Last Sunday, July 2, 2023, the annual Peace ceremony was held on the Pagoda in Comiso, Sicily, of the Japanese Buddhist order of Nipponzan Myohoji monks and nuns.
The temple and pagoda is a singular monumental complicated in Italy and is certainly one of 4 erected in Europe together with these in Milton Keynes, London and Vienna.
It was inaugurated in 1998 by Reverend Gyosho Morishita, who arrived in Italy within the early Eighties in assist of nonviolent protests in opposition to the NATO base in Comiso. Today this place is visited by many pilgrims, Buddhist and non-Buddhist, from all around the world.
Present on the ceremony have been representatives of native establishments, representatives of different non secular orders (together with a Catholic priest), the 2 monks and devotees of the Buddhist Temples in Sicily (Catania and Syracuse) of the Theravada order, and many individuals from neighboring municipalities in addition to from throughout Italy and overseas. The monks and nuns, along with volunteers, labored assiduously for weeks in order that today might be felt in its deepest essence.
Morishita Dojo moved everybody along with his speech impressed by Ashoka’s edict on the abandonment of all weapons. Ashoka was a king of historic India who, following his conversion to Buddhism, deserted the coverage of “conquest in all directions” in favor of the victory of Dharma (Dharma Vijaya)-rule of nonviolence.
During the occasion, area was given for everybody to have the ability to intervene with collective prayers as nicely. Verses in Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Japanese have been recited and, along with the priest, the Lord’s Prayer was stated. To conclude, items and choices positioned on the altar have been distributed: flowers, fruits and delicacies, and scrumptious dishes ready for the event have been loved [by all] collectively.
The goal of the Pagoda is to construct world peace via prayer and work.
For all sensible and bureaucratic issues, nevertheless, the monks depend on the great hearts and customary sense of the women and men of peace they know and who frequent the temple. To this finish, the Peace Pagoda Committee* has been established and is working to resolve points associated to the authorized legitimacy of the monument and [how to] enable free entry to the monk, devotees, and guests.
This will likely be made attainable via the development of an impartial highway and the acquisition of the six thousand sq. meters of land on which this treasured place of prayer stands.
The feeling of union with the Eternal is shared by all who go to that place “placed under the open sky and accessible to the poorest of the poor” (Mahatma Gandhi).
Alessandra L’Abate, Anna Luisa Leonardi (Florence), Angela Ricciardi (Naples) *comitatopagodapace@gmail.com
FB committee web page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090242785184
To take part on this undertaking: C/C payable to Peace Pagoda Committee. IBAN: IT92V0623017001000015278169, BIC code CRPPIT2PXXX,
Video documentary by director Massimiliano Troiani “A Buddha Stopped in Comiso”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJKGpVcb2vw
Photo-reporting of the occasion by Dana Soady
Full handle by Rev. Morishita
“DHARMA’S SPEECH FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE EUROPEAN PEACE PAGODA 2023.
NA MU MYO HO REN GHE KYO
Today we’re as soon as once more capable of have fun with you [an anniversary, ] the twenty fifth anniversary of the Comiso Peace Pagoda. I want to specific my deepest gratitude to all those that are near us. After the final celebration in 2019, we’re lastly capable of maintain [a celebration] once more this yr. However, regardless of numerous difficulties in recent times, buddies and devotees have labored exhausting to assist preserve the Peace Pagoda and construct world peace. I want to say thanks for all of your efforts from the underside of my coronary heart.
In 2022, on the Fiftieth-anniversary celebration of the Dhauligiri Shanti Stupa Peace Pagoda held in India, there have been many followers from all around the world. [This pagoda] is constructed within the state of Orissa, a sacred place the place King Ashoka, in historic India-following his conversion to Buddhism-abandoned the coverage of conquest in all instructions (Digvijaya) in favor of the victory of Dharma (Dharma Vijaya)-Rule of Nonviolence.
Today in Europe, the Ukrainian conflict goes on with no end in sight and should solely go away a bitter feeling for years to return, making it unimaginable to ascertain a real and lasting peace.
Let us observe the edict of Ashoka and abandon all weapons. In order to construct true peace, allow us to pray fervently to work diligently collectively for world peace following the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi and Nonviolence.
NA MU MYO HO REN GHE KYO
Rev. Gyosho Morishita Nipponzan Myohoji Dojo of Comiso
Source: Pressenza