Great Compassion Bodhi Prajna Temple

Ven. Master Miao Jing and Ven. Master Miao Yin are the founders of the North America Karma Kagyu Bhikkhuni Institute and the Great Compassion Bodhi Prajna Temple. The Great Compassion Bodhi Prajna Temple, set within a tranquil forest north of Toronto, is a registered temple in Canada which practices and emphasizes the importance of the three methods of attaining wisdom: listening, contemplation, and cultivation. The temple also practices loving-kindness, compassion, and Bodhicitta.

Temple Features

Fusion of Mahayana-Vajrayana Buddhism

The temple is one of the few meditation-practicing Mahayana-Vajrayana Buddhism fusion temples in North America.

Taking refuge in H.H. the 17thKarmapa 

The abbess Master Miao Jing and Master Miao Yin took refuge under H.H. the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje who is the head Master of the Karma Kagyu Lineage, and from him studied Buddhadharma and meditation. When the conditions matured, they began shouldering up the responsibility of spreading Buddhadharma in Canada.

When the Karmapa visited Great Compassion Bodhi Prajna Temple on June 8th, 2017, he gave the following teaching: “Buddhism does not differentiate between sects. The Great Compassion Bodhi Prajna Temple is a comparatively well integrated Buddhist center of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. Meaning-wise, this is slightly different. So I hope under the guidance of the two Masters, everyone can do better and bring harmoniously joy from integrated Buddhism into the hearts of all Buddhists. I feel that this is very important. Everyone will be able to receive more teaching and more Dharma nutrition. And by so doing, the Bodhichitta will grow, and tap into wisdom faster and more holistically.”

Concrete Teaching

Every weekend, the temple offers classes that touch on teachings of the Buddha and all Karmapas. The class will start by studying the Four Seals of Mahamudra, and also teachings from Karmapas. Afterwards, there will be teachings on Precious Garlands of Supreme Path to learn the stages of proceeding from human nature to Buddha nature. Then, the class will actually practice the Mahamudra. Online teachings are also held sporadically. 

Every month, there is practice of Medicine Buddha dharma and offering made on auspicious days celebrating Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. This will help practitioners accumulate blessings and wisdom, purify bad karma, and eliminate obstacles in the practice of the Buddhadharma. Every year, the temple also offers an Eight Precepts Retreat or short meditation retreats for adults.

Each spring and fall, there is a one-day-meditation practice at the tranquil temple to tap into innate Buddha nature. 

Each year, there is a youth meditation camp which introduces young participants to the law of cause and effect and the importance of compassion. Participants will also learn Chinese culture’s filial piety and gratitude. 

Youth weekend meditation classes are offered in the spring and fall. Through reciting, copying, and memorizing sutras, young participates will mature spiritually, open up compassion and learn wisdom. With time, youths can work on managing their emotions, discover inner peace, and establish correct values. 

Our visions

The Great Compassion Bodhi Prajna Temple is a nunnery that welcomes monastics and lay practitioners to come to learn and practice Buddhadharma together. We focus on promoting a complete modern education system for Buddhist nuns and those women aspiring to become Buddhist nuns. 

Since ancient times women have been protecting and supporting Buddhism. Women’s compassionate, gentle, and tender nature makes it easier for female practitioners to resonate with the intrinsic nature and compassion of Buddhism. As early as 2,500 years ago, a Buddhist Bhikkhuni sangha community was formed by the Buddha with his aunt Maha Pajapati Gotani as the leader. There were renown enlightened Bhikkhuni such as Utpalavarna. Their diligence and devotion to learning Buddhism was a moving chapter in the history of Buddhism. Despite the passage of time, the social status of women has not improved much and female practitioners even lost the access to receive formal Buddhist education. In Vajrayana Buddhism, the transmission for Bhikkhunis to receive full vow ordination was lost. On this issue, H.H. the 17th Karmapa is very concerned. Thus, H.H. invited Taiwanese Bhikkhunis to Bodhigaya to restart the transmission of Vajrayana Bhikkhuni full vow ordination on March 17, 2017. This is one of the 17th Karmapa‘s concrete actions to support the Bhikkhunis. 

The two masters of this temple vow to utilize their bilingual and bi-cultural backgrounds to lay the groundwork for Bhikkhunis’ education. It is their hope that in the near future, more female practitioners can contribute greatly to Buddhism and that the Fourfold assemblies of monks, nuns, male and female devotees can all attain bodhi.

A thought can have lifelong impact

A person with proper knowledge can dissolve his/her own suffering, and also solve other’s suffering. To learn to be a Buddha begins from being a good person. After that, we can learn to increase our wisdom, courage, loving-kindness, compassion, and the bodhicitta of unconditional loving-kindness and universal compassion. 

Just one single lamp can light up a room shrouded in pitch darkness for thousands of years. You may be just one person. But every bit and drop of giving, when brought together, will provide significant positive energy capable of bettering this materialistic world, your family, and your life. And every bit and drop of giving will all flow into the great ocean of merits. Let us be the person that turn on the lamp in the dark room. 

The Great Compassion Bodhi Prajna Temple abbess Master Miao Jing and Master Miao Yin recognize that Buddhism is more than burning incense and bowing to the status of the Buddha. Buddha’s teachings apply to modern society. It is essential to teach those determined to learn Buddhism step by step. First, it is important to cultivate moral principles and establish right conduct before getting into Buddhadharma and cultivating the mind. Doing so, it will be possible to truly incorporate Buddha’s teachings into every moment in life and experience genuine joy from spiritual growth. This is why the temple has been focusing on adult’s and youth’s meditation practice that incorporates listening to the beauty of spiritual growth and studying Buddhadharma together. This will let the true meaning of Buddhadharma continue on. 

The temple supports the 17th Karmapa’s endeavor to support Bhikkhunis. The two masters take the Karmapa’s vow as their own and aspire to build Bhikkhuni temples. With your contribution, people living in the hustle and bustle of the city can have a temple to learn meditation, to get to know their true selves and to experience the wholeness of life. Throughout reincarnation each phased life, including this one, is short and temporary. So do use this life to learn how to use the heart to create real meanings. Such true change from the heart will change our lives and even the world.

Propose to build first Buddhist School in Toronto focus on acadmic and Mindfulness Education.