SPIRITUAL ACTIVISM

Native American activist Dennis Banks at the Grafton (New York) Peace Pagoda speaking about his life story. From early childhood he was forced to attend military schools and upon completion joined the US Air Force. Stationed in Japan, Dennis witnessed mass non-violent protests against base expansion to accomodate the takeoff of the huge B-52 bomber.

Twenty years later during "The Longest Walk" Dennis met Nichidatsu Guruji Fuji, founder of the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist order.

Guruji became a spiritual teacher for Dennis and took him to Japan and India. From Guruji, Dennis became enlightened. Even with his violent upbringing, including the 1976 standoff with the FBI at Wounded Knee, Dennis, through Guruji learned to channel his energy into non-violent protest.