28.07.2010
Interest in Buddhism has been increasing steadily on central Vancouver Island, says the president of the Kathok Gonpa society in Coombs, as more people “look inward” for happiness.
But Penny Mcguire suspects that many people who attend a talk by Tibetan Buddhist Monk Changling Rinpoche at the Tibetan temple in Coombs next month will be more curious about the practise rather than strict followers of Buddhism.
He has spoken in communities across Great Britain, the U.S. and Canada and has been a regular visitor to Coombs for the last five years. On this visit, he will be talking about “creating a happy community.”
She said that in the eight years she has volunteered with the temple, the number of people attending has increased by at least 50%.
“There is more of a trend toward looking inward for satisfaction and happiness rather than outward,” she said.
The first traditional-style Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Canada opened its doors in Richmond last weekend. This is the first Thrangu monastery outside of Asia and will be home to seven monks and lamas.
According to the 2001 Statistics Canada census, there were 905 people who identified themselves as Buddhists living in the Regional District of Nanaimo.
Changling Rinpoche will speak at the Tibetan temple in Coombs at 7 p.m. on Aug. 10.
Mcguire said that while many Buddhist teachers must use translators, Changling Rinpoche speaks fluent English.
The talk is free but a donation is appreciated.
Source: canada.com
