Japanese monks pray for world peace

Japanese monks pray for world peace

The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Japanese Buddhist monks from the International Zen Exchange
Friendship Association (IZEFA) pray at Borobudur
Temple in Central Java.

The monks prayed on Sunday for world peace, as well as for the
Japanese and Indonesians who died during World War II, when the
Japanese occupied Indonesia.

The prayer was led by IZEFA Kyoto president Shuman Hoshi
Noritake.

Earlier, the monks participated in prayers at the Yogyakarta
Palace with representatives of the different religions in
Indonesia, including Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism
and Buddhism.

Speaking at the joint prayers, Yogyakarta Sultan
Hamengkubuwono X called on all parties to pursue their "interests
in a peaceful manner".

"Our interests often force us to take whatever means
necessary, including means that go against peace and
humanity .... When violence is used, that is the beginning for
the emergence of more violence," he said.

IZEFA's Noritake expressed hope that the joint prayers would
help spread peace across the world.

IZEFA, established in 2000, is an international association of
Zen Buddhists aimed at developing "world friendship" and
spiritual cooperation among followers of different religions
around the world.