The Life News Agency
May 15, 2024

On the evening of April 10th, 2024, Venerable Chueh Fan, the Abbess of the Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, along with Ven. Ru Zhong, Ven. Zhi Guan and eight representatives of the temple attended the "International Buddhist Day Celebration" held at the West End Buddhist Temple in Mississauga. Nearly a hundred representatives from various Buddhist organizations and government officials from the Greater Toronto Area participated in the event, expressing the sincere wish of Canadian Buddhists for the United Nations to officially recognize April 8th as "International Buddhist Day," as proposed by The World Buddhist Summit.

The ceremony commenced with a symbolic gesture of offering flowers to the Buddha by representatives from 26 Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist monastics. Bhante Saranapala, the Canadian representative of the World Buddhist Summit, set the tone with an opening speech expressing gratitude for the widespread support. Venerable Ahangama Rathanasiri Nayaka Mahathera highlighted the importance of compassion and inclusivity in today's society, advocating for actions that foster harmony and support for those in need.

Representing Mahayana Buddhism, Venerable Chueh Fan emphasized the significance of cooperation among Canadian Buddhists and the rationale behind designating April 8th as "International Buddhist Day."

She underscored the principles of "Humanistic Buddhism" and the concept of "Five Harmonies" as pathways to inner peace and societal harmony, resonating with the teachings of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of Fo Guang Shan. Buddhists should begin with cultivating inner peace and joy, extending it to the family, practicing respect towards oneself and others, fostering social harmony, and ultimately achieving world peace. We should step out of the narrow circle of self-interest and embrace a broader sense of compassion for all beings, fostering understanding and respect to create a world filled with love and peace.

The event continued with monastics offering prayers and blessings for global peace, followed by a loving-kindness meditation led by Venerable Ananda from the Cambridge area. Distinguished guests including city councilors Christina Fonseca, Alvin Tedjo, and Dipika Damerla from Mississauga, along with Rev. Earl Smith representing Toronto's religious diversity, reiterated the importance of cultural preservation and fostering a cohesive society.

Through speeches, prayers, and meditations, the gathering exemplified the shared commitment of the Toronto Buddhist community toward promoting understanding, compassion, and peace in the world.