The Universal Peace Pagoda, New Jersey

Tradition of Establishment of Pagodas

Building the pagoda is a Buddhist tradition in Burma. Therefore, a thousand pagodas are found almost everywhere in the country which is known as the land of pagodas. Burmese people perform various wholesome deeds to accumulate merits and they take delight in merit-making by constructing pagodas.

King Asoka

In B.C. 232, King Asoka, an emperor of India established eighty-four thousand stupas or Cetiyas in his empire to commemorate and pay homage to the Buddha and to promote and propagate Buddha's teachings. They Asoka's act has inspired Buddhists all over the world to build the more and more Cetiyas or pagodas through the ages. 

On one occasion, while the Buddha and his followers were on a journey to Baranasi, they came to a field where there was a spirit shrine. Not far from the shrine, a brahmin was ploughing the field. Seeing the brahmin the Buddha sent for him. When he arrived, the brahmin made obeisance to the shrine but not to the Buddha. 

The Buddha said to him, “Brahmin, by paying respect to the shrine you are doing a meritorious deed.” That made the brahmin happy. After thus putting him in a favourable frame of mind, the Buddha, by his supernormal power, brought forth the golden pagoda of Kassapa Buddha and let it remain visible in the sky. The Buddha then explained to the brahmin and the bhikkhus that the golden pagoda of Kassapa Buddha and let it remain visible in the sky. The Buddha then explained to the brahmin and the bhikkhus that there were four classes of persons worthy of establishing a stupa. They are: the Buddhas (Tathagatas) who are homage-worthy and perfectly selfenlightened, the Pacceka Buddhas, the Ariya disciples, and the Universal Monarchs. He also told them about the three types of stupas erected in honor of these four classes of persons. The pagoda (Cetiya) where corporeal relics are enshrined are known as Sariradhatu Cetiya. The stupas and figures made in the likeness of the above four revered personages are known as Uddissa cetiya. The Cetiya where personal effects like robes, bowls, etc. of those revered personages are enshrined are known as Paribhoga Cetiya. The Bodhi tree is also considered a Paribhoga Cetiya. The Buddha then stressed the importance of paying homage to those who are worthy of veneration.

The Buddha spoke in verse as follow:

At the end of the discourse the brahmin attained Sotapatti Fruition enlightenment. The stupa of Kassapa Buddha remained visible for seven more days and people kept on coming to the stupa to pay homage and obeisance. At the end of the seven days, as willed by the Buddha, the stupa disappeared, and in the place of the previous shrine erected to the spirits, there appeared miraculously, a big stone stupa.

(The Dhammapada)

"Having established the same faith on both living Buddhas and the Buddhas in the past, one gets the same benefits. Beings go to the world of happiness through their established mind."

(Vimanavatthu)

While on a trading journey, two merchant brothers, Taphussa and Bhallika, met the Buddha who gave them eight sacred strands of his hair. The brothers later enshrined the sacred hairs in the Shwedagon Pagoda in Burma — one of the most venerated Buddhist Cetiyas in the world.

Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar

Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar

The Lokachantha Universal Peace Pagoda

The Lokachantha Peace Pagoda of New Jersey is modeled on the Great Shwedagon Pagoda of Burma and highlights Burmese architecture and culture. Since it was organized in 1982, the America Burma Buddhist Association of New York (ABBA) had planned to establish a pagoda and meditation center in a suitable place somewhere in the Tri-State area. On January 16, 1995, ABBA purchased approximately 5 acres of land at 63 Gordons Corner Road in Manalapan, NJ 07726. On May 5, 2005, the pagoda and meditation center projects were finally approved at the Manalapan township zoning board meeting. It took 10 years of struggling with financial difficulties, finding the right architect and engineer, and pursuing township permission to build. On June 16, 2005, K&R Site Work Contractor was hired by ABBA to prepare the land of the site work. K&R began the site work on June 30, 2005 and it was completed 6 months later. The pagoda construction began on March 16, 2006 and was completed 10 years later in 2016. It took a long time to complete the pagoda due to difficulty with finding the right builder. The main structure of the pagoda was built by K&R Site Work Contractor and the outer layer was built by Ko A Khin or Ko Lay. The decorative art works on the pagoda were made by volunteers and two resident monks.

The Lokachantha Universal Peace Pagoda

Meditation Dormitory

Construction of the meditation center dormitory building started on November 3, 2010, when the pagoda project was largely finished. The dormitory building is designed to provide a friendly and tranquil environment in which to promote the teachings of Lord Buddha and the practice of Insight Meditation (Vipassana). The building was finished in 2016. It has 16 dormitory rooms (8 for men and 8 for women) on the second level and a dining room, kitchen, and meditation hall on the first level. The grand opening ceremony of the Pagoda and Meditation Center was successfully and happily celebrated on May 28, 2017 by the community of Buddhist Monks and its followers.

Meditation Retreats

Since then, ABBA runs various religious activities on these premises throughout the year. Among these are numerous long weekend meditation retreats and ten-day meditation retreats. ABBA welcomes everybody to participate in these unique opportunities to enjoy the practice of meditation.

Satipatthana Vipassana Bhavana or Insight Meditation is not a religion. Anybody can practice this meditation technique without converting from their faith. Practiced consistently, Insight Meditation develops mindfulness and insight. People can enjoy these results of the practice: relaxation, self control, calmness, contentment, optimism, compassion, loving-kindness, happiness, insight, and inner peace.

Mediation Center Building

This meditation was taught by the widely respected Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw whose methods are followed in numerous meditation centers throughout the United States, Burma, and Europe. The America Burma Buddhist Association and the Mahasi Meditation Retreat Center are the USA affiliates of the Mahasi Meditation Center of Burma.

Meditation Retreat

Meditation Retreats Schedule

• Martin L King’s Birthday Long Weekend (Fri, Sat,Sun) in January
• President’s Day Long Weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) in February
• Burmese New Year Weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) in April
• Seven Days Retreat (Prior to Memorial Day) in May
• Ten Days Retreat (Prior to Independence Day) in June/ July
• Temporary Ordination Event (Second Week) in August
• Labor Day Long Weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) in September
• Columbus Day Long Weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) in October
• Thanksgiving Day Long Weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) in November
• Christmas Day Long Weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) in December

Note: Schedules are subject to change and please email or call the mediation center for the detail.

Yearly Religious Events

• International New Years in January
• Sticky Rice Cooking Event in March
• Burmese New Years in April
• Buddha Day in May
• Robe Offering (Waso) in July
• Temporary Ordination in August
• NibbanZay in September
• Robe Offering (Kathina) in November