Buddhism has spread around the world as the disciples of Lord Buddha kept spreading the words of love across geographical boundaries. And just like any other nation, even Japan was not left unvisited by Buddhism. It was basically in the year 525 when Buddhism first entered Japan when the monarch of the then Korean kingdom sent a mission to Japan with the gifts which even had an idol of the Lord Buddha. Even though India was the home ground where Buddhism originated, it took thousands of years for the religion to spread in China, Japan, and Korea.
Soka Gakkai Japan celebrates the arrival of Buddhism and they have identified the difference in the methods of Kami worship which was otherwise popular in these lands. However, no single journey has been smooth, and even Buddhism had to cross multiple hurdles. There were indeed some political struggles between the two groups, the pro-Buddhists, and the anti-Buddhists, but trust and faith have always won over the rest. Similarly, those who adhered Buddhism won and prevailed with the help of the imperial sponsorship.
Each and every religion has got some positive impact on the society apart from the rifles that follow. Similarly, Buddhism streamlined the political structure which helped to maintain some law and order. There were some sophisticated cultural practices which the religion has brought forth and the no one can deny it indeed helped in structuring the society. Dance, music, and most importantly the Buddhist art enriched the culture of Japan strengthening on which, life in Japan definitely took a different level of itself.
There have been multiple phases through which Buddhism has gone through, but it is the contemporary one that has been widely accepted and considered to be modern of all. After the event of World War II, as the Imperialistic government submitted to the Allied powers, the end of tyrannic rule began. Buddhism has always been against the imperialism and it never believed to be the religion of the privileged class. Embracing the entire world is what Lord Buddha has always preached, and only peace and harmony can bring together the entire world under one umbrella.
The Japanese word for ‘faith’ has got another meaning of its own- ‘progress’. So Japanese Buddhism never restricted themselves to their own core beliefs. While studying more about Japanese Buddhism, one can even find a collection of heterogeneous elements, which have been derived from Hinduism, Shinto, Confucianism, Christianity, Taoism, and the rest of the folk religions. Instead of name and form, Soka Gakkai Japan identified that Buddhism preferred embracing Buddhism whose virtues spread across the corners of the world.
Standing in the 21st century, Japanese Buddhism stands as an example where they do not find it just a part of their culture, but a way of life that only focuses on progress. How well would you design your future depends completely on your own, and Buddhism can be an effective tool in this entire process for sure.
