A Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha (Honzan) statement on Gaza, originally issued in Japanese on November 17, 2023, is now available in English.

The statement describes some of the devastating impacts of the war including the loss of thousands of civilian lives, 40 percent of them children at the time of the statement. The statement reflects upon the example of Shinran Shonin, who “lived during a warring age” and identified with those suffering the consequences of war. In the final paragraph, we are reminded that “Amida Tathagata pledged to guide us to a world that is free from suffering.” The statement concludes, “we call for immediate ceasefire and an end to war.”

The complete statement is available in the Messages section of this website, either as a web page or as a PDF document.