Calgary Buddhist Temple Blog

Sunday Services In-Person and Online

Friday, May 02, 2025
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It is our pleasure to offer Sunday Services in-person and via live-streaming – both start at 10:00am (MST). We look forward to you joining us, and everyone is welcome! 

Online live-streaming is from our Facebook group Calgary Buddhist Temple, and the relevant sections from our service book can be found here approximately one day prior:

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Fundraising – SAVE THE DATES!

Tuesday, June 24, 2025
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Join Us For Mein Making!

Fall is just around the corner and with Fall comes our annual mein making gathering! This is a time we look forward to every year where the community old and new come together and make a delicious fundraiser. If you have never done it before, don’t worry, we can show you the ropes!

Save The Date:

Dough Making Friday September 5 at 5.30pm at the Temple. Please look out for the Sign Up Genius!

Mein Making Sunday September 7 at 8.30am-2.30pm at CJCA Kitchen. Please look out for the Sign Up Genius!

Calling Pie Makers!

After harvesting donated apples in the Fall, we will be organizing a day to make delicious apple pies. The date has yet to be determined, likely the first week in October.

Chow Mein Dinner

It’s nearly here! 

Save The Date:

Veggie Chopping Friday October 24 at the Temple. Please look out for the Sign Up Genius!

Chow Mein Take Out Dinner volunteers needed Saturday October 25 at 12noon at the Temple. Please look out for the Sign Up Genius!

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Obon Service including Cemetery Schedule Changes

Saturday, June 21, 2025
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The Obon Service is on Sunday, July 27 at 3pm at the Temple. This service is to show appreciation to all the people who passed before us whom we would not be here without.  Prior to the service are the cemetery visits:

Saturday, July 26th Cemetery Services

  • 11:00 am at Strathmore Cemetery (change)
  • 12:30 pm at Mountain View Cemetery (change)
  • NO Temple Columbarium/Nokotsudo service (change)

Join the Sangha after the Obon Service and meal for Bon Odori/Japanese folk dancing! 

Sunday, July 27th Cemetery & Obon Service

  • 11:00 am at Eden Brook Cemetery
  • 1:00 pm at Queens Park Cemetery
  • 3:00pm at Temple Obon Service
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Kokedama

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
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Kokedama (苔玉), meaning “moss ball” in Japanese, is a centuries-old bonsai-inspired art form where a plant’s roots are wrapped in soil and moss instead of a pot.

Join the Calgary Buddhist Temple Sangha Engagement on Saturday, Sept 20 from 1:30pm-3:30pm to learn the tips and tricks to construct our own living artwork, and then walk through the process step-by-step to create beautiful, unique plants to take home.

NOTE: This workshop is NOT at the Temple but ONSITE at Plant Plant: 2501 Alyth Road SE

The workshop includes:

  • Step-by-step guide to creating and caring for a Kokedama
  • Dish to display your Kokedama
  • String to create a hanging Kokedama
  • Tips and tricks for indoor plants
  • All supplies (plants, moss, soil & decorative materials to create 2x Kokedama, indoor plant information booklet, care instructions)

Cost is $25/person and is open to the public.  Register at:  https://bit.ly/cbt-kokedama 

We gratefully acknowledge support from the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society in order to offer this workshop at such a reduced rate.

Moss ball
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Chigiri-e Workshop

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
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On Sunday, Sep 14 starting at 2:00pm, the Calgary Buddhist Temple is honored to have Fujiko Vrba lead this interesting workshop. Chigiri-e (ちぎり絵) is a Japanese art form in which the primary technique uses colored paper that is torn to create images and is often referred to as “torn paper collage”. This technique, which has been practiced for centuries, results in artwork that embodies both cultural heritage and contemporary creativity.

The themes of Chigiri-e often draw from nature, which is a reflection of Japan’s deep-rooted cultural reverence for the natural world. To the Japanese, the chrysanthemum symbolizes royalty, longevity and rejuvenation.

One of the underlying principles of Chigiri-e is the Japanese concept of *wabi-sabi*—the acceptance and appreciation of imperfection and impermanence. Since Chigiri-e relies on tearing the paper by hand, each piece carries a unique shape and texture. These imperfections are celebrated rather than corrected, contributing to the artwork’s organic and natural beauty.

This workshop is open to the public and includes materials at a cost of $5/person because of the generous support from the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society. 

Register to secure your spot as space is limited:  https://bit.ly/chigiri-e

Chigiri-e - Chrysanthemum
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Obon Odori Practices

Thursday, June 05, 2025
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On Sunday, July 6 and Sunday, July 20 after service in the lower level

Join the Sangha and participate in the custom of honoring our ancestors by learning/practicing Bon Odori (Japanese folk dancing) which involves repetitive movements that are easy and simple for everyone to follow.

Please plan to attend these Obon Odori practices so we’re ready to dance, have fun, and share in the joy of doing Japanese folk dancing together after the 3pm Obon Service on July 27. This service is to express our appreciation to all the people who passed before us whom we would not be here without.

Everyone is encouraged to take part!

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Make a Japanese Wind Chime

Thursday, June 05, 2025
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Everyone is invited to take part in this fun activity that is popular in Japan – make a wind chime!  Join the Sangha and use special POSCA pens to create or design your own personalized glass wind chime on

Sunday, June 22 between 11:30am-1:30pm Make a Japanese Wind Chime – Session 1  and/or

Sunday, June 29 between 11:30am-1:30pm Make a Japanese Wind Chime – Session 2

A Japanese wind chime, known as a furin (風鈴, literally “wind bell”) in Japanese, is a small bell usually found hanging from the balconies and porches of Japanese houses in summer. Originally used in Buddhist temples, where many of these bells can still be found today. Over 1200 years ago, nobility began to hang them on their own porches as a protective charm to ward away evil spirits. Over time, the bells became smaller and more common in Japanese houses.

In the days before air-conditioning, Japanese people used to listen to the sound of furin to promote a feeling of coolness to help get through Japan’s sweltering and humid summers.

The components for the wind chime, including the glass bell, are yours for a fee of only $12 each thanks to support from the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society. 

Registration is required and this activity is open to all.

https://bit.ly/WindChime-22Jun25

https://bit.ly/WindChime-29Jun25

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