Buddhist Priest Slams Ten Commandments

Buddhism has always been a religion of tolerance. The Reverend Jisei Nagasaka of the Nichiren Shoshu Temples of New York and Washington has started to condemn the Ten Commandments as "imperfect precepts."

(PRWEB) February 26, 2005 -- The Ten Commandments are imperfect precepts" and should be discarded, according to Reverend Jisei Nagasaka of the Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist sect. Nagasaka further links them to the horrific disasters and confusion rampant in the nation today.

Nagasaka has informed his congregants that they must discard the imperfect precepts of imperfect religions and ideas such as the Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments." According to Mr. Nagasaka, if all people were to join his sect we wont need precepts such as the Ten Commandments." Instead he asks his parishioners to denounce heretical, evil religions and lead the people to the True Law."

Nagasakas comments go much further than recent attacks on public displays of the Ten Commandments. Whereas the ACLU and similar groups refrain from commenting on the moral importance of the Ten Commandments, Nagasaka points to the absolute nonsense of the beliefs and practices" of people who are members of heretical religions. Furthermore he posits that the causes of both the natural disasters and social unrest throughout the land lie in the erroneous practices brought on by heretical religions."

Nagasaka, who shuttles between temples in New York and Washington, D.C., belongs to the same Buddhist sect as Reverend Dorei Ito who in 1998 characterized Mother Teresa, the Nobel Peace Prize recipient, as a devil leading people to hell."

Nagasakas viewpoints about the negative influence of the Ten Commandments contrast sharply with the beliefs of most Americans. Janice Crouse, of Concerned Women of America, stated, The Ten Commandments provide basic principles for a basic civil society. They describe how people ought to interact with each other with honor and integrity, and they state our relationship with God. The Ten Commandments lay down boundaries for honorable behavior. These commandments acknowledge that there must be accountability. Democracy depends upon honorable behavior among citizens."

Nagasaka has posted his remarks on his temples website which can be found at http://www.nstny.org/discardprecepts.htm, www.nstny.org/etg.htm, www.nstny.org/rar1.htm, and www.nstny.org/pn.htm (retrieved 2/18/2005).

For more information please contact:
Monte Joffee
917 447 7012

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