“Direct Dialogue at the Summit” Demanded by Buddhist Priests Association

Sankei Shinbun News: June 6, 2008

On June 18th sixteen Buddhist priests from different denominations will be officially forming ”Prayer for Peace Association by Buddhist Priests from Various Denominations” to call for a direct dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Hu Jintao at the forthcoming G8 Summit this July in Japan.
Mr. Eisho Kawahara, 56, the chief priest of Tanjou Temple (in Tamana-shi, Kumamoto) and the representative of the association, strongly stated, “We cannot ignore Tibet’s terrible situation as a fellow Buddhist,” at the press conference held at the Japanese Press Club (Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) on June 6.
Several hundred Buddhist priests from various denominations such as Tendai and Shingon schools throughout the nation are going to join the association through the Internet online membership system.
The association has already sent a request letter to the prime minister’s official residence and the Chinese embassy in Japan to call for the dialogue at the Summit.
After the Summit is over, the association will continue to work to protect Tibetan Buddhism.
One of the secretaries, Keishi Wakaomi, 48, the chief priest of Zenko-ji Temple Noriyuki Bo (Nagano) said passionately, “We are hoping that this association will be the first step to unite all the denominations together to take action to help.”

Prayer for Peace Association by Buddhist Priests From Various Denominations Has Been Formed

Mainichi Shinbun News, June 6, 2008, Japan
The Japanese Buddhist priests from six denominations in Japan including Rinzai-school have formed “Buddhist Priests’ Prayer for Peace Beyond Denomination Association” (Representative is Eisho Kawahara, the chief abbot of Renge-in Tanjou Temple) and held a press conference on June 6.
The association had previously sent a statement to Mr. Fukuda, the Japanese PM. The statement called on the Japanese government to have a direct dialogue with China in Japan to resolve the Tibet issue with compassion. The association said that they wanted to appeal to world opinion and also that they wanted to cooperate with international support.
The association will hold a memorial service to honor those who lost their lives in the recent unrest. This service will take place in Zoujoji Temple (Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo) at 5.00 pm on 18 June. They are asking many monks to participate throughout Japan.
For further information, please contact the representative Kawahara at: artic@uproad.ne.jp