New Year’s Greeting 
 
Happy New Year! At the beginning of the New Year, I would like to extend my warm regards to you all. 

As in previous years, many people throughout the world have been affected by natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, and forest fires. I would like to offer my deepest condolences to all who have perished in those calamities. I would also like to express my sympathies to those who are still coping with the dire situations. It is my sincere hope that all who have been affected will soon be able to return to normalcy. 

2024 is our Anniversary Year! 
 
“ Those who are born first, guide those who come later, and those who are born later, join those who were born before them. This is so that the Boundless Ocean of birth-and-death may be exhausted.” 
 
(In “Passages on the Land of Happiness”, by master Tao-ch’o [562-645]) 
              

2024 VBT 120 th Anniversary ‘Okagesama’ / Building 45 th Anniversary    
 
     We are celebrating our the 120 th anniversary of our temple and the 45 th anniversary of our      building.  I am thankful for being able to share with all of you the special services coming in 2024.  The board and I are planning a series of services and special gatherings in 2024 so that as many of you, as possible, can join us and be a part of our celebrations. 
 

08/09/23: Email from Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani

Dear Ministers and Temple Presidents,

The Living Dharma Centre presents Gems: a book written by Ocean's author Rev.  Dr.  Ken Tanaka, Dr Durgesh Kasbekar and John Negru of Sumeru Press. This work is a great read for anyone interested in Buddhism and is especially a fabulous resource for people who are far from a Buddhist Temple and attendees of Virtual Services from all over Canada.