In El Sobrante county of California, United States, a man has constructed a symbol in the lawn of his front yard. The man says that it represents a traditional Tibetan symbol while the neighborhood has made their complaint saying that the Swastika represents hatred, fear and racism, associated with Nazi Germany.
Steve Johnson of El Sobrante has brazenly displayed a symbol in his front yard which according to him is a Tibetan symbol. The construction has not gone well with his neighborhood. Johnson’s neighbors has complained that the symbol, Swastika, is forever associated with the Nazi Germany and they are concerned what their children would think on seeing the symbol.
Despite serious concerns being raised by the neighborhood, Johnson is determined with his understanding that the symbol derives from Tibetan culture meaning life and the Tibetan priests have used it long before Hitler even thought about it. However, with a little deeper research, there is a little confusion with the neighborhood.
The native religion of Tibet, Bon closely associates with the symbol Johnson is relating to. The left facing Swastika is an important symbol of the ancient Tibetan religion. In Tibetan language too, from the complete name of the religion, Yungdrung Bon, Yungdrung directly translates to the name of the left facing Swastika. It represents the unchangeable, indestructible state, Buddha-nature, the Nature of Mind, the fundamental ground of existence, light.