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

by T.K. Nakagaki

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

Genres: History, Nonfiction

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2018

Reviews

[Rohit Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most important book I have ever read. Hitler has won. He is winning and he will keep winning. Hitler became Hitler because of his superiority complex. And that superiority complex has not gone anywhere. And is not going anywhere. The way they have desecrated svastika to save cross and Christianity, made Hitler won. It turned svastika, the oldest symbol of light, good luck, all the good virtues into a symbol of darkness, death, worst luck, and worst of human qualities.

Is this just a coincidence that things like this had already been foretold in our (Hindu) texts. This is what they have to say about kaliyuga. Everything will turn upside down. People won't know who is a male and who is a female. Doctors will destroy health. Teachers will destroy education. Historians will destroy history. Protectors (cops/state) will become predators. Strongest example of this is svastika. The way svastika has been turned upside down in its meaning convinces me more than anything that those old books have A LOT to teach us.

Svastika is not a strictly Hindu symbol. Maybe because it's design is so simple that almost all culture everywhere came up with it on it's own. And all of them used it for good.

[B. Cheng · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was an interesting read but basically can just read the epilogue which contains the draft messages for western museums & eastern temples & know all you need to about the book (ie the swastika has 2000 years of history & isn't a symbol of evil, Hitler's symbol should be called a "hooked cross" & not a swastika, keeping this ancient symbol free from the hatred that Hitler brought to it).

[John Stump · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Sensei Nakagaki for his time, expertise and devotion to the understanding of the Buddhist manji. This symbol is used by the martial art of Shorinji Kempo all over the world and needs to be understood. Reading this book gives that clarification that is needed.
John Stump

[Ken Bruss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very in-depth analysis of the sacred origins of the swastika. Unfortunately while presenting a detailed analysis of Hitler’s misappropriation of the symbol, the book only briefly addresses the dominant role the swastika continues to play among anti-Semites. Although the book thoroughly addresses the Swastika’s sacred meaning going back to 262 A.D., the book does not provide a similar analysis of why post-Hitler the swastika has remained such a powerful symbol of hate in the West.

[Brandi Snell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It tells about the traditional meaning of the manji, whose meaning was abducted and twisted by Hitler.

This book would be a great resource book for Shorinji Kempo students.

[Brian Perusek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal.