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Living with the Pandemic from a Buddhist Perspective

Friday, August 14, 2020
by Susan

Watch – Live from Tokyo! The Temple Sangha Engagement was honored and thrilled to have Rev Ken Tanaka speak to us on “Living with the Pandemic from a Buddhist Perspective“.

You can watch the recording on: https://youtu.be/dPiKQOpX11k

Tanaka Sensei is the renowned author of “Ocean: An Introduction to Jodo Shinshu Buddhism” and recently published “Jewels: An Introduction to American Buddhism for Youth, Scouts and the Young at Heart”.

This online presentation was held on Sunday, Nov 1 from 3-4:30pm MST.

Published by BDK America or the Society for the Promotion of Buddhism, hardcopies of Jewels: An Introduction to American Buddhism for Youth, Scouts and the Young at Heart will be available from the Temple Library (when it opens) or you can download his book, free of charge by visiting: https://www.bdkamerica.org/book/jewels-introduction-buddhism-youth-scouts-and-young-heart

Words from the Author

For me, it was not easy growing up a young Buddhist in the early 1960s. Fortunately, things have changed enormously since then. Buddhism is today much more well known, and, as I will show in this book, it is now an “American religion” and no longer just a religion of Asia. Further, there are now far more “famous” Buddhists, great books on Buddhism, and information available on the Internet.

Despite this, I feel there are still very few introductory books for American (or Canadian) youths and young adults on Buddhism. That motivated me to work on an easy to understand introductory book for this audience. I feel I can accomplish this because of my own background of having been an American Buddhist youth. Plus, I have raised three Buddhist young adults.

It is my strong wish to contribute to the well-being of youth who are Buddhists or interested in Buddhism. Despite the growth of Buddhism in this country, there are still many challenges of living in a society dominated by Christian values and customs.

It’s my dream that this book can help Buddhist youth to gain greater confidence in their religion, and give any younger persons (whether they are Buddhist or not) a chance to take interest in Buddhism. It’s good for adults too, which is why the title includes “for the Young at Heart.”

^{Rev. Dr. Kenneth Kenshin Tanaka}

^{Author, Ocean: An Introduction to Jodo Shinshu Buddhism}

^{Professor Emeritus, Musashino University, Tokyo}

^{Former BCA minister and IBS Associate Professor}

Susan Sangha Engagement, Workshop | Leave a Comment

Fall Workshops

Friday, August 14, 2020
by Susan

The following workshops are open to everyone and will be held online using Zoom. Please register early and support the continued coordination of these workshops. There’s no fee to attend and donations to the temple are appreciated.

An Hour of Laughter, Joy and Peace

Join the Calgary Buddhist Temple on Sunday Sept. 20, 2020 from 1pm – 2pm as Candice Macpherson will be leading a 1hr online/ZOOM Laughter Yoga workshop.

Laughter yoga consists of: Deep breathing exercises, clapping, chanting, tapping, gentle stretches, laughter sounds and laughter exercises followed by a relaxing meditation at the end.

Candice will share the many physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health benefits along with how you can use laughter breathing and meditation throughout your day to create more health, love, joy and peace.

Laughter Yoga is for all ages and abilities. For this online workshop, we will do all exercises from a chair.

Click here to register for Laughter Yoga

Finding Inner Peace – Introduction to Tension Releasing Exercises (TRE®) for Stress Management By Sara Clark (MSW, RSW, REAT and TRE®-CP)

Sara is a TRE® Certified Provider (TRE®-CP) and on Thursday, Oct 15 from 7:00-8:00pm, the Calgary Buddhist Temple is pleased to have her presenting on Tension Releasing Exercises (TRE®). TRE® is a complimentary, integrated health practice that can be used by almost anyone regardless of age or ability. It is self-empowering, self-initiating and self-regulating. In this online workshop, you will learn about:

What is Stress
What is Trauma
Our bodies response to stress or trauma
What is TRE
Who created it and why
How it can be used to improve your well being

Click here to register for TRE/Stress Mgmt

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2020 Obon Schedule

Tuesday, July 21, 2020
by Susan

Based on the level of government restrictions, our Obon Schedule is subject to change but let’s stay positive and continue to be safe!

Obon is a time to express our gratitude to loved ones who have passed on before us. Without them, we would not be who we are today, due to the basic tenet of interdependence. We would not be where we are and we would not be able to do the things we do to enjoy life. Just think about the number of people involved in creating each of us. If we go back just thirty generations, we can calculate that there were over two billion parents, starting with our two parents, their four parents, and so on—and that’s just the physical part.

Saturday August 22nd

11 am – Strathmore cemetery – Everyone welcome

12:30 pm – Mountain View cemetery – Everyone welcome

2 pm – Nokotsudo/Columbarium Service – online using Facebook Live from the Facebook group,Calgary Buddhist Temple Group. Everyone is welcome!

Sunday August 23rd

11 am – Eden Brook cemetery – Everyone welcome

1 pm – Queens Park cemetery – Everyone welcome

3 pm – OBON SERVICE at the Temple by Invitation Only or you can view online using Facebook Live from the Facebook group, Calgary Buddhist Temple Group. Everyone is welcome!

Susan Local, Teachings | Leave a Comment

Temple Open with Limited Attendance

Monday, July 06, 2020
by Susan

PLEASE NOTE THAT AS OF NOV 25, 2020, THE TEMPLE HAS DECIDED TO SUSPEND IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE FOR SUNDAY SERVICES UNTIL THE NEW YEAR.

At this time, a limited number of people can attend a Sunday service in person but you MUST PRE-REGISTER in advance. If interested, please click on the link HERE to be directed to the online signup page for NOV. (The Signup link is posted to this page approx. one week in advance of every service.)

We will be implementing procedures to keep all those present in the temple as safe and protected as possible.

The live streaming and recording of the services will continue, so if you are not comfortable/or unable to attend in person, this will still be an option.

Susan Local | 4 Comments

Racial Justice

Tuesday, June 23, 2020
by Susan

Tatsuya Aoki, the minister of the Vancouver Buddhist Temple as well as Socho or Bishop of the Buddhist Temples of Canada, has written this statement on racial justice to share.

“Kue Issho: meet together in the same world”

“The blue flowers emit a blue light; the yellow flowers emit a yellow light; the red flowers emit a red light; and the white flowers emit a white light. Each of the lotus flowers glows, weaving a harmonic scene while emitting a subtle fragrance. Shariputra, Pure Land is an ideal environment so that whatever one lays eyes upon will bring about awakening.” (Amida Sutra)

The recent tragic deaths of George Floyd, Raychard Brooks, and Chantel Moore has sparked a conversation around the world. It has brought the topic of racism to the forefront. I believe there is a great need to focus our attention and efforts on the pervasive and ongoing violence inflicted on people of colour in our society.

In this present life, even though we live on the same planet, we live in different worlds. The colour of our skin, and where we live – each of us is sheltered in our own world. We set up our own “selves.” We take advantage of others when it benefits us. However, if the relationship with others becomes inconvenient, we withdraw again into our own world of “self” where we can avoid or reject others. Until we can rid ourselves of the attachment to our small ‘selves’, we will live in a divided world. The Amida Sutra says that when we encounter the mind of Amida Buddha and are born in his Pure Land, for the first time we can “meet together in the same world” (kue issho). When we encounter Amida Buddha’s mind, or when we have heard Amida Buddha’s calling, our birth together on the same lotus flower will be realized.

In response to tragedy, grief, and anger, our collective aspiration within the Buddhist traditions is to become truly inclusive and live harmoniously. Buddhist teachings and practices have been explicitly devoted to liberation. May these teachings and practices free our hearts from greed, prejudice, and hate and serve an essential role in societal healing, and in the awakening of all.

Namo Amida Butsu
Rev. Tatsuya Aoki
Bishop, Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada

Susan Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada | Leave a Comment

June Online Workshops

Monday, June 01, 2020
by Susan

As a sign of the times, the Calgary Buddhist Temple will be holding 2 engaging workshops in June using “Zoom”, a web-based video conferencing tool.

1. Getting to the Bottom of It – Sunday, June 7^th at 1:00-2:00 pm MST

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in women can cause multiple symptoms, which may include pain, pressure, or lack of bowel and bladder control. If you have some of these symptoms or just curious, please join this one hour online workshop bring presented by Leona Ham BSc. P.T, CATC, CAFCI, Pelvic Health Physiotherapist at Finishline Physiotherapy.

Register (ladies only) by emailing calgarytemplesangha@gmail.com and the Zoom online meeting details will be sent to you.

2. The Joy of Cooking – Tuesday, June 23^rd from 7:00-8:00 pm MST

With self-isolating due to COVID-19, it’s interesting how our energies have shifted so much towards food, almost like going back to the basics, something we can control. There’s a focus specifically on comfort food and the foods that connect us to our roots and to each other. And, where do we cook and eat many meals is in the kitchen!The Calgary Buddhist Temple is honored to have architectural writer/designer/historian John Ota presenting for us a glimpse of his journey through time – and the homes of Julia Child, Georgia O’Keeffe, Elvis Presley and many others in search of the perfect design. John shares some fascinating stories, beautiful photos, and highlights from his new book, The Kitchen.

This workshop is open to everyone! Register by emailing calgarytemplesangha@gmail.com and the Zoom online meeting invite will be sent to you. You are also welcome to submit questions to this email address for John and if time permits, there will be a Q&A session at the end.

To purchase John Ota’s book, The Kitchen, please go to: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/566674/the-kitchen-by-john-ota/9780525609896

Susan Calgary Buddhist Temple Ladies, Workshop | Leave a Comment