Paul Weinberg South African, b. 1956
The Peace Pagoda near Barrydale is believed to be the only such structure in Africa. Donated
by Burmese monks shortly after South Africa’s new democracy, the pagoda is, according to
Steven Aung, president of the International Buddhist Friends Association, “a key part of a
series of pagodas constructed by caring and dedicated people around the world that all
represent and pay tribute to a shared, universal mission of attaining peace.” Today, sadly, the
pagoda is a contested spiritual site. The current landowners are Seventh Day Adventists and
have denied access to visitors and practitioners of Buddhism because this clashes with their
own beliefs.
