Lecture Notes: Sensei Sugimoto's Spiritual Journey to Islam

Introduction

• Host: Daniel, addressing the audience as neighbors.
• Guests: Sensei Sugimoto and his wife, Purwati.
• Purpose: To discuss Sensei Sugimoto's journey to Islam and his experiences sharing the Quran in Japan.

Background

• Sensei Sugimoto's Origin: From Seki City, Gifu Prefecture in Japan.
• Cultural Upbringing: Raised in a Buddhist family, common in Japan which typically also involves Shinto beliefs.

Initial Encounter with Islam

• University Experience: Met a Muslim student from Bangladesh at 19 years old.
• Visit to Bangladesh: Experienced cultural differences and was impressed by the strong family values and hospitality rooted in Islam.

Exploration of Islam

• Interest in the Quran: Began reading the Quran in Japanese; found it unique compared to other religious and academic texts.

Key Concepts Discovered

• Ahira (Afterlife): Concept of life after death, contrasting with Buddhist reincarnation beliefs.
• Tauhid (Oneness of God): The fundamental Islamic belief in the oneness of God, contrasting with the Japanese belief in many gods.
• Challenge in Understanding: Japanese culture sees belief in many gods as inclusive, whereas Islam's monotheism can seem exclusive or intolerant.

Distinctions Between Beliefs

• God vs. Gods in Shintoism: In Shintoism, 'gods' often refer to spirits or 'jin', which are spiritual energies.
• Islam's View: Acknowledges the existence of jinn but worships only Allah, the creator.

Acceptance and Understanding of Islam

• Realization: The concept of worshipping creation vs. the creator helped Sugimoto understand and accept Islam.
• Coexistence of Beliefs: Shintoism and Islam can coexist; the key difference is the object of worship.
• Abandonment of Previous Beliefs: At 19, Sugimoto’s former belief system was replaced with Islamic beliefs.

Sensei Sugimoto's Mission

• Translation of the Quran: Sugimoto worked on translating the Quran to make it accessible in Japan.
• Goal: Not to convert people to Islam but to provide them the opportunity to access and understand its teachings.

Conclusion

• Inter-religious Understanding: Sugimoto seeks to share his spiritual experiences and foster a better understanding of Islam among Japanese people.
• Continued Learning: His wife, Purwati, also learned from his experiences, emphasizing sincerity in spreading the message of the Quran.