Our Multicultural Ethics Class spent a day immersed in Buddhist practices at the first Peace Pagoda in the United States just an hour away from us in Massachusetts. It is located in Leverett and is hidden in a giant wooded area far removed from cell-reception! We celebrated their 27th Anniversary with them, listened to Buddhist bell music, chanting, meditation, and various speakers throughout Massachusetts. The speakers were from leaders from many religious denominations from Islam to Baptist and all celebrated the practices of peace, unity, love, and oneness.
We circumvented the Peace Pagoda together in silent prayer, and and later spoke of the symbolism of the lotus, which the Buddha usually sits upon, representing the emerging of enlightenment from the muddy depths of pain that we all experience in life.
The meditation pond and gardens were beautiful and we drank chai together in the grass and ate together as a community the many items that people prepared to share with others. Most food items were vegetarian, but not all Buddhists are vegetarian. Some, especially in Tibet, have a tradition of eating meat, since in the cold mountains there it is difficult to live on vegetation alone. For dinner, our class celebrated together at Lhasa Cafe in Northampton and ate Yak together. We also learned to play singing bowls together, reflecting on the day.
