North America

Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto held a seminar on taking refuge in the Triple Gem and observing the Five Precepts on August 1, drawing 105 participants. The program featured a video teaching by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, an introduction to Buddhist precepts and temple etiquette, and small-group instruction on wearing the traditional haiqing and manyi robes. As the seminar coincided with the Enlightenment Day of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, many attendees seized the opportunity following the Dharma service to commit to taking refuge and receiving the Five Precepts.

On January 11, in preparation for the Lunar New Year, Hsi Fang Temple held a “Community Work and Affinity Day.” Thirty plus volunteers and young adults worked together in teams to clean the Main Shrine, dining hall, common area, community room, and high window sills, restoring the temple to a state of cleanliness and solemnity.

The 2025 North American Buddhist Examination was held from December 13 to 14, beginning simultaneously at 3:00 p.m. (U.S. Central Time). The Austin Chapter of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) responded enthusiastically, with a total of 38 Fo Guang members registered to participate. Participants ranged in age from 5 to 82, presenting a heartwarming scene of children, youth, adults, and seniors studying Buddhism together.

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of Fo Guang Shan and the centennial of its founder, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, under the theme “60 Years of Passing the Lamp, Honoring a 100-Year Legacy,” Austin Xiang Yun Temple held a Buddhist lecture on July 11, 2026. The temple invited James Chao, International BLIA Lecturer and Senior Chairman of the Board of Westlake Corporation, to present a talk titled “Practicing Humanistic Buddhism in Everyday Life.” Approximately 60 participants from diverse cultural backgrounds attended the event.

Xiangyun Temple held a Sutra Copying Merit Dedication Ceremony on the morning of December 21 at 10:30 a.m., attracting a total of 42 participants. The atmosphere in the temple was solemn and serene. Through focused and mindful writing, participants cultivated concentration and inner stillness, manifesting the pure and collective power of group practice.

Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto January 19, 2026 A Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony was held on December 18 at Brampton City Hall, bringing together representatives from diverse faith traditions, including Buddhism, Jud…