17 Notable Buddhist Peacemakers

Click here for Buddhist peace pagodas & stupas.
Click here for peacemakers worldwide (& explanation of symbols).

c563-483 BCE - Siddhartha Gautama - The Buddha. Described Nirvana as the perfect peace of a mind that's free from ignorance, greed, hatred & other "defilements." P

c304–232 BCE - Ashoka - Emperor. Devotee of ahimsa (nonviolence), love, truth, tolerance & vegetarianism. P

1821-1900 - Charles De Berard Mills - Abolitionist. Wrote on Oriental thought including Buddhism. Father of Harriet May Mills (qv).

1885-1985 - Nichidatsu Fujii - Founded the Nipponzan-Myohoji order of Buddhism. Called Guruji by Gandhi. Click here for Peace Pagodas.

1891-1956 - B.R. Ambedkar - Jurist, economist & politician. Most promenent Dalit (Mahar) at independence. Inspired Modern Buddhist Movement. Wrote Indian Constitution.

1906-1999 - Nikkyo Niwano - Helped found Rissho Kosei Kai Buddhist order in 1938.

1918-2008 - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi - Guru. Developed Transcendental Meditation (TM) & Global Country of World Peace (GCWP). Lives in Fairfield, Iowa.

1926-Alive - Thich Nhat Hanh - Monk, teacher, author, poet & peace activist now based in France. Year?

1928-Alive - Daisaku Ikeda - Author & president of Soka Gakkai International (SGI). Founder of several educational, cultural & peace research institutions.

1933-Alive - Sulak Sivaraksa - Initiator of social, humanitarian, ecological & spiritual movements, eg Intl Network of Engaged Buddhists.

1935-Alive - 14th Dalai Lama - Spiritual leader. Exiled from Tibet in 1959. 1989 Year? 2009

1939-Alive - Bernie Glassman - Zen Buddhist master (roshi). Co-founder of Zen Peacemakers (previously the Zen Peacemaker Order).

1945-Alive - Aung San Suu Kyi - General Secretary of Burmese National League for Democracy. Released from house arrest in November 2010. 1991

1955-Alive - Jigme Singye Wangchuck - King of Bhután 1972-2006. Reformer. Established Gross National Happiness in 1972.

1956-Alive - Geshe Thubten Phelgye - Buddhist lama & peace activist. Promotes vegetarianism & humane treatment of animals. Active in Sulha Peace Project.
1956-Alive - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar - Exponent of Advaita Vedanta & spiritual leader of Art of Living Foundation.

1959-Alive - Ravindra Kumar - Political scientist, peace-worker & educationalist. Editor of "Global Peace International Journal." Author of many works on Mahatma Gandhi & others.