Vancouver Buddhist Temple

Clear skies and warm rays of sunshine touched our bodies throughout the day and dark, chilly nights with bright twinkling stars brightened our evenings. During our Manning Park Family Retreat everyone greeted me with warm smiles. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, meeting old friends and making new ones. This LDC (Living Dharma Centre) sponsored program was attended by 112 participants. We had 62 adults, 26 youth (13-25), 16 children (6-12) and 8 children (5 and under) participating in our pre-2010 Olympics, winning points for their respective teams. We were honoured to have the presence of 6 Sensei’s who prepared seminars and dharma talks.The LDC, JSBTC (Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada) and our BCJSBCF (British Columbia Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Churches Federation) graciously provided funding to have local Sensei’s and their families attend.

Everyone helped to prepare, cook, cleanup and eat the fantastic meals during the weekend. The menu was unexpectedly enhanced with Kaz's home made soup. The youth entertained with a scavenger hunt, hide and go seek "Sardine Tag” and a create your own story/solve the mystery game called “Mafia”. The sunny afternoon was filled with a sports tournament including bocce ball, bedrock golf, horseshoes and ping pong. Bicycle decorations lead up to a grand parade and, like so many others in the past, Sora and Courtenay celebrated cycling without training wheels.

Mornings started with Nature Walks with Sensei Akune with an astounding attendance of 62 participants. After sewing chickens, adults finished their evenings by letting their chins wag and wet their lips with some rotted grapes. Workshops included self-defence, quiet sitting mediation, dharma discourse, self lead dharma discussions and gatha review.

Here are some reflections submitted in Haiku form:

new friends, old friends all
gather at the Park and feel
warmth cold joy Light Life

eat work play smile learn
connect chant listen Gassho
think laugh sing cry Thank

friends become teachers
Namo Amida Butsu
teachers become friends

name tags, photographs,
red tickets, glow sticks; mere things
symbolizing more

How many tickets?
For the discourse, only two.
For game winners, three.

Under the moonlight
Sticks glowing becoming hoops,
Lighting up our smiles

Songs sung, voices lost;
No more training wheels to help.
Notions shared, friends found.

I didn't know that
about you. Opening up,
sharing. Entrusting.

Dark and light angels;
Villain gophers plotting crimes,
Townspeople beware!

wine pouring freely,
having a ball, we're laughing!
a bunch of dipsticks.

What is he saying?
Speak into it more clearly!
These things are useless.

blue sky all weekend
rain heading home says it all
full trucks now empty 

Thanks to everyone who came for making this a memorable event!