It was a beautiful celebration of 20 years of the Grafton Peace Pagoda’s existence this Oct. 5th, 2013. Friends from all over the world were in attendance, and many powerful speeches, performances and prayers. On Sunday Oct. 6th friends went to Massachusetts to the Leverett Peace Pagoda in celebrating their 28th Anniversary. Below are three video of the Grafton Peace Pagoda anniversary and one from the Leverett Peace Pagoda anniversary. Enjoy!

Grafton Peace Pagoda
20th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, October 5, 2013
11 AM
Everyone Welcome!

11 am: Annual Ceremony by Nipponzan Myohoji
Multi-faith Prayers for Peace
Special Guest Speaker: Dennis Banks (Ojibwa Nation), American Indian Movement Leader
Music & Dance including Japanese Nou Drumming (Tsuzumi Shoulder Drum)
Potluck Lunch

Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo

Unless the United States is reformed peacefully, peace will not come to the world. As the original inhabitants of this country, First Nation Peoples have a responsibility to help change America’s pattern of mistaking power for justice, which has created a dishonorable history. As victims of the atom bomb, Japanese people also share this Karmic responsibility to help change the way of thinking of the United States at this time when humanity faces annihilation. Thus, we must join with First Nation Peoples to open a new path of existence for the United States—a peaceful and sacred way of life for all humanity. Let us rise together.               (Venerable Nichidatsu Fuji, August 12, 1978)

Dear Friends of Grafton Peace Pagoda,
Since we first came to this land we have seen many snow-filled winters, many springs sweet with apple flower blossoms, and many autumns filled with the brilliant red of the changing maple leaves. Our lives too have seen many changes: children we knew as babies now have babies of their own; many of you are now grandparents who were young men and women when we first met.

All through those years we have organized countless peace walks, walking the earth and praying together for peace. For nine years leading up to the completion of Grafton Peace Pagoda, so many neighbors, fellow peace walkers, and friends from around the world came to help with the construction. We worked together as one, using recycled wood and mixing concrete by hand, and the Peace Pagoda was finally inaugurated in 1993.

We will celebrate the 20th anniversary of our beloved Peace Pagoda at 11am on Saturday, October 5, 2013.

In the 20 years since the inauguration, we have welcomed visitors from all over the world. People of all different faiths and ancestries have joined with us here for countless ceremonies and commemorations. Every day, friends come and go like the breeze. Twenty years also marks the cycle of one generation. As a new generation comes of age, we want to transmit our message of peace to them and share the story of how the Peace Pagoda arose on this land. We invite you to join us as we celebrate the 20 together.

Bowing Three Times,
Jun Yasuda

Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo

68th Commemorative Ceremony Hiroshima – Nagasaki

Nipponzan Myohoji – Grafton Peace Pagoda
Friday, August 16, 2013
Nuclear Free Future
Second Commemorative of Fukushima

This Hiroshima Day we are celebrating the closing of one nuclear power plant after tireless work by citizen activists for a Nuclear Free Future.  The San Onofre Nuclear power Plant in Southern California was permanently shut down on June 7th this year.  The Ex-Prime Minister of Japan, Naoto Kan, who was the MP during the Fukushima meltdown, during his June visit to San Diego, stated, “Experiencing the accident convinced me that the best way to make nuclear power plants safe is not to rely on them, but rather to get rid of them.” And “I concluded that the only way to contain this risk is to create a society that does not rely on nuclear power.”  A society powered by renewable resources is one step closer thanks to those who stand up to Mother Earth. Today we celebrate those who stand strong for sustainable energy and the survival of all beings on the planet.

6:45 PM Peace Walk from Grafton (NY) Town Square to Peace Pagoda (4.3 miles).

8:30 PM Program of Peace:

·         Hattie Nestel – Citizens Awareness Network – Slide & Talk in the Temple Building

“The Big Picture – Nuclear Proliferation, Power Plants, War and Destruction”

·         Ceremonial Lighting of the Lanterns and Walk Around the Peace Pagoda

·         Interfaith Peace Prayer

·         Bruce Gagnon – Global Net – Keep Space For Peace

·         Hiroshima Taiko, Mountain River Taiko

·         Robert & Susan – Gillian’s Island, Songs of Peace

Rain or Shine.  Please wear weather appropriate clothing and bring a flashlight and insect

repellant.  You may also wish to bring a blanket.

Grafton Peace Pagoda Flower Festival
Celebrating the Birth of the Buddha
Saturday May 26, 2012 at 11:00AM
87 Crandall Rd, Petersburgh, NY 12138

Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo

“On the day of the Buddha’s birth, thirty-two wonders manifested between heaven and earth, one of which was the miracle that no voice of grief could be heard in this world where all sentient beings were suffused with joy.”

Most Venerable Nichidatsu Fujii Traditional Buddhist Ceremony

Ecumenical Prayer

Speakers:
Jersey Shore Nuclear Watch (Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant) Member : Cathy Sims
Indian Point Nuclear Power Activist: Judy Allen
Voice from Fukushima: Sachiko Komagato of Georgian Court University

Music:
Taina Asili and Gaetano Vaccaro

Pot Luck Lunch and Video Presentation

For information call (518) 658-9301 between 8am and 5pm