www.calgary-buddhist.ab.ca
Our 2019 Calgary Buddhist Membership form is now available in our membership section and is available in print at the temple. Memberships are $100 per person with students (under 18) and seniors (65 & over) complimentary. Please consider taking out a membership to help support our temple. It also gives us an opportunity to refresh and update our sangha list and allows us to more accurately assess our needs going forward.
Walk with Me Poster opens in a new window
Doors open 6pm – Screening at 7pm (seating is limited)
Open to Public; FREE however donations gratefully accepted
Hello Temple Friends and Happy New Year!
On Sunday, January 13th, we hope you can join us for the Ho’onko service and luncheon. If you’d like to bring a dish, please SIGN UP. Thank you always for your generous support!
In Gassho,
Toban
Here’s a link to an interesting article entitled “Shin Buddhism Is American Buddhism“.
Scott Mitchell offers a glimpse of the ever-evolving world of Pure Land practice in North America. From the Winter 2018 issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly.
Running a temple is not easy! A successful temple requires effort from many people, most of whom are volunteers. Toban (Japanese for “it’s your turn”) is a way to spread the work of the temple among all the members.
If you are able to help with various events or temple needs, please consider signing up for our “Sign-Up Genius List”, by emailing Yuko Ono at yu.yukoono@gmail.com
Planned for April 21, 2019!
A long-standing ritual of all Buddhist traditions going back to the time of the Buddha is having followers of the Buddha formally commit to a Buddhist way of life. Originally this ceremony was only for adherents also willing to follow the strict monastic codes of the group.
Following this ancient rite of passage, our Jodo Shinshu tradition, going back to the time of Shinran Shonin, has for nearly 800 years conducted a Sarana ceremony that is in keeping with this tradition. The ceremony is only allowed to be conducted either by the Gomonshu, the spiritual head of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji, or his designated representative.
Traditionally, one participating in such a ceremony would have been subjected to the ritual of head hair being shaved in its entirety. However, as time has passed, in Jodo Shinshu and other schools this has been modified to only a symbolic shaving of the hair.
Each Sarana participant receives a Homyo, a Buddhist name that is unique and specific to your character and attributes. Each Buddhist name will begin with the term Shaku. This is in reference to Shakyamuni Buddha who was a muni (sage) of the Shakya clan, his extended family.
As this service must be conducted by the Socho, the spiritual head of Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada, in Calgary we have only held these on irregular occasions when there are adequate numbers as he must take time off from his regular duties at the headquarters in Vancouver and travel to Calgary.
If this is a ceremony that you would be interested in participating in, and you have been a member of the Calgary Buddhist Temple for a minimum of one year, or you have further questions, please send an email indicating your interest to calgarybuddhisttemple@gmail.com
