Manitoba Buddhist Temple
A BUDDHIST TEMPLE IN THE JODO SHINSHU TRADITION
“The more we can we can join in the joy and sorrow of as many people as possible, with the support and guidance by a warm compassion and wisdom of Amida Tathagata, the more our lives and the world will be enriched.”
Those were the words transmitted from his eminence, Gomonshu Koshin Ohtani, as a congregation of over one-hundred people gathered at the Manitoba Buddhist Temple for the 750th Memorial Celebration of Shinran Shonin on Sunday, June 13, 2010.
Socho Fujikawa of the Jodo
Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada
Bishop Orai Fujikawa of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of
Canada brought wishes from his eminence, Gomonshu
Koshin Ohtani with a special video presentation. As
the 24th descendant of Shinran Shonin, the Gomonshu
declared, “It is important to express the uniqueness of
Jodo Shinshu right now. It may be difficult to imagine
how things will be fifty years from now, but we need to
do so for the present day youth. I am putting my
expectations on you to pursue the unchangeable truth of
Amida Tathagata and to try to discover various possible
and effective ways of transmitting that ultimate truth.”
The service was led by Rev. Fredrich Ulrich, Resident
Minister of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple. Manitoba is
one of twelve temples in Canada that are holding events
to commemorate this event. Early in 2009, Rev. Ulrich
documented the work of members who participated in a
“Dharma Outreach” program as spiritual preparation for
the celebration. Members volunteered their time in
community service as an expression of gratitude to
Shinran Shonin's teachings. Attendance at the
celebration of Shinran's 750th Memorial was the
culmination of this expression of gratitude.
Dr. Leslie Kawamura of the
JSBTC - Living Dharma Centre
Rev. Dr. Leslie Kawamura was the
guest speaker at the public lecture on the evening of
June 12, 2010, which drew 60 people for a two-hour
presentation. He was also the main speaker for the
memorial service of June 13, 2010. Dr. Kawamura is a
professor at the University of Calgary. He is also the
Director of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada
– Living Dharma Centre. The heart of his message on this
occasion was, “Give gratitude to those who brought you
to this moment.”
Bishop Fujikawa ended the
service by reading a translated poem from the late, Setsuko
Nishimura. Mrs. Nishimura was the wife of Rev. Nishimura,
the first minister of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple. They
served the temple together for over 25 years, starting in
1946.
“We wish the torch of the Buddha-Dharma lit in the City of
Winnipeg is never extinguished."
This attitude of mind was carried home by everyone after a
specially prepared meal following the memorial service.
