The New England Peace Pagoda, built in 1985 in Leverett, MA, was the first of its kind in the United States. It is run by the Nipponzan-Myohoji order of Buddhist monks, founded in Japan in 1917 by Nichidatsu Fujii. After witnessing the atrocities of war following the detonation of nuclear bombs in World War II, Fuji began constructing peace pagodas around the world. These peace pagodas are dedicated to world peace, and are places open to anyone, regardless of faith.
The New England Peace Pagoda has a large white dome structure, or stupa, with statues and relics in niches around its circumference. A nearby temple, opened in 2011, is home to the monks as well as prayer space and interfaith gatherings. Next to the pagoda is a tranquil garden, with prayer flags criss-crossing a pond, benches, and mementos left behind by previous visitors dedicated to Native American spirits and ancestors.
“When we believe in the just truth of the law of causation, we must completely abolish armaments, not only nuclear weapons, but all tools of killing and destruction and all means of war.”
~ The Most Venerable Nichidatsu Fujii Guruji
