Yoma: Die Dag Van Versoening

March 31, 2025

Luk. 4:14-30: “En Jesus het in die krag van die Gees na Galiléa teruggekeer, en daar het 'n gerug aangaande Hom deur die hele omtrek uitgegaan; en Hy het in hulle sinagoges geleer en is deur almal geprys.  


[Hy was ‘n rondreisende rabbi]. Toe kom Hy in Násaret waar Hy opgevoed was; en soos Hy gewoond was, gaan Hy op die sabbatdag in die sinagoge en staan op om te lees. En die boek van die profeet Jesaja is aan Hom oorhandig; en toe Hy die boek oopmaak, kry Hy die plek waar geskrywe is:[Hy lees uit Jesaja 61, eintlik was dit ‘n boekrol, ‘n ‘megillah,” nie ‘n kodeks of ‘n boek nie.] Die Gees van die Here is op My, omdat Hy My gesalf het om die evangelie aan die armes te bring. Hy het My gestuur om die wat verbryseld van hart is, te genees; om aan gevangenes vrylating te verkondig en aan blindes herstel van gesig; om die wat gebroke is, in vryheid weg te stuur; om die aangename jaar van die Here aan te kondig. En nadat Hy die boek toegemaak [Hy het die rol opgerol]en aan die dienaar teruggegee het, gaan Hy sit, en die oë van almal in die sinagoge was op Hom gevestig.


Toe begin Hy vir hulle te sê: Vandag is hierdie Skrif in julle ore vervul. En almal het vir Hom getuienis gegee en was verwonderd oor die aangename woorde wat uit sy mond kom; en hulle sê: Is Hy nie die seun van Josef nie? En Hy antwoord hulle: Julle sal My ongetwyfeld hierdie spreekwoord toevoeg: Geneesheer, genees uself!


Alles wat ons hoor wat in Kapérnaüm gebeur het, doen dit hier in u vaderstad ook.


En Hy sê: Voorwaar Ek sê vir julle, geen profeet is aangenaam in sy vaderland nie. Maar Ek sê vir julle met waarheid, daar was baie weduwees in Israel in die dae van Elía toe die hemel toegesluit was drie jaar en ses maande lank, toe daar 'n groot hongersnood gekom het in die hele land, en na nie een van hulle is Elía gestuur nie, behalwe na Sarfat [Wat te doen het met reiniging deur vuur- in Hebreeus]in Sidon, na 'n weduwee. En daar was baie melaatses in Israel in die tyd van Elísa, die profeet, en nie een van hulle is gereinig nie, behalwe Naäman, die Síriër.


En almal in die sinagoge is met woede vervul toe hulle dit hoor; en hulle het opgestaan en Hom uit die stad uitgedryf en Hom gebring tot op die rand van die berg waarop hulle stad gebou was, om Hom van die krans af te gooi. Maar Hy het tussen hulle deur geloop en weggegaan.”


Jesus kom in die sinagoge en Hy sien sekere dinge wat na Hom verwys soos na Hom as die Seun van Josef en op ander plekke waar Hy geken word as die “Seun van Dawid” en hier in die dorp waarin Hy groot geword het, word Hy geken as die Seun van Josef. Nou, baie van julle ken Jesus as “HaMashiach ben Yosef,” en HaMashiach ben David,” “Messias die Seun van Josef en Messias die Seun van Dawid.”


Ons moet onthou dat Josef deur die Heidene aanvaar was terwyl sy Joodse broeders hom verwerp het.


Hy was in sy eie land deur sy Joodse broers verwerp maar deur die heidene aanvaar.


So, dit is hier waar hulle Jesus begin ken het as die “Seun van Josef” waar Hy twee verhale vertel het oor Elia en Elisa wat deur die Heidene aanvaar is maar wat deur die Hebreërse mense verwerp was. Jesus vergelyk Homself met hulle en die mense raak ongemaklik, maar Sy woorde was aangenaam, maar nadat Hy hulle die waarheid oor Hom vertel het was Sy woorde nie meer so aangenaam nie. Toe hulle eers uitgevind het waar Hy regtig vandaan kom was hulle verontwaardig en woedend. Vandag is dit dieselfde. Jy kan ‘n goeie Evangeliese boodskap bring of ‘n goeie lering bedien maar wanneer jy begin praat oor die verkeerde dinge in die kerk of wat verkeerd is met hulle, dan gaan hierdie selfde mense baie vinnig teen jou draai soos teen ‘n rot met hondsdolheid. Nou wat hier in Nasaret gebeur het was ‘n voorbeeld van wat met Hom in Jerusalem gaan gebeur na die triomferende inkoms. Jesus vergelyk Homself met Elia en Elisa en wat met hulle gebeur het. Die drie en ‘n halwe jaar wat genoem word, drie jaar en 6 maande, plaas die gebeure in ‘n eskatologiese raamwerk.


    Dit sê vir ons dat wat ookal hier op ‘n manier gebeur het- te doen het met die eindtyd,- die tyd, en tye en ‘n halwe tyd in Daniël en in Openbaring. Dit het te doen met die drie en halwe jaar aan die einde van die eeu, en ook die drie en ‘n halwe jaar eskatologies. Jesus se openbare bediening was drie en halwe jaar en Satan wil die selfde tyd hê wat hy gaan kry deur die Antichris. Die Antichris gaan probeer om die Wet en die tye te verander en dit sal in sy hand gegee word vir ‘n tyd- tye en ‘n halwe tyd.


Nou, daar is meer aan dit verbonde. Wanneer daar gepraat word van hierdie drie en halwe jaar in ‘n gegewe perikoop en in ‘n gegewe verhaal, dan het dit iets te doen met ‘n toekomstige eskatologiese toepassing. Dit gaan nie net oor wat gister gebeur het nie. Maar dan sal ons moet deel met hierdie vraag, hoekom het Jesus die boekrol op hierdie punt opgerol, of die Boek toegemaak. Kyk na die Boek Jesaja hoofstuk 61, die gedeelte waaruit Jesus gelees het:


Jes. 61 1: “Die Gees van die Here HERE is op My, omdat die HERE My gesalf het[Die woord wat hier vir “salf” gebruik word is waar die woord Mashiach, messiah vandaan kom.]- om 'n blye boodskap[Hierdie woord is basardie woord vir evangelie in Hebreeus, in Grieks in die Septuagent is dit- euaggelion] te bring aan die ootmoediges; Hy het My gestuur om te verbind die gebrokenes van hart, om vir die gevangenes 'n vrylating uit te roep en vir die geboeides opening van die gevangenis;...”


Toe Jesus die gedeelte in die sinagoge in Nasaret gelees het- het Hy net die eerste helfte van vers twee verse gelees.   “--om uit te roep 'n jaar van die welbehae van die HERE.” Hy lees nie die res van die vers nie-  “‘n dag van die wraak van onse God; en Hy rol die Boekrol toe, of maak die Boek toe. Hy gaan net die eerste helfte van die profesie met Sy eerste koms as die “seun van Josef” vervul, die een wat redding bring. Hy sal die tweede gedeelte van die Skrif vervul met Sy wederkoms: “DieDag van die Wraak van onse God;” Met Sy eerste kom het Hy gekom in genade en in Waarheid en om genade te betoon.


Met Sy tweede koms kom Hy met die oordeel van God, die wraak van God. Maar daar is ander voorlopers vir hierdie dinge. Kyk na die Boek van Sagaria 12:10:“Maar oor die huis van Dawid en oor die inwoners van Jerusalem sal Ek uitgiet die Gees van genade en smekinge; en hulle sal opsien na My vir wie hulle deurboor het, en hulle sal oor Hom rouklaag soos 'n mens rouklaag oor 'n enigste seun en bitterlik oor Hom ween soos 'n mens bitterlik ween oor 'n eersgebore kind.”


Kyk na die Evangelie van Johannes, die verhaal van die Geboorte 19:37:“En weer sê 'n ander Skrif: Hulle sal sien in wie hulle gesteek het”Letop net die eerste helfte van Skrif word aangehaal. Hoekom staan daar nie: “En hulle sal oor Hom rouklaag soos een wat treur oor ‘n enige gebore Seun?” Jesus vervul dit met Sy tweede koms. Kyk na Openbaring 1, dit sê vir ons direk:


Op 1:7: “Kyk, Hy kom met die wolke, en elke oog sal Hom sien, ook hulle wat Hom deursteek het; en al die geslagte van die aarde sal oor Hom rou bedryf; ja, amen!”


Hulle sal opkyk na Hom wat hulle deursteek het en oor Hom rou bedryf- met Sy tweede koms en nie met Sy eerste koms nie; hulle skree “Kruisig Hom.!” En die vers word in twee gedeel. Dit is hoe ons die Boek Daniël verklaar maar dit is net ‘n voorsmakie vir later.


Hulle neem Hom na Nasaret. Iets om te verstaan van Nasaret as jy nog nie daar was nie, as jy op beweeg van Nasaret af dan kry jy “illit” waar die oorspronklike Nasaret was. Nasaret is ‘n harde plek, dit is grootliks ‘n Arabiese gemeenskap. “Illit” is ‘n Joodse gemeenskap waar die rant van die gebergte is en jy sien dat dit direk die teenoorgestelde is van die noorde kant van die vallei van Armageddon, die vlakte van Jisreel teenoor Megiddo. Aan die suide kant is daar ‘n berg wat geken word as Migiddo, “Har Megiddo,”


    Armageddon is egter nie ‘n berg nie. Die vallei word Jisreel noem. Aan die noorde kant, teenoor Megiddo is ‘n ander berg, Har Tabor- die berg Tabor waar die lied van Deborah plaasgevind het. Kyk na Rigters 5. In die Lied van Debora sien ons iets wat herhaal word in die Septuagint teks, die Griekse Ou Testament in die Magnificat, die loflied van Maria, en in die Lied van Deborah-  Geseënd is u onder die vroue, u sal deur almal as geseënd genoem word.


Nou, Nasaret is waar Maria, Miriam as ‘n jong dogter gewoon het. Sy sou vanaf Nasaret na die berg Tabor oor gekyk het wat sy geken het en sy sou geweet het dat dit die plek was waar die verhaal van Debora afgespeel het. Dit is waar die verhaal van Jael ook plaasgevind het, waar die eer en die roem aan Sisera gegaan het, ons lees in Rigters 5:7: “--totdat ek, Debóra, opgestaan het, ek, 'n moeder in Israel, ” En dit gaan verder en ons lees van ‘n esel wat op gery word in vers 10, en hier word verskillende tale gebruik om geseënd te beskryf, “Geseënd is jy onder die vroue, hulle sal jou as geseënd noem.” Rigters 5:24: “Mag bo die vroue geseënd wees Jael,...”  Min het Maria van Nasaret geweet dat die engel Gabriel eendag na haar toe sal kom met die woorde: “Geseënd is jy onder die vroue.”


Sy het in die skadu van die Berg Tabor opgegroei wat uitkyk oor Nasaret Illit. “Geseënd is jy onder die vroue.” Dit is waar dit gesê was, maar eendag sou dit ook vir haar gesê word, presies op dieselfde plek, dit is Nasaret. Aan die Ooste kant van Nasaret, en loodreg van die Vallei van Jisreel is ‘n styl berg hang en jy sal nie daarvan hou om daar af te gaan nie; daar is verskeie klowe en plato rante met styltes van meer as 45 grade.


Hoekom wou hulle Jesus van die afgrond afgooi? Hoekom wou hulle hom op hierdie manier probeer doodmaak? Hoekom wou hulle Hom nie stenig nie, hoekom wou hulle Hom spesifiek van die krans afgooi om Hom dood te maak? Maar belangrik, hulle kon Hom nie doodmaak nie. Hoekom was Hy beskerm?


Heel duidelik was dit nog nie Sy tyd om vir ons sonde te sterf nie? Kom ons kyk na Levitikus 16.


Die Dag van Versoening, Yom Kippur


Dit kom ooreen met die Hebreeuse woord “kapporah.” Kapporah beteken ‘n offer afgelei van die Hebreeuse woord “lehakreem”—dat die mens een met God sal wees. Die eenheid wat deur sonde verlore gegaan het sal herstel word wanneer die Messias kom. Onder die Wet sal die sonde van die Joodse mense vergewe word as hulle ‘n ware geloof en ‘n ware sonde belydenis gedoen het, die bloed van die Yom Kippur sondebok sal kappurahbring, dit sou hulle sonde tydelik bedek totdat die Messias kom en dit weg neem.


Dit is soos met ‘n tydelike bestuurs lissensie totdad jy die waardige lissensie kry. Dit bring kapporah, dit was ‘n tydelike bedekking. Die Ou Testamentiese heiliges kon nie hemel toe gaan totdat die Messias gekom het nie. Hulle het na Abraham se boesem toe gegaan waar hulle gewag totdat die Messias kom. Die Ou Testamentiese heiliges kon net deur die Bloed van Jesus gered word, dieselfde met ons. Daar is geen ander naam in die hemel waaronder ons gered kan word nie soos wat Hebreërs vir ons sê, die bloed van diere kan nie ons sonde afwas nie, hulle kon net kapporahmaak..


Dit was simbole van wat die Messias sou doen. Ons almal weet van die bloed van die Lam, maar met Yom Kippur is daar ook die bloed van die sondebok. Dit alles is die bloed van Jesus, maar die bloed van hierdie diere was op verskillende maniere werksaam. Al die diere offers in die Tempel, die bloed, is alles beelde van die bloed van Christus in verskillende aspekte, die bloed van die lam, die lam sonder gebreke, die onskuldige sou vir die skuldige sterf. Een mens sonder sonde is beter as al die mense met sonde, so kon een vir almal sterf; dit is die bloed van die lam. Dan is daar die bloed van die bulle, die sterke sou vir die swakke sterf, net soos wat die onskuldige vir die skuldige sou sterf. Die voëls, hulle moes die voels onder lopende water offer.


Dit is beeld van wassing met die bloed. Al hierdie dinge gee vir ons verskillende aspekte van die bloed van Jesus, maar die bloed van die bok het sy eie unieke gedeeltes. Wat is dit?


    Wel een van die dinge is, in Grieks kry ons twee woorde vir sonde:  “Hamartia” en “hamartano.” Hulle is amper dieselfde maar in Hebreeus is hierdie woorde, Heten pesha,heel verskillend.Hetbeteken om die doel te mis, om ‘n pyl te skiet wat die teiken mis. Peshabeteken om te vêr te gaan. Pesha is oortreding; Hetis om te faal. Pesha is die sonde wat te doen het met ‘n opdrag; Hetis die sonde van nalaat, om te versuim.


Ons sondig beide deurom dinge te doen wat ons nie moet doen nie, maar ons sondig ook om nie dinge te doen wat ons moet doen nie. Dink aan Koning Saul, sy eerste sonde was hy het dinge gedoen wat hy nie moes doen nie; hy het ‘n moordenaar van die Hoë Priester, Abithar geword, hy het betrokke geraak in die oproep van dooies en towery, die okkulte. Hy het probeer om Dawid dood te maak. Hy het begin om dinge te doen wat hy nie moes doen nie. Sy eerste sonde was hy het gefaal om dinge te doen wat hy moes doen, hy moes ontslae geraak het van Amalek, hy het van die buit vir homself gehou wat hy moes verbrand het; dit was vir ‘n heidense god gegee.


Wanneer iemand terugval, wegval van God af, dan gaan dit nie soseer oor iets wat ons doen nie maar oor iets wat ons doen wat ons nie moet doen nie, dit kom later. Dit begin gewoonlik oor wat ons doen en wat ons nie moet doen nie. Wanneer iemand se gebedslewe, Bybel lees, gemeenskap met ander gelowiges, getuienis- begin stil raak, wanneer ons ophou om die dinge te doen wat ons moet doen, dan is dit net ‘n kwessie van tyd vir ons ou natuur om oor te vat en vir ons om dinge te begin doen wat ons nie moet doen nie.


Die bloed van die lam het hoofsaaklik te doen met pesha terwyl die bloed van die bok meer te doen het met het.Die bloed van die lam is meer te doen met die dinge wat ons gedoen het voordat ons tot redding gekom het. Die bloed van die bok het meer te doen met dinge wat ons daarna gedoen het. Die bloed van Christus reinig ons van alle sonde, meer nog, peshahet te doen met bewustelike sonde. Het het te doen met sonde wat in Hebreeus geken word as “barut”- onwetenheid.


Heb. 9:7: “-maar in die tweede die hoëpriester alleen, een maal in die jaar, nie sonder bloed nie, wat hy offer vir homself en vir die sondes van die volk uit onwetendheid begaan ” [afgelei van Hebreeus- barut.]


Dit alles is die bloed van Jesus. Al hierdie diere is beelde van Christus maar Sy bloed is inwerkend op verskillende maniere. Die bloed van Christus reinig ons van alle sonde, die verlede en die hede. Ons moet verstaan dit is medewerkend op verskillende maniere. Dit is medewerkend in dinge wat ons doen wat ons nie moet doen nie, maar dit is ook medewerkend vir die dinge wat ons moes gedoen het maar nie gedoen het nie.


Dit is medewerkend vir die sonde wat ons onwetend doen, maar dit is ook medewerkend vir die dinge wat ons onwetend doen. Christene kan onwetend sondig, soos byvoorbeeld mense sal toelaat dat ongedoopte ongeredde kinders Nagmaal gebruik, dit is totaal verkeerd. Die Nagmaal is vir gedoopte weergebore Christene alleen. Ons sien in Eksodus dat ons ons kinders moet laat sien hoe ons die Nagmaal gebruik sodat hulle die vraag kan vra: “Hoekom doen julle dit?”Deurom kinders nie toe te laat om Nagmaal te bruik nie is ‘n manier om hulle te laat vra oor hulle redding.


Die Tafel van die Here is dalk ‘n beeld van onskuld vir wat dit beteken, nie dat dit die tafel deur ‘n immorele persoon verontreinig word nie, maar omdat dit verkeerd is.  Hierdie kinders weet nie dat dit hulle sondig nie en dit is die ouers se verantwoordelikheid, maar die rigting wat die kerk nou in beweeg is heel waarskynlik onbekend vir die ouers. Maar dit is nogtans sonde en iemand moet betaal vir die sonde. Jesus betaal vir die sonde al is dit onwetend. Elke keer as ‘n Roomse Katoliek bid vir die dode dan is dit die sonde van towery, hulle sien dit nie so nie maar hulle roep geeste van dooies op. Dit is towery.


    Nou, daar is ware gelowiges in die Roomse Katolieke Kerk, maar as hulle waarlik gered is dan sal die Heilige Gees hulle lei om onder hulle uit te kom. Niemand sal sê jy kan nie ‘n Roomse Katoliek en gered wees nie, maar as jy ‘n Katoliek is wat gered is dan kan jy nie in hierdie Kerk bly nie, maar nog steed reinig die bloed ons van alle sonde, al is dit sonde wat onwetend gedoen is.


Elke keer wat ‘n Roomse Katoliek vir die dooies bid of hom uitstrek voor transubstansiële elemente, dan is dit die sonde van afgodery. Dit is ‘n sonde wat deur baie onwetend gedoen word. Ons almal het die bloed van die Lam nodig. “Is jy gewas in die Bloed van die Lam?” Dit is waar, maar wat ook baie waar is, is dat ons ook in die bloed van bok gewas moet word. Die vraag dan, waarom, soos dit is, is daar twee bloed versoening feeste, Paasfees in die Lente en Yom Kippur in die herfs? Hoekom twee?, dit is ‘n belangrike vraag.


Onthou, Jesus vervul die heilige Lente dae met Sy eerste koms, Hy vervul die Herfs heilige dae met Sy tweede koms. Die herfs heilige dae is net gedeeltelik vervul met Sy eerste koms. Hy het Paasfees, Eerste Vrugte vervul toe Hy uit die dood opgestaan het, en Weke, wat Pinkster is, met sy eerste koms en dan is daar die somer wat ooreenstem met die Tye van die Nasies, die tydperk tussen die 69ste en 70ste week van Daniël.


Maar dan is daar Basuine, daar is Yom Kippur, Versoening, en dan is daar Tabernakels, of Hutte fees. Nou. Daar is ‘n gedeeltelike vervulling van hierdie heilige dae in Sy eerste koms. Toe Jesus gesterf het, het Hy Yom Kippur gedeeltelik vervul. Hy is ons Hoë Priester wat die perfekte versoening gebring het. Die Tempel se voorhangsel het geskeur. Sondige mense is nie langer geskei van ‘n Helige God nie, dit het Jesus gedeeltelik vervul, en hoe Hy dit vervul is soos volg. Tabernakels is gedeeltelik vervul in Johannes 7, maar die volle vervulling van Esegiël 47 vind plaas in die Millennium. Sagaria 14 sê vir ons dat Jesus in die Millennium in Jerusalem aanbid gaan word. Hy vervul die Lente feeste met Sy eerste koms maar die herfs feeste is net tydelik vervul met Sy eerste koms, dit sal vervul word met Sy tweede koms. Yom Kippur, die Dag van Versoening het ‘n toekomstige betekenis.


Daar was twee bokke.


Lev. 16:1-10: “En die HERE het met Moses gespreek ná die dood van die twee seuns van Aäron, wat gesterf het toe hulle voor die aangesig van die HERE nader gekom het; en die HERE het aan Moses gesê: Spreek met jou broer Aäron dat hy nie te eniger tyd moet ingaan in die heiligdom nie, binnekant die voorhangsel, voor die versoendeksel wat op die ark is, sodat hy nie sterwe nie; want Ek verskyn in die wolk op die versoendeksel.


Hiermee moet Aäron in die heiligdom ingaan: met 'n jong bul as sondoffer en 'n ram as brandoffer. Hy moet 'n heilige linnerok aantrek en 'n linnebroek moet oor sy vlees wees en met 'n linnegordel moet hy hom gord en 'n linnetulband moet op sy hoof wees. Dit is heilige klere; en hy moet sy liggaam in die water bad en dit aantrek. En van die vergadering van die kinders van Israel moet hy twee bokramme as sondoffer en een ram as brandoffer neem.


Dan moet Aäron die sondofferbul wat vir hom bedoel is, aanbring en vir hom en sy huis versoening doen. Hy moet ook die twee bokke neem en hulle voor die aangesig van die HERE stel by die ingang van die tent van samekoms. En Aäron moet oor die twee bokke die lot werp, een lot vir die HERE en een lot vir Asásel. Dan moet Aäron die bok aanbring waar die lot vir die HERE op gekom het en hom as sondoffer berei; maar die bok waar die lot vir Asásel op gekom het, moet lewendig voor die aangesig van die HERE gestel word, om oor hom versoening te bewerk deur hom vir Asásel in die woestyn te stuur.”


Dit laat ons dink aan die beeld van een wat moet sterf sodat die ander een kan lewe en ook om weg tedoen met sonde. By ‘n sekere punt in Israel se geskiedenis het hierdie ander bok, die sondebok, teruggekom en met die tyd van Jesus het hulle ‘n gewoonte gehad. Hulle het die bok in die wildernis ingejaag en van ‘n krans afgestoot. Die ander bok was geken as die “Azazel” “Sier Azazel” Die sondebok.


    Hulle sou gekies word deur die lot te werp. As dit in die regterhand was dan was dit gesien as ‘n goeie teken. As die lot in die regterhand was, die een vir die Here, dan was dit gesien as goeie teken vir die mense wat vergewe was; hulle het kaporahontvang vir hulle sonde.


Die Hoë Priester het dan ook spesiale klere aangetrek wat hy net in hierdie tyd van die jaar gedra het. Hierdie klere was ‘n wit kleed met ‘n rooi lyfband- sash, of ‘n skarlaken gekleurde lyfband, net een maal ‘n jaar. Hy sou ook deur ‘n uitsonderlike ritueel gaan wat Mekudeshgenoem word, om geheilig te word of om eenkant gesit te word, afgelei van die Hebreeuse woord “kodesh” Dit is die selfde woord wat gerbruik word vir ‘n huwelik. Wanneer ‘n paartjie in die huwelik tree dan sê jy “mekudesh.”


Hierdie spesiale kleed wat die Hoë Priester met Yom Kippur aangetrek het stem ooreen met ‘n bruilof kleed. Die idee is dat net die persoon wat mekudeshword toegelaat om in te gaan. Na die dood van Aaron se seun het die Here Moses gewaarsku. “Moenie toelaat dat iemand anders ingaan nie.” [Met sy wit kleed en rooi lyfband met die klokkies]


Jy kan iets objektief weet “la daat”, maar wanneer jy iets subjektief weet dan is dit iets anders. In Grieks is die term “ginosko,” “om ‘n vrou te beken.” Josef het Maria “nie beken” tot na die geboorte van Jesus nie. Jy kan iets objektief ken maar dit is nie dieselfde as om iets subjektief te ken nie.


Reg van die begin af was Adam en Eva in die tuin geplaas om oor dit te heers. Hulle was veronderstel om sonde objektief te ken. Hulle moes weet dat daar ‘n duiwel is. Hulle moes objektief weet maar nie subjektief nie. Hulle was nie veronderstel om dit deur ondervinding te weet nie, hulle was nie veronderstel om dit in hulleself te ken nie. Net soos met die heilige huwelik. Om ‘n huwelik in Hebreeus te bevestig word die term “Miknasbah” “Om in haar in te gaan” gebruik, een persoon gaan in ‘n ander persoon en ‘n derde persoon word voortgebring. Dit leer ons oor die Drie Eenheid.


Enige persoon kan in ‘n mediese handleiding na ‘n vrou se geslagsdele kyk, enige persoon kan weet waaroor dit gaan maar net die persoon wat ge- mekodesh is, wat deur God vir die doel geheilig is, kan weet wat dit is om ‘n vrou te beken. Of soos met ‘n Jood wat die Tora lees, hulle kan dinge weet oor die Heilige Ark en oor die Toonbrood, hulle kon dinge lees oor die Dekaloog, hulle kon weet wat in die Ark is, maar net die Hoë Priester kon fisies weet wat dit is om daar in te gaan. As iemand anders as die bruid se man by haar slaap dan was dit ‘n gruwel omdat haar man die een is wat mekudesh—hy is die een wat God geheilig het.


Wel dit is dieselfde ding, as enige iemand anders as as die Hoë Priester, wat ge- mekudeshis, daar in gaan, dan was dit ‘n gruwel. Dit was veronderstel om ‘n geheim te wees, jy was nie veronderstel om te weet nie. Jy kan objektief weet maar jy kan dit nie ondervindings gewys weet nie, dit sou ‘n gruwel gewees het as jy geweet het. Die Hoë Priester kon weet wat dit was, onthou die Hebreeuse term vir die heiligmaking van die Hoë Priester op Yom Kippur is dieselfde as die heiligmaking tussen ‘n man en sy bruid, mekudesh.


“Met hierdie ring bevestig ek julle in die huwelik volgens die wette van Moses en Israel,”-  en dit dit is dit.


Dan trap jy die wynglas en jy is getroud.


Op daardie dag lyk hy anders, hy lyk nie soos die selfde persoon nie. Hy gaan deur hierdie lang ritueel van die mekudeshen hy bid die gebed van heiligmaking, ‘n gebed van mekudesh-voordat hy ingaan. Hy trek ‘n kleed aan voordat hy ingaan en hy lyk anders. Die eerste keer wat jy hom gesien het- het hy anders gelyk.


Lev. 16:11-16: “Aäron moet dan die sondofferbul wat vir hom bedoel is, laat aankom en vir hom en sy huis versoening doen: hy moet die sondofferbul slag wat vir hom bedoel is,  en die vuurpan vol gloeiende kole van die altaar voor die aangesig van die HERE wegneem; daarby twee handevol fyngestampte reukwerk van speserye en dit binnekant die voorhangsel bring.--


--- En hy moet die reukwerk op die vuur lê voor die aangesig van die HERE, dat die wolk van die reukwerk die versoendeksel wat op die Getuienis is, kan oordek, sodat hy nie sterwe nie. En hy moet van die bloed van die bul neem en dit met sy vinger op die versoendeksel aan die oostekant sprinkel; en voor die versoendeksel moet hy sewe maal met sy vinger van die bloed sprinkel. Dan moet hy die sondofferbok slag wat vir die volk bedoel is, en sy bloed binnekant die voorhangsel bring en met sy bloed doen soos hy met die bloed van die bul gedoen het: hy moet dit sprinkel op die versoendeksel en voor die versoendeksel. So moet hy dan vir die heiligdom versoening doen vanweë die onreinhede van die kinders van Israel en vanweë hulle oortredinge, wat hulle sondes ook al mag wees; so moet hy dit ook doen vir die tent van samekoms wat by hulle te midde van hulle onreinhede woon.”  [In die tyd van Jesus was dit in die tyd van die tweede Tempel]


Dit begin met die idee dat dit verewig kan wees, ‘n ewige opdrag om hierdie bloed te besit.


Daar is ‘n sameroeping maar nie ‘n pelgrim sameroeping nie; die mense het nie nodig gehad om na Jerusalem te kom soos wat hulle met die Paasfees gedoen het nie, dit kon tuis gevier of onderhou word, dit kon in Nasaret gehou word en nie noodwendig in Jerusalem nie. Paasfees, Pinkster, Tabarnakels moet in Jerusalem herdenk word behalwe deur die Levitiese priesters. Hy gaan deur dit. Hebreërs sê daar sal geen werk of voorbereiding vir dit gedoen word nie- la anot na shotem,letterlik- “om ons siele te pynig vir ons sonde.”


Hy sal deur die rituele wassing gaan en dan sal daar drie soorte offers wees, die gewone Tempel offers wat elke dag gedoen word, ‘n afgesonderde offer vir die priester soos wat ons in Hebreërs lees. Die Hoë Priester moet eerstens versoening doen vir sy eie sonde. Dit is waarom Jesus ‘n priester van ‘n ander orde moes wees, die orde van Melgisedek, Hy het nie sonde gehad nie, en dan die bok vir die sonde van die mense, drie offers. Hierdie bokke was deur die lot gekies.


Kom ons kyk na Lev.16: 21 en 22:


“--en Aäron moet sy twee hande op die kop van die lewendige bok lê en oor hom belydenis doen van al die ongeregtighede van die kinders van Israel en al hulle oortredinge, wat hulle sondes ook al mag wees; en hy moet dié op die kop van die bok lê en hom deur 'n man wat gereed staan, na die woestyn toe stuur. So moet die bok dan op hom al hulle ongeregtighede na 'n woeste land wegdra; en hy moet die bok in die woestyn los.” [In die tyd van Jesus is hulle agteruit oor die krans gestoot.]


Die Hoë Priester het die sonde van die mense op die bokke gesit. Die bokke sou dan in strate van Jerusalem gelei word, die mense sal op hulle spoeg en hulle skop, met klippe gooi, met stokke slaan en hulle vervloek omrede hulle sonde. Een bok sal dan losgelaat word en die ander een sal ‘n offer in die tempel wees en die Hoë Priester sal dan agter die voorhangsel ingaan, een maal ‘n jaar. Ons sien dit met Jesus se geboorte.


In die Apokriewe boek Henog lees ons dat die Azazel ook verwys na Satan as gevolg van die wortel “zaz”in die woord, wat te doen het met ‘om weg te vat’. Daar is twee bokke net soos wat daar ook twee voëls is in Levitikus 14; een sterf en een sal eindelik vry wees. Maar die Jode sien die twee bokke as een offer.


In die tyd van Christus was die distansie in die wildernis verdeel in distrikte, geken as deputasies totdat hulle finaal by die krans kom. Die Hoë Priester sou dan hierdie skoon rooi kleed met die klokkies aantrek. (Matt. 27: 28) en ‘n persoonlike belydenis aflê. Onthou toe hulle Jesus gekruisig het, wat se kleed het hulle Hom aangetrek? ‘n rooi kleed. Hy was ons Hoë Priester wat vir ons die volmaakte offer geword het. Hy sou ‘n goue (silwer) wierookbak in Sy hand hê. Dink aan die wierook, in Openbaring 8 en in Esegiël is wierook ‘n beeld van die gebede van die heiliges. Die Here sou die geure en die reukwerk van die mense ruik.  


    God sê in Jesaja1:13:“Bring nie meer skynheilige offergawes nie; gruwelike reukwerk is dit vir My--”  God sal nie hulle gebede of aanbidding van vreemde gode aanvaar nie. Misleide mense kan kerk toe gaan en kerk speel maar God sal nie hulle reukwerk aanvaar nie. Meer nog, Hy sal net die reukwerk ruik as die Hoë Priester dit inbring. God sal net ‘n gebed in die Naam van Jesus aanvaar.


Mense kan die kralekrans gebede opsê soveelkeer as wat hulle wil, maar God sal dit nie aanvaar nie. Moslems kan Allah die hele dag aanroep, maar eerstens, Allah is nie ons God nie en al was hy sou God nie hulle gebede hoor nie. Dit moet in die reukwerkbak van die Hoë Priester wees. Dit is net gebede in die Naam van Jesus wat God sal aanneem. Daar is geen ander Naam nie.


Nee, God hoor nie gebede van ongerede mense nie tensy hulle bid vir redding en tensy hulle God waarlik soek. Deur Sy genade sal Hy hulle trek na die weg van redding maar hulle sal in die naam van Jesus moet bid vir redding. Dit is net die wierookbak in die hand van die priester wat die enigste reukwerk is wat God sal ruik en wat Hom sal behaag. Maar dit gaan verder.


Die Hoë Priester wag in die Tempel terwyl hulle die ander bok ‘n ent weggelei word, ‘n distansie van geken word as 90 “ris”,12 myl, maar voor dit trek die Hoë Priester die rooi mantel uit en sny dit middeldeur en die een helfte word voor die Allerheiligste gehang terwyl die ander helfte van die kleed tussen die horings van die sondebok vasgemaak word, dit is voordat hy vir 90 “ris” rondgelei word.


Die Katolieke beweer daar is 14 kruis stadiums, nee daar is 90 en dit is nie in die stad nie maar buite die stad, Jesus was buite die stad gekruisig. Dit is waarom Jesus buite die stad gekruisig moes word.


Die Hoë Priester wag in die Tempel. Die lot was gewerp, die bokke is gekies; hy sit sy hande op die bokke vir die sonde van die mense, die parade vind plaas, die sondebok word in die wildernis ingelei en die bok vir die Here word geoffer.


‘n Aantal dinge vind plaas vanaf die tyd van Jesus en verder, ons weet dit uit die Joodse geskiedenis, uit die Mishnah. Dit was nie deur mense met ‘n Christelike vooroordeel geskryf nie. As mense se sonde vergewe was, gebaseer op Jesaja 1:18, dan het die rooi kleed wat voor die Allerheiligste gehand het wit geword. “Al was julle sonde so skarlaken dit sal wit word soos sneeu.”


Judaïsme sê in die Mishnah dat vir 40 jaar voor die vernietiging van die Tempel, vanaf 70n.C., as ons dit terug werk, vanaf die tyd van Jesus en verder, het dit nooit weer wit geword nie, die sonde van die Jesus mense was nooit weer vergewe nie. Die wet van waarskynlikheid sê dat as jy ‘n lot of ‘n geldstuk vat, kop of stert, en jy gooi dit 40 keer of meer op dan sal dit uiteindelik by ‘n gelyke hoeveelheid koppe en sterte eindig. Wiskundig is dit met waarskynlikheids teorie bewysbaar.


Die mense se sondes was nie meer vergewe nie. Die mees-wes kandelaar in dieTempel het bly doodgaan en die deure van die Tempel, wat deur 24 manne oop en toe gemaak moes word, het vanself oopgegaan.


Dit het volgens Josephus alles gebeur voor die gebeure van 70 nC. toe die Tempel verwoes was.


Daar was ook ‘n seremonie wat geken was as “Mosoph.”Die Hoë Priester het hulle sy normale klere laat aantrek en sy ander klere uitgetrek sodat hy kon lyk soos wat hy altyd gelyk het. Hy sou dan probeer huistoe gaan na wat geken was as die boonste stad van die Tempel, en die mense wat in Jerusalem gebly het sou na hom gestroom het en hom probeer verhoed om nie huis toe te gaan nie. Hulle sou hom fisies probeer keer om nie huis toe gaan nie, dit is toe hulle gesien het wie hy was toe hy die kleed uitgetrek het. Net so was dit met Jesus. Toe Hy in die Aller Heiligste ingegaan het, het Hy dit as God gedoen. Wanneer Hy terugkom as die Een wat hulle uiteindelik gaan herken dan sal hulle Hom nie wil verlaat nie.


   “Moenie ons verlaat nie, moenie weggaan nie.” Hulle het probeer om hom te ooreed om te bly. Die hele seremonie was ‘n beeld van die Here Jesus. Maar vandag word dit gevier deurom na ‘n sinagoge te gaan en om rituele kosse te eet wat “Kreplach” genoem word, en hoender sop en “sinis”, wat ‘n soortvan soet vleisdis is.


Ultra-Ortodokse Jode van nie te lank gelede het iets beoefen wat geken was as die “macoat”. hulle trek ‘n swaar “macheel” of verskeie oorklere aan en dan slaan hulle mekaar met belde, 39 houe.


Vandag, omdat hulle nie meer goeie priester,‘n Tempel of goeie bok het nie, het hulle begin om hoenders se nekke om te draai. Vandag in die sinagoge begin hulle met ‘n gebed wat die Kol Nidregenoem word, ‘n Aramese gebed wat baie oud moet wees omdat dit in Aramees is. Dit kom heelmoontlik van die Spaanse Inkwisisie af toe die Jode gedwing was om Roomse Katolieke te word, maar omdat dit in Aramees is moet dit ouer as dit wees.


Kol Nidrebeteken “Alle Geloftes”, alle gebreekte gelofdes wat aan God gemaak is. Hoekom? Omdat die bloed van die bok te doen het met sonde wegneming. Hulle sê die regte dinge maar hulle weet nie hoekom nie. Dan lees hulle die Boek van Jona. Die Heidene het hulle bekeer maar nie die Jode nie. Ongelooflik!


Dan werk hulle deur ‘n akrostiese gedig, wat eintlik gesing word en wat geken word as Yaaleh Tachanuneinu. “Mag ons in die verbond opstaan en selachti, vergewe ons, “anu ammecha” ons is U mense.”


Dan het hulle iets wat “Yizor” genoem word, die nagedagtenis van die dode, en laastens iets wat “nega” genoem word. Vandag vas hulle en doen al die ander dinge maar hulle het nie die sondebok nie. Die Judaïsme van vandag is nie die Judaïsme van Moses nie. Maar inplaas daarvan doen hulle ander dinge. Jy het hierdie twee bokke. Een van hulle is vir die Here wat in die Tempel geoffer word; die ander een is die Seir Azazel, hy word oor die krans gegooi.


Jesus vervul Pesach- Pasga, Eerste vrugte, Weke- Pinkster met Sy eerste koms. Die Herfs feesdae, Basuine, wat vandag deur die Rabbis verander is na Rosh Hashanah, hulle sê: “Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar,” maar dit is nie wat die Skrifte sê nie, die Skrifte sê: “Bring die Basuin na jou mond, sal die mense nie bewe van vrees as hulle die basuin hoor nie? Dit het te doen met die naderende samekoms van Israel vir die Groot Verdrukking.


Daar is ‘n periode van 10 dae wat geken word as ‘Dae van Verskrikking’, Yomim HaNoraim” wat ooreenkom met die tydperk wanneer die Antichris baie mense gaan uitroei, en dit word opgevolg deur Yom Kippur, en laastens, Loof Hutte of Tabernakels, wat ooreenkom met die Millennium. Dit was net gedeeltelik deur Jesus met Sy eerste koms vervul. Hy was inderdaad ons Hoë Priester en Hy was die bok wat vir die Here bedoel was. Die ander bok sou later doodgemaak word.


Onthou, die Azazel is ‘n beeld van Satan. Die Seun van die Mens het gekom om die werke van Satan te vernietig. Hoekom kon hulle Jesus nie van die krans afgooi nie? Hy was die ander bok! Hulle het die verkeerde bok gehad. Hulle wou hom nie stenig nie, hulle wou Hom van die krans afgooi. Hy was die een wat vir die Here was. Wanneer Hy terugkom gaan die ander bok van die krans afgegooi word. Satan sal uiteindelik vernietig word.


Yom Kippur sal vervul word met die Wederkoms van Jesus. Die Antichris sal sy dinge doen, Yomim HaNoraim, die dae van wraak. Let op- 10 dae. Yomim HaNoraimis 10, dit beteken nie 10 letterlike dae van wraak nie. In Daniël 1 is daar 10 dae, soos met die kerk van Smirna. “Satan sal jou in die tronk sit vir 10 dae.” In Daniël 1 is daar 10 dae, Yomim HaNoraimis 10, dit beteken nie 10 letterlike dae nie maar hier kan dit dalk so wees, 10, wat Hy Yom Kippur sal vervul. Die ander bok moet doodgemaak word.


Satan is gedoem. Hy is uitgewerp maar hy is nie vernietig nie. Jesus het ons sonde op Hom geneem, dit is waar, maar die bok was vir die Here, die ander bok is die Azazel. Hierdie bok gaan vernietig word, hy gaan dood gemaak word. Dit is hoekom hulle Jesus nie van die krans kon gooi nie. Hulle het die verkeerde bok gehad en hulle het dit nie eers geweet nie.


   Dit is baie jammer dat die Joodse mense al hierdie waarhede gehad het maar hulle het nie geweet wat dit beteken nie. Hulle was deur God geroep om die draers van hierdie pragtige waarhede te wees. “Wat is dan die voordeel van die Jood?--- dat aan hulle die woorde van God toevertrou is.” Hulle het van al hierdie dinge geweet maar hulle het nie geweet wat wat dit beteken nie. Christene egter behoort te weet wat dit beteken, maar die meeste Christene weet dit nie.


Die Jode wat nie aan Jesus glo nie is nog meer blind, net so ook die nie-Jode, hulle is blind. Dit is baie nadelig, ons is veronderstel om nie blind te wees nie. Paulus sê: “Want ek wil nie hê, broeders, dat julle hierdie verborgenheid nie moet weet nie.-” Rom. 11:25. Ons is nie veronderstel om blind te wees nie. Soos wat Arnold Fruchtenbaum sê, “Julle kan baie dinge wees broeders, maar moenie onkundig wees nie.” Maar daar is baie onkundige broeders! Dit is waarom hulle Jesus nie oor die afgrond kon gooi nie, hulle het die verkeerde bok gehad, Hy is die ander bok. Met Jesus se terugkeer gaan Satan vernietig word. Met Sy wederkoms gaan Jesus Yom Kippur ten volle vervul.


Die feit dat ons sien hoe die Jode terugkeer na Israel; die basuin wat weerklink, dit is die sameroeping van Israel. Die Antichris kom. Satan gaan doen wat hy wil maar hy gaan van die krans af gegooi word, die werke van Satan gaan vernietig word, dit is wat gaan gebeur, dink daaroor.


Die Jode in Nasaret het nie ‘n idee gehad wat hulle doen nie. Tot vandag het die Jode in die Sinagoges nie ‘n idee wat aangaan nie, hulle is blind. Die woord vir blind in Hebreeus is “Evrim” Die woord in Hebreeus vir Hebreeus is Evrim, dit is basies dieselfde woord. Paulus sê: Wanneer die Tora gelees word is hulle blind, die Hel is voor hulle en hulle sien dit nie. Hulle het dit in hulle denke, dit is hulle godsdiens, hulle nalatenskap, dit is hulle kultuur, maar hulle kan dit nie sien nie.


Hulle het die verkeerde bok! Hulle het al die verkeerde dinge! Dit is skrikwekkend. Maar as die Azazel die Jode kon mislei dan verseker ek julle dat hy ook die Christene kan mislei. As die Azazel instaat was om Israel te mislei dan verseker ek julle dat hy geen probleem gaan hê om die grootste deel van die Kerk te mislei nie.


Dit was hulle Boek, dit was hulle geloof en hulle het dit nie gesien nie. As hy hulle kon mislei wie kan hy nie mislei nie? Moenie dat hy jou mislei nie.


God Seën!


JP 04/18


June 29, 2025
Click on the photo to hear Brigitte Gabriel
By Mea Fredrickson June 21, 2025
Come and join the saints and our dear brother Marco Quintana for fellowship and teaching.
By Jacob Prasch June 19, 2025
Andrew, I love you as a brother and I appreciate so much of what you do and write. This piece of garbage by J. Paulette Peltier however is an offensive exception and an insult to any Christian with an ounce of reason. As a saved American born and Born Again believer in Jesus, I do not believe this silly nonsense. The Word of God and factual reality demand otherwise.
By Mea Fredrickson June 16, 2025
Please Pray for repentance and mercy for the UK and the church as a whole. We are one body.
By Mea Fredrickson June 2, 2025
LORD WE LIFT UP OUR BROTHERs!
By Jacob Prasch May 10, 2025
lord we lift up our brother teerth!
By Jacob Prasch April 22, 2025
OBITUARY FOR A DEVIL
By Mea Fredrickson April 12, 2025
PRAY FOR THE BELIEVERS IN INDIA
By Mea Fredrickson April 11, 2025
A Rescue and a warning.
April 3, 2025
Japan is an incredible nation with impressive inventions, a unique culture, and a brilliantly efficient way of life in spite of having limited natural resources. Where else can a person ride on a bullet train at 320 kilometers per hour, eat raw fish (safely), hear about snow falling on monkeys "chilling" in hot springs, see spring cherry blossoms in front of a 500 year old castle, watch a sumo wrestling match, and be in the country where words like "ninja," "samurai," "karate," "karaoke," "Kawasaki," "Yamaha," "Canon," "Toyota," "origami," and "sushi," originated? Japan, also known as the land of the rising sun, has a very interesting history. Much of that history was shaped and influenced by various religious convictions. In this paper I will first give a historical overview of Japanese Buddhism and then focus on its most popular forms today (which mostly fall into the category of Mahayana Buddhism- "large vehicle" Buddhism). For a list of statistics, reflecting the popularity of various Buddhist influences in Japan, please see appendix A. In looking at Japanese Buddhism, several themes keep popping up: the popularity of the Lotus Sutra (a sutra is a Buddhist text), ancestor worship, chanting and the use of rosaries, pantheism, Shintoism (Japan's pre-Buddhist religion which is sometimes mixed with Buddhism), savior figures such as Amida (Amitabha), Kannon (Avalokitesvara), and Dainichi (Vairocana), and mystical revelations as opposed to historically verifiable truths. Of course the various schools of Japanese Buddhism have differences in their emphasis or denial of these themes, sometimes teaching completely opposite doctrines of one another. The goal of this paper is to show the sure foundation of the Bible in contrast to man-made systems, which are interesting, but don't have the ultimate saving power which every person in this world needs to get to heaven. Periods of Japanese History Related to Buddhism The Kofun Period (AD 250-538) The Asuka Period (AD 538-710) The Nara Period (AD 710-794) The Heian Period (AD 794-1185) The Kamakura Period (AD 1185-1333) The Ashikaga Period (AD 1333-1568) The Shokuho Period (AD 1568-1603) The Edo Period (AD 1603-1868) The Meiji Period (AD 1868-1912) The Taisho Period (AD 1912-1926) The Showa Period (AD 1926-1989) The Heisei Period (AD 1989- present) The Kofun Period (AD 250-538): Foundation This period is named after the "kofun" which were large burial mounds used at that time. Although the date given in Japanese legends is 660 BC for the beginning of the Japanese state, modern historians would place the beginning of the Japanese state in the Kofun Period instead, "...modern historians present us with the hesitant statement that a start was made towards building a center of political power in the Yamato region in the late third or early fourth century A.D. They regard the date 660 B.C. as about a thousand years too early" (Mason & Caiger, 25). "Pre-Buddhist Japanese religion centered on the worship of kami: beings (spirits, people, animals), objects, and places possessing charismatic power. This charisma was perceived to have not only a religious dimension, but also political and aesthetic dimensions as well" (Robinson, 241). Later, this pre-Buddhist Japanese religion came to be known as Shinto. "Shinto, as this animistic religion is called, has no founder and no bible” (Mason & Caiger, 33). "The first emperor of Japan did not ascend the throne in 660 B.C., but Japan's imperial institution is still the world's oldest hereditary office" (Mason & Caiger, 32). "The head of the imperial family in Yamato, from whom the present emperor is descended, claimed direct descent from the sun goddess (Amaterasu Omikami)..." (Mason & Caiger, 32). "In 1946, the emperor publicly denied his divinity; in 1947 the traditional system of interlocking households was dismantled, so that individuals were no longer bound by their family religion" (Robinson, 264). "...the kami were numerous and essentially amoral, with no established order among them...One of the principal problems in unifying Japan as a country thus lay in establishing a fixed narrative cycle to explain the hierarchy among the kami so that the various clans could be brought into a hierarchical relationship as well. The truth of these narratives was tested in the battlefield, and a shift in the balance of power would be reflected in a retelling of the relevant narrative" (Robinson, 242). Buddhism's claim was that it was based on "...universal principles rather than uncertain narratives" (Robinson, 242). We will see later in this paper that Buddhism also beckons help from uncertain narratives and thus has an uncertain foundation for its principles. The Asuka Period (AD 538-710): Hesitation "Buddhism was probably first brought to Japan by Korean immigrants...The first recorded contact on the royal level, however, was in 552" (Robinson, 243). King Syong-myong of Paikche (one of the three main states of Korea at that time), sent the emperor of Japan a request for military assistance against his enemies, along with a Buddhist image and Buddhist scriptures, telling him that Buddhism, "...leads ultimately to the highest wisdom and in which every prayer is fulfilled" (Saunders, 92). Ten years later, in AD 562, this Korean king who introduced Japan to Buddhism, "...was ultimately killed and his country conquered by the Sillans..." (Saunders, 92). Meanwhile, back in Japan, this new religion was met with suspicion by many. The Nakatomi and Mononobe families stood against the new religion, but the Soga family was in favor of it, and turned their house into a temple for this Buddhist image from Korea. Soon however, a pestilence broke out, and the Buddha image was blamed for this. The Nakatomi and Mononobe families, "...burned the temple and threw the image into a canal" (Saunders, 93). Years later another Buddha image was set up and another pestilence broke out. This time the image was again thrown into the river, but this did not seem to stop the pestilence, so the image was fished out of the river and set back up. The Mononobe family claimed that, "...they were descended from a kami [Shinto deity] who flew down from heaven riding in a 'heavenly-rock-boat'" (Mason & Caiger, 39). The Soga clan, who were descendants of Korean immigrants, defeated the Mononobe clan militarily in AD 587, and Buddhism began to gain more ground. "Prince Shotoku (AD 573-622), who was later regarded as the founder of Japanese Buddhism...imported Korean artisans to build temples...as well as Korean monks and nuns to staff them" (Robinson, 244). Prince Shotoku was himself descended from Korean immigrants, being a member of the Soga clan. Among other commentaries, Prince Shotoku also wrote a commentary on the Lotus Sutra, which would become a very prominent sutra in Japan. "Because Buddhist Sutras were all written in Chinese, it became plain to the Japanese that they might do better to establish direct contact with China, rather than go through Korean intermediaries" (Robinson, 244). The Nara Period (AD 710-794): Experimentation In 710 the capital moved from Asuka to Nara. There were six Buddhist schools of thought in the Nara Period (Kusha, Jojitsu, Sanron, Hosso, Kegon, and Ritsu). "Kusha, Jojitsu, and Sanron were never more than curriculum subjects..." (Robinson, 245). Only the Hosso, Kegon, and Ritsu schools still have an active following in modern times, which together account for only about half of one percent of Japan's population. Here's a brief description of some of the beliefs of the surviving three schools: Hosso: "In the Hosso teaching, things exist for us through the projection or reflection of their image on our minds..." (Saunders, 121). "...the Hosso school does not recognize that every being has within it the Buddha nature" (Saunders, 123). Kegon: "The Hua-Yen [Kegon] worldview was adapted to political ideology by equating Vairocana, the Cosmic Sun Buddha, with the emperor, whose uji [tribe or clan] claimed to be descendants of the sun" (Robinson, 245). "...the Kegon school which flourished in Nara times, taught that all phenomenon were fundamentally one and interchangeable" (Mason & Caiger, 239). "The Avatamsaka-sutras (J. Kegonkyo), which are the basis of the Kegon school, are also intimately connected with Zen. They teach a kind of cosmotheism in which the various aspects of the universe are completely interdependent...Moreover, the Buddha-nature is in everything, as much in a grain of dust as in man" (Saunders, 204-205). Many of the Japanese Buddhist sects cancel each other out, as can be seen in the Hosso and Kegon beliefs about the Buddha-nature. Ritsu: "Ritsu, named after the Chinese Lu, or Vinaya tradition, concerned itself with exegesis of the Vinaya (the Buddhist code of monastic discipline)...this sect was also responsible in Japan for the ordination of the clergy" (Noriyoshi, 163). The Heian Period (AD 794-1185): Amalgamation "In 784, THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL was transferred from Nara to Nagaoka and from there in 794 to Heian , the present-day Kyōto , where it was to remain in name at least, until 1868" (Saunders, 134). In this period two new schools of Buddhism emerged: Tendai and Shingon. "...both the Tendai and Shingon sects explained that the Shinto kami were actually nirmanakaya (emanation bodies) of the great Cosmic Buddhas" (Robinson, 246). "...Both Tendai and Shingon retained the Hinayana concepts of rebirth (karma), monasticism, and self-effort" (Mason & Caiger, 100-101). Tendai Saicho (AD 767-822) founded the Tendai School of Buddhism after spending time in China learning from various schools there. He set up his headquarters on Mount Hiei. "Mount Hiei went on to become the major monastic center in Japan and remained so until its destruction at the end of the sixteenth century. In its heyday, it housed thirty thousand monks and contained more than three thousand buildings... The vast amount of wealth donated to the temple required that some of the monks be armed to protect it from thieves. These armed monks formed factions that then became involved in disputes over succession to the position of abbot" (Robinson, 247). "...all the major monastic reformers of the following period- Eisai, Dogen, Honen, Shinran, and Nichiren- spent their early monastic careers at Mount Hiei and were largely motivated in their efforts at reform by the corruption they witnessed there..." (Robinson, 248). "[In Tendai]...there was a belief in the eventual salvation of all beings...there was the idea that all life, and not just human life, was basically the same; that is, an idea of underlying unity of existence...This teaching was based on the Lotus Sutra, one of the great scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism. The Lotus Sutra claims to be a final sermon preached by Gautama shortly before he entered nirvana. In reality, it was composed long after Gautama's death..." (Mason & Caiger, 102). The five reformers mentioned above were all influenced to some degree by the Lotus Sutra. "Saicho adhered to the T'ien-t'ai doctrine that recognized universal salvation, that is, the existence of the absolute nature of Buddhahood in all beings" (Michio, 270). In 2004, Tendai still claimed followers among 2.7% of the Japanese population. "Tendai recognizes Vairochana, the solar pan-Buddha, as an expression of the dharmakaya..." (Saunders, 144-145). Shingon The founder of Shingon was Kukai (AD 774-835) who also went to China to learn. There are four statues of him in Japan ranging in height from 16-21 meters. "From Prajna [a Kashmirian monk], Kukai is said to have received sutras and a rosary with which he is frequently portrayed in Japanese representations of him" (Saunders, 154). Using prayer beads was a practice used in Hinduism hundreds of years before Christ. "In addition to founding Shingon he devised a syllabary that greatly simplified the reading and writing of Japanese" (Robinson, 248). "Shingon posits a kind of pantheism in which the whole universe is a manifestation, an emanation, of the central solar divinity, Vairochana (J. Dainichi)" (Saunders, 161). "[Vairochana's] marked solar character made it particularly easy to establish a relationship with the native sun goddess Amaterasu, the Dual Shinto system..." (Saunders, 168). "Shingon was Mahayana Buddhism with a strong mixture of Tibetan or Tantric emphasis on such things as ritual speech and mystic union with the deities" (Mason & Caiger, 105). The texts which Shingon was based on, "...involved a pantheon heavily influenced by Hinduism, containing numerous divinities not purely Buddhist" (Saunders, 161). Practicing Shingon requires disciples to, "...bring body and speech into harmony through the use of the mudras [sacred gestures] and mantras [sacred words or phrases] taught by Mahavairocana. Then, by absorbing one's mind in these physical manifestations along with visualization of chaste but colorful mandalas [sacred pictures], total harmony can be attained..." (Robinson, 248-249). The goal of these exercises was actually to become Mahavairocana, which fits in with Shingon's pantheism. "Shingon was based on Tantras of the Yoga class...the practice of imitating the body, speech, and mind of the Buddha Mahavairocana (The Great Sun), so as to assume the identity of that great being" (Robinson, 248). Ezekiel, who prophesied around 590 BC, before Israel's temple was destroyed by Babylon, recorded Israel's unfaithfulness to God. They worshipped the sun. "And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose." (Ezekiel 8:16-17) Putting "the branch to their nose", probably refers to the practice, still used in modern times, of holding up incense sticks in a worshipful gesture. Shingon's idea of pantheism is also reflected in art. "Shingon's idea that Truth (i.e. the cosmic Buddha) included the unpleasant as well as the agreeable sides of life..." (Mason & Caiger, 115). Also related to Vairocana's unpleasant side is, "...a secondary group of divinities called Wisdom Kings (myo-o)...Fudo (skt. Achala), the Immovable, a form of Shiva...He is regularly portrayed holding in his hands a sword and a rope; with the former he cuts down the evils of the world, and with his rope he binds them...with a terrible face from which two fangs protrude, while behind him arises a background of flames" (Saunders, 176). In Hinduism, from which Fudo is derived, Shiva is the destroyer. "Fudo Myo-o is the central deity in all Myo-o groupings...Today, the Myo-o are revered mainly by the Shingon sect...Indeed, the Myo-o are forms of Dainichi [Vairocana], and represent Dainichi 's wrath against evil and ignorance." (http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/fudo.html) In pantheism, even the evil sides of life are part of the "deity." In the sutra of the Kurikara incantation, "He [Fudo] assumes the form of a flame-wreathed snake or dragon coiled around an upright sword..." (http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/dragons.html) Shingon continues to hold sway over many people in Japan. Fudo, who supposedly can change to be a snake or dragon, and who is derived from Shiva the destroyer, is supposed to be a manifestation of Vairocana. The Bible declares clearly who this snake/dragon-like being is. "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Revelation 12:9). In 2004, about 9.9% of the population considered themselves to be adherents of Shingon. The Kamakura Period (AD 1185-1333): Reformation In AD 1185 power was taken from the emperor and a new form of government emerged under the authority of a shogun. The imperial capital was still in Kyoto, and the emperor was allowed to hold his title, but the political capital was moved to Kamakura, where the shogun resided. During this time on Mount Hiei, near Kyoto, there were five prominent men who came out of the Tendai school, and became reformers of Japanese Buddhism: Eisai, Dogen, Honen, Shinran, and Nichiren. Eisei and Dogen: Zen Buddhism As of 2004, about 2.6% of Japan's population claimed to be Zen Buddhists. Although that's a pretty low number, internationally, Zen is probably the best known form of Japanese Buddhism. "Myoan Eisai (1141-1215) established the first Zen (in Chinese, Ch'an) temple in Kyoto in 1202...Dissatisfaction with the eclecticism of Eisai's Zen led a number of monks in the following generation to travel to China on their own to receive transmission of a less adulterated teaching to bring back to Japan. The first to do so was Dogen Kigen (1200-53)....Zen, he [Dogen] says, is essentially 'dethinking thinking.' With what means is dethinking to be thought? 'Beyond thinking'" (Robinson, 251). Altered States of Consciousness Zen focuses on meditation as the way towards enlightenment. The word Zen comes from the Pali word "jhana" and the Sanskrit word "dhyana." "The four dhyanas are best understood as a series of altered states of consciousness characterized by an increasing degree of enstasy. The term 'enstasy' literally means 'standing within.' An enstatic practice, then, is one aimed at the withdrawal of the practitioner's senses and thoughts from contact with the external world and at the reduction of the contents of her consciousness" (Griffiths, 38). "It is even possible to see strong parallels between his [Dogen's] thought and that of early Buddhism: Dethinking thinking corresponds to the use of right view to go beyond views...Dogen became regarded as the founder of the Soto school of Zen" (Robinson, 252). Early Buddhism, which is carried on in the Theravada tradition, resembles Zen in some of their meditation goals and techniques. In early Buddhism, "Jhana...signifies a state of trance in which all sensory input, aside from the subject of meditation, is totally excluded from awareness. At the higher jhanic levels the meditator is also incapable of speech or movement, and in the highest possible, attention is said to be without ordinary consciousness and to reach the trance of cessation. According to the Pali Canon, Gotama reached Buddhahood (enlightenment) by means of the four classic jhanas, gained by concentrated attention on the (unspecified) meditational subjects he had chosen" (King, 88). Beyond Words and Logic Bodhidharma (c. AD 470-534), who in Japan is called Daruma, is said to be the first Chinese patriarch of Zen. "His [Bodhidharma's] teaching goes back traditionally to that of the Buddha himself, who once while preaching held up a flower and smiled. Only Kashyapa understood that the Buddha meant to symbolize the inadequacy of words to express the essence of his Doctrine. This is the 'wordless tradition' Bodhidharma brought to China, the transmission of which henceforth depended on intuitive apprehension of the Absolute" (Saunders, 208). According to the "Anthology of the Patriarchal Hall", written in AD 952, Bodhidharma is said to have faced a wall for nine years, not speaking at all. Whether or not this is legend, it is in keeping with the wordless philosophy. This tendency against rational thought continues in the modern Zen school. "Zen holds that nobody can actually think himself into a state of enlightenment, still less depend on the logical arguments of others. Rationality must eventually give way to intuitive insight, which alone frees a person to live naturally and spontaneously..." (Mason & Caiger, 169). This kind of approach to morality and religion does not match the real world. If a teacher "intuitively" gave grades to students without looking at test scores and other rational factors, there would be an outcry of "that's not fair" from the students. If a doctor "intuitively" and "spontaneously" prescribed medicine, people would die. The same chaos would result if this were applied to financial decisions, driving decisions, moral decisions, etc. An "enlightenment" which is "beyond views" and "beyond thought" is really a suppression of the truth. Instead of freedom for rational thought, experience is overemphasized, which results in going away from truth. The rationality we use in everyday life also applies to understanding spiritual truths. Koans are one way to "overcome" rationality in Zen, such as meditating on the question, "What's the sound of one hand clapping?" In addition to the koan, sometimes a "shocking yell" is used. "Koans are, so to speak, undeveloped themes, which often illogically confound the intellect and appeal to the intuition for understanding. Like the yell 'katsu!' they are meant to establish a direct intuitive understanding, bypassing inhibitive intellectual processes" (Saunders, 212). "...the purpose of asking such questions [koans] from all possible sides is not to come to any conclusive answers, but to become more and more familiar with the dynamic of 'beyond thinking'..." (Robinson, 252). Another technique to overcome thought, used in some schools, was (and is) the whack of a stick: "...the stick which, like the yell, was used- corporally- to startle the mind to sudden enlightenment" (Saunders, 213). One example of a longer koan, was a case in a monastery in China. "Monks of the northern and southern halls of Nan-ch'uan's monastery engaged in a rowdy dispute over the possession of a kitten. Catching the cat, Nan-ch'uan held it up before the disputing monks and said, 'If any among you can tell me why I should not kill this cat, I will spare its life.' Since none of the monks spoke, Nan-ch'uan dashed the kitten to the ground and killed it. The monk Chao-chou (J. Joshu, 778-891), returning to the monastery after a day's absence, was greeted by Nan-ch'uan and asked what he would have answered had he been present. Chao-chou removed his straw sandals, placed them on his head, and left the presence of Nan-ch'uan. Whereupon Nan-ch'uan said: 'If you had been there, the cat would have been saved.' Chao-chou's action implied neither affirmation nor negation. In other words, it expressed the Void that is the only answer to any problem, and his pointing out the nonexistence of the problem constituted the saving word which was never spoken" (Saunders, 212-213). "The Prajnaparamita-Sutras are studied today in Zen cloisters, and their concept of the ultimate Void of all things continues to influence Zen thinking" (Saunders, 204). There are many negative implications of a philosophy like this for society. Chao-chou's disinterested response about the kitten, show a classical Buddhist detachment, combined with the Mahayana doctrine of the "Void of all things." This "ultimate Void" is in contrast with the belief of the Buddha-nature being in everything (see under Kegon about cosmotheism on page 4). As we've seen already though, logical coherence is not a priority in Zen. The popular Zen author, D.T. Suzuki wrote, "Zen is neither monotheistic nor pantheistic; Zen defies all such designations...Zen defies all concept-making. That is why Zen is difficult to grasp" (Suzuki, 41-42). Suzuki then quotes Yengo (AD 1566- 1642) to help "define" what Zen is: "The great truth of Zen is possessed by everybody. Look into your own being and seek it not through others...In its light all is absorbed. Hush the dualism of subject and object, forget both, transcend the intellect, sever yourself from the understanding, and directly penetrate deeply into the identity of the Buddha-mind; outside of this there are no realities" (Suzuki, 46). Suzuki has contradicted himself by quoting Yengo's concept-making and designations for Zen, which he said Zen defies. In the quotation we also see the pantheistic statement, "In its [Zen's] light all is absorbed." A follower of Zen is supposed to "transcend the intellect," bringing a person to the very dangerous place of leaving logic and commonsense behind. In the koan above, regarding a kitten, what if the case concerned a human baby, would there still be indifference shown and sandals worn on the head? In Keown's 1996 book he wrote, "In Japan...abortion is legal and around a million abortions are performed each year. This compares with a figure of 1.5 million for the United States, a country with over twice the population of Japan" (Keown, 102). America as a nation has also gone far from God and the compassion that should be shown to a baby in the womb. The problem with the view of indifference is that some things really are evil and some things really are good. If people go through life indifferent and detached (but ironically very attached to the view of indifference), this filter for life (also called the middle way of equanimity) will cause them to miss God who is ultimately good, and cause them not to avoid some things that really are evil. Honen and Shinran: Pure Land Buddhism This is by far the most popular form of Buddhism in Japan today. About 15.3 % of Japanese people in 2004 identified themselves as being Pure Land Buddhists. "While Amidism [Pure Land Buddhism] stressed salvation through others, i.e., through the Buddha Amida, Zen emphasized salvation within oneself. Every man has the Buddha-nature, and this nature is perceptible through a 'realization of self' (Saunders, 228). "Amida's presence in the Tendai and Shingon sects testifies to his existence as an Esoteric divinity. Thus, like other Esoteric gods, Amida was an object of meditation...Merely calling on Amida's name (nembutsu), was not sufficient..." (Saunders, 189). This Tendai and Shingon emphasis (which like Zen involved much self-effort) changed through the influence of Honen and Shinran. Honen (1133-1212) founded the Jodo sect of Pure Land. This was based on the idea that a person could call on the Amida Buddha's help to bring them into the Pure Land when they die. "A charismatic leader, he practiced what he preached- chanting the Nembutsu up to seventy thousand times a day- and drew disciples from all levels of society..." (Robinson, 254). Shinran (1173-1262) was a disciple of Honen. "We are told that he dreamed Kannon instructed him to study with Honen, which he began to do in 1201" (Saunders, 198). Shinran later had some dramatic visions, which eventually led him to found Shin Buddhism (a.k.a. Jodo Shinshu). "After twenty years on Mount Hiei, grappling with the constraints of celibacy, he experienced a revelation, in which the Bodhisattva Kuan-yin (in Japanese, Kannon) appeared to him in a dream and promised to come to him in the form of a young woman who he should marry" (Robinson, 254). Shinran did get married and then had another revelation, "...that the saving grace of Amida required only one Nembutsu" (Robinson, 254). "Shinran's doctrine, similar to Honen's, opened itself to all sorts of abuses and misinterpretations. His own son, Zenran, preached such an inflammatory version of the teaching as to make it an outright invitation to sin. Shinran eventually had to sever all relations with him" (Robinson, 255). "Honen had thought that the greater the number of repetitions the greater the believer's chances of rebirth in the Pure Land" (Mason & Caiger, 164). Over the years there were many debates about whether one calling on Amida was sufficient or whether repetitive callings were necessary. Nowadays both schools are still in existence, but Shin Buddhism (one calling) is more popular. "China, Korea, and Vietnam decided in favor of combining devotion to Amita [Amida] with Ch'an [Zen] meditation (known in Korea as Son and in Vietnam as Thien), while Japan divided Pure Land and Zen into separate lineages" (Corless, 263). Tao-ch'o (AD 562- 645) of China, "...is credited with the introduction of the rosary into Pure Land practice, with the aid of which both laypeople and monastic people notched up record numbers of nien fo [Nembutsu]" (Corless, 263). In contrast, Jesus said, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking" (Matthew 6:7). Although Shinran's devotion was primarily to Amida, he also paid respect to Kannon (which has the largest number of tall statues in Japan). From the picture given in Pure Land sutras, "On either side of him [Amida] are his chief bodhisattvas, the greatly compassionate Avalokitesvara [Kannon] and the greatly powerful Mahasthamaprapta..." (Corless, 253). However, both of these personalities (Amida and Kannon) date from after the time of Christ. And, they are not real historical figures, but inventions of hagiographers. "Whereas Honen had stripped meditation and merit making away from the teaching, leaving only faith and the Nembutsu, Shinran stripped it down still further, leaving only faith in tariki (other-power), with no trace of jiriki (self-power) at all" (Robinson, 255). The well known Thai Buddhist scholar P.A. Payutto has said, "No matter where Buddhism spreads to, or how distorted the teaching becomes, this emphasis on human endeavor never varies. If this one principle is missing, we can confidently say that it is no longer Buddhism" (38). According to Payutto, Shin Buddhism should not even be called Buddhism, because of its complete lack of emphasis on self-effort. Only One Savior At first glance, Amida seems to fulfill the role that God does in Christianity- bringing salvation by grace and not by works. But there are some big differences between God Almighty and Amida: "[Amida]...is not unique in the universe as a whole, being only one of many Buddhas...he does not create, sustain, or destroy the universe as a whole, nor is he the ontological support...for the universe as a whole...he does not stand above the worshiper as an ontologically 'Higher Power'...his life is not infinite, since there was a time when he was not a Buddha" (Corless, 247-248). Honen and Shinran were not the only ones to make changes to Pure Land doctrines. "These two points- recitation rather than meditation, and the inclusion of sinners with those who can benefit from Amitabha's [Amida's] vows- were the main Chinese departures from Indian Amitabha doctrines" (Robinson, 196). Over the years many changes have been made in Pure Land doctrine. Shin Buddhism has strayed not only from Pure Land doctrine, but has also strayed far from reality in following after a non-historical person who has no authority to save us. When we look for a doctor we look for good credentials and reliability. When we look for an insurance company we likewise look for reliability and trustworthiness. When looking for a saviour we should not expect less. In fact, we should expect more. "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour" (Isaiah 43:11). "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:22). "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). There is only one God Almighty! God said "beside me there is no saviour," and yet Jesus is called "Saviour." This is because Jesus is God Almighty. Jesus' salvation is far reaching, even promising salvation to the thief on the cross who put his faith in Him. This was not an empty promise. Jesus proved his authority when He rose from the dead. The historical records regarding the resurrection of Jesus from the dead are of the caliber that have brought many lawyers to faith in Jesus. "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:39-43). Jesus can save someone from any walk of life. To read the story of how the granddaughter of a Shin Buddhist priest's daughter became a Christian, please see Appendix B. Nichiren: Nichiren Buddhism As of 2004, the various Nichiren sects accounted for about 13% of Japan's population. Nichiren (AD 1222-1282) also left the Tendai school, but focused exclusively on the Lotus Sutra to form his Buddhist sect. "Only the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren felt, contained the unadulterated True Dharma. All other Buddhist sects were wrong..." (Robinson, 256). "Nichiren's life followed the pattern of a Shinto shaman more than that of a Buddhist leader. He attracted a following largely through his courage and...his personality, which at times resembled that of a medium possessed" (Robinson, 256). "...the practice he [Nichiren] recommended was simplicity itself: the repetition of the daimoku (mantra) 'Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō'...Later he worked out a mandala [sacred picture] representing his beliefs, called the gohonzon, at which one was to stare while repeating one's declaration of homage" (Robinson, 256). The name "Nichiren" which was not his original name, but is a name that he chose, means, "sun-lotus." "...nichi standing not only for the sunlight of true faith, but for Japan itself; ren, for the Lotus" (Saunders, 231). Nichiren also wrote a lot. "...these writings were devoted to exposing the errors of other sects, especially the Amidist and Zen, and later the Shingon and Ritsu. In fact, adverse criticism of these four branches became an integral part of Nichirenism" (Saunders, 233). "Although Nichiren promoted the doctrine of universal salvation, his school developed into the most exclusive and often militant group in Japanese religious history" (Michio, 273). Nichiren once said, "It is a great pity that they should have cut off the heads of the innocent Mongols and left unharmed the priests of Nembutsu [Pure Land], Shingon, Zen, and Ritsu, who are the enemies of Japan" (Mason & Caiger, 165). "Nichiren presented his doctrines as complex meditations on the Lotus Sutra's teaching of the original Buddha-nature...placing faith in the conviction that the Eternal Buddha Sakyamuni, the truth of the Sutra, and all beings were ultimately one..." (Robinson, 256). This belief, like those of other schools in Japanese Buddhism (Kegon, Tendai, Shingon, and Zen), sounds very pantheistic. For example in Tendai, "...there was the idea that all life, and not just human life, was basically the same; that is, an idea of underlying unity of existence...This teaching was based on the Lotus Sutra..." (Mason & Caiger, 102). Such a "unity of existence" and the supposed ultimate oneness of the Buddha and "all beings" can make no distinction between good and evil. It is pantheistic, saying that everything is one, which would include good and evil! Even though Nichiren tried to make distinctions of "right" and "wrong," based on the Lotus Sutra he had no grounds for doing so. Nichiren was not indifferent about what he thought was good or evil, but he had no standard within his system which was authoritative and separate from the evil of this universe. Only God almighty can provide that perfect standard. Kannon In Kyoto there is a temple that has 1000 idols of Kannon. Surrounding these are 28 "protectors" of hers, many of which look like demons, some having snakes hanging out of their head or arms. Many of these 28 were taken straight from Hinduism. Doesn't that say something when a "deity" is being protected by demon-like beings? Demons certainly don't want to promote the truth. The Dalai Lama is said to be the manifestation of Kannon even though he is male, and usually Kannon is portrayed as female. "In China, Avalokitesvara [Kannon] was eventually represented as a woman" (Robinson, 108). By the way, the brand name "Canon" (cameras, printers, etc.) is also named after Kannon. (http://www.canon.com/about/history/outline.html) Kannon receives much attention in the Lotus Sutra, going by the name of Avalokitesvara. In the Lotus Sutra, it is recorded that Avalokitesvara (Kannon) can change its form, becoming a woman, a boy or a girl, a garuda bird, or even a naga snake (www.bdkamerica.org/digital/dbet_t0262_lotussutra_2007.pdf). "The Avalokitesvara Sutra was incorporated into the Lotus Sutra as late as the third century C.E." (Robinson, 108). "...Maitreya, Manjusri, and Avalokitesvara [Kannon]...These great beings are nonhistorical; there is no evidence that any of them is an apotheosis of a human hero.... Strangely, no Sutra preaches devotion to a celestial bodhisattva until the third century C.E..." (Robinson, 105). In Japan there are 10 statues of Kannon taller than the U.S. statue of liberty, and 32 statues of Kannon ranging in height from 17-100 meters. Sadly, millions of yen have been poured into this non-historical idol, while ignoring the One who really deserves our praise and attention, namely our Creator. God doesn't want to be worshipped with idols though, but in "spirit and in truth," as Jesus taught. Jesus' existence is very much confirmed in history. He performed miracles, led a perfect life, was raised from the dead, and his life was prophesied in hundreds of details in the Old Testament, hundreds and thousands of years before he came. Jesus said, "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). The Ashikaga Period Through the Edo Period (AD 1333-1868): Stagnation During this time, "All Buddhist sects aside from Soto and Rinzai [both Zen] had formed armed societies to protect their interests, only to be slaughtered by the hundreds of thousands, which destroyed Buddhism's credibility as an instrument for national unity" (Robinson, 257). Government headquarters were set up in Edo at this time (modern day Tokyo). From the Kamakura Period (1185) up until the beginning of the Meiji Period (1868), Japan was mostly ruled by shoguns. "...the long period of uneventful existence, of status quo, the absence of new ideas or challenges from abroad, were ultimately to sap the vitality of Buddhist institutions until, by the end of the Tokugawa period [1868], their condition can at best be called apathetic" (Saunders, 247). "...at the beginning of the Meiji era [1868], Buddhism was at its weakest. The years of stultification under Tokugawa control had terminated in the identification of the religion with the shogunal power...In 1867, the shogunate collapsed, and the next year Buddhism was disestablished and largely disendowed" (Saunders, 255). The Meiji Period (AD 1868-1912): Renovation The Meiji Restoration involved many aspects of society, but of course began with, "...restoring the emperor to his rightful position which had been usurped by the Fujiwara and a succession of shoguns" (Mason & Caiger, 258). The exaltation of Shintoism went hand in hand with the exaltation of the emperor. "The government proclaimed the adoption of Shinto as the national religion in 1870 under the name of Daikyo, or 'Great Doctrine.' A strong propagandist movement was initiated, and missionaries were sent throughout the land, whose duty it was to refute Confucianism and Buddhism and defend the concept of Shinto" (Saunders, 257). The Taisho Period to The Heisei Period (AD 1912- present): Innovation After World War II, "...the emperor publicly denied his divinity...individuals were no longer bound by their family religion...[and] a policy of land distribution was enacted...The combined effect of these directives was to create, for the first time in Japanese history, a totally secular government; to give individuals total religious freedom" (Robinson, 264). Many new religions (shinko shukyo) sprung up. On the other hand, "Polls indicate that large numbers of Japanese do not view themselves as belonging to any particular group" (Robinson, 265). Soka Gakkai Soka Gakkai Buddhism is an offshoot within Nichiren Buddhism. It began in 1938 and is based on Nichiren’s teachings. "The sect recommends the traditional Nichiren practice of chanting...although the purpose of the chant is to attain this-worldly goals: Job promotion, financial success, family harmony, and the alleviation of physical and psychological ills" (Robinson, 265). "The Gohonzon scroll is the religious core of the Soka Gakkai faith" (Dumoulin, 259). "The personal character of the religion is particularly apparent in the spirituality of President Ikeda, who teaches the faithful to pray daily: 'Gohonzon, help me to accomplish this today'" (Dumoulin, 259). "Among the many mandalas created by Nichiren to represent symbolically the total content of his teachings- that is, absolute reality according to the vision of the Lotus Sutra- one [the Gohonzon] is accorded special importance by the Nichiren Shoshu and the Soka Gakkai...a scroll upon which Chinese ideograms are written in vertical order..." (Dumoulin, 258- 259). Dumoulin, in visiting the Daisekiji temple, writes, "...I was not only touched by the intense conviction of the young people there, devoid of all human fear, but I also felt that their disposition unmistakably exhibited a personal relationship with the Gohonzon" (Dumoulin, 259). David Hesselgrave, writing about a disagreement between Soka Gakkai Buddhism and Nichiren Buddhism (their umbrella organization at that time) says, "Built a quarter century ago at a cost of $100,000,000 (well over twice that figure at today's exchange rate), the Shohondo [a main hall on Nichiren temple grounds, but largely built by Sokka Gakkai donations] was one of the most impressive buildings in the Buddhist world. And yet, in spite of the pleas and protests of prominent architects, politicians and religious leaders of various persuasions, a Nichiren Buddhist priest had spent $35,000,000 to have it demolished!...Power struggles and factionalism finally reached a climax in 1991 when High Priest Abe took the radical step of excommunicating Ikeda [Soka Gakkai's president] and all his followers." www.emsweb.org/images/stories/docs/bulletins/hesselgrave_nichirenists_2_2000.pdf Conflict between Nichiren and Soka Gakkai went back further to after World War II when Soka Gakkai president Toda, forced one of the Nichiren monks in 1952 to sign a declaration of guilt. "This particular monk was blamed for the suppression of the Soka Gakkai during the war, and for Makiguchi's death [the founder of Soka Gakkai] in prison, because as a leader he had favored syncretism with Shinto, the state religion, as well as an organizational merger with other Nichiren sects from Mount Minobu" (Dumoulin, 258). This conflict aside, Soka Gakkai members focus on the Gohonzon, which Dumoulin was told was, "...nothing other than the presence of the holy Buddha Nichiren" (Dumoulin, 259). Having a relationship with a scroll, which is supposed to invoke the presence of Nichiren, a dead man, whose personality, "at times resembled that of a medium possessed" (Robinson, 256), is spiritually dangerous to say the least. More on this later, when discussing "familiar spirits." Reiki Reiki was a Japanese adaptation of some Hindu ideas (e.g. chakras- the seven energy centers). In 1922 Mikao Usui , after going through a Buddhist training course, said he received a revelation regarding Reiki. It's a method that aims to bring healing through "supernatural influence." "...many nurses, counselors, and especially massage therapists use Reiki as a supplement to their work" (Yungen, 95). "Reiki came to the United States (from Japan) in the mid 1970s. It took about twenty years for this particular practice to reach 500,000 practitioners....By the year 2005, the number skyrocketed to an astonishing one million practitioners in just the U.S." (Yungen, 13)! Reiki claims to have 5 million followers worldwide. (http://www.reiki.ne.jp/reiki_japan/en.html) "...many Reiki practitioners report having verbalized channeled communications with the spirit world" (Yungen, 97). In Reiki, guidance is given by spirits, called "Reiki guides." One Reiki master wrote of her experience, "For me, the Reiki guides make themselves the most felt while attunements are being passed. They stand behind me and direct the whole process, and I assume they also do this for every Reiki master. When I pass attunements, I feel their presence strongly and constantly. Sometimes I can see them" (Yungen, 95). Reiyu-kai Reiyu-kai, was founded in 1925, as an offshoot of Nichiren. In 1963, they claimed to have 3.6% of the Japanese population as members. Presently, they have about five million members worldwide (http://reiyukaiglobal.org/introduction.php). "It is based on the Lotus Sutra and stresses filial piety and duty towards ancestors" (Saunders, 281). "...ancestor worship is the core of its teaching and practice. Easily understood by the common man, it gives him access to the world of spirits and souls which the shamanistic cofounder mediated to her following" (Dumoulin, 241). Funerals and Spirits "...traditional Buddhism has lost much of its appeal, except as a relic of Japan's cultural past. 'Funeral Buddhism' is the name that many people use to refer to the traditional sects, in light of the ritual role to which many of the priests have been reduced" (Robinson, 265). "Many temples have become funeral institutions, whose administrators concern themselves primarily with well-paid rites for the dead" (Dumoulin, 217). "As a means of gaining their [provincial samurai and the peasantry] allegiance Soto [a school of Zen] assimilated a certain amount of popular beliefs and rituals but devised, above all, funeral and memorial services for the dead, a trait that was to become one of the characteristic features of almost all Buddhist schools in Japan" (Noriyoshi, 169). "The time-honored ritual of sutra copying (shakyo), still popular among Jodo, Shingon, and Tendai followers, is undertaken to bring repose to the spirits of the dead, accumulate merit for the practitioner, and deepen faith in the sutra copied" (Unno, 323). Also related to bringing "repose to the spirits of the dead" is the Obon festival. "...it [Ullambana, known in Japan as Obon] began in the sixth century in China and soon after was introduced to Japan...the origin of the Ullambana ceremony is found in the legend of Moggallana...who through transcendental vision saw his mother suffering in Avici hell. In order to save her he followed the advice of Sakyamuni Buddha and practiced charity by feeding hundreds of monks" (Unno, 320). This story is a very late invention, not being in the Pali Canon, which in and of itself already contains many legends. It comes from a text, "made in China," called the, "...Ullambana Sutra (a text composed in China)..." (Robinson, 215). "...much of the content of the Ullambana festival is non-Buddhist in origin" (Unno, 320-321). The main purpose of the Obon festival is, "...aiding the dead in their proper journey, keeping them from becoming malevolent and thereby dangerous to the living" (Robinson, 215). Involvement with spirits is a trademark of many Japanese Buddhist sects. Shintoism, being an animistic religion, also involves ceremonies to appease spirits, ask them for blessings, etc. In the Bible, "familiar spirits" are actually devils. God forbids us to invoke or communicate with them, because they are deceivers. When people die, they don't float around in this world. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment..." (Hebrews 9:27). There is nothing we can do for those who have died already. Whatever they have done in their lives will be judged by God, whose judgment is perfect and fair. The spirits that are in the spiritual realm of this world are not deceased family members, but are either angels or devils. If we are NOT submitted to God and adopted into God's family, then we are in danger of deception by devils pretending to be merciful and powerful beings. They try to take people's attention away from God, and towards bondage to spiritual lies. Even those who are Christians and part of God’s family are told to be careful. " Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1). The word "try" here means "put on trial"- to test. We do this by comparing their message with the standard of the Bible. God made it very clear that we are not to seek spiritual direction from anywhere apart from His Word. "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee" (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Isaiah, who lived about 700 years before Christ, rebuked the people for seeking dead spirits instead of God Almighty. "And when they shall say unto you, seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:19-20). God has authority over every spirit, so we need not be troubled by any lesser spirits. We can simply submit ourselves to God almighty, and He will lead our lives. God Almighty If we found a computer mouse laying on the road, would anyone doubt that it has a maker? A computer mouse cannot make itself. Even though we may not see the maker, the computer mouse itself is evidence that points to it having a creator. People have factories for making computer mice. But, people have no factories for making real mice. A computer mouse is impressive in that it can transmit information via it's "tail" to the computer, or in some types, the mouse has no tail and can transmit information "remotely." But, a real mouse has its own brain with which it can transmit commands to its body. Although we normally would think of a computer mouse as being "high-tech," seeing that people can make these, but cannot make real mice, we should actually call a computer mouse "low tech" and a real mouse "high tech." Only God can make a real mouse! Although we don't see God, the mouse itself is evidence that it has a Creator. Being far more complex than a computer mouse, it cannot make itself, nor randomly come into being without a Designer. God created people, too, but He created people in His own image, different from the animals. Monkeys don't have police monkeys, nor courtrooms, nor prisons, nor libraries, nor philosophers, etc. They follow instinct. People have the freedom to choose right or wrong. People will one day be held responsible by God for what they have done with their lives and how they have responded to God their Creator. Right now, the tallest statue on earth is an idol of the Vairocana Buddha in China, which stands at 128 meters. Compared to God Almighty, that statue is like a tiny piece of dust. How could people fit the Almighty God who made everything, into an idol made by people? Even if people could make an idol 8000 meters tall, with its head in the clouds, or 12,000 meters tall, with its head peering above the clouds, that is still tiny, compared to God Almighty. " Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest" (Isaiah 66:1)? In Japanese Buddhism, the Vairocana Buddha is exalted as a solar deity, and in Shintoism, Amaterasu Omikami is exalted as the sun goddess. Is the sun a worthy object of our worship? The universe itself is also said to be a manifestation of Vairocana. Is the universe a worthy object of our worship? The sun truly is massively big and amazing. But, compared to the rest of the universe it is likewise tiny. The sun and the universe point to God's incredible design. God almighty is separate from His creation and awesomely greater than it. The universe is also still under the curse brought about through sin, and is thus only an imperfect reflection of God's power. We should worship the Creator, not the creation. Jason Lisle gives us some insight about the sun and our universe, "The sun is about 400 times more distant than the moon. Remarkably, it is also 400 times larger. So it has the same angular size as the moon- meaning it appears the same size and covers the same portion of the sky [making the moon the perfect size to eclipse the sun]... If it [the sun] were hollow, it could hold over 1 million earths...When we consider the immensity of the Milky Way, with its 100 billion stars...the overwhelming power of the Creator becomes clear. Yet, our galaxy is not the only one...It is estimated that there are at least as many galaxies as there are stars in the Milky Way (100 billion)." http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/tba/splendor-of-creation#fnMark_1_1_1 As incredibly large as the universe is (making the sun seem tiny), God almighty is even greater than the universe He created. "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD" (Jeremiah 23:24). Conclusion The large vehicle of Buddhism (Mahayana Buddhism) is expressed in a large variety of ways and is practiced in Japan, China and elsewhere. Within this large vehicle there are schools of thought that are completely opposite of one another, but they are still considered to be part of Mahayana, since they cater to a larger group of people as opposed to Hinayana (the "small vehicle") for which enlightenment is seen as something few people can attain (Theravada is the only surviving school of Hinayana). Mahayana had a later start historically, mystically adding many new ideas to an already faulty system (Hinayana). In this paper, we've seen some of the shortcomings of the large vehicle in Japan. Shingon and the other schools which emphasize a pantheistic type of view implode on themselves when we consider that if all is included (which Shingon especially is very clear about, and other schools hint at), then evil also is included in the "Buddha-nature." Zen relies on the silent sermon and the "beyond logic" approach, defeating itself with any attempt to communicate anything. Shin Buddhism sees the vanity of self-effort, but suggests believing in a limited and imaginary being to help. The various Nichiren schools have an equally unreliable foundation in the Lotus Sutra. The Lotus Sutra was composed around AD 200 (Robinson, 85), but claims to be a final sermon of Gautama Buddha, which makes it about 600 years too late to be credible. Various other schools of thought which call on the "spirits of the dead" are likewise limited and in the dark, not knowing that these are actually deceiving spirits they are calling on. Besides this, no lesser spirit can help us find eternal salvation. God is almighty. Because He is almighty He expects us to put all of our faith in Him, not 50% in Him and 50% in something else. If we compare any of these schools of thought to a "vehicle" which is supposed to save us and get us to heaven, they are like vehicles that have no gasoline, or no tires, or are only imaginary, having no ability to take us anywhere. People have factories for making nice vehicles for the roads here on earth, but we have no factory to make a vehicle to get us to heaven. Only God almighty can bring a person to heaven, and that must be on His terms, which are revealed in the Bible through Jesus Christ. Tokichi Ishii, a former criminal, became a Christian in 1916. He wrote the following words: "Again, chaplains and pastors, and those who see men die, agree that the last words a man utters come from the depths of his soul, and that he does not die with lies upon his lips. Jesus' last words were, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do, and so I cannot but believe that they reveal his true heart." "What did the verse reveal to me? Shall I call it the love of the heart of Christ? Shall I call it His compassion? I do not know what to call it. I only know that with an unspeakably grateful heart, I believed. Through this simple sentence I was led into the whole of Christianity" (Ishii, 36). Christianity is not just a good idea, but is confirmed with historical and prophetic evidence. This is essential. Experiences, dreams, or even visions are not proof of spiritual reality. Such "evidences" would be thrown out of a court of law very quickly. What we have in Christianity are not only life transforming and wonderful truths about Jesus and His teachings, but also the kind of evidence that can be proven in a court of law. God our Creator deserves all of our worship and faith. Will you come to Jesus and put your faith in Him today? "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (I John 5:11-12). References Corless, R.J. (1997). Pure Land Piety. In Yoshinori, T., Van Bragt, J., Heisig, J.W., O'Leary, J.S. & Swanson, P.L. (Eds.), Buddhist Spirituality: Indian, Southeast Asia, Tibetan, and Early Chinese, volume 8 (pp.242- 271) New York: Crossroad. Dumoulin, H. (1976). Buddhism in Modern Japan. In Dumoulin, H. & Maraldo, J.C. (Ed. & associate Ed.), Buddhism in the Modern World. (pp. 215- 271) New York: Collier Books. Encyclopedia Britannica Almanac 2005. (2004). USA: Encyclopedia Britannica. Griffiths, P.J. (1997). Indian Buddhist Meditation. In Yoshinori, T., Van Bragt, J., Heisig, J.W., O'Leary, J.S. & Swanson, P.L. (Eds.), Buddhist Spirituality: Indian, Southeast Asia, Tibetan, and Early Chinese, volume 8 (pp. 34- 66) New York: Crossroad. Ishii, T. (1918). A Gentleman in Prison: The Confessions of Tokichi Ishii written in Tokyo Prison. Keown, D. (1996). Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press. King, W. (1997). Theravada in Southeast Asia. In Yoshinori, T., Van Bragt, J., Heisig, J.W., O'Leary, J.S. & Swanson, P.L. (Eds.), Buddhist Spirituality: Indian, Southeast Asia, Tibetan, and Early Chinese, volume 8 (pp. 79- 92) New York: Crossroad. Mason, R.H.P. & Caiger, J.G. (1997). A History of Japan: Revised Edition. Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing. Michio, A. (1989). The Schools of Japanese Buddhism. In J.M. Kitagawa & M.D. Cummings (Eds.), Buddhism and Asian History (pp.267- 275). New York: MacMillan Publishing Company. Noriyoshi, T. (1989). Buddhism in Japan. In J.M. Kitagawa & M.D. Cummings (Eds.), Buddhism and Asian History (pp.159- 173). New York: MacMillan Publishing Company. O'Brien, J. & Palmer, M. (2007). The Atlas of Religion: Mapping Contemporary Challenges and Beliefs. London: Earthscan. Payutto, P.A. (1998). Toward Sustainable Science. Bangkok: Buddhadhamma Foundation. Robinson, R.H., Johnson, W.L., Wawrytko, S.A., & DeGraff, G. (1997). The Buddhist Religion: A Historical Introduction. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company. Saunders, E.D. (1976). Buddhism in Japan: With an Outline of Its Origins in India. Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc. Suzuki, D.T. (1964). An Introduction to Zen Buddhism. New York: Grovepress. Unno, T. (1989). Buddhist Cultic Life in East Asia. In J.M. Kitagawa & M.D. Cummings (Eds.), Buddhism and Asian History (pp.317- 330). New York: MacMillan Publishing Company. Yungen, R. (2012). A Time of Departing. Eureka: Lighthouse Trails Publishing. Websites http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_statues_by_height http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/fudo.html http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/dragon.shtml http://www.canon.com/about/history/outline.html www.bdkamerica.org/digital/dbet_t0262_lotussutra_2007.pdf www.emsweb.org/images/stories/docs/bulletins/hesselgrave_nichirenists_2_2000.pdf http://www.reiki.ne.jp/reiki_japan/en.html http://reiyukaiglobal.org/introduction.php http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/tba/splendor-of-creation#fnMark_1_1_1 Appendix A Numbers and Hearts Japan has a land mass that is smaller than California, but a population over 3 times that of California. The entire population of the United States is only about 2.5 times that of Japan. In other words, about half of the United States could move into the state of California, and this would be roughly the population density of Japan. In spite of being a fairly small nation compared to other nations (but with a large and very diligent work force), Japan has done very well economically. "...the generally sustained increase in annual production has raised Japan to a position where, today, it comes second to only one other nation, the United States, in economic strength" (Mason & Caiger, 361, copyright 1997). More recently China has moved into the number 2 spot, but Japan is still number 3 in the world (as measured by GDP). In this situation of economic strength, many people's hearts in Japan, China, and America have decided to follow money instead of God almighty. "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:13-15). In Dale Saunders' book "Buddhism in Japan," he cites two other books dated 1960 and 1963, showing the number of members of the various Buddhist sects in Japan. Between 1960-65 the population of Japan was about 95.85 million people. Using the statistics from Saunders' book, but as a percentage of the total population, here are the seven most popular Buddhist sects at that time: Jodo Shin (also known as Shin Buddhism) 14.9%, Soka Gakkai 10.4%, Zen 9.6%, Jodo (the predecessor of Jodo Shin) 3.7%, Reiyukai 3.6% [an offshoot of Nichiren], Shingon 3.1%, and Nichiren 2.3%. Also reflecting the popularity of Shin Buddhism, a book published in 1918 ("A Gentleman in Prison") states that all prison chaplains at that time were Shin priests (Ishii, 49). The 1960/1963 statistics show that about 56.77% of the population of Japan was Buddhist. Statistics from 1995 show that about 69.6% of the population was Buddhist and 93.1% of the population was Shinto. Christians accounted for 1.2% and other religions for 8.1% of the population (Encyclopedia Britannica). Clearly there is an overlap between those who consider themselves to be Buddhist and those who consider themselves to be Shinto. Many people consider themselves to be followers of both Shintoism and Buddhism. These two religions have a history of syncretism with each other, though at times forcible distinctions were made. Comparing these statistics with more recent ones in 2004, we see that about 44% of the population considered themselves to be Buddhist, based on a population at that time of 127.6 million people. Nara religions accounted for 0.56% of the population, Zen 2.6%, Tendai 2.7%, Shingon 9.9%, Nichiren 13%, and Pure Land 15.3% (O'Brien). It seems that Soka Gakkai, Reiyukai, and Nichiren are all included under the heading of Nichiren here. Also, Jodo and Shin Buddhism seem to be included under the heading of Pure Land Buddhism. In summary, Jodo, Shin Buddhism and schools based on Nichiren's exaltation of the Lotus Sutra were still the most popular, with Shingon Buddhism, Tendai Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism also accounting for a large percentage of followers. The tallest statue in the world presently is in China and is of the Vairocana Buddha, which stands at 128 meters. Japan has 10 idols of Kannon that are taller than the U.S. statue of liberty (which is 46 meters tall). The tallest statue in Japan is the Amida (Amitabha) Buddha at 110 meters. Of all the Buddhist statues in Japan ranging from 13 meters to 110 meters tall, the top four types are as follows: Vairocana Buddha (3 statues), Kukai (4 statues), Amida Buddha (4 statues), and Kannon (32 statues). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_statues_by_height). The massive amount of money that is poured into these statues tells us something about where people's hearts are at. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). The popularity of various statues gives a slightly different picture compared to the popularity of the various Buddhist sects. With the popularity of Shin Buddhism, we would expect there to be more statues of Amida. Kannon is overwhelmingly the most popular statue, but it doesn't even have a sect dedicated solely to it. Kannon features prominently in the Lotus Sutra though, which Soka Gakkai, Nichiren, Reiyukai, and Tendai all exalt. Shin and Jodo Buddhism also give a place to Kannon, next to Amida. Vairocana is the central Buddha of the Shingon sect. And, Kukai (AD 774-835) was the founder of the Shingon sect. So, in a way this distribution does make sense. Appendix B Ayako Kawanishi's Story from Hyogo Ken, 90 years old (June 2013) (Thank you Geoff and Fumie Toole for recording this.) Praise the Lord. About 30 years ago there was a pastor who had been a teacher in my son’s school. He saw that society had given up taking care of children’s souls. Realizing that the training of the soul was important, as opposed to only teaching academic subjects, he quit teaching and ended up studying in a theological college to become a pastor. My son also attended his church and one day he visited me at home. He invited me to come to church and shared with me the following scripture. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). But I thought that it would be impossible for me to go to church. Actually my grandmother was the daughter of a Buddhist priest [Jodo Shinshu]. As a child I had gone to Buddhist Sunday school, learned to recite the "Okyo" Buddhist chants and learned stories about the Buddha. I repeated the Buddhist chants each morning and evening. On top of that, our lives were saved by returning to my grandmother’s temple in the countryside just before my house was burned and destroyed during the war in Hiroshima. They had looked after us during the war, so I felt that I could not turn away from their religion...I was always against my son’s faith. Even in the days following the war in Japan, every day was a struggle with my children and family. Everything had been burned down and all resources had been lost. Somehow we managed to live day to day. In search of some solution to my problems, I bought a Zen book and read it but it didn’t contain the answers I was looking for. I finally thought (after many years) I would go along with my son to church one day. The first church I went to was Nishinomiya Baptist Church. There was a wonderful American missionary couple there who taught great things about the Bible. It was wonderful for me to see all the smiling faces and to be in such a happy environment. I learned that God had given Jesus Christ to a world lost in sin to die in my place for my sins. My small, narrow heart which had long been troubled was turned 180 degrees and filled with light. I don’t know how many people’s hearts have been saved by the many words God has left us in the Bible. I am so grateful that Japan has become a nation which legally recognizes freedom of religion so that even people like myself can freely go to church. Ever since then I have looked forward to going to church each week on Sunday and now I find that I am 90 years old. I greatly enjoy living each day in good health and in God’s care. As I look back on my life there have been many struggles, but the words of the Bible have always given me the answers. I give thanks to the Name of the Lord for all things.
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