A gong pierces the room, signaling the start of Sunday service. The minister, seated on stage, begins a soft chant. As the gong makes its way through and out of the temple, the crowd joins his chant. Flowers, statues and religious symbols adorn the stage – the colourful display, and the song-like chanting, carry an air of calm.
This service marks Ho-onko, the celebration of the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhist teachings, Shinran Shonin. Buddhists pay respect to him on Jan. 12, the day of his death in 1262. The Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta pairs this celebration with the celebration of the new year, a traditionally quiet time for Buddhists.
“In Japan, new year is three days of very quiet. It’s time of reflection,” says Rev. Yasuo Izumi, Minister at the Buddhist temple in Lethbridge.
Rev. Izumi is a minister of the Jodo Shinshu teachings and, like its founder, hopes to make Buddhism accessible to more people.
“Jodo Shinshu came to Canada over 100 years ago, this is the oldest organization. I hope Jodo Shinshu will spread in the future,” says Rev. Izumi.
Shinran Shonin is credited with opening the path of Buddhism to common people, according to Nishihongwanji.org. Rev. Izumi says the teachings are popular in Japan, but not in the west.
“Before it was quite ethnic, but I want to break the wall of ethnicity,” he says.
The Buddhist Temple collaborates with other religious groups in Lethbridge to share and teach about things they have in common. Roland Ikuta has been meeting with an interfaith group for about nine months. He says their last session was an introductory panel, where five religious groups provided an introduction to their faith.
“We are going to continue to do regular sessions. The next one coming up is going to be on death,” he says. Each group will share how their faith interprets death and ask each other questions. It will happen on Feb. 1 and groups will search for common themes surrounding death.
As people like Rev. Izumi make Buddhism more accessible in Lethbridge, the religion attracts new members. Stress and the desire for meditation led Jeff Hanes, who previously did not practice religion, to Buddhism.
“My wife who is Catholic always said that I need some kind of [spirituality] or [religion] in my life, to help complete one’s life,” He says.
He began searching for groups who practice the faith and learned about the Buddhist Temple Of Southern Alberta.
“I tried Catholicism and it didn’t really rest well, some of the issues within it. As soon as I started reading about Buddhism, the philosophy and the logic… I really fell in love with and enjoy it and find it helps in my day-to-day life,” he says.
After four years of studying, he was ordained as a Shin Buddhist priest in Kyoto, Japan in the summer.