Calgary Buddhist Temple Blog

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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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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Spring Fundraising Events!

Monday, May 05, 2025
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1. Reverse Garage Sale

Spring cleaning? Support your Temple while decluttering your home.
How: Hold a garage sale, sell your unwanted items on Facebook Marketplace, or do a bottle drive on your own time. Then donate the proceeds to the Temple.
When: On your own time during the month of June
Contact: For more information or to submit the proceeds contact Mickey at mhkuta@outlook.com

2. Requesting donations for Everything Japanese Sale

We are accepting donations of new or used Japanese collectibles & Japanese items.
When: Ongoing
Contact: To drop off your donation or arrange a pickup contact Mickey at mhkuta@outlook.com

Thank you for your ongoing support!
Fundraising Committee
Calgary Buddhist Temple

Temple Spring Fundraisers
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The War Between Us

Friday, May 02, 2025
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Movie starts at 2:00pm on Sunday, May 25 at the Temple (658 1 Ave NE, Calgary, AB).

The Calgary Buddhist Temple is honored to present a special screening of The War Between Us, a thought-provoking film that follows the journey of a Japanese-Canadian family who are forcibly displaced and interned as enemy aliens in British Columbia during World War II.  

Anne Wheeler is the film’s acclaimed director, and we are fortunate that she will be with us in-person after the film for an engaging Q&A session.

This is a FREE event open to the public and donations will be gratefully accepted. You must reserve your spot in advance as seating is limited so don’t forget to signup at:  http://bit.ly/WarBetweenUs

We look forward to being able to share this film with everyone!

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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:

NOTE: Temple closed from Aug 4 to Sep 6

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