"What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding"

The World and the people that fill it are unfortunately getting busier and busier. In response, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a place to just go and relax and center. When Chris and I are trying to do so, we occasionally have visited perhaps he most beautiful man made structure in Western Massachusetts, the The Peace Pagoda.

The Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist religious dome structure in Leverett, MA. Standing about 100 feet tall, the dome is decorated with gold painted statues depicting the life of Buddha, and at the top sits a golden pinnacle.

The Nipponzan Myohoji order of monks currently living at the Peace Pagoda in Leverett study in the Nichiren tradition of Buddhism. It was founded by Nichidatsu Fujii, who was a great peace advocate for many decades until his death in 1985. He was 99.

On site is the dome structure, the remains of the old temple which burnt down in an accidental fire in 1987, the construction of a new temple, and a beautiful Japanese garden and zen garden.

Below are the photographic highlights from a recent trip.