Last Sunday, July 2, 2023, the annual Peace ceremony was held at the Pagoda in Comiso, Sicily, of the Japanese Buddhist order of Nipponzan Myohoji monks and nuns.
The temple and pagoda is a unique monumental complex in Italy and is one of four erected in Europe along with those in Milton Keynes, London and Vienna.
It was inaugurated in 1998 by Reverend Gyosho Morishita, who arrived in Italy in the early 1980s in support of nonviolent protests against the NATO base in Comiso. Today this place is visited by many pilgrims, Buddhist and non-Buddhist, from all over the world.
Present at the ceremony were representatives of local institutions, representatives of other religious orders (including a Catholic priest), the two monks and devotees of the Buddhist Temples in Sicily (Catania and Syracuse) of the Theravada order, and many people from neighboring municipalities as well as from all over Italy and abroad. The monks and nuns, together with volunteers, worked assiduously for weeks so that this day could be felt in its deepest essence.
Morishita Dojo moved everyone with his speech inspired by Ashoka’s edict on the abandonment of all weapons. Ashoka was a king of ancient India who, following his conversion to Buddhism, abandoned the policy of “conquest in all directions” in favor of the victory of Dharma (Dharma Vijaya)-rule of nonviolence.
During the event, space was given for everyone to be able to intervene with collective prayers as well. Verses in Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Japanese were recited and, together with the priest, the Lord’s Prayer was said. To conclude, gifts and offerings placed on the altar were distributed: flowers, fruits and delicacies, and delicious dishes prepared for the occasion were enjoyed [by all] together.
The purpose of the Pagoda is to build world peace through prayer and work.
For all practical and bureaucratic matters, however, the monks rely on the good hearts and common sense of the men and women of peace they know and who frequent the temple. To this end, the Peace Pagoda Committee* has been established and is working to resolve issues related to the legal legitimacy of the monument and [how to] allow free access to the monk, devotees, and visitors.
This will be made possible through the construction of an independent road and the purchase of the six thousand square meters of land on which this precious place of prayer stands.
The feeling of union with the Eternal is shared by all who visit 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 page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090242785184
To participate in this project: 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 event by Dana Soady
Full address 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 are once again able to celebrate with you [an anniversary, ] the 25th anniversary of the Comiso Peace Pagoda. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all those who are close to us. After the last celebration in 2019, we are finally able to hold [a celebration] again this year. However, despite various difficulties in recent years, friends and devotees have worked hard to help maintain the Peace Pagoda and build world peace. I would like to say thank you for all your efforts from the bottom of my heart.
In 2022, at the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Dhauligiri Shanti Stupa Peace Pagoda held in India, there were many followers from all over the world. [This pagoda] is built in the state of Orissa, a sacred place where King Ashoka, in ancient India–following his conversion to Buddhism–abandoned the policy of conquest in all directions (Digvijaya) in favor of the victory of Dharma (Dharma Vijaya)–Rule of Nonviolence.
Today in Europe, the Ukrainian war goes on with no sign of ending and may only leave a bitter feeling for years to come, making it impossible to establish a true and lasting peace.
Let us follow the edict of Ashoka and abandon all weapons. In order to build true peace, let us pray fervently to work diligently together 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
