Buddhist Peace Fellowship

History

• 1978 was when the Buddhist Peace Fellowship started

• It is the first organizational flower of socially engaged Buddhism in the west

• Co-founded by Nelson Foster, Robert and Anne Aitken

About

• It is a nonviolent peace and justice organization• From the start of this group it was working for human

rights in Vietnam and Cambodia • Trying to engage with issues of war, disarmament,

and nuclear weapons• These issues are still not resolved• Its ecumenical approach to Dharma of the real

context of it and the strength in Buddhism history of it.

• Has Chapters in 29 states and 11 countries

Mission/Vision• To have an understanding

within ourselves and around the world

• Purpose is to help people liberate people from suffering from other individuals, relationships, intuitions, and social systems.

• There are practice groups of Buddhist teachings of wisdom and compassion with progressive social change

What Do Others Think Of BPF?

Others

• The BPF has groups all around the world with meditation times and topics to discuss

• Mindfulness meditation at Zuccotti Park in Downtown Manhattan, sits of meditation were happening around the world.

• One man doesn’t pay taxes because he is a Zen Buddhist he tells the IRS

• Every BPF group around the states seems to have the have the same visions/missions just worded differently

• BPF in states have been doing little projects to help such as local prison mediation projects and peace and political grassroots movements

• All of the BPF are just trying to share the practice of spiritual non-violence

Media

• The BPH has a online sysytem for writers and thinkers to put there thoughts down to bring teachings into the world.

• There is a magazine called the Turning Wheel

Turning wheel Media

• This media provides a platform for lively debate

• Lifts up Buddhist Perspectives on important current events

• Takes the inspired readers to try to take action

• It brings Buddhist teachings into the world to see

• Last it inspires, comforts and challenges BPF to be the best they can be

Example of Turning Wheel Media

• http://vimeo.com/51450145

• http://vimeo.com/48475475

• http://vimeo.com/46560680

Getting Involved

• Give What you can to the world

• Becoming a Member of BPF “Buddhist Peace Fellowship is a home for people who both practice Buddhism and join in struggles for peace in our world.”

• Join and participate in the conversations at Turning Wheel Media

Getting Involved

• Join a study group or chapter group

• Study Group: Shared interests or identities

• Volunteer: Many jobs and there central role is to socially engage Buddhism to the world

• Take Action!

Events BPF Does• Art• Dhamma• Economy• Food• Gender• Healing• Interfaith• Military• Prisons• Race• Science• Technology

Buddhist Peace Fellowship Chapter Book

• http://www.docstoc.com/docs/89404327/Buddhist-Peace-Fellowship-Chapter-Handbook

• This book tells the reader what a chapter is and chapter responsibilities, everything to do with a chapter

Conclusion

BPF is a growing group all around the worldIt has made a impact on many people and made people stand for many of there beliefsI hope one day the idea of non-violence really works to end wars and bring peace all around the world

Websites• http://www.liberationpark.org/bpf/bpf.htm• http://www.bpfny.org/peacecommunity.html• http://theidproject.org/blog/patrick-groneman/2011/10/17/being-present-meditation-

occupy-wall-street• http://villagezendo.org/journal/december_07/precepts_december_07.html• https://sites.google.com/site/chinesecommunitychurchorg/buddhist-peace-fellowship• http://www.buddhistpeacefellowship.org/our-work/turning-wheel-media/• http://www.buddhistpeacefellowship.org/become-a-member/• http://www.buddhistpeacefellowship.org/volunteer/• http://vimeo.com/51450145• http://www.buddhistpeacefellowship.org/we-vote-every-day/• http://www.buddhistpeacefellowship.org/nourishing-poems-from-alexis-pauline-gumbs/• http://www.buddhistpeacefellowship.org/are-fast-food-ceos-indebted-to-workers/• http://www.buddhistpeacefellowship.org/receiving-the-bodhisattva-precepts/• http://www.buddhistpeacefellowship.org/can-meditating-cure-violence-scofield-says-no/• http://www.docstoc.com/docs/89404327/Buddhist-Peace-Fellowship-Chapter-Handbook