Celebrating Togetherness
The year end of 2016 was a busy one for Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS), as Venerables from GEBIS visited other Buddhist establishments in Toronto and Halifax, and also received respected guests at GEBIS during November and December.
Toronto, Ontario （November 1st -2nd 2016)
Monks from GEBIS respectfully visited some well-established Buddhist monasteries/Dharma Centres in the area.
Nov 1st: Ven. Dayi Shi, Abbot of the Cham Shan Temple Toronto, spent the afternoon giving a tour around the facility and sharing the current & future Dharma projects in the Greater Toronto Area.
Nov 2nd: Ven. Miao Mu, Humanistic College Director of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto (Buddha’s Light International Association – Toronto Chapter), guided us through the main shrine, memorial hall, museum, library, conference hall, and tea house, and exchanged many stories about the temple’s development.
Coverage by BLTV — 20161107 GEBIS monks visit Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto
Nov 2nd: Ven. Dr. Bhante Saranapala, Principal of the Dhamma School and Meditation Teacher of the West End Buddhist Temple and Meditation Centre (WEBTMC), treated us with honour and hospitality.
PEI: Sri Lankan Buddhist monks’ GEBIS visit （November 15th 2016)
It was great honour to have a group of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks and lay practitioners visiting GEBIS and have a dialogue during their short stay in PEI.
The Most Venerable Ahangama Rathanasiri Nayaka Thero. and Venerable Udupihille Wimalabuddhi Thero. from the Toronto Mahavihara, Bhante Jinarama from Sri Lanka, Bhante Sudharma from Halifax, Bhante Saradha from Cambridge, Ontario toured the prayer hall and had viewings on sutra collections and long scrolls of precious scriptures with ancient printing traditions. Some young student monks of GEBIS also demonstrated Buddhist debate on advanced Buddhist philosophy for the guests. Then our honourable guests chanted a prayer to give blessing for world peace.
After the tour at the prayer hall, Venerable Su gave a presentation about GEBIS, the study program and its projects. After which The Most Venerable Ahangama Rathanasiri, Chief Incumbent President of the Toronto Mahavihara shared his 25+ yr experience in promoting Buddhist teaching in Canada, before ending the visit.
The Most Venerable Ahangama Rathanasiri Nayaka Thero. and Venerable Udupihille Wimalabuddhi Thero. from Toronto, along with fellow Sri Lankan monks, toured GEBIS prayer hall
Halifax, Nova Scotia （December 5th 2016）
Halifax Shambhala Centre welcomed representatives from GEBIS with great hospitality, and gave a guided tour followed by a soulful dialogue. It was a great learning opportunity for GEBIS, as the development and establishment by Shambhala International over the years and offering of diverse programs to enrich the community was truly respectable.
PEI: Bhante Jinananda’s GEBIS visit (December 9th 2016)
Bhante Jinananda visited GEBIS to give blessing and exchange experiences with the Venerables. The dialogues, visits and sharing of experiences, were heartfelt and humbling experiences. It enabled GEBIS to learn, promote exchanges, build new friendship and collaborative opportunities, and together help shape and form peaceful communities.
