On July 1st, the Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto hosted a special "Canada Day Prayer and Meditation" event to mark Canada Day. This event, inspired by the principle of "localization of temples" advocated by founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun, aimed to bless the people of Canada, provide spiritual tranquillity, and uplift participants' aspirations.

Over a hundred attendees, including Len Carby from the Peel Regional Police Service Board, community members, Fo Guang Shan devotees, and children from the Three Acts of Goodness summer camp, joined the celebration.

In her speech, Venerable Chueh Fan, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, emphasized the collective celebration of Canada’s birthday and wishes for national peace and prosperity. She highlighted that true harmony and happiness for families, friends, communities, and the nation can be achieved through the "Three Acts of Goodness": do good deeds, speak good words, and think good thoughts. Including children from the summer camp underscored their role as future leaders, aiming to cultivate young Bodhi seeds and sow the seeds of goodness for a robust future society.

Len Carby, visiting the temple for the first time, shared his delight in learning about the ideals of Humanistic Buddhism and expressed his interest in returning to the temple to gain a deeper understanding of FoGuang Shan and Humanistic Buddhism.

The Canada Day Prayer and Meditation provided not only prayers for the country but also spiritual enlightenment to participants, enhancing community cohesion and fostering abrighter future.

While many chose to travel or watch fireworks during this long national holiday, the Toronto Fo Guang Shan devotees celebrated the day with a “meeting with Dharma.” The temple designed a booklet of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s "Prayer for Blessings of Our Nation" to share with the public. Participants offered lamps and meditated in front of the Buddha, adding a meaningful touch to the national celebration with their prayers for the country.

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