72nd Commemoration Ceremony of Hiroshima-Nagasaki Grafton Peace Pagoda Saturday August 5th, 2017 Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo As we gather today to commemorate the anniversary of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki the new US administration is calling for a massive increase in the military budget, is escalating war in Syria, has deployed the largest non-nuclear bomb in history in Afghanistan and is recklessly engaging in increasing militaristic confrontations with North Korea. This administration is reviving the global nuclear arms race and planning to spend over $1 trillion to modernize its nuclear arsenal. All this when the US is only one of nine countries in the world that possesses nuclear weapons. We are calling on the US to join the majority of the world’s people in standing for the abolition of all nuclear weapons. This will be the beginning of restoring our vision to see the preciousness of all life and the protection of the planet. 6:30pm walk from Grafton Town Square to Peace Pagoda (4.3 miles) 8:00 Program of Peace Words from People of the Waters That are Never Still (Mohican Nation): Bonney Hartley Ceremonial lighting of Lanterns Speaker: Miyako Taguchi, Second Generation Survivor from Nagasaki Interfaith Prayer Native American Flute: Eric Marczak Poem Offering: Christian Caulfield Rain or shine. Please wear weather-appropriate clothes and bring a flashlight and insect repellant. You may also want a blanket. For information call the Grafton Peace Pagoda between 8am and 4pm (518) 658-9301 Leading up to this ceremony: Water Walk for Life, July 22-August 5, 2017 13 days, 170 mile walk from Ramapough NJ to Grafton NY   Read More...

 Buddha’s Birthday-Flower Festival Sunday, May 28, 2017   11:00AM “The time has come.  Time has come when we can no longer contain the urge to do something but rush out of our houses. Time has come to look up to heaven, prostrate ourselves to the earth, voice our grief and share it with everyone.”  -- Nichidatsu Fuji Please join us doe Ceremony, Celebration, Speakers, Music and Lunch. Everyone is welcome! Please bring healthy (preferably vegetarian) food to share for potluck following ceremony Grafton Peace Pagoda 87 Crandall Rd Petersburgh, NY 12138 For More Information call (518) 658-9301 (8 AM-7 PM) Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo Read More...

Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo     Grafton Peace Pagoda 23rd Anniversary Celebration  Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 11:00 AM All are invited. “If one wishes to have inner peace one must first pray for peace in the four directions (the entire world).” --- Fujii Garuji, Founder of Nipponzan Myohoji “All things are bound together.  All things connect.  Whatever befalls the earth, befalls also the children of the earth.”  ---Oren Lyons Traditional Buddhist Ceremony Oren Lyons - Haudenosaunee Faithkeeper, Onondaga Nation (https://ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/OLatUNin92.html) Bruce K Gagnon - Co-founder of Maine Veterans for Peace,  Working to convert the military industrial complex to sustainable technologies Amani Olugbala - Social justice activist and poet for peace Interfaith Prayer OG Mack --- Jazz Guitar Dana Hanchard — Japanese Gospel Potluck community meal following ceremony. Vegetarian options preferred. It may be cold.  Please bring a coat and blanket.  Please arrive before 11:00 AM for best parking. For more info, please call the Peace Pagoda: (518) 658–9301 between 7:30 AM & 4PM (Grafton Peace Pagoda does not have internet access or capability.) Nipponzan Myohoji - Grafton Peace Pagoda 87 Crandall Road, Petersburg, NY 12138 Read More...

Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo Hiroshima Day 71st Commemoration Ceremony Grafton Peace Pagoda Saturday August 6, 2016 Forever Renounce War Create a Nuclear Free World We come together to commit to peace and never again using weapons of mass destruction. Let us come together to create world peace one step at a time. Let us find ways to heal the earth and all beings.  We must have no enemies and become the enemy of none. 6:30 PM walk from Grafton Town Square to Peace Pagoda (4.3 miles) 8:30 PM Program of Peace Ceremonial Lighting of Lanterns Interfaith Prayers for Peace Musical Offerings Speakers/Readings Fire Hoop Dance Rain or shine.  Please wear weather-appropriate clothes and bring a flashlight and insect repellant.  You may also want a blanket. Nipponzan Myohoji Read More...

Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo     Grafton Peace Pagoda Flower Festival Celebrating the Birth of the Buddha Sunday June 12, 2016 at 11:00AM Join us in celebrating Buddha's Birth in this world and in reawakening our belief in humanity's noble, spiritual purpose on this earth. "All Life is sacred.  We come into Life as sacred beings." – Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Spiritual Leader The Great Sioux Nation - Traditional Buddhist Ceremony - Ecumenical Prayers - Speakers - Music - Pot Luck Community Lunch (Vegetarian options preferred) Nipponzan Myohoji, Grafton Peace Pagoda 87 Crandall Rd, Petersburgh, NY 12138 For information or to help with ceremony preparation please call (518) 658-9301 between 8AM and 5PM Read More...

Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 11:00  AM 22nd Anniversary Celebration of Opening of Grafton Peace Pagoda You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. --Gandhi

• Buddhist Sacred Ceremony
• Story of Grafton Peace Pagoda Land Donation
• Story of Rising of Peace Pagoda in Washington State
• Interfaith Prayers for Peace with focus on African American Community
• Music, Dance and Poetry
• Closing Prayers with Dennis Banks –
• Anishinaabe Tribe and Co-founder of American Indian Movement

We gather to celebrate the building of the Peace Pagoda and to honor all who have been a part of the Grafton Peace Pagoda community over the years. We will share a potluck meal together after the ceremony. Please bring a healthy dish (vegetarian preferred)  to share and your own dishes and utensils so we can be gentle on the earth. Please wear weather-appropriate clothes. You may also want a blanket. For more information please call the Peace Pagoda at (518) 658–9301 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM The Peace Pagoda does not receive emails. Nipponzan Myohoji - Grafton Peace Pagoda 87 Crandall Road, Petersburg, NY 12138 Read More...

The Times Union recently printed an article about the upcoming Hiroshima Day Ceremony at the Grafton Peace Pagoda:

Recalling Hiroshima 70 years later, with peace and prayers

Buddhist nun to lead march and prayers at Peace Pagoda site By Paul Grondahl

Seventy years after the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, incinerating thousands of Japanese people and decimating the city in a blinding flash of unfathomable destruction, a small Buddhist nun will lead a peace walk through town followed by an interfaith prayer service. Click here for the full article: http://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-local/article/Recalling-Hiroshima-70-years-later-with-peace-6416383.php Read More...

Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo Hiroshima Day 70th Commemoration Ceremony Grafton Peace Pagoda Friday August 7th, 2015 Forever Renounce War Create a Nuclear Free World "There are some who argue that mutual distrust between nations and the existence of terrorists are barriers preventing nuclear disarmament, but I cannot concur," Matsui said. "Now is the time for policymakers to exercise leadership to begin work in creating an international environment that would make possible the elimination of nuclear weapons."                                     --Nagasaki Mayor, Tomihisa Taue “History has proven that a war inevitably causes another war, and I would sincerely like to ask (the nation’s leaders) not to threaten the future of young people and children. Please assure us of peace.” --Miyako Jodai, a 75-year-old Hibakusha (Atomic bomb survivor) Schedule: 6:45pm walk from Grafton Town Square to Peace Pagoda (4.3 miles) 8:30 Program of Peace - Ceremonial Lighting of Lanterns - Interfaith Prayers for Peace - Burlington Taiko Drummers - Speakers/Readings - Dance Rain or shine. Please wear weather-appropriate clothes and bring a flashlight and insect repellant. You may also want a blanket. For more information please call the Grafton Peace Pagoda between 8am and 6pm. The Peace Pagoda cannot respond to emails.  Please call or write. GRAFTON PEACE PAGODA 87 CRANDALL ROAD PETERSBURGH, NY    12138 (518) 658-9301 Read More...

Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo Grafton Peace Pagoda Flower Festival Celebrating the Birth of the Buddha And a Mother's Day Celebration Sunday May 10, 2015 at 11:00AM Join us in celebrating Buddha's Birth in this world and in reawakening our belief in humanity's noble, spiritual purpose on this earth. Traditional Buddhist Ceremony Interfaith Prayers Speaker: Mark Johnson Sharing stories of the NPT Walk Music and Dance Pot Luck Lunch (Everyone welcome to bring a dish to share.  Vegetarian options preferred.) Nipponzan Myohoji, Grafton Peace Pagoda 87 Crandall Road, Petersburgh, NY 12138 For information call (518) 658-9301 between 8 AM and 5 PM Read More...

Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo   21st Anniversary Celebration of Opening of Grafton Peace Pagoda Saturday, October 4, 2014, 11 AM - Buddhist Sacred Ceremony - Interfaith Prayer - Closing Music We gather this year to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the building of the Peace Pagoda and to honor all who have been a part of the Grafton Peace Pagoda community over the years.  We will share a potluck meal together after the ceremony.  Please bring a dish to share (vegetarian options preferred) and your own dishes and utensils so we can be gentle on the earth. For more information please call the Peace Pagoda at (518) 658 - 9301 (please, no calls after 8:00 PM). Nipponzan Myohoji - Grafton Peace Pagoda 87 Crandall Road, Petersburg, NY 12138 www.graftonpeacepagoda.org Read More...