Interfaith Peace Walk
August 25 - September 11, 2002
Schenectady to New York City
We come across two kinds of disaster. One is human and another is natural disaster, both often strike without warning. Human disaster in the form of a shocking and horrible event occurred in this country last year. The perpetrators of this crime against humanity have yet to be brought to the bar of justice. This type of continual perpetration of injustice over a period of many years has brought this country to dangerous turning point.
In order to get rid of this sad situation we as a religious community would like to suggest a path which can lead to create compassion and understanding among brothers instead of choosing a path which involves invasion and kills more innocent people. Many great saints and wise people are of the view that violence can only beget more violence.
During difficult times in life people feel a strong need to be among others so they can have solace and peace of mind. With this feeling in heart the Grafton Peace Pagoda Committee Members decided to sponsor a peace walk to remember the anniversary of the national tragedy of September 11. The peace walk creates innerself development and a healing spirit among people.
According to the walk sponsor the Interfaith Peace Walk was particularly inspired by the Jewish Muslim Walk held last April which made a historic journey from the Nhalet Shalom Synagogue to the Islamic Center in New Mexico to affirm the participants common desire for world peace.
Before heading to New York City the group of Interfaith Peace Walkers spent three days visiting Jewish Temples, Christian Churches, Islamic Centers, and Hindu and Buddhist Temples where we prayed together. All the people whom we met gave us words of comfort, hope and assurance from which we drew strength and encouragement for the walk to New York City.
While we walked along the bank of the Hudson River we stopped at several gravesites of Native Americans and offered our prayers for their spirits. They were the people who fought a long time against the arms race and the development of the nuclear industry.
The walk from Albany to New York passed through Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Lakeville,Connecticut, and finally entered Benton Road, Peekskill, and Ossining of New York State. Before approaching Washington Square in New York City the peace journey made a turn to Teaneck, New Jersey to visit a Mosque and Methodist Church where the peace walkers were adorned with a gift of Dhamma speech by the Mullah and the Pastor. We the peace walkers spent two days on September 10 and 11 to offer prayers to the candlelight peace vigil in the evening at Union Square. Many relatives and friends of 9/11 victims joined us during our time of prayer. At the peace pole in Washington Square Park we recited the Dhamma Sutra with prayer for a peaceful tomorrow. This peace pole was made by the peace pole makers of Michigan USA and presented to Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City. The six- sided aluminum peace pole features the message of peace in the major languages of the world.
On September 11 we were welcomed in Union Square by fasters who had fasted for the whole month of September for the cause of Peace and Non-Violence. Our peace journey ended with our religious call and prayer for an end to war and violence. We displayed our determination with deep and stricken voices to shape our hope for a future of peaceful tomorrows.
Lastly, reflecting on the power of destructiveness we made a commitment to the power of peace in front of the gathering of people who assembled on the anniversary of the national tragedy.
