Japanese Mahayana Buddhists rank Buddhas according to the superiority or inferiority of the sutras ascribed to them, but this is a mistake. There is another more fundamental issue.

In other words, the issue here addresses the existence of true and false Buddhas, which immediately brings up this question; as strange as it may be, “How can there be true Buddhas and false Buddhas? I wouldn’t think that false Buddhas could possibly exist.”

I can understand how someone might think that, but the answer stands that false Buddhas do exist. Do you think I am telling a lie? Granted, the word false might be an exaggeration. However, let us instead use the term non-existent, hypothetical, imaginary or conceptual. Most Buddhists in Japan are Mahayana Buddhists and all the Buddhas that Mahayana Buddhists venerate are hypothetical Buddhas. In other words, they are imaginary or conceptual Buddhas.

To further explain, let me offer an easy example to understand. Last year, a certain traditional Japanese Buddhist Sect hosted a grand world summit of religion that took place at its main temple. Agon Shu did not participate whereas many other representative Japanese Buddhist groups did. A prayer service for world peace was scheduled to take place during the proceedings in the main sanctuary of the temple. The organizers of the summit expected the delegates who represented all the major religions in the world to willingly attend as the event accorded with the principle of the gathering. However, many of the delegates objected.

Why was that?

The Christian and Islamic delegates registered the following complaint that, “Yakushi Nyorai (Bhaisajya-guru, The Medicine Buddha), who is venerated in the main sanctuary, is an idol. The tenets of our faiths forbid us from worshipping idols.”

Having no choice, the organizers quickly erected an outdoor stage and conducted the ceremony in the open.

I felt a great sense of pity upon hearing this story. I was also deeply embarrassed for Japanese Buddhism. Since the beginning, this has always been the number one criticism Christians make towards Japanese Buddhism. It is a point that leads them to conclude that Japanese Buddhism is a vulgar religion practicing in "idol worship." Inevitably, this is a major fault in Japanese Buddhism. Dainichi Nyorai (Vairochana Buddha), Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Buddha), and Yakushi Nyorai, among others whom they enshrine as main deities, are all statues of hypothetical Buddhas. They are all images of Buddhas who do not actually exist. Therefore, Christianity concludes that these forms of Buddhism are similar to undeveloped religions in that their inferior faiths believe in “idolatry.”

Christianity worships Jesus Christ who actually existed and deified him as the son of God. Islam takes a similar position. Christians and Muslims are willing to sit down at the same table with Japanese Buddhists to discuss the issue of world peace. However, based on their religious beliefs, they hold Japanese Buddhism in disdain as an inferior, idolatrous religion.

I find this as a terrible shame.

Viewed from their perspective, one side of Japanese Buddhism can surely be seen as an idol-worshipping religion. However, jumping to the conclusion that this lies true for all Japanese Buddhism is not exactly correct. One sect is not merely an idol worshipping religion, and that is Agon Shu. Agon Shu venerates the authentic Buddha, who is not an idol. This one Buddhist order amongst the numerous Buddhist groups in Japan venerates the actual Buddha, who is not an idol.

For Agon Shu, then, the misperception that all Japanese Buddhism is an inferior religion of idol worshippers is not only disturbing, but also regrettable. The Buddhism expounded by the Buddha contains absolutely no element of idol worship. In fact, this Buddhism goes to great lengths in order to eliminate any traces of such practice. The responsibility lies on Mahayana Buddhism, which transformed this original Buddhism into a religion Christianity is able to hold in contempt. Moreover, Mahayanists and most of all Buddhist orders in Japan are Mahayanists.

My heart desires that Japanese Buddhists amend this mistake and return to true Buddhism as soon as possible, and I appeal so to society. However, most Japanese Buddhist followers are not even aware of this issue.

Did you know about this before reading it here?

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