Children of Peace: Peace Building Based Upon Buddhist Principles

Ven. Dr. T, Kenjistu Nagakaki was our keynote speaker of the afternoon. Dr. Nagakaki is a Buddhist priest, ordained in the 750-year old Jodoshinshu tradition of Japanese Buddhism. After moving to New York in 1994 and meeting with people with survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as Holocaust victims, Nagakaki’s views began to widen. He first touched on differences on Western versus Eastern perspectives, especially when it comes to views on life and how to achieve peace. Two major Buddhist principles were spoken on: wisdom and compassion. The Buddhist view of wisdom is to see things as they truly are, free from self-centered views. Compassion was broken into two components: Maitri (friendship), which meant giving happiness to others equally, and Karuna, to get rid of suffering and pain. Dr.Nagagaki closed with the principles of the traditional Japanese tea house, a traditional symbol of peace.

Memorable Quote: “For in this world, hate never yet has dispelled hate” -Dhammapada, Chapter 1

Quotes from Buddhist texts

(1) Hate never dispels hate

 “He insulted me; he beat me; he threw me down and robbed me.” Dwell on such such thoughts, and your hatred will never cease.

“He insulted me; he beat me; he threw me down and robbed me.” Put away such thoughts, and hatred will never arise.

For in this world hate never yet has dispelled hate.  Only love-and-compassion(absence of hatred) dispels hate.  This law is ancient and will last forever. (Dhammapada Chapter 1)

(2) Ahimsa or Non-Violence

All beings fear violence; all fear death.  If you take yourself as the measure, do not kill and do not let others kill.

All beings fear violence; all love life.  If you take yourself as the measure, do not kill and do not let others kill. (Dhammapada,  Chapter 10) 

(3) Potentiality to be enlightened

All sentient beings have the Buddha nature. (Maha Nirvana Sutra)

(4) Compassion

The Buddha’s Mind is great compassion and loving kindness.  It embraces sentient beings with unconditional benevolence.(Meditation Sutra on Amitayus)

(5) Share of sufferings

I became ill, because sentient beings are in suffering.(Vimalakirti Sutra, Chapter 5)

(6) no weapons, no fear

Look at the people who are fighting to kill. Their fears rose when they took weapons to attack.

Look at the people who are fighting to kill. Their fears rose when they took weapons to attack. (Sutta-Nipata, Chapter 4)

(7) Loving-kindness Meditation

May all beings be happy and secure; May their hearts be wholesome. Whatever living beings there may be, feeble or strong, tall, fat, or medium, short, small, or large, without exception, seen or unseen, those dwelling far or near, those who are born or who are to be born, may all beings be happy. (Sutta-Nipata, Chapter 1 )

(8) Awareness of ordinariness

Let us control ourselves and not be resentful when others disagree with us, for all men have hearts and each heart has its own leanings. The right of others is our wrong, and our right is their wrong. We are not unquestionably sages, nor are they unquestionably fools. Both of us are simply ordinary men. How can anyone lay down a rule by which to distinguish right from wrong? For we are all wise sometimes and foolish at others. Therefore, though others give way to anger, let us on the contrary dread our own faults,… (Seventeen-Articles Constitution, Article 10, by Prince Shotoku)