International Buddhist Temple
While teaching in Toronto, we took the opportunity to visit the International Buddhist Temple in Richmond.
Set within what is known as Richmond’s “Highway to Heaven”, this temple is one of the largest and most authentic Chinese Buddhist in North America. Built in the early 1980s by the International Buddhist Society, it was designed to reflect traditional Chinese imperial architecture, often compared to the Forbidden City in its layout and detail.
The temple holds large Buddha statues and detailed altars, each space inviting stillness. The design is not decorative, but reflects principles of harmony, mindfulness and continuity that are central to Buddhist philosophy.
This Temple located in an area of modern development and brings a tradition from another part of the world and placing it within a new landscape. This place creates a sense of balance for those who enter, even briefly.
Read More From Nancy
Arch of Hadrian
Marty and I stood in front of the Arch of Hadrian in Athens, with the modern city stretching out behind it. The steady rhythm of everyday life continues around a structure that has stood here for nearly 2000 years. The arch was built in 131AD to honor the Roman Emperor Hadrian, during a time when […]
The Ganga
On the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, the water is sacred. It is used for bathing, washing and for rituals that have been practiced for thousands of years. But to understand this river, you have to see that it is not just water, it is life, belief, and continuity flowing together. To Hindus, the […]
Arrowtown
Arrowtown is one of those rare towns where history feels close to the surface. Tucked just outside Queenstown, it began as a gold mining settlement in the 1860s, during the rush that brought thousands into the region following discoveries along the Arrow River. The town quickly grew as miners, many of them European and later […]
