LOST IN GLASGOW

Weather : cloudy as usual. Got used to the weather. Found that a jacket I brought from Japan is very warm and comfortable when sleeping. Some of my friends have got flu. Can be epidemic; I don’t want a diarrhea.
I went to a mosque in Glasgow city centre for World Religion lecture. Till just before the time we had to arrive at the mosque I didn’t realize it’s located in such far from my accommodation. The only way we could make it was going by taxi. Then my friends in my flat who are taking same lecture decided not to go saying “I have lots of muslin friends”, “yeah, actually I have been there before, you can go whenever you want”, ”I’m not going, it’s too far” and so on. I really wanted to go because I haven’t ever been there. Actually there are not many mosques in Japan. If anything, there is just one mosque. So I decided to go by taxi spending £7.

The mosque was very big, a modern building and a quite good facility. An old Arabic man was our guide and showed us some places in the mosque and explained Islamic thoughts. We looked a washing room (?? actually I don’t know what it’s called). It was the place muslin people wash their faces, hands, feet and so on before they pray; prayers have to be clean and impurity is not acceptable. Some people washed themselves when we came in. It smelled peculiar smell, like Asian/Indian perfume but bit stinky there. The water they use before praying must be clear. There are 3 condition that proofs water is clean that has no smell, no taste and no colors. I wonder if it was available such water a thousand years ago. Next, then, we looked prayer hall. That was very large. It seems at least 500 people can pray there. A large and huge carpet covered the whole floor. And there were lines by 3 feet interval from a side to the other side, so that people can stand in right position. Some people were praying. Some people were talking in circle, seemed discussing. Very quiet place. But in fact, there was a man sleeping and snorting. Funny.
In the question time I asked the old man that what Qur’an says about other being like human on the other planets. He said there are no other human beings except for on the earth because Qur’an doesn’t mention about it. Well, it was interesting but actually I couldn’t agree with that concept.
After the mosque tour we went to an exhibition hall in another building next to the mosque. I got some booklets on Islam which were very interesting. And also I got a copy of Qur’an for free. That was kind of exciting thing. They distributes a book for freeee!!!

We could have tea and cookies in the hall and there were tables. There were some young muslins waiting for us to answer questions if we had and have dialogues. Actually they were really nice and open. We, my friends and I, had a conversation with muslin women. Actually it was very nice time and they were truly open. The summery of the conversation is…
・Marriage: they have arranged marriage (which is like Omiai of Japanese). But forced marriage is illegal and is not allowed in Qur’an.
・British muslin community is relatively liberal compared to other muslin countries in Middle East region. It is because of influence of westernized culture.
・They go to Christmas party if they are invited but won’t drink.
・Between schools (they have a little different interpretation of Qur’an) they may have conferences/discussions in scholar’s level but not in the ground level.
・Homosexual would not be acceptable. If they found someone who might be, they would try re-educating them.
・Through the brief in God, they can overcome difficulties.

There were many children and many youth. They are literally so nice. Nice smile vivid voice. I could tell that they actually had faith/brief/philosophy that makes their lives valuable. And I think it’ s one of crucial points that religion must give to people.

Thinking of current societies worldwide. In modern/developed countries, majority of people can’t find meaning of life and they are seeking it. In terms of this problem, Islam has given people certain extent of value, I think.
Talking with them I realized how wonderful Nichiren Buddhism is (its rationality and ultimate humanism). And also, more importantly, I found the importance of having the mentor that you can trust and devote whole of your life. Because we have the mentor, Sensei who proofed and demonstrated how actually Nichiren Buddhism works, we can learn profound ideas from him and put them into practice.
Nichiren Buddhism is actually the most rational and humanistic religion/philosophy. It has potentiality to cause gradual but fundamental human revolution throughout the world. Thinking like this, the blur image of the greatness of Sensei got bit clearer than before. It is very difficult to write clearly about what I felt and the idea that came into my head in English even in Japanese.

p.s. good news(?) for uber flat mates. We’ve got a pair in our flat. Many many congratulations. Hope no conflicts and troubles would happen. In that case, it would be the time I use the wisdom of Nichiren Buddhism.