by George Klima and Chris Ng
Many Canadian people every year become curious about Buddhist teachings and decide to visit a temple. They want to find out first-hand what it's all about. But which one should they visit? There is no Consumer Reports for Buddhist Temples to show them which are the best and no Lemon Aid guide to show them the worst. Does that mean every Buddhist sect is suitable for every person? Are all Buddhist temples consistently pure? Are all Buddhist monks and nuns virtuous? No. The simple answer is that Buddhist practitioners are people like everybody else.
The purpose of this page is to help you to find a temple that is suitable for you.
Although Buddhist practice begins with yourself, you need a temple to find a teacher. The community of people at a temple can also help you to share Buddhist values and to encourage you in your practice. You need a teacher to help you to learn Dharma (the Buddha's way) and to meditate. These are the two key things that a temple should be able to provide.
By "meditation" we mean the whole variety of sitting, visualizing, and chanting practices, and the integration of the underlying principles of meditation practice to all aspects of life as expressed in the present moment.
Most temples also have regular services, which are typically comprised of some combinations of teachings, meditation, chanting, and socializing. Such services are familiar to us coming from other backgrounds. They are useful for those of us leading lives that have routine jobs and schedules. But they are neither necessary nor sufficient.
Some groups make meditation available for beginners, but do not teach Dharma to beginners. This is fine, as long as you know that dharma classes are also available as you establish some basic discipline. However, keep in mind that meditation alone, with no teachings is a little like travelling without a destination: amusing but pointless.
Some groups provide Dharma teachings, perhaps in the form of lectures, regardless of the students' background. These are quite popular among "dharma hopping" students, who travel the lecture circuit. Perhaps such groups rely on students to develop their own meditation practice. However, to make sense of Dharma it is necessary to still the mind; to meditate. And meditation requires the guidance of an experienced meditator. Dharma class with no practice is interesting and intellectually enjoyable, but it is a little like studying cooking without ever having a meal.
Firstly, a good teacher has made progress in attaining freedom from ignorance. This means the teacher has arrived at some understanding about the nature of existence, and is able to show a genuine compassion. You should not hear a teacher quoting from a New Age bookshelf.
Freedom from ignorance also means a sufficient grasp of the teachings to be able to answer your questions. In fact, the Buddha was very clear that all followers should test all his teachings against their experience. The Buddha very much encouraged all visitors to ask questions. You should be able to get straight answers to your questions. Do be respectful, do be truthful with yourself, do focus on what matters to you, but do not be shy to ask, even the same question over and over. And do listen closely to the answers you hear. A good teacher will find a way to give you an answer that speaks to you, at your level of understanding.
Secondly, a good teacher is largely free from greed and lust. How can you tell? One way is to stay sensitive to an undue focus on your generosity. Be cognizant that your generosity benefits the community rather than accruing to specific individuals. Also look for signs of attachment to things and to people. What might be some signs that there is some funny business going on? Perhaps the teacher lives a fine and comfortable lifestyle. Perhaps there are too many women around who praise the teacher excessively and uncritically.
Thirdly, a good teacher is advanced in developing freedom from anger. Such a teacher might have a "lightness" in style and would not be trapped in his own "likes" and "dislikes", exhibiting kindness towards others, even very ignorant and difficult students. You would not find an authoritarian attitude where something is so because it's written here or there, or because the Buddha said so. In fact, any display of anger for any reason is a seriously unwholesome act. So-called "skillful" anger is no different from plain anger; it is therefore a dangerous concept.
It's helpful if the temple is nearby to where you live. Why make things needlessly difficult? It's far more sound to work towards a situation where the teachings and your visits to the temple become part of your everyday life, rather than being some kind of retreat from it.
Visting temples is a most pleasant activity. No doubt you will find that the people running them are an amazing collection of cheerful, courteous, and kind people. To ensure that you arrive at a convenient time, it's good to phone beforehand. It may be good to bring some fruit or a cash donation--think of it as a show of your sincerity.
In fact, the cheerfulness and focus of the people at a temple are a good indication of the general health of the place. One of our practical goals is surely that we should become more happy, more at peace with ourselves, more free from fear and worries, as a result of our association with Buddhism. Take some time to meet a few people. Do they seem physically and mentally healthy? Sit quietly in a corner for a while. Do you feel comfortable enough that you could spend an entire weekend sitting quietly with this group of people?
Note also whether the place is clean. Is the bathroom clean? A committed group of people will keep their temple spotlessly clean. There should be no shirking over toilet duties.
You may be more comfortable having studied some basics about Buddhism. There are many helpful introductions that you can start with, such as, "What the Buddha taught" by Walpola Rahula.
This Web site, buddhismcanada.com, consists of directories of temples and groups you could consult with if you decide to visit a Buddhist temple. It also contains a listing of special events taking place in Southwestern Ontario. Best wishes for your Buddhist journey.