Nichiren Order of North America ministers held a memorial service for the vicitims of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, New York. The memorial service was held at Battery Park.
Below - over 3000 special wooden memorial plaques, called toba, were hand written. There is one for each person killed in connection with the terrorist attack on New York on 9/11/2001. On each tablet is written Namu-myoho-renge-kyo down the center at the top. Below that is written the name of each person their age when they died and a prayer for their enlightenment.
Below Rev. Kumakura the head minister at the New York temple. Rev. Kuamakura was on his way into the city and saw the second airplane strike the second tower. He was greatly affected by witnessing such an unthinkable tragedy. He made a determination to dedicate his efforts to praying for the deceased and working to spread Buddhism's message of peace. Rev. Kumakura has collected the names and ages of each person killed. Every day he recites a portion of the Lotus Sutra and chants Odaimoku for 10 individuals. It takes him one year to pray for every person. He has begun his second set of prayers for each person.
