Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto has launched its 2025 English Dharma Practice on March 22 to promote the localization of Buddhism and engage the local English-speaking community. Led by Venerable Chueh Fan, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, the inaugural session offered a half-day program featuring prayer and meditation, Buddhist etiquette, artistic expression through “Tastes of Art,” and Dharma teachings in “Buddhism in Every Step.” Over 20 participants, including families with children, attended, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment to explore Buddhist wisdom in daily life.

During the prayer and meditation session, attendees chanted the Heart Sutra and practiced meditation, cultivating mindfulness and inner peace. Venerable Chueh Fan led the reading of A Prayer for Warmongers by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, emphasizing mutual respect, coexistence, and the promotion of social harmony and world peace.

This month’s Tastes of Art session, Painting the Mind’s World, was led by watercolor artist and illustrator Logan Soeder and Cindy Choi. Participants explored artistic techniques and the use of color to focus on the present moment and express their inner world. Even those with no prior painting experience enjoyed freely expressing themselves. Some painted strings of suns, symbolizing sunlight’s energy, while others created transparent spirals to represent the flow of breath, each reflecting personal inner experiences.

Venerable Ru An shared insights from Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s How Buddhism Views the Mind, explaining that “all phenomena arise from the mind.” She emphasized that right views cultivate inner strength, while negative thoughts lead to suffering. She encouraged participants to integrate Buddhist teachings into daily life, reminding them of Venerable Master’s words: “The value of life is not in how long we live, but in how we live our lives.”

Many first-time participants shared their heartfelt experiences. Fifteen-year-old high school student Darsh Pandya remarked, “I really enjoy the English Dharma practice. Learning about Buddhist rituals and understanding the meaning behind joining palms and prostrations has been enlightening.” Shareen reflected, “Venerable Master’s How Buddhism Views the Mind deepened my understanding of the mind’s relationship with all phenomena. Logan’s patient guidance also helped me focus on my artwork, making the painting process truly enjoyable.”

Melissa Grenier added, “At first, I felt nervous and afraid of making mistakes. But as the chanting continued, I gradually felt more at ease, and my mind became lighter.”

Through the English Dharma Practice, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto bridges cultural gaps, allowing English-speaking practitioners to experience the wisdom and joy of integrating Humanistic Buddhism into everyday life.