Swastika - Universal Symbol of Peace and Harmony

Описание: Swastika - Universal Symbol of Peace and Harmony-

Speakers:
Guru Dileepji (Host)
Rev. Dr. TK Nakagaki (Organizer, Buddhist speaker)
Sister Aminah Carroll (Muslim speaker)
Jeff Kelman (Jewish speaker)
Ghandhikota Aryama (HIndu speaker)

As the world celebrates UN Interfaith Harmony week/month, various sacred religious symbols are used, yet you will rarely find a swastika symbol present. Is it not time for the interfaith community to recognize that the swastika is a sacred symbol? It is a symbol that deserves to be acknowledged as separate and distinct from the rightfully loathed Nazi Hooked Cross(Hakenkreuz). - Read below.

▶︎Interfaith Declaration of the Swastika

A Swastika is Not the Nazi Hakenkreuz (Hooked-Cross).

The participants recognize the transgenerational trauma of the six million Jews, one and half million Roma people, and many others murdered by Nazi Germany under the banner of the Nazi Hakenkreuz (hooked-cross), and tragic Holocaust experience continues to exhibit an intimidating effect on the Jewish people, even in 2022. We agree all forms of hate, violence and discrimination need to be stopped.

Why do we still call the Nazi Hakenkreuz a “Swastika”? Recent research makes clear that Hitler himself only ever referred to his Nazi symbol as the 'Hakenkreuz' (‘haken’=hooked, ‘kreuz’=cross, inGerman). Hitler never once called the Nazi symbol a “swastika” in his book (Mein Kampf), nor in any of his speeches.

The Hakenkreuz is used as an anti-Semitic symbol and Aryan White Supremacy icon representing hate, discrimination and violence. On the other hand, the swastika (‘su’= good, ‘asti’ = to be, ka=forming noun) is considered a symbol of well-being,
auspiciousness, good fortune, peace and non-violence for over three thousand years by all Dharmic traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, as well as for dozens of indigenous peoples specifically spread across North, Central, South America, and the entire globe.

What has occurred with the swastika and Hakenkreuz might be compared to confusing sugar with salt. Both look the same, yet they are entirely of different substance. At one point in history, English translators and media seem to have decided to just use one term: “swastika.”

Some may say it does not matter which word is used to describe either a swastika or a Hakenkreuz. This is an untenable position though in a multicultural and globally interconnected world. A popular name for Hindu girls is "Swastika." Imagine the discrimination that a girl named Swastika is guaranteed to face in the modern Western world. This is not justice.

As the world celebrates UN Interfaith Harmony week/month, various sacred religious symbols are used, yet you will rarely find a swastika symbol present. Is it not time for the interfaith community to recognize that the swastika is a sacred symbol? It is a symbol that deserves to be acknowledged as separate and distinct from the rightfully loathed Nazi Hakenkreuz.

The sacred religious swastika symbol has been religiously and culturally appropriated in the East and it is time for the West to be aware of the auspicious and sacred symbol of the swastika, while acknowledging and continuing to condemn the Hakenkreuz. We call upon the global community to come to a new understanding of the sacred swastika symbol, and return cultural custody of the swastika to where it belongs: the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and indigenous peoples that consider the swastika to be one of the most sacred, holy, and revered symbols.

□ I respectfully endorse the above statement.

“If you believe that you can damage, then believe that you can fix.
If you believe that you can harm, then believe that you can heal.” (Rebbe Nachman of Breslow)

In Judaism, there is a notion of Tikkun Olam, which means to "repair the world." The swastika being confused with the Nazi Hakenkreuz (hooked-cross) is a broken understanding in desperate need of repair.

“No Mud, No Lotus” (Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh)

In Buddhism, the lotus flower only blossoms from the mud, not from highlands. Without suffering, there will be no enlightenment. The flower represents transformation. Awakening to the true knowledge, wisdom and compassion is the key for the transformation.
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