About Our Temple

The Steveston Buddhist Temple is a community of people joined together through Shinjin, faith in the Amida Buddha. As Jodo Shinshu Buddhists, we seek to be humble and sincere in words and deeds, to be responsible citizens of our society and to share with others the teachings of Shinran Shonin. Understanding fully the principle of causality, we do not practice petitionary prayer or magic nor do we depend upon astrology and superstition.

Having awakened to the compassion of Amida Buddha and rejoicing in the assurance of Buddhahood, the focus is to live the life of gratitude and service.

The object of our faith is the Amida Buddha. Amida Buddha is the Buddha of Infinite Light (Wisdom) and Infinite Life (Compassion). Amida Buddha is the pure embodiment of Love.

Amida Buddha's love makes no distinction between evil-doers and good people because as Shinran says, "There is no evil strong enough to prevent one from being embraced in Amida's Infinite Love. Nor is there any good which is so perfect and pure as to permit one from entering into the Land of Purity without resorting to the Original Vow."

Amida Buddha saves those who have unequivocally entrusted themselves in him and embraces all devotees and welcomes them to the land of Enlightenment.

History of the Temple

In September, 1928 the Steveston Buddhist Temple was officially organized and the first building was constructed on Second Avenue in Steveston. The temple was dissolved in early 1942 when the Japanese Canadians were forced to move from the West Coast because of World War II. The temple was reformed in March 1952, as many of the Japanese returned to Steveston after the war.

In the fall of 1952, the spiritual leader of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, His Eminence Kosho Ohtani and Lady Yoshiko from the Mother Temple in Kyoto, Japan, paid their official visit to Steveston to commemorate the reformation of the Temple. During this visit, through the initiative of Lady Yoshiko Ohtani the Steveston Buddhist Temple's Women's Auxiliary was organized.