Buddhists get active in struggle against wartime bills

One of the ten branches of the Jodo Shinshu Sect, a major Buddhist sect in Japan, on June 11 adopted a resolution demanding the bills on wartime legislation be withdrawn.

The Kyoto-based Otani branch of the Jodo Shinshu Sect, with about 8,800 temples and 5,500,000 adherents throughout the country, stated in the resolution that the wartime bills "will completely destroy human rights and mobilize citizens to wars."

It also said, "Japan's constitutional rejection of war is the best way to set citizens free from fear."

In Tokyo, members of the Japan Buddha Sangha are holding protest action to block the wartime legislation everyday at 2 p.m. in front of the Diet Building. Monks in yellow robes and their followers play the drum and recite a sutra.

The Japan Buddha Sangha, which was established in 1918, believes that the meaning of civilization is not to kill other human beings and not to fight wars. "That is why calling for opposition to the wartime legislation is one of our ways to pray," said monk Takeda Takao.

Saying, "Buddhism teaches us we must not kill other human beings," Takeda stated that it is time for Buddhists to take the lead in the struggle against the wartime legislation. (end)