Yurie Takeuchi's Articles on Lions Roar

On January 16, over a hundred community members, led by Buddhist and interfaith leaders, gathered at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Manhattan's Union Square Park to express a message of compassion and peace on in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who led his civil and human rights movement with a message of nonviolence. Nonviolence was championed by Gandhi, and has been practiced in various Buddhist traditions. The event, a meditation and prayer gathering titled “We Are Together!,” was organized by the Buddhist Council of New York (BCNY.) BCNY is an association of Buddhist temples and organizations whose mission is to foster dialogue, cooperation and unity within the Buddhist community in the New York City area. “It is important to keep in our minds the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, namely nonviolence, and the action of peace and compassion,” said Rev. Dr. T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki, President of the BCNY in his welcome address. The gathering began with a warm opening invocation by Ven. Dharma King, founder of the International Mongolian and Tibetan Buddhist Center. It was followed by a dharma speech by Roshi Pat Enkyo O’Hara, abbot of the Village Zendo. “Dr. King is a true Bodhisattva!” said Roshi Enkyo. Bodhisattva, in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, refers a person who uses all their energy for the good of others. Iman Muhammad Shahidullah, President of the Interfaith Center of U.S.A, offered a Muslim prayer and said, “Although Trump’s policies have put much pressure on the Muslim community, I am optimistic because the Muslim community is joining and working together with our brothers and sisters in the African American community, Latino community, the Jewish community, and today with their Buddhist friends to fight back against those policies.” Later, Pastor Frank Haye, a composer, conductor and producer, and the Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir, a group encouraging members to celebrate diverse cultures, sang two songs for love and peace. Detective Mohamed Amen represented NYPD Community Affairs Bureau and shared his message. The BCNY welcomed Paola Ruiz, the Borough Director for Manhattan, who brought a message from Mayor de Blasio: “I commend the Council and everyone gathered for their efforts to celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy as we work together to forge a brighter, more inclusive and equitable future for all.” Monks and nuns from various Buddhist traditions, including the Theravada tradition of Thailand and Sri Lanka, the Mahayana tradition from China, Korea and Japan, and the Vajrayana tradition from Tibet and Mongolia, gave meditation, prayer and blessings for peace and harmony. As the ceremony came to a close, participants of varying religious beliefs, ages, races, and genders held hands and joined their voices in a prayer for unity. The ceremony was meant to demonstrate how compassion is related to several different faiths such as Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism and how each religion can serve to unite individuals and bring peace to the world, and that we are one family when it comes to love and compassion.

Prayers for Peace and Compassion on Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday in New York City

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