Samurai Buddhism Legacy

Main Tenets of Samurai Buddhism: SUMMARY

1] Virya Paramita & Code of Bushido: or Heroism and Courage is the highest Paramita or virtue. It is MORE important than all other virtues. Life is full of challenges and battles, so FIRST cultivate heroism and toughness -- everything else comes thereafter. We thus follow the Code of Bushido where there is BOTH Heroism and compassion but heroism is FAR more important. When stateless lamas in exile and Western Buddhist hippies go on and on about compassion, they are being disingenuous. The Buddha teaches the middle way between compassion for others and standing up for what's right for oneself and one's own family, one's own country and one's own religion. The endless people-pleasing virtue signalling Kumbaya slop of most Buddhist teachers is like serving sugar without coffee and so Samurai Buddhism is realistic about operating in the real world with strength, courage and heroism -- unlike stateless lamas who have no jobs to go to or rent to pay or countries to protect.

2] The WARRIOR prototype is the IDEAL. Buddhism was NOT founded by hippies or stateless Lamas but by WARRIORS. Ashoka, Menander, Shotoku, Kublai Khan, Wu Zetien and Tokugawa had the biggest impact on Buddhism and they were WARRIORS, NOT WIMPS. In the Lotus Sutra, Buddha equates the best devotee with the greatest warrior or General and so a Buddhist's job is not to grovel on the floor but to roar like a Lion. In all texts, Buddha's commandments are issued with a LION'S ROAR which shows dominance and alpha energy -- not fawning prostrations of hippies, stateless lamas and what are called "betacucks" in internet parlance.

3] Key Sutras: We honor Vajrapani - Nio Kongo Rikishi (Hercules/Zeus) -- the oldest and most powerful of the Buddhist deities that can be seen as the First and Last Darshan or sacred viewing at ALL major Buddhist temples worldwide. Nio-sama is also venerated as Seishi Bosatu of the Amida Triad and Mongolians believe Nio-sama was linked to Chenghis Khan. Vajrapani's highest emanation is Almighty Fudo Myoo and therefore the Fudo Sutras (Mahavairocana Sutra and other secret tantras) takes precedence. We thereafter also honor the Amida Sutra due to its unmatched popularity across Asia, the Golden Light Sutra due to its role as Protector of State and the Lions Roar of Srimala Sutra -- especially the kick-ass 9th vow. We also revere key excerpts of the Lotus Sutra -- like Chapter 25, 26 and the Qualities and Life Span of the Buddha -- but we do NOT endorse the pacifistic nature of some parts of the Lotus Sutra or the servile "betacuck" nature of Sadhaparibhuta. Our main objective is clear - Buddhism must be a tough, no BS, Bushido-driven religion of warriors -- not "betacuck" hippies -- and so we respect Nichiren in his ability to debate the slanderers of the Law -- but we do not endorse Nichiren's attacks on fellow Japanese Buddhist saints like Kukai and Shinran. For intra-sect amity, we focus on Fudo and Kannon as they are universal among all Buddhists and we also respect the role Jizo-sama plays for children. As far as possible, we prefer to not engage in hostility with other Buddhist sects as we aim for harmony taught by Prince Shotoku. That said, in case of any argument, we must side with the Mahayana and the warrior traditions of the Samurai, Shaolin & Ninja. Further, there MUST be sutra citations and so we DISMISS sayings by Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh & "Western Buddhist" authors that are heretical nonsense to people-please but violate the actual teachings of the Buddha.

4] BATTLING ENEMIES: In the Nirvana Sutra, Buddha says that the highest karma of all is to FIGHT for Buddhism and against the enemies of Buddhism -- even saying that the greatest merit Buddha ever achieved in previous lives was to engage in mortal combat with Hindu Brahmins who attacked Buddhism via genocide and propaganda. This is why the Samurai turned the tables on Christian invaders by banishing them from Japan and ordering every family to only honor Buddhist deities and no other religious texts or deities. We MUST be able to debate the infidels and heretics that insult Buddhism in a firm and factual manner. Per Srimala's 9th Vow - we must be ready to protect the innocent and righteous as well as confront and correct the enemies of the Saddharma. The battle also extended to fighting caste supremacists who oppress Dalits that were the original subjects of Ashoka. Hence, we also battle for human rights and justice for the marginalized and against institutional corruption. Buddhism is NOT about endless kumbaya tripe, holier-than-thou virtue-signalling and promoting abject pacifism -- it is about fighting the good fight for noble causes in adherence to Karmic Justice and Bushido.

5] Physical and Martial Prowess: In honor of Bodhidharma and the Shaolin/Samurai tradition, we MUST work out daily and also practice martial arts kathas. We MUST teach our kids the art of self-defense and combat. We MUST not be "weak, betacuck pacifists" but alpha warriors capable of defending ourselves and our loved ones.

6] EXCLUSIVE ALLEGIANCE: Samurai Buddhists are NOT allowed to follow ANY other religious text or tradition -- a commandment Buddha also makes in both the Lotus and Nirvana Sutras. This was also mandated by law by Hideyoshi and Shogun Tokugawa. Therefore while we can have cordial relations with people of all faiths, we can NEVER bow to ANY deity or chant ANY mantra except Buddhist deities and mantras. The Dalai Lama commits extreme heresy when he prostrates before other deities and so we clarify that interfaith harmony is like a marriage -- you can be friends with other women but you only sleep with your own wife. While Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh promote the hippy era "swinging and swapping" traditions of mixing religions like a buffet -- Samurai Buddhism mandates strict and exclusive allegiance.

7] Real-world vs monastics: In the Vimalkirti Nirdesa Sutra, Buddha makes it clear that one does not need to be a monastic in a temple but can wear a suit and make an impact in the real world. Some of the greatest Buddhist saints like Kukai, Shinran and even Ambedkar are known for transforming society and making a difference in the real world instead of just virtue signalling in monasteries and temples. While we do wear kimonos at formal events where possible, we do NOT see monks as superior to laity and like Jodo Shinshu monks, we can wear suits as well. Furthermore, in ALL depictions from Gandhara onward, Bodhisattvas are always blinged out to the max and dressed up with jewels and so we too can dress up to show pride and power in our Asian heritage and culture . Asians are the most fashionable of all -- from BTS & Blackpink to the grandeur of the Tang, Yuan, Yamato and Tokugawa dynasties and this can reflect in our clothes and fashion as well.

8] Daily Practice: By edicts of Emperor Tenmu, we MUST keep a Buddhist altar or Butsudan where we honor Almighty Fudo, or Amida or Kannon or any of the Buddhist deities we connect with. We MUST chant the right mantras in the morning and night. And we MUST PROUDLY wear or carry with us at least 1 ojuzu or Buddhist mala or pendant or sacred item so that we always honor our Samurai Buddhist culture and heritage. We must PROUDLY call ourselves Buddhist and even specify Samurai Buddhism when asked. The "Western Buddhist" motto of "don't call yourself a Buddhist, let Dharma take care of itself" is Trojan Horse heresy that we Asian Buddhists reject. Asians today rule the world -- from Crazy Rich Asians to BTS & Blackpink -- and we are PROUD to be Buddhist and proud of our Asian heritage and culture.

9] Asian Buddhist culture: We MUST support Buddhist and Asian art, culture and community activities the best way we can through financial donations or volunteering time and energy. We MUST support Buddhist or Asian cultural activities, costumes and traditions when possible. Our primary Cultural Capital is Japan but we can also honor the culture of China, Korea and Asian Tigers in general as a priority. In addition, we can honor and support the Vajrayana Buddhists of Bhutan, Russia and Mongolia that honor Vajrapani and Kublai Khan -- and we engage with all and other Buddhist nations as long as they honor and respect the Bushido Code and Martial-based Alpha Buddhism of Bodhidharma, Vajrapani and the Samurai. We channel the Alpha power of Buddhist saints like Takuan Soho & Kukai as well as Samurai Buddhists like Shingen, Musashi, Kenshin and Benkei -- all known for their martial prowess and devotion to Buddha.

10 Devotion: Above all, we must have true love and devotion for the historic Buddha as our eternal Father and Teacher, for Almighty Fudo as our Supreme Divinity, Nio Kongo Rikishi as our Protector, for Amida as our Savior and Kannon as the Goddess of Mercy -- as well as venerate all Buddhist deities and saints. In addition, we must have strict allegiance to the Tokugawa and Shingen families and respect for all the great Samurai. Further, we honor Bodhidharma as our Patron Saint and Babasaheb Ambedkar for bringing Buddhism back to India along with the Japanese monks. Ambedkar is also honored at Koyasan and we see Japan as the holy land, Koyasan, Kamakura and Nara as the most sacred places on earth. We also cherish Prince Shotoku -- founder of the most important Buddhist dynasty in history as well Korean and Chinese dynasties that influenced Japanese Buddhism. We aim to build cultural ties between Buddhists led by Japan, China and Korea - the 3 most important Asian nations and Buddhist-heritage countries in the world. MORE INFO COMING SOON.