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"Without
inner peace, outer peace is impossible." - Ven.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
The
vision of the World Peace Café is to serve nutritious
and tasteful vegetarian food in a peaceful, warm, and
gracious environment that is reflective of the Buddhist
principles of loving kindness and respect for all living
beings. The café uses natural food products and
organic locally grown whenever possible. The café
will also serve a variety of specialty and organic teas.
The
World Peace Café provides a relaxing, serene
environment that is ideal for enjoying a healthy meal,
working quietly on a laptop, reading a book, or chatting
with friends over tea. It feels like a true sanctuary
in the midst of a busy, stressful world.
The
Heart of Giving
About two-thirds of the Café's staff are volunteers
from the local Buddhist Center located around the corner
at 130 Allen Road. Another third of our volunteers come from the local Sandy Springs / Atlanta community. These volunteers give their time
and their energy because they understand that without
inner peace, outer peace is impossible. The volunteers
strive to make the Café a place of refuge which
will inspire peace and happiness in its customers.
All
of the proceeds of the Café support Rameshori's
efforts to bring peace to our community through offering
meditation classes, meditation retreats, and classes
on Buddhist psychology for everyday life. Future projects
such as the building of Dharma Centers, a Buddhist Temple
for Peace, and a country meditation center -- all in
or near Atlanta -- will be made possible through the
proceeds of the World Peace Café. We also make donations to similar projects happening throughout the world. Through developing
peace in our own minds and within our local communities,
we are building the necessary foundation for peace in
this world.
A
World-wide Model
There
are many World Peace Cafés arising swiftly throughout
the world, creating an important and beneficial influence
for our global society. The first such Café opened
in the seaside town of Ulverston, England, in 2002.
Since then, other Buddhist Centers around the world
have been inspired to open World Peace Cafés
as a way of positively impacting their community. The
Café in Atlanta is the first full-service World
Peace Café in the United States.
Other Cafés Worldwide
Visit this link to see a complete list of the dozens of World Peace Cafés throughout the world. Like the World Peace Café in Atlanta, each unique Café is supported by its local Buddhist Center and run primarily by volunteers.
http://kadampa.org/en/centers/world-peace-cafes/
The World Peace Café in
Vienna, Austria |
The World Peace Café in Hong Kong, China
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