMPELLING; A CHALLENGE TO HITLER's LAST LIVING VICTORY OF PROPAGANDA

Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2017

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This is a big “little” book. Packed into its 150 pages is a veritable treasure of philosophy, religion, history, sociology and expedited cultural literacy.
Because it is written so deeply and beautifully, it can be considered an authentically enlightening read by those who engage it as Abraham Joshua Heschel abjured by keeping in mind “the principle…to know what we see rather than to see what we know”. P.140 of the book, a quote from The Prophet.
One can profitably encounter this work by suspending not one’s disbelief, as in a work of fiction, but one’s knee-jerk, deep-seated prejudices, and this in order to transcend the hideous nature of Hitler’s cultural misappropriation of symbols and concepts that have a vital history in Asia and elsewhere of thousands of years of holiness and beauty in the exact anthesis of meaning to Hitler’s perversions and hate-fueled genocidal ends.
This work makes a scholarly and decisive foray into holocaust and comparative religious studies in more than one important way, but of particular note is the differentiation completely of Hitler’s hakenkreuz or “hook cross” from the ancient svastika, more commonly in English referred to as the swastika.
When I visited Germany and saw the prominence of Christian cathedrals and churches in every single town, I wondered how it had been possible that each was not a central sanctuary for the Jews. The description of how the hooked cross or hakenkreuz supplanted the crucifixes is also a history of how the Nazis were corrupted from Christian values to Nazi hatred and it is chilling. Sadly, it is also the story of a good Christian gone amok, for in all my classes in religious studies over the years (and my Fordham degree) I had never read the doctrines of Martin Luther in his 60s, when he became a confirmed anti-Semite, and his last years’ writing fed the Nazi Beast in Germany.
It is certainly beyond time to redirect the blame from a powerful ancient symbol of achieved virtue that was hijacked by a demagogue who murdered millions to he himself and the virulent fascist mob he intentionally misled and incited.
As the holocaust survivors and hibakusha, or nuclear bomb survivors encourage us from The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross , it becomes incumbent upon us to proactively wrest Hitler’s last victory from him, and restore to our hearts, minds and the knowledge of our lives and souls, the respectful and profoundly positive and sacred meaning of the svastika symbol, by , as so many other cultures have done all along, differentiating it from Hitler’s horribly disfigured hooked cross.
I personally found the spiritual maturity, generosity and insightful scholarship of this book to be in complete harmony with the nature of its author, T.K. Nakagaki , whom I have known for many years from interfaith work in greater New York.

4 people found this helpful

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Jumbo Crayon

Not a "universal symbol of hate"

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2017

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This book has been greatly needed in the world. As a person who travels often between eastern & western countries, I've seen how polarization over this symbol has created a lot of unnecessary misunderstanding & negativity. The swastika is often maligned in the West as a "universal symbol of hatred," which is not only untrue, but denies the perspective of millions of people who regard it as wholly positive. As the author asserts, it's only through the sharing of perspectives we can hope to ever bridge the cultural divide. This book was well written (and edited) with a lot of great photos.

6 people found this helpful

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Renato McCray Jr

This will help people to understand the true history of the Swastika.

Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2019

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This Book will wake up those who still believe that this symbol only links to Hitler and nazism.

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Rande Brown

Many Western readers will be surprised to learn that the ...

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2017

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Many Western readers will be surprised to learn that the swastika has long been a revered symbol of peace and harmony in the Eastern world. In a brave gesture of cross-cultural significance, Rev. Dr. Nakagaki offers us a detailed explanation of the positive history and meaning that this symbol has had for millions of people over the millennia.

5 people found this helpful

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Cai Demin

Thank!

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2019

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very good，especially the customer service. Thank you so much!

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Raymond Pascarella

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2018

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Well written and informative

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Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2017

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Excellent. Fascinating explanation.

2 people found this helpful

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Judith Clancy

A very ancient symbol

Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2018

Rev. Nakagaki has attempted to remove the stain of evil and hatred that has defiled this auspicious symbol. One book on the subject is not enough, but it certainly enlightens readers to the depth of its meaning and history. Nakagaki saw the need to rescue the swastika from future degradation. He deserves our thanks and appreciation.

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