Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo
“The appearance of a Pagoda touches the hearts and minds
of all people. Those who venerate this pagoda absolutely
reject nuclear warfare and firmly believe that a peaceful world will be
manifested. The vision of the Peace Pagoda has the power to bring about
a spiritual transformation. It illuminates the dawn of a spiritual civilization.”
Most Venerable Nichidatsu Fujii(1885-1985)
Founder, Precepter, Nipponzan Myohoji
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Construction of the Pacific Northwest Peace Pagoda is in progress at the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, adjacent to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, which is the West Coast base for US OHIO Class “Trident” ballistic missile submarines, and the largest deployed concentration of nuclear weapons in the United States.
The Pacific Northwest Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa that seeks to unite all sentient beings, regardless of race, creed or nationality, in the universal aspiration for genuine world peace. The peace pagoda is inspired by traditional stupa designs, reflecting the original Indian style of a dome-shaped building topped by a spire. It will be approximately 32 feet in diameter at the base and about 30 feet tall. As with many stupas built since the time of Buddha Shakyamuni, the peace pagoda will entomb his relics.
The plans for the peace pagoda, approved by Kitsap County and courtesy of local stupa architect John Paul Jones, who is native American.
Rev. Senji Kanaeda, a Buddhist monk and much-beloved peace activist living on Bainbridge Island, and Rev. Gilberto Perez, also a monk, are leading in the construction of the peace pagoda. Reverend Kanaeda has organized numerous peace walks each year, and provides much support to local and international peace activists and peace programs. Both monks live at the beautiful Nipponzan Myohoji Bainbridge Island Temple, located west of Seattle across Puget Sound.
The peace pagoda is being built with labor and funds from supporters of the Nipponzan Myohoji Order. Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, an organization opposed to nuclear weapons, is working to establish a permanent easement to ensure that Nipponzan Myohoji Order members will forever have access to the property. Likewise, Ground Zero would like to ensure that the property will always be open to the public.
Nipponzan Myohoji monks and nuns make an offering, as part of the groundbreaking ceremony for the planned peace pagoda adjacent to Washington state’s Trident missile base.
When completed the Pacific Northwest Peace Pagoda will stand at nearly the exact location as an earlier pagoda started in 1982, about 110 feet from the property line of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. The base is the location of eight Trident nuclear missile submarines, and the largest concentration of deployed nuclear weapons in the United States
It is our greatest wish that the presence of the Pacific Northwest Peace Pagoda will grow in the hearts of all peace-loving people in the U.S. and across the planet. The Pacific Northwest Peace Pagoda will be the first Nipponzan Myohoji peace pagoda on the U.S. West Coast, and likely the first to be built on land owned by a peace community other than the Nipponzan Myohoji Order.
It is our greatest wish that the presence of the Pacific Northwest Peace Pagoda will grow in the hearts of all peace-loving people in the U.S. and across the planet. Please join us when you are able, to walk the site, pray and meditate, or to work to build the Peace Pagoda.
Click here to read more about the history of the Pacific Northwest Peace Pagoda.
You may read about the August 2019 Ground Purification Ceremony for the Peace Pagoda by clicking here.
Josh Farley of the Kitsap Sun wrote an (May 2021) article on the Peace Pagoda, which includes a great deal of Ground Zero’s history. You can read the article online, or you can read the PDF version from the Sunday, March 28th print edition.
Ground Zero Center’s Glen Milner wrote an article for the Winter 2022 issue of Northwest Dharma News titled: A Buddhist Peace Pagoda Rises in Washington To Quell the Threat of Nuclear Weapons.
Keep up with Peace Pagoda construction at the Peace Pagoda Updates Page!
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ABOUT NIPPONZAN MYOHOJI:
The Nipponzan Myohoji Order, devoted to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra as presented by the Japanese Buddhist priest Nichiren (1222-82), was founded in 1917 by Nichidatsu Fujii. At age 32, following much study and severe ascetic practice, Fujii arrived at the realization that his mission — to spread world peace — would be best accomplished through the practice of beating a drum and chanting Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo.
When Nichidatsu Fujii first received Buddha relics in 1933, he vowed to build stupas in Japan and around the world for the sake of world peace. After the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by atomic bombs, Fujii in 1954 realized his vow with the dedication of the Hanaokayama Peace Pagoda in Japan.
Since that time more than 80 peace pagodas have been built around the world by Fujii and the Nipponzan Myohoji Order.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rev. Senji Kanaeda Nipponzan Myohoji Temple (Bainbridge Island Dojo)
6154 Lynwood Ctr. Rd. NE Bainbridge Island WA
Kanaedasenji@gmail.com (206)780-6739, (206)-724-7632
Click here to learn about the New England Peace Pagoda.