For students interested in learning about Buddhism and promoting world peace, there is now a club on campus to explore these ideas.
Buddhists for Peace members held their first official meeting on Sunday to introduce themselves to campus. The group is a University club for Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist association that promotes peace, culture and education and also enhances the understanding of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.
SGI, an international group, is headed by president Daisaku Ikeda in Japan. The group’s membership has grown from only 3,000 households to include 177 countries with 12 million people who practice this form of Buddhism today, according to Buddhists for Peace creator and president Mari Kugoh.
One goal of Buddhists for Peace is to “help start a dialog of peace activity and philosophy,” SGI member Kate Bennett said.
Another mission of Buddhists for Peace is to introduce the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, a Japanese priest from more than 700 years ago who advocated chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in 1253, Kugoh said. Daishonin originated the claim that Lotus Sutra is the highest teaching of Shakamuni — also known as Buddha.
“Under Lotus Sutra, anyone can be enlightened, regardless of ethnicity, sex or educational background, and that is why Lotus Sutra is the highest teaching of Shakamuni,” Kugoh said.
The chant is a significant part of practicing Lotus Sutra. The purpose of chanting is to reach a state of enlightenment or “Buddhahood,” Buddhists for Peace member Tomomi Kato said. It is something anyone can do at anytime they want, she added.
“By chanting, you raise your life conditions to the highest level and become stronger and are not affected by your environment,” Kato said.
Kugoh defined “Buddhahood” as “when you are happy no matter what happens.” By chanting ‘Nam-myoho-renge-kyo,’ you can reach a state where you are happy all the time, she said.
Freshman Samantha Bates said she has been interested in Buddhism for a while and thought attending the club’s meeting would be a good way to learn more about the religion.
“I saw their fliers, and I saw the Dalai Lama in Portland last year,” she said. “I became interested, and I wanted to find out more.”
The group plans to meet once a month, and everyone is welcome to their meetings, Kugoh said. Their next meeting will be held Nov. 11 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Alsea Room of the EMU.