Terasawa Junsei
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Junsei Terasawa (Japanese: 寺沢潤世, Russian: Дзюнсэй Тэрасава, Ukrainian: Дзюнсей Терасава; September 15, 1950) is a Japanese Buddhist monk, belonging to the Order Nipponzan Myōhōji. He is notable for being the first Nipponzan monk to be active in Eurasia.
Junsei Terasawa (寺沢潤世) | |
|---|---|
 Rev. Junsei Terasawa. Japan, 2005 | |
| Title | Nipponzan Myōhōji |
| Personal life | |
| Born | September 15, 1950 |
| Occupation | monk |
| Website | https://www.facebook.com/Terasava |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Senior posting | |
| Predecessor | Nichidatsu Fujii |
Being a respected mentor, surnamed Terasawa-sensei or simply Sensei,[citation needed] he has undertaken many years of monastic peacemaking practices in India, Europe and the former Soviet Union. Presently, he teaches groups of monks from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and China. In 2000 he was forbidden from entering Russia because of his opposition to the war in Chechnya.[1][independent source needed][2][3]
Biography
Junsei Terasawa was born on September 15, 1950, into a poor family in Hakui, Ishikawa. He is the second son in the family.
Shortly before the Berlin Wall Fall, he conducted a seven day prayer without food and water on the grave of Karl Marx, burned his finger phalanx and made a Peace March from Warsaw to the wall.[4][independent source needed]
Terasawa suggested Ukrainian religious leaders make a joint application for peace and a non-violent society in Ukraine.[5][independent source needed] On the day of commemoration for those killed on the Kyiv Maidan, he initiated another peace walk[6] in Kyiv and cities of south-eastern Ukraine.[7]