www.calgary-buddhist.ab.ca
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
Kids will have a chance to pin the nenju on the Buddha this year!
Then, we will meander upstairs to the Hondo and, following a short service, the Sangha will participate in ringing the large temple bell (kansho) 108 times. The bell is chimed 108 times in Buddhist temples to finish the old year and welcome the new one. Each ring represents one of 108 earthly temptations (bonno) a person must overcome to achieve nirvana.
Interested in purchasing raffle tickets with great prizes in support of the Calgary Buddhist Temple?
1st prize – 2 return tickets anywhere WestJet flies – Winner: Ron Lewis
2nd prize – Phillips Sonic FlexCare Toothbrush – Winner: Jim Bowman
3rd prize – Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 30 Daypack – Winner: Barrie Robb
This has been a very successful fundraiser in the past with enthusiastic participation by the community at large as well as by members of the Temple. Funds raised have gone to the Temple’s Capital Campaign, which is extremely important as we pay down our debt. By focusing on the Capital Campaign, funds raised from this raffle allow us to allocate other resources to ongoing operations, providing evening services and discussion groups, and being involved in both the Bridgeland community and the Japanese Canadian community.
Thank you for your support! 🙏
