As Kuan Yin Temple, it was established in 1981 for visitors arriving to Vancouver who want to have first hand experience with the Buddhist philosophy by learning its traditional rituals, philosophy, meditations, charity giving and Chinese art. It’s conveniently located at Steveston Highway in central part of Richmond, BC, and it’s very easily accessible from any city in Greater Vancouver.
Seven Buddha Mural at the entry to the main courtyard of the International Buddhist Temple, Richmond, BC.
Visiting the temple leaves an unavoidable impression of fast travel in space and time from Canada to Asia right after being surrounded by Chinese architecture of the temple and its gardens when entering the area from the parking lot.
At the entrance one can see the statue of the sitting Buddha gifted with flowers, biscuits, water, and fruits and farther away there’s well built Oriental garden with symbolic stonework and carvings with natural elements resembling the design of an ancient Chinese courtyard.
A silent moment of Buddha worship at the International Buddhist Temple, Richmond, BC.
Lots of worshippers bring the lit incense and stick them in sand when praying in front of religious statues before entering the main courtyard.
Ten-Thousand-Hand-Ten-Thousand-Eye Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, a religious statue at the International Buddhist Temple, Richmond, BC.
Right at the right side of it, there’s the temple’s 30 metre long and very colourful Seven Buddha Mural, the largest of its kind in the world. In front of it, there’s an impressive statue of Ten-Thousand-Hand-Ten-Thousand-Eye Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, a religious statue which is quite an architecture masterpiece of its own.
Buddha’s face, the International Buddhist Temple, Richmond, BC.
A statue of a musician and a worrior next to the Seven Buddha Mural at International Buddhist Temple, Richmond, BC, Canada.
In recent years, the temple underwent a significant upgrade and an addition of a new temple built next to the main temple.
At the background, a recent addition to existing temple, the International Buddhist Temple, Richmond, BC.
The temple has regular religious services along with community and educational programs like chanting ceremonies and daily prayers, meditation classes and lectures on Buddhism (English and Chinese) and charity programs for poor people. The Main Temple has a great collection of Chinese water paintings, calligraphy and antiques for the visitors to view. There’s also a gift shop inside of the Main Temple.
A Buddha’s watchful eye and praying hands, the International Buddhist Temple, Richmond, BC.
According to the statistics, there’s almost 40,000 Buddhists in British Columbia. They are the followers of the Jodoshinshu school brought to BC by Japanese immigrants in the 19th century. All Japanese Buddhist centres were reorganized during and after the war following to the internment of Japanese people during the time of 2nd World War. Re-established in 1955, the centres joined a union, the BC Buddhist Church Federation.
A roof and wall architecture with rich colours at the International Buddhist Temple, Richmond, BC.
Back side of International Buddhist Temple, Richmond, BC.
The mysterious three of eighteen Arahats, the International Buddhist Temple, Richmond, BC.
Outside of the temple, close to the parking lot, there’s another garden with statues of 18 Arahats who were the Buddha’s followers some 2,600 years ago. According to the information written in the displayed stone, the Arahats have unique characteristics and attained enlightenment through different methods. They are out of the Samsara World and won’t be reborn in the reincarnation cycle.
Prayers’ offers to the temple, back side of the Main International Buddhist Temple, Richmond, BC.
