La Voz

Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Josh Bays The World Peace Buddhist Club is displaying a poster exhibit in the Learning Center to promote peace, human rights and nuclear disarmament.

Media Credit: Jay Donde "Sometimes people in developed countries don't pay attention to what's going on in the world," said Mayaki Nitta, signing the exhibit guest book.

Are you a De Anza student seeking enlightenment, but just aren't ready to leave the Bay Area to live the life of a monk in the Himalayas? Nichiren, a Japanese Buddhist monk from the 13th century, would say that that's not a problem.

Every week, ordinary De Anza students meet to discuss and debate the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism. The World Peace Buddhists Club has 10 active members according to co-president Hirano Yu, a second year history major.

"People don't have to go to mountains or temples," said Yu of Nichiren Buddhism. "People can practice this Buddhism in their ordinary lives."

"One of our members was talking about somebody else who was enlightened, went to the mountains and was never heard from again," added Waigi Collins, a first year De Anza student who wants to study international business at UCLA.

"If you're enlightened, you're not going to be selfish and not share that enlightenment with others."

Lisa Noon co-founded the club about three years ago along with Mariko Nakumura. Noon later transferred to UC Santa Cruz, where she also started a similar club, according to her younger brother Jeff, who is a current co-president.

One need not be a Nichiren Buddhist to join the club.

"I think we should have more inter religious conversation," said Yu.

"There are thousands of sects of Buddhism and I follow one," said Jeff Noon. "I'm open to all sects. I'm open to all religions."

Jeff Wong, a Christian, is also a member of the club. He said he agrees with Nichiren Buddhism's emphasis on happiness and discovering yourself.

"It's really up to you to discover the truth," said Wong.

The club is currently displaying a poster exhibit in the library entitled "Transforming the Human Spirit."

The exhibit was created by Soka Gakkai International, an international lay Buddhist organization that promotes peace, human rights and nuclear disarmament.

"The display is Buddhist but it's also for those who aren't Buddhist," said Collins, the club's treasurer. "Because it's a humanism thing, it was necessary we showed it in the library so others could see it."

Collins said the display can bring awareness of human rights issues to those who are otherwise too busy to follow current events.

"It's not really people's fault they don't pay attention [to human rights] but we're trying to make them more aware," Collins said. "They have the choice now to react or to not react."

Yu said the exhibit has already been hosted by Nichiren Buddhist clubs at other colleges in the Bay Area. He added that the club wants to bring in speakers from outside the De Anza community for their weekly discussions.

Nichiren stressed egalitarianism, where anybody can achieve enlightenment, but SGI was excommunicated by the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood in 1991.

"Nichiren Buddhism taught that everyone is capable of being happy," said Francisco Soberanis, a motion illustration student. "They don't need the priesthood to achieve happiness."

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools