True Buddha School
Chin Yin Buddhist Temple
A Buddhist temple located in Edmonton
True Buddha School
The Founder
Living Buddha Lian-sheng, whose secular name is Sheng-Yen Lu, was born in Chiayi, Taiwan in 1945. He graduated from the Department of Geodesy and Land Surveying of Chung Cheng Institute of Technology, and propagates True Buddha Vajrayana Dharma through his writings, paintings, dharma discourses and other means. Disciples who have taken refuge worldwide number more than five million, including many well-known Tibetan living buddhas.
Chin Yin Buddhist Temple
The Founder
Master Lian-zhi, in 1984, she took refuge with Living Buddha Lian-sheng and was appointed Vajra Acharya in 1985. She studied nursing in the UK and, after immigrating from Brunei to Canada in 1978, continued working as a nurse. During yoga meditation, she saw Living Buddha Lian-sheng, who later confirmed her Buddha connection, urging her to propagate the Dharma.
The History
At first, Grand Master bestowed the name “Chin Yin Hall,” and from a small living room at home, they began practicing the Eight Principal Deities’ Dharma every Saturday with friends and family. The profound True Buddha Vajrayana Dharma attracted more participants who took refuge.
In 1987, as the number of practitioners grew, they moved to the second floor of a factory, registered as a “non-profit” organization, and legally promoted True Buddha Tantric Dharma.
In 1991, with collective efforts, they bought a former church in Chinatown, becoming Edmonton’s first Buddhist temple, named “Chin Yin Buddhist Temple” by the Grand Master. The temple established strong partnerships with the local government, religious groups, education department, hospitals, and communities, providing services to residents, gaining government recognition and public support.
In 2003, due to the growing number of devotees, they relocated again, purchasing land and constructing a three-story, 6,000-square-foot temple, the current Chin Yin Buddhist Temple.
Temple Features
Unlike most temples, the main gate plaque prominently displays “True Buddha School,” with “Chin Yin Buddhist Temple” below. In inter-temple exchange meetings, Master Lian-zhi shared that this clear identification helps visitors recognize it as a True Buddha School temple, effectively promoting their identity.
The temple features a 24-foot-high main hall, a basement with the Ksitigarbha Hall, columbarium, water baby spirit hall, and storage. Outside, there are the Guanyin Pavilion, Mahakaruna Dharani Tower, and Victorious in Battle Tower. Following the Master’s wish, they purchased 100 graves in a public cemetery, creating the Chin Yin True Buddha Cemetery.
Regular Activities
Every Sunday, they practice the Four Preliminary Practices, Guru Yoga, or other Karma Dharma, followed by Dharma teachings from the Master. On the birthdays of the Eight Principal Deities, they hold grand offerings, repentance ceremonies, deity rituals, or Homa fire offerings to celebrate.
Even in winter’s -30°C, people from various cultural backgrounds, including local residents and overseas Chinese, participate in Sunday practices and celebrations. Under Master Lian-zhi’s teachings, language barriers dissolve, allowing everyone to receive the Buddha’s blessings.
Chinese New Year is a major celebration at Jing Yin Lei Zang Temple. The spacious temple grounds host activities like the “Tai Sui Welcoming Ceremony,” distributing “Tai Sui Amulets,” grand offerings on Maitreya Bodhisattva’s birthday, “Auspicious Blessings Ceremony,” and lion dances, attracting families to celebrate. Over a thousand vegetarian meals are served, creating a festive atmosphere.
During Qingming and Ullambana festivals, they hold seven-day chanting ceremonies for ancestors, columbarium, water baby spirits, and the True Buddha Cemetery, performing the Liang Emperor’s Repentance, Yoga Flaming Mouth, and Amitabha Buddha ceremonies.
At the end of the year, they celebrate Medicine Buddha’s birthday with a grand ceremony for disaster prevention and healing. A Medicine Buddha Mandala is set up, where offerings and medicine lights are dedicated, with seven days of Medicine Buddha sutra chanting for all registered or seeking healing.
Funeral services include chanting at the temple, funeral homes, cremations, burials, and columbarium placement. They even provide remote services via video, with all costs based on voluntary donations, receiving high praise and gratitude from devotees.
Interaction with Society
Jing Qing Lion Dance Troupe
To connect Western-born children with Chinese culture, the “Jing Qing Lion Dance Troupe” was formed. Comprising youths aged 5 to 20, the troupe performs traditional Chinese drum and lion dances. Their impressive performances have garnered praise from the city government, frequently earning invitations for public celebrations.
Yard Sale
Every summer, a yard sale featuring donated second-hand items from members is held. The temple also prepares delicious food for attendees. This event not only supports the temple financially but also welcomes the public to explore Jing Yin.
Religious Integration
When located in Chinatown, Chin Yin Buddhist Temple began engaging with various religious groups, including local Indigenous beliefs, Catholicism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sai Baba, Islam, and Theravada Buddhism. The aim was to introduce True Buddha School as Edmonton’s first Buddhist temple, fostering mutual interaction and exchange.
Interfaith Blessing Ceremony
In 1998, Chin Yin Buddhist Temple hosted an “Interfaith Blessing Ceremony” with Living Buddha Lian-sheng presiding. As the only Buddhist group in the interfaith organization, they invited all local religions to pray together. Each religion was given five minutes for prayer. When it was Chin YIn Buddhist Temple’s turn, the Master performed the “Great Seal for Calamity Relief and Blessing” on the Dharma throne, accompanied by disciples’ chanting. This event was well-regarded and earned Chin Yin Buddhist Temple the “First Excellence in Public Service Award” from the interfaith organization.
End-of-Life Care
In 2007, Chin Yin Buddhist Temple held a joint religious and medical seminar on end-of-life care. The seminar addressed how different religions provide end-of-life care and how medical experts can alleviate the suffering of the dying for a peaceful passing. The event attracted government officials and nearly a thousand healthcare professionals to discuss religious and medical knowledge.
Education
Each year, schools across the province visit Chin Yin Buddhist Temple. Lectures help students understand Buddhism’s history and True Buddha Vajrayana Dharma, delivered by a Canadian with a Master’s degree in Buddhist Studies. Students often request return visits, leading to invitations for the lecturer to teach meditation courses, bringing peace and joy to students.
Dragon Boat Festival
During the annual Dragon Boat Festival in Edmonton, Chin Yin’s Dharma propagators are invited as official guests to chant and bless the dragon boats, ensuring the event’s success.
Future Aspirations
During a visit from Edmonton’s mayor, Master Lian-zhi expressed Chin Yin’s vision: to establish a Buddhist center with a library for educational research, guided by Ph.D. and graduate-level Buddhist scholars. This center would host Vesak celebrations and serve as a venue for inter-sect exchanges.
Recognition
Chin Yin Buddhist Temple’s long-term service to the community has earned local government recognition. Every Lunar New Year, government officials visit to offer support. The Alberta government has also authorized Master Lian-zhi to perform legal marriage ceremonies across the province, with the temple issuing legal marriage certificates. Many young members have married at the temple, receiving Buddhist blessings. Additionally, Master Lian-zhi received the Alberta Centennial Medal for public service.
Interaction with the Religious Committee
Before the Religious Committee was established, Master Lian-zhi at Chin Yin Buddhist Temple had already been collecting teachings from the Living Buddha Lian-sheng, documenting the essentials of various practices. When the committee was founded in 1997, Master Lian-zhi selflessly provided her extensive collection of materials to help create the sect’s practice manuals and assist in producing funeral chanting rituals. In the early years, Chin Yin Buddhist Temple also provided a venue for the core group of the committee to hold meetings and seminars.
In 2007, Chin Yin assisted the committee in organizing the first academic seminar on Vajrayana Buddhism and True Buddha School in Alberta, where English was the official language. The event invited professors and scholars from universities worldwide, benefiting academic research and understanding of Vajrayana Buddhism and the True Buddha School.
Chin Yin Buddhist Temple encourages members to participate in Dharma propagator training. Currently, the temple has several lecturers and assistants who utilize their expertise to promote Dharma activities. Master Lian-zhi and one lecturer have earned master’s degrees in Buddhist studies, enhancing the dissemination of Buddhist theories in society. Members are also encouraged to read the collected works of the Living Buddha and write reflections, emphasizing that practice involves both understanding Buddhist principles and practical application. These reflections are published in both Chinese and English on the temple’s website and Facebook page, laying a foundation for the next generation in the local community.
Schedule a visit to our temple
Every year, academic institutions and religious groups from various places visit to pay homage, explore Buddhism’s profound teachings. If you like to visit to our temple in a group, please contact us.