Terasawa Junsei

Junsei Terasawa (, , ; 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.

Being a respected mentor, surnamed Terasawa-sensei or simply Sensei, 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.

Biography

Peace Pagoda with coordinates , built Nipponzan Myōhōji in 1980. Milton Keynes, England, is the first Peace Pagoda in the western hemisphere. Peace Pagoda with coordinates (London, England) built by Nipponzan Myōhōji in 1985.

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.

Terasawa suggested Ukrainian religious leaders make a joint application for peace and a non-violent society in Ukraine. On the day of commemoration for those killed on the Kyiv Maidan, he initiated another peace walk in Kyiv and cities of south-eastern Ukraine.