[HWPL]

[HWPL] HWPL Peace Tours of Man-hee Lee (11): Partnering for World Peace Across Politics and Religion

Chairman Lee participates in the Candlelight Procession for Peace, following the German Peace Forum held at St. Nicholas' Church (St. Nikolai-Kirche) in Berlin, Germany on October 4, 2013, and shapes the word 'P-E-A-C-E' using candles

The 6th peace tour of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL, Chairman Man-hee Lee) was conducted in 21 days from September 26th to October 17th 2013. During the peace tour, Chairman Lee visited eight countries, starting with the Philippines and including Thailand, Finland, Germany, Norway, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania.

During the 6th peace tour, meaningful peace talks were held with leaders from each field. In particular, the meeting with Antonio Ledesma, the then Archbishop of Mindanao, the Philippines, set the foundation for a later visit to Mindanao by Chairman Lee. A meeting of global Buddhist leaders at the 100th Birthday Conference of the Sangharaja (Patriarch) of Thailand hosted by the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) seemed to transcend borders and harness unity. Former President of Romania Emil Constantinescu, whom Chairman Lee had met during his previous tour to Romania, became a committed peace associate of Chairman Lee.

Antonio Ledesma, Archbishop of Mindanao, the Philippines, meets with Man-hee Lee, Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) during the 6th Peace Tour held for 21 days from September 26 to October 17, 2013

The Peace Walk is being held at Pariser Square (Pariser Platz) in Berlin, Germany, on October 5th, 2013 

On September 26, 2013, Chairman Man-hee Lee met with Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, who was working hard to eradicate poverty in the Philippines, at a monastery in Batangas City, Archdiocese of Lipa, Philippines. After the meeting, Archbishop Rosales said, "As we talked on the topic of world peace, my heart fluttered, and I could feel that I was one of those in the struggle for good."

In a subsequent peace talk with Antonio Ledesma, Archbishop of Mindanao, the Philippines, Archbishop Ledesma implored Chairman Lee to visit Mindanao to settle the ongoing religious dispute there. However, Chairman Lee, who had a fixed schedule, could not accommodate and so promised to visit Mindanao in the future and left.

Chairman Man-hee Lee of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), meets with Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, the Philippines during the 6th peace tour held for 21 days from September 26th to October 17th, 2013

On September 27, 2013, at the UNESCO International Youth Development Summit (IYDS 2013) held at Taguig City University in Manila, Philippines, Chairman Lee, who delivered a lecture on world peace, appealed to the audience to join in the work of International Peace Youth Group (IPYG). “The only way to end wars and achieve world peace is with the youth,” said Chairman Lee. "Everyone should participate and become one,” he emphasized.

Chairman Man-hee Lee appeals to world Buddhist leaders to join the HWPL peace movement at the 100th Birthday Conference of the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand Somdet Phra Sangharaja Chao Krommaluang Vajirañāṇasaṃvara hosted by the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) on October 1, 2013

Upon arriving in Thailand, Chairman Lee attended the 100th birthday celebration of Thailand's supreme Buddhist patriarch Somdet Phra Sangharaja Chao Krommaluang Vajirañāṇasaṃvara in Bangkok on October 1, 2013, where he appealed to 300 Buddhist leaders from around the world to join the peace movement. Invited to the commemorative event at Wat Bowonniwet in Bangkok, Chairman Lee briefly greeted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who delivered congratulatory remarks.

Chairman Lee said, “Before speaking of world peace, the religious world must first achieve unity so that there is no more quarrelling or conflict. If that happens, wars will end and this world will become a world of peace.”

A peace discussion with 14 world Buddhist leaders who had shown great interest in Chairman Lee's lecture was then held on the morning of the 2nd at the Imperial Queen's Park Hotel in Bangkok. Chairman Lee said to the Buddhist leaders of every country who participated in that meeting, "I believe that borders, races and religions should not be compromised for world peace."

WFB Vice President Tampalawela Dhammaratana, a French and Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, said, "I really respect Chairman Lee's work for world peace and I want to work with him." Ven. Dorin Genpo, co-president of WFB in Germany, emphasized, “In my opinion, it would be good for our Fellowship to work with such a wonderful peace organization.”

Steven Huang, co-president of WFB Thailand, said, “It is truly a blessing to be able to have Chairman Man-hee Lee, who is very spiritual, at this meeting.”

To the many Buddhist leaders who spoke in kind, Chairman Lee repeatedly said, “We have branches all over the world - please help HWPL’s peace movement.”

Man-hee Lee, Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) meets Phan Wannamethee, President of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) (Thailand), during the 6th Peace Tour held for 21 days from September 26 to October 17, 2013

"The world really needs peace," said Bikiran Prasad Barua, a Bangladeshi representative. "Not only Buddhists, but every religious leader should join Chairman Lee's movement for world peace."

Following the meeting, he said, “This meeting was a great achievement.” “World peace is absolutely necessary. Chairman Lee will soon become a highly respected person. I hope that he will successfully accomplish the noble mission of world peace that is essential to mankind.”

On the afternoon of October 2nd, Chairman Lee, who attended the Youth Peace Seminar held at Chulalongkorn University, a world-renowned Buddhist university in Thailand, said to the audience, “We are all One. Let's help and love each other and make the world a world of peace." Urging the youth to join the HWPL peace movement, he said, “I will work until the day world peace is achieved.”

Man-Hee Lee, Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), meets Emil Constantinescu, former President of Romania, during the 6th Peace Tour held for 21 days from September 26 to October 17, 2013

During his visit to Europe from October 3 to October 17, 2013, Chairman Lee held talks with key figures from Finland, Norway, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany and Romania. The former president and prime minister of Finland, the former prime minister of Norway, the Parliament of Poland, the Polish cardinal, the foreign minister of the Czech Republic, the minister of youth and sport of Romania, the vice minister of the women's environment and the former president all expressed their support for Chairman Lee's steps for peace.

At the meeting, Chairman Lee said to them, "If presidents truly love peace, their country and people, then please have them sign in support of the enactment of international law for the cessation of war." In particular, former President of Romania Emil Constantinescu, whom Chairman Lee had met on October 14, greatly sympathised with the peace movement, and has become a peace associate, assuming the role of a bridge that informs the international community about Chairman Lee.

Enthusiastic coverage of Chairman Lee continued throughout the 6th tour wherever he went. In addition to PTV, the state-run broadcaster in the Philippines, about 10 radio broadcast centres from Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic interviewed and reported on Chairman Lee. He said to reporters, "If the press also wants the cessation of war and world peace, please report everything you can about world peace from time to time."

Man-hee Lee, Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) meets Tarya Halonen, former President of Finland, during the 6th Peace Tour held for 21 days from September 26 to October 17, 2013

Man-hee Lee, Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) meets Kjell Magne Bondevik, former Prime Minister of Norway, during the 6th Peace Tour held for 21 days from September 26 to October 17, 2013

Peace!!