"One hundred years ago tonight, 58 brave men lost their lives in a single avalanche at the summit of Rogers Pass, in the Selkirk Mountains northeast of Revelstoke. This evening, we are assembled to honour their memory, to reflect on our relationship with the mountains, and to hope for the safety of all those who travel in the mountains in the winter,"

Those were the words of Karen Tierney, Superintendent of Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Park and Rogers Pass National Historic Site, as she addressed a crowd of over 500 people at a special commemorative service held in Revelstoke, B.C. this week.

Thirty-two of those men were Japanese immigrants and were most likely Buddhists. So, as part of the ceremony, their names were read and a short service was performed by Bishop Fujikawa of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada.

There is another event planned for August 15, 2010. CPR and Parks Canada will be designing a memorial monument at Roger's Pass. The 1910 Avalanche Committee wish to have an Obon Service and Bon Odori to be part of the centennial events. Sensei Doctor Leslie Kawamura of Calgary will be in Revelstoke to perform the service.
 
Should you be planning your holidays around this time, please try to include a trip to Revelstoke and take in this event.

-With information from Roy Inouye

GO TO THE REVELSTOKE TIMES-REVIEW TO SEE A SLIDE SHOW, VIDEO AND ARTICLE OF THE EVENT...

Sensei Ulrich of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple took some time to visit his 93-year old mother in Lawrence, Kansas in January. And through his sister, Dr. Lois Kay Metzger, he was invited to teach a two hour meditation session on Loving-Kindness (Metta) to a unique women's group.

The Woman's Spirit Connection is a support group that includes women of all faiths and ethnic derivations. The evening of meditation was a success because the women were well prepared by their years together. Rev. Ulrich claims that it was one of the best Loving-Kindness sessions that he has ever experienced. And while there were some participants who were new to this kind of practice, the positive relationships in this spiritual group readily included these 'beginners' in the activities.

Many of the participants have since reported to have continued these meditations on their own as an important component of their own private practice. It turns out it was an important two hours for everybody.

VISIT THE WOMAN SPIRIT CONNECTION IN KANSAS...
LEARN MORE ABOUT LOVING-KINDNESS...

Socho Koshin Ogui, Bishop of the Buddhist Churches of America

Living in San Francisco, Socho Koshin Ogui is the writer of the popular column “Nyozegamon,” which appears in the Hokubei community newspaper and website.

The English translation for "Nyozegamon" is "I have heard it in this way". This refers to the passing down of stories from generation to generation.

Recent column topics include "Finding Happiness in the Midst of Misfortune" and "Why Does She Say She Has Nothing When She Has Plenty?".

Upon his appointment as Bishop of the the Buddhist Churches of America, Ogui was asked what his goals were as Bishop. Ogui said that his personal goal is to convey the wonderful nature of Buddhist tradition in the U.S. Further adding, "To do this, we must convey the traditions in a manner that is convincing to Americans."

Nyozegamon is a wonderful way of communicating these ideas.

READ BISHOP OGUI'S COLUMNS...

Great article from Oakland North, a website created by U.C. Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism.

The page focuses on the Oakland Buddhist Church, its history and how the temple serve as a "point of community" for Japanese-Americans. It also serves as primer on Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.

Members stroll in early to Dharma Family Service, which takes place on Sundays in the hondo.

The gong-like sound of a bell called a Kansho reverberates throughout the hondo. The conversations in the room begin to trail off. After a few more strikes and silent pauses, the bell is hit rapidly. The chatter fades to a silence and the only sound left in the room is the lingering ring.The bell stops.Three ministers, all men, are dressed in long black robes. Around their necks, they each have a kesa, tightly folded cloth made from the robes that Buddhist monks traditionally wear. They sit in chairs on the sides of the altar and begin to chant. Their voices together create a drone that engulfs the room.

The item goes on to explain the 108 year history of the congregation and how the temple has evolved as the community around it has changed. The current minister at the Oakland Buddhist Church is Rev. Harry Bridge.

It features some great photos and sound, a recording of Nembutsu chanting.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE FROM OAKLAND NORTH...

With the recent news that President Barack Obama has decided to send more troops to Afghanistan, the argument continues if this war is necessary. Buddhists believe in non-violence but also know that the world is complicated and that there are many sides to this debate.

Courtesy Ekoji Buddhist Temple Dharma School in Fairfax County, Virginia

Caught in the middle are soldiers. Many soldiers are religious. In fact, right now, there are 1,900 Buddhists serving in the U.S. (Army Times).

A great blog that helps sort this out for many is the Buddhist Military Sangha. It is an unofficial online resource for Buddhists in the United States Armed Forces. One of the frequent contributors to the site is a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Priest named Jeanette Shin. Shin was ordained at the Nishi Hongwanji, in Kyoto, Japan, in 2003. She was endorsed to become a military chaplain by the Buddhist Churches of America and served in the US Marine Corps from 1988-1992. She is a minister of the Buddhist Church of Florin, near Sacramento, CA.

How does she justify her role in the military?

Yes, there have always been armies and police, and there has to be some provision for defence. Even were we living in a world of wise rulers, protection is necessary. The Buddha speaks of this, as does Dogen. Aggression exists within each of us. But our wars today day wars are hardly the work of wise rulers (Neither were most wars in the past.). Whatever the issues may be, however just, the killing is fed by arms dealers and vast corporations who profit from the various technologies of killing. And by politicians driven by self-interest in raw form. And even by ourselves in a willingness to preserve privilege over groups and people elsewhere in the world.Having said all that, I would add that military personnel and families I have met often embody the highest principles of honour, duty, and self-sacrifice. They try to live according to what I might call “practice,” for the sake of their country and people. It is essential to hold this in mind.

I can’t help wondering, maybe naively, what would come of a policy that replaces retribution with generosity, that uses even a portion of the trillions we spend on war and destruction at home (prisons) and abroad for education, health, housing, and food? I would sign up in a New York minute as a chaplain to that kind of army.

READ MORE COMMENTS BY SENSEI JEANETTE SHIN ON THE BUDDHIST MILITARY SANGHA...

Here is a nice blog posting from Communications students at Pacific Lutheran University. They write about a recent visit to the Seattle Betsuin Temple. The article has some interesting observations and interviews....

“It’s a laid back Buddhist. That’s the way I like to say it, laid back Buddhist, because traditional Buddhist you are really trying to improve yourself and you’re working towards your enlightenment. Then as you move in that direction you find out how difficult it is to obtain enlightenment on your own. As you find that out Jodo Shinshu Buddhism then you realize that we all are enlightened. We are all working in that direction. But we do it with the help of the other power which is known as Amida Buddha, which is what our whole shrine is dedicated to. Amida Buddha is not really a person per say, it’s a personification of an ideal or concept which is love, wisdom and passion all rolled into one,” said Rev. Jim.

“That’s what life really is because every time something good happens there is kind something bad is lurking or just happened. The best example of this is when the Buddha was out during a ceremony for planting the crops in the spring when he was a young child or teenager they were ploughing out the fields and this was important to the village, because this provided crops for the rest of the year. They were ploughing the fields and the Buddha noticed you know were getting all this good stuff but there is also bugs and plants and animals dying out there because all the sudden they were exposed. The birds come down and eat the bugs, the lizards jump on the birds and it goes on. So even during this great time and celebration there is this stuff going on that isn’t so good and that’s was it really is. Things aren’t going to be perfect, and the more we want them to be perfect the more frustrated we are going to become. If we just accept things as they are then life kind of makes sense,” said Rev. Joe.

Rev. Jim and Rev. Joe refer to Jim Warrick, and Joe Schwab, who are both Certified Minister’s Assistants . They work with Rev. Don Castro at the Seattle Betsuin Temple.

READ THE ENTIRE POSTING AT PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY WEBNEWS...
GO TO THE SEATTLE BETSUIN TEMPLE WEBSITE...

"We wish the torch of the Buddha-Dharma lit in the City of Winnipeg is never extinguished"

Jenny Setsuko Nishimura was the wife of Rev. Hideo Nishimura, the first minister of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple. She would have celebrated her 100th birthday in June 2009. Even with her passing into nirvana earlier in the year, her life continues to resonate in our hearts because of her selfless service.

Jenny's poem was discovered by her niece, Tomoko Tatsumi. Bishop Orai Fujikawa graciously wrote the kanji and it now hangs in the hondo as a reminder... to care and celebrate life in our temple.


READ MORE ABOUT JENNY NISHIMURA...

In September, Sensei Ulrich was invited to introduce the documentary, Burma VJ at Winnipeg's Cinematheque Theatre. Here are some photos from opening night.

Poster in the lobby


Sensei Ulrich introduces the film with a brief history of Buddhism and politics in Myanmar


Sensei Ulrich meets with the audience after the film

The Manitoba Buddhist Temple is grateful that the Winnipeg Film Group invited us to participate and hope to continue working together on future projects.

VISIT THE WINNIPEG CINEMATHEQUE WEBSITE...

The Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada - Living Dharma Centre has its own channel on YouTube.

You can watch dharma talks for Jodo Shinshu ministers, see the Jodo Shinshu Centre in Berkeley, California and even learn how to repair your ojuzu.

CHECK IT OUT AND SUBSCRIBE...

The Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta is the talk of the town. While the casino just across the street might be a bigger draw. The right choice might be the new Lethbridge Buddhist temple.

This week the temple was the focus of the local TV newscast and a chance for many to see the temple without leaving home.

SEE A SHORT VIDEO OF THE CHIGO PARADE AND DEDICATION SERVICE...
VISIT THE WEBSITE OF THE BUDDHIST TEMPLE OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA...

On April 26, 2009, a Dedication Service was held to open the new Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta. The celebration included a Chigo parade, a Japanese tradition when a temple or shrine is constructed. Children who participate are said to be "happy for life." The dedication of the new temple in Lethbridge, Alberta also marked the 80th anniversary of Buddhism in southern Alberta, drawing visitors from across Canada and Japan, including Sensei Ulrich of Manitoba Buddhist Temple. Ministers and delegates attending the annual general meeting of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada were also in attendance.

READ AN ARTICLE FROM THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD...

Want to take a peek at a small Shin Temple in Japan? Ryokeiji Temple gives you the opportunity to do that, because most of its site has been translated in to English.

The temple belongs to the Izumoji Sect, one of the ten allied sects of Shin Buddhism in Japan. Located in the Fukui Prefecture, the temple has been in its present location for 400 years.

For over fifty years, Koju Fujieda has been the temple’s priest. He is also a Professor of English and has travelled to the U.S. and England. He has written several books including, “Dewdrops of Dharma.”

With his knowledge of both languages, he has been able translate his site for English-speaking guests. The most interesting part of the site is the Publication section. Within its folder, you will find interesting documents used to promote Buddhism to the temple’s followers. See the monthly “Dharma Cards” section that contain Buddhist sayings which are regularly sent by priests to temple members and friends. Also available is the quarterly publication, “Gunmo.” This dharma newsletter has been publishing for over 45 years.

Sensei Fujieda writes:

“Since my temple is located in the provincial area, few people visit here, except for the monthly and annual services and events.  As for English speaking guests, one or two in a few years come to the temple, mostly my friends.  So I would like a lot of English speakers to visit my web site. I would be pleased if you would tell your friends about my web site.”

Fujieda also tells us that when you visit the temple’s web site, it will not be time wasted in vain.

VISIT THE RYOKEJI TEMPLE WEB SITE...

The move has begun at the new Jodo Shinshu temple in Lethbridge, Alberta. For a sneak peek inside, visit the Living Dharma Centre website .

Anyone wishing to support the Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta for its national fund-raising campaign can make a one-time donation and be included in the donor wall. The end of construction is in sight and the BTSA will host the JSBTC AGM and Dedication Service at the end of April 2009.

SEE MORE PHOTOS AT THE LIVING DHARMA CENTRE...
MAKE A DONATION TO THE BUILDING FUND OF THE BUDDHIST TEMPLE OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA...

Peacefully, at the Tuxedo Villa, on Thursday, December 25, 2008, Jenny Setsuko Nishimura, wife of the Late Rev. Hidoe Nishimura, entered Nirvana at the age of 99 years.

Jenny was born June 19, 1909 in Shiga-Ken, Japan and immigrated to Canada in 1934. She and her husband lived in British Columbia before moving to Winnipeg during the Second World War. She was predeceased by her husband in 1971. Jenny taught Sunday School at the Manitoba Buddhist Temple and worked hard to introduce Japanese culture to the community.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Extendicare Tuxedo Villa for the compassion and care given to Jenny and a special thanks to her friends and temple members who helped to provide palliative care to Jenny. Funeral service 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 17, 2009 at Manitoba Buddhist Temple, 39 Tecumseh Street with Sensei Fredrich Ulrich officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Manitoba Buddhist Temple at 39 Tecumseh Street, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3J8.

READ A DHARMA TALK FROM SENSEI ULRICH...

Looking for a better life, they came to Hawaii to work on the sugar plantations. They were immigrants from Japan who came to the island of Oahu. Over 100 years later, they have lived in the community of Aiea and created a strong community surrounded by the Aiea Hongwanji Mission. Their story is told in this wonderful video.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HONPA HONGWANJI MISSION OF HAWAII...

Rev. Susuma Ikuta and his Legacy

He was the first Canadian-raised minister to head the largest Buddhist organization in Canada and now, after faithfully serving the Buddhist community for over five decades, Reverend Susumu Kyojo Ikuta of the Calgary Buddhist Temple is retiring.

READ THE STORY AT THE LIVING DHARMA CENTRE...
WATCH A VIDEO BY THE CALGARY BUDDHIST TEMPLE...

This week, my wife asked my daughter what she did at recess. Her response was that she "meditated." This practice probably came to her after Sensei Ulrich began introducing children's meditation into our weekly Sunday service.

"Think of your head shooting like a fountain, watering the flowers and grass around you."

A couple of the most popular internet searches that bring people to this website are "Eightfold Path for Children" and "Buddhist Stories for Children." This just shows the growing popularity of parents and teachers looking for Buddhist lessons for their kids.

In the fall 2008 issue of Tricycle magazine, a special section titled "Bringing Up Buddhists" explains some of the interest that exists in North America. It is a sampling of how Buddhists in the United States are teaching the dharma to children. The contents of the section includes an article on a Florida family trying to live a Buddhist life, a Dharma School in Portland and a meditation teacher working in the New York public school system. There is also information and inspiration for those who want their children to have a Buddhist educational experience.

Originally modeled after Christian Sunday Schools, Jodo Shinshu Temples in Canada and the United States have been offering a "Dharma School" children's program for decades.

The Level 8 Buddhist's blog has a great posting about bringing up a child in a Buddhist family. He also has many nice things to say about the Jodo Shinshu tradition that captures its "family friendly" culture.

Jodo Shinshu, among Buddhist sects, is among the most family-friendly. It emphasizes gratitude and humility, and is geared toward working-class people given its roots as a lay-Buddhist organization from 12-13th century Japan. So, we take her to the Sunday School there, and she plays on the slide, eats snacks and occasionally makes crafts. The themes are not overtly Buddhist, but just being in a wholesome Buddhist environment works wonders. She learns to be thankful for the food she receives, she learns to speak kindly to others, and to be nice to other children. That’s the real secret of raising Buddhist children. -Level 8 Buddhist

In the "Traditions" section of this web site, we have written, "In teaching small children, we should convey a feeling of reverence and gratitude. Children will learn through the examples set by parents and teachers."

Reciting the Nembutsu will live with them forever.

READ THE INTRODUCTION TO THE TRICYCLE ARTICLE ONLINE...
READ "RAISING BUDDHIST CHILDREN" AT THE LEVEL 8 BUDDHIST...

It's back and better and than ever!

The third annual Calgary Buddhist Film Series kicks off on Thursday, October 30. It features seven films followed by discussions led by Ministers of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism including Sensei Ulrich of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple. It's probably the best deal in town... FREE!

Also check out DharmaFlix. Its a new collaborative wiki web site listing films with Buddha dharma content. It also features a top 100 list based on participants' reviews. So what's your favorite Buddhist film or TV series?

VISIT THE CALGARY BUDDHIST TEMPLE WEB SITE...
SEE THE TOP 100 BUDDHIST FILMS AT DHARMAFLIX....

Our organization used to be called the BCC (Buddhist Churches of Canada), but as we have officially changed the name to Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada (JSBTC) this spring, we are commemorating the 103rd JSBTC Day in 2008. Simply put, it has been 103 years since Jodo Shinshu was first introduced by Senju Sasaki Sensei in 1905.
  
May I join all the Dharma Friends across Canada in paying my tribute of appreciation to the pioneers and predecessors for their vision and commitment to guide us in the teaching of the Nembutsu.  
  
Today, if you go to internet and check Buddhism in Canada, you will be surprised to know there have been hundred of groups in many Buddhist traditions mushrooming throughout the country , which never existed 40 years ago. Therefore, I think it was a good choice to put the name of Jodo Shinshu in front to clarify our mission. At the same time, however, we have to be prepared to explain what is Jodo Shinshu Buddhism to the general public. Especially ministers, temple leaders and officers are responsible to take the lead.
 
Let me remind you of the 750th Memorial Service of Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo Shinshu tradition, which will be observed in Kyoto from April 9, 2011 to January 16, 2012 under the theme of “AN-NON”, Peace and Tranquility. We, the JSBTC are also planning to observe our national service one year before, in 2010, to promote our tradition. 
  
May each and everyone be aware of this important event which is only observed once in 50 years and participate with good understanding and support.  
  
In gassho,
Socho Orai Fujikawa, Bishop of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada

The Midwest Buddhist Temple in Chicago is posting dharma talks online. They feature Sensei Bryan Siebuhr who was assigned to the Midwest Buddhist Temple in 2004. He replaced Sensei Ogui who became the Bishop of the Buddhist Churches of America.

A former space shuttle programmer at the JFK Space Centre, Siebuhr discovered Buddhism through the yellow pages. A phone book gave him the listing for a Jodo Shinshu Temple. When Siebuhr first came to the temple, he was genuinely touched by the teachings of the Buddha.

Sensei Siebuhr went back to school to study Japanese language and Jodo ShInshu teachings in 1991, and in 1994, received his BA in Religious Studies from California State University, Fullerton. He went to Kyoto to attend the Jodo Shinshu Seminary in 1996.

The talks are recorded during services and sometimes include guest speakers. Search for "Midwest Buddhist Temple" in iTunes to locate an archive of recent podcasts.

VISIT THE MIDWEST BUDDHIST TEMPLE WEB SITE...
DOWNLOAD THE MIDWEST BUDDHIST TEMPLE PODCASTS...

When you read the scriptures, there is no use just passing your eyes over and over them. Rennnyo Shonin advised, "Make a point of reading the scriptures over and over." Also, there is a saying, "If you read a passage a hundred times, its meaning becomes clear by itself."

Sensei Miyakawa chanting at the Kamloops Buddhist Temple

In August, we had our second 12-Hour Marathon Chanting Event in memory of the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Last year we had a similar event in Kelowna on August 9th marking the anniversary of the tragedy of Nagasaki. This year, in the Kamloops community, we honored the memory of the victims of Hiroshima. This event was supported by many of our dharma friends within the BC Interior. We had planned this for the previous three months, and had asked people to fold a paper crane as a symbol of peace and hope.

We all remember the story of Sadako, a child who died of leukemia as a result of the radiation effects of the bomb, who began the tradition of folding paper cranes in her hopes to regain her health. As we prepared the temple hondo for the event, we were all deeply touched by the sheer numbers of paper cranes that we received. These were carefully placed throughout the hondo, shrine areas, windows and floor. We estimated that there were more than 15,000 paper cranes that had been folded by members of our community throughout the province. This outpouring of effort was indescribable, casting an aura of reverence among all of us.

Throughout the chanting, visitors were invited to offer incense, strike the bell, fold a paper crane, or join with us in chanting the Pure Land Sutras. We began at 6.00am and continued non-stop until 6.00pm.

Towards the back of the Hondo, a film documentary on the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was also shown. The film included interviews with a number of the survivors, who described their experiences. The degree of devastation caused by the bombing of Hiroshima will remain vividly in our memories. Those who have visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial in Japan know the degree of destruction. Most find their visit to the Memorial an unforgettable and emotionally moving experience. Participants came and went throughout the day, some to watch, others to participate in the chanting. A small group of anti-nuclear activists participated in the chanting for a period of time. Although non-Buddhist, and unfamiliar with chanting, some described their experience as "deeply spiritual" and that it ìallowed a sense of connection with the victims of Hiroshima and the survivors. Someone said after about half an hour, "I began to feel very comfortable with the flow of the chant and the spirituality that was built into it." This gave me a sense of humility and privilege in sharing a spiritual connectedness with all of them.

Over the 12-hours, we chanted in English almost three complete cycles of our three Principal Sutras the Larger Sutra, the Contemplation Sutra, the Amida Sutra, as well as Shinran’s Shoshinge. For some participants, this represented the first real opportunity to directly encounter, in English, the words of Shakymuni Buddha and Shinran Shonin. For others, each repetition seemed to bring increased understanding and insight, and a sense of appreciation to the participants.

As we mark the anniversary of the tragedy of Hiroshima, we remember those who lost their lives, and those whose lives became forever changed. Let us not forget Hiroshima and the horrors of nuclear war. As we read the scriptures over and over, we are also reminded of Shinran Shonin’s wish for humankind as he wrote, "May there be peace in the world and may the Buddha’s teaching spread."

In Gassho, Rev. Yasuhiro Miyakawa

(Sensei Miyakawa is the Minister at the Kelowna Buddhist Temple serving the interior of the province of B.C. He is also the former Minister at the Manitoba Buddhist Temple.)

COURTESY THE NEW DHARMA EXPRESS, THE NEWSLETTER OF THE KELOWNA BUDDHIST TEMPLE...
READ MORE IN THE B.C. LOCAL NEWS....

The former Bishop of the Buddhist Churches of Canada has passed away. Rev. Toshio Murakami's life ended on May 26, 2008 at the Pali Momi Hospital in Hawaii. He was 77 years old.

Toshio Murakami was born in Fukuoka, Japan on October 5, 1931. He came to North America in 1959 after receiving his kyoshi certification. His first assignment was at the Berkeley Buddhist Church in California. He was the minister at several temples on the U.S, west coast before working at the BCA headquarters in 1977.

On March 15, 1986, Rev. Murakami began his term as the Bishop of the Buddhist Churches of Canada. Here's a short video clip of Bishop Murakami during a short documentary produced in 1989. In it, he explains his vision for the future of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in Canada.

Canada's current Bishop, Socho Fujikawa writes, "He will be remembered as the Bishop who had helped the 1990 World Buddhist Women’s Convention in Vancouver."

After serving the BCC for seven years, Rev. Murakami served the Australian Jodo Shinshu community. He would eventually retire as the minister of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, but continued to be the resident minister of the Pearl City Hongwanji Mission.

His funeral was held on June 6, 2008 at the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin. It was officiated by Bishop Thomas R. Okano and sponsored by both the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii and the Pearl City Hongwanji Mission.

Rev. Murakami leaves behind his wife, Yoko, two daughters, Mari and Rumi and two grandchildren. If you would like to make a donation, the Murakami family has requested that it should be made directly to the Pacific Buddhist Academy.

The newly renamed Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada held their 2008 annual general meeting at the Vancouver Buddhist Temple on April 25-27th.

Two new people were added to the Board of Directors. They replaced Kent Suzuki of Vancouver (formerly of Hamilton) and our own Jim Hisanaga of Manitoba. Jim did an outstanding job as President bringing new issues to the forefront of discussion. Jim will continue as President of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple.

The Jodo Shinshu BTC Women's Federation, Living Dharma Centre and Ministerial Association also held meetings.

The Saturday night banquet honoured Sensei Kyojo Ikuta of the Calgary Buddhist Temple. He has served the Buddhist Churches of Canada for over fifty years. It was a touching evening highlighted by a spontaneous gathering of people who were married by Sensei Ikuta.

Sensei Ikuta and his family


The Manitoba delegates sing a retirement song.


Some of the many people that were married by Sensei Ikuta

The weekend closed with a closing service on Sunday followed by a discussion on "Greening the Environment and Buddhism" led by Dr. Leslie Kawamura of the University of Calgary and the Jodo Shinshu BTC-Living Dharma Centre.

The Board of Directors, Ministers, temple delegates and guests were warmly welcomed by the members of the Vancouver Buddhist Temple. Congratulations on a job well done!

The 2009 annual general meeting will take place at the Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta which is still under construction in Lethbridge. The 2010 meeting will be held in Winnipeg.

May I send my New Year’s Greetings to all the Nembutsu friends from east and west wishing your good health and spirit in this cold winter. Also I would share grief and sorrow with those who have lost their loved ones. May you find the peace and comfort in the Light of Compassion of Amida Buddha.

If you have a chance to see the statue of the Buddha closely, you will notice that his eyes half open and half closed, which is one of the numerous outstanding features of the Buddha, the Enlightened One. It is called HAN-GAN (half eyes), which symbolizes that he can see himself and also see outside.

It is important for an individual living as a responsible citizen in the society to be aware of what’s going on outside today, while it is good to cultivate the inner peace and tranquility.

However, it seems to me that we are surrounded with such a huge amount of information from radio, TV, newspapers and computer that we have some difficulty to pick and choose right information. This is one big reason that I would like to encourage everyone to have a quiet time before the shrine of the Buddha to meditate and receive the wisdom from the Buddha-Dharma.

One of the priorities in the New Year seems to be the awareness of climate change caused by global warming which may affect the life of each one of us directly or indirectly, as we are closely interrelated to each other.

Let us continue our effort to learn from Buddha-Dharma, while we can think of the best way to cope with climate change to take care of our own planet Mother Earth.

Namoamidabutsu,
Orai Fujikawa
Bishop, Buddhist Churches of Canada

Makes a Great Bodhi Day Gift!
The Buddhist Churches of Canada calendar is on sale soon. Makes sure to get one for you, your friends, and your family.
This is a preview of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple page. Proceeds go to the BCC Sustaining Fund and the Manitoba Buddhist Temple.

In Alberta, the amalgamation of the southern Alberta temples into the Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta continues. And with that project, comes the building of a new temple in Lethbridge.

Architect drawings are near completion and construction should start in December. The building is expected to be completed by October 2008.

From the October issue of the Hikari - Newsletter of the Buddhist Federation of Alberta:

As everyone is aware, the Taber Buddhist Church has been sold with possession by the new buyer to take place on October 1st. Monday, September 17th was a sad day for Taber members as a group of volunteers gathered to dismantle the Butsudan. The only bright spot was that The Galt Museum has indicated that it will be honoured to accept donation of the Butsudan and will develop a display where it will be available to members well into the future. The kansho (bell), reputed to have the best sound of all the bells in southern Alberta has been selected for the new temple.

Seven films in four days. In you are in the Calgary area, go, see, and participate in the Calgary Buddhist Film Series. Each film will be followed by discussion moderated by Buddhist teachers, including Sensei Ulrich of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple. Did we happen to mention that admission is FREE!

For an interesting historical look at Jodo Shinshu and how it came to Canada, here is a report conducted by students at McGill University. The Montreal Religious Sites Project was set up to give the public an understanding of our multicultural society in Canada. They did this by documenting the religious sites of the ethnic and religious minorities in the city of Montreal.

The project was conducted by Prof. Victor Sogen Hori, who was ordained in Japan as a Zen monk in 1976. He is a professor of Japanese religions in the Faculty of Religious Studies at McGill University. Hori was the guest speaker at the Buddhist Churches of Canada annual general meeting in 2006.

The reports were done by students as part of a course in Religious Studies. In most cases, several students studied a single religious site. Moarco Ovolio reported on the Montreal Buddhist Church.

Ovolio writes in his conclusion:

The difficult situation that the MBC (Montreal Buddhist Church) finds itself in today is largely a consequence of the fact that the experience and function of Jodo Shinshu in North America has been more or less the opposite of other Buddhist schools that migrated here in the twentieth century, such as Zen and Tibetan Buddhism. Where others were welcomed by and opened up to affluent North American culture, Jodo Shinshu was the focal point of an oppressed, alienated and far from wealthy demographic. Even its Christianization, paradoxically, was part of the effort to preserve a Japanese national consciousness. However, with this experience receding further from the present reality for Japanese Canadians and turning more and more into history, Jodo Shinshu temples and churches no longer need to function as the anchors of their communities’ social life and culture. If the Montreal Buddhist Church and others like it are to survive, they will have to shed the skin of their former functions and discover a new niche in North American society.

It's something to think about as we continue into the future.

Prof. Hori is currently working on a major exhibit at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa, titled "Buddhism in Canada."

Delegates at the 2007 Annual General Meeting in Calgary voted to change the name of the Buddhist Churches of Canada. The new name will be the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada. Evolution brought about the change. Delegates wanted recognition of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism in the title and also have the word “church” removed. Following the Second World War, Japanese-Canadians used the word, “church” to assimilate their religion in Canadian society. The change in name will go into effect following approval by Industry Canada.

Sadly, the Board of Directors accepted the withdrawal and closing of the Alberta’s oldest temple. The Raymond Buddhist Church has closed its doors after 78 years. Raymond members will attend one of the remaining four Alberta temples. Together, they form the newly amalgamated Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta. The group has purchased land in the city of Lethbridge and hopes to complete construction of a new building in 2008.

Calgary also hosted the first gathering of representatives of the Living Dharma Centre. Led by Dr. Leslie Kawamura of Calgary, a Board of Directors was chosen to begin work on projects, programs, and activities propagating Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.

The BCC Women's Federation will continue to support a Jodo Shinshu Hospital in Kenya. BCCWF members appreciated the presentation by Rocky Oishi who had photographed Kenyan Buddhists in their activities.

The Ministerial Association introduced their theme for 2007. “Encounter the Dharma, Namo Amida Butsu” will include the creation of a full-size wall calendar. Sponsorships for each month of the calendar will be sold to raise money for the BCC Sustaining Fund.

The Vancouver Buddhist Temple will host the 2008 general meeting. If construction is complete on the new Buddhist temple in Lethbridge, Southern Albertans have volunteered to host the 2009 meeting with the Manitoba Buddhist Temple as a backup, if required.
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Recently, we were in Calgary for the Buddhist Churches of Canada annual general meeting. One of the changes that came out of that meeting was that the BCC will change its name to the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada (JSBTC).

The Manitoba Buddhist Temple would like to thank all the organizers and volunteers in Calgary for their work that weekend. They were wonderful hosts and now, good friends.

One of the ideas we heard that interested us, was creating a Buddhist Film Festival. The Calgary Buddhist Temple organized one last year that was a big success. It was held at a public library and included discussions about the films. Would the general public in Winnipeg be interested in an event like this?

Here's an example of an International Buddhist Film Festival in Singapore. I would attend just to see Lisa Simpson on the big screen. In the meantime, here she is on the computer screen.

We would also like to thank Calgary for creating at link on their web site to us. So right back at you, go to the Calgary Buddhist Temple web site for more information on Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in the Calgary area.