ÿþ<html> <head> <title>Our Sensei</title> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="main.css"> </head> <body> <P> <table width=100%> <tr> <td width=80><img src="I/grant.jpg" width=80></td> <td width=20></td> <td colspan=3><p> <h1>Rev. Grant Masami Ikuta</h1> <H2>Born: September 1st, 1964, Vancouver, B.C.</h2> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=100% colspan=5><hr></td> </tr> <tr> <td width=100 colspan=2> <td colspan=3><p> <h2>Post Secondary Education:</h2> <p>Undergraduate: University of Alberta Bachelor of Science, Biology major graduated 1987. <br>" Went to Japan in fall of 1987. <br>" Attended a year of Ryukoku University Bekka (Foreign Student) program. <br>" Received Tokudo Ordination in fall of 1988. <br>" Enrolled at Central Buddhist Academy (Chuo Bukkyo Gakuin) in April, 1989. <br>" Graduated from Central Buddhist Academy Honka level (Primary level) 1990. <br>" Entered Ryukoku University Post Graduate studies April 1990. <br>" Received Kyoshi Ordination May 1990. <br>" February 1992, completed the Masters Program in Shinshu Studies at Ryukoku University </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=100% colspan=5><hr></td> </tr> <tr> <td width=100 colspan=2> <td colspan=3><p> <h2>Work Experience:</h2> <p>" Assigned to Canada as Kaikyoshi on September 1st, 1992. <br>" After spending three weeks at the BCC Headquarters for orientation was assigned as minister to the Toronto Buddhist Church on October 1st, 1992. <br>" Became the first Canadian Sansei and third generation minister to serve within the BCC. <br>" 1992  1996 Spent just over three years as Associate Minister to the Toronto Temple <br>" 1996  2008 Spent as senior minister at Toronto Buddhist Church. <br>" February 2000 Led a Pilgrimage of 20 individuals from Canada to the Sacred sites of Sakyamuni Buddha in India and Nepal. <br>" 2000  2005 Major project of building new temple in Toronto. <br>" August 20th, 2005 Grand opening of new temple in Toronto. <br>" During close to 16 years in Toronto, served as Buddhist Chaplain at the University of Toronto, Served as on-call Buddhist Contact (Volunteer) to several of the hospitals in Toronto, served as the Chairperson for the Ministerial Association for two terms. <br>" July, 2008 Transferred to Steveston Buddhist Temple to serve as the resident minister here. <br>" Presently also involved as an instructor for the English Jodo Shinshu Correspondence Course. </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=100% colspan=5><hr></td> </tr> <tr> <td width=100 colspan=2> <td ><p> <h2>Personal Life:</h2> <p>" Spent parts of childhood growing up in Vancouver, Kyoto, and Calgary. <br>" Married in 1992. Wife, Noriko was also a student at the Central Buddhist Academy <br>" Have four children: Arthur Masaaki (17), Dylan Shingo (14), Courtney Ayano (6), Erin Akane (5) <br>" Hobbies include: sports in general (both playing and watching), avid basketball and hockey fan <br>" Favourite teams: Toronto Raptors (basketball), Calgary Flames (hockey) <br>" Love eating and enjoy cooking as well. <br>" Favourite Japanese word: Ù_W0D0 (Isogashii) which means  to be busy is my favourite word because of the meaning behind the word. The character is composed of 2 halves. The left side  \ is known as Š0c0W0“0y0“0 (risshinben) and it is an abbreviation of the character  Ã_ (kokoro), which means  heart or  mind ,  the central portion of our being . The right side ¡N (nakusu) means to lose. Therefore, when we put the two together and we get the word for busy, Ù_W0D0 (Isogashii), which literally means to lose ones mind or heart. It is expressing the loss of focus or balance, which is what happens when we are busy. </td> <td width=10> <td valign="top"><img src="I/ikuta.jpg" width=400 valign="top"></td> </tr> </table> <p><HR><P> <center> <a href="http://www.steveston-temple.ca" target="new"><h2>Steveston Buddhist Temple</h2></a> </center> </body> </html>