Eurasian-wide Pilgrimage for a
War-free, Non-violent, New Millenium

Yasnaya Polyana, Russia
to
Lumbini, Nepal

(Through Ukraine, Chechnya, Trans-Caucausus, Iraq, Iran, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India)

Dear Friend :

A group of Buddhist monks (Bikshus) from the Nipponzan Myonji Order are now in India as part of their ongoing pilgrimage for peace. The Eurasian-wide Pilgrimage for a War-free, Non-violent New Millenium began five months ago in Yasnaya Polyana, the home of Leo Tolstoy in Russia, and has intentionally chosen its routes through the heart of unprecedented historical transformation in lands once divided by the Iron Curtain. Today, Eurasia (including South Asia) faces two choices: Increased military conflagration between competing civilizations. The pilgrimage will draw the world's attention to the real situation of victims in major conflict zones throughout Eurasia.

In India, the pilgrimage has visited Sevagram, Wardha, to pay homage to the legecy of Mahatama Gandhi's non-violent struggle for independence. The pilgrimsa now plan to follow the footsteps of Buddha by walking from Bodh-Gaya to Buddha's birthplace at Lumbini, Nepal. The padyatra will begin on 12 November, 1998.

As a second stage after the padyatra to Lumbini, the pilgrims propose to make a joint declaration of peace with Indian activists, and follow it up with a peace march to Pakistan through Kashmir. The starting date for this phase of the march is set for January 30, 1999.

More details about the Pilgrimage

We look forward to seeing you at this meeting, with your comments and suggestions.

Sincerely,

Reverend Teresawa, Vimal Bhai, Rev.Katsu Horiochi, Yousuf Saeed

Gandhi Hindustani Sahitya Sabha, Sannidhi, Rajghat (Adjacent to Gandhi Museum,
New Delhi 110002) Tel.3355303, E-mail