26th Anniversary Ceremony
Grafton Peace Pagoda
Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo
150th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Birth
Buddhist Ceremony
Interfaith Prayers for Peace
Dennis Banks’ 3-year Commemoration
Indian Music: Devesh and Veena Chandra
Please join us for potluck community meal following the ceremony. Please bring your favorite foods. It may be cold so please bring warm clothes and a blanket. Please arrive before 11:00 to park and walk to ceremony site.
This year commemorates the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth. The founder of Nipponzan Myohoji, Most Ven. Nichidatsu Fujii, named Fujii Guruji by Mahatma Gandhi, also dedicated his life to the conversion of this world to peace, a peace arising from a spiritual foundation, giving up all military pursuits. Both great spiritual teachers believed in the essential Divine Nature in each human being, the very source of peace-making.
“Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man” -Gandhi
For over 50 years Fujii Guruji walked and prayed in India for the success of the non-violent movement of the people and led by Mahatma Gandhi. He had come to India to walk and pray and to return Buddha’s teachings to India from where they had virtually disappeared. After the two great teachers met in 1933, Guruji often walked with Gandhiji and the Indian people, praying constantly in support. From the blessing of this connection, the Peace Pagoda in Rajgir arose, becoming a great pilgrimage site for peace.
The distress of our times is great, but the light of the spiritual way shown by Mahatma Gandhi and Fujii Guruji can give us hope and guidance. With the light of compassion, we can make the way to change from violence to peace and cherishing of all people and cherishing of our beautiful and giving earth.
Nippozan Myohoji-Grafton Peace Pagoda, 87 Crandall Rd Petersburg, NY 12138