10 Buddhist Temples In Toronto, Canada

Villy
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 5 min read
buddhist temples in toronto

Buddhism is believed by many to be more of a philosophy, rather than a religion, and has the ultimate goal to free oneself from the cycle of suffering. It originally began in India, but its practice was spread across many Asian countries with slightly different beliefs. There are nowadays several major schools of Buddhism that have successfully made inroads into the west and Canada is no exemption. Toronto, specifically, is home to a large number of non-profit organizations and temples, where the teachings of Buddha are observed and open to both devotees and tourists. Meditation courses, retreats, weekly services, and services for kids are some of the activities offered at these temples. After checking out these activities, tourists and visitors can stay in one of the top romantic hotels or lofts for rent. Read on to learn more about these top Buddhist temples in Toronto, Canada.

Places to buy Buddhist paraphernalia

  • Tibetan Craft: Meditation Shop: Be it incense sticks, singing bowls, or religious statues, this shop has it all! You can also get silver jewelry here.

  • Paramita Centre: Here’s another spot where you can score some interesting goodies, be it shawls or even meditation cushions! I’d love to get a few souvenirs from here!

From transportation tips to medical essentials and everything in between, the Toronto local guides share all the must-know information to help you plan your trip.

1. Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Sunday, May 28th, 2017: The Birth of the Buddha - Hanamatsuri Service- 2017528

Posted by Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church on Monday, 29 May 2017

Named after the Japanese monk Nichiren, who lived in the 13th century, the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church believes in the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, according to which everyone can achieve enlightenment and live happily since we all have Buddha Nature (we are all Buddha’s children).

As a functioning temple, there are a number of social events taking place here throughout the year, as well as services twice a month and weekly morning service broadcasts. The temple seems to me like a great place to meet like-minded people. Make sure to contact the temple first if plan on visiting outside the service!

Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church

Address: 20 Caithness Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 3X7, Canada

Website: Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church

Visited this place?

2. Cham Shan Temple

Cham Shan Temple - A Chinese Temple in Toronto - Canada - 2014
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user PersianDutchNetwork used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Associated with Pure Land Buddhism (one of the major schools of Buddhism), the Cham Shan Temple goes by two main rules, to “perceive with wisdom and reach out with compassion”. Also known as the ‘Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple’, since that’s how many miniature gold Buddhas can be found within the temple, the Cham Shan temple also features the statue of the ‘Lord who looks down’ and his thousand arms represent the multiple ways through which he helps humanity. I think it’s a great place to go to if you want to learn more about Chinese cultural nuances.

Worship services can be enjoyed by both tourists and devotees, while guided tours for a better understanding of Buddhist philosophy take place during the summer.

Cham Shan Temple

Address: 7254 Bayview Ave, Thornhill, ON L3T 2R6, Canada

Website: Cham Shan Temple

Opening hours: Wed - Mon: 9am - 5:30pm (closed on Tue)

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3. Fu Sien Tong Buddhist Temple

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Posted by Fu Sien Tong Buddhist Temple on Wednesday, 24 May 2017

The Fu Sien Tong Buddhist Temple is another temple that belongs to the Pure Land Buddhist school and holds fast to Vietnamese traditions. The building is pretty colorful, both inside and outside, which makes for a great contrast with the surrounding typical Toronto buildings. I would check with the monks inside about the photography policy before clicking pictures though!

Visitors will be surprised by the red and gold complex symbols found within the temple. The temple might be small, however it has a rather warm and peaceful feeling.

Fu Sien Tong Buddhist Temple

Address: 185 Niagara St, Toronto, ON M5V 1C9, Canada

Website: Fu Sien Tong Buddhist Temple

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)

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4. Toronto Buddhist Church

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Toronto Buddhist Church also follows Pure Land teaching (Jodo Shinshu), and it is a place ‘specially designed to make you feel peace’, as they claim.

Visitors and devotees are more than welcome to take part in various events and classes held regularly, like mindful meditation, interactive activities for kids, Sunday services in English and monthly Japanese services, as well as lectures about Buddhism and meditation. Unique, Buddhist-related books and items are also available for purchase inside the temple. If you’re looking for a soulful souvenir, I’m sure you’ll find it right here.

Toronto Buddhist Church

Address: 1011 Sheppard Avenue West, North York, ON M3H 2T7, Canada

Website: Toronto Buddhist Church

Opening hours: Sun: 11am (regular service)

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5. Ching Kwok Buddhist Temple

buddhist temples in toronto | ching kwok buddhist temple
Source: instagram

Situated in a common city neighborhood, with old houses and parked cars, another Vietnamese Pure Land temple, the Ching Kwok (Tai Bay) Buddhist Temple, brings an oriental aura to the area. It features Chinese architectural designs and a bright red color, while the interior includes red pillars and golden statues.

Several services are offered here, including Buddhist studies in English, offerings ceremonies, meditation retreats, and dharma services.

Ching Kwok Buddhist Temple

Address: 300 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5T 2S3, Canada

Website: Ching Kwok Buddhist Temple

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)

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6. Toronto Zen Buddhist Temple

IMG_9140

Posted by Zen Buddhist Temple-Toronto on Thursday, 22 December 2016

As clearly implied by its name, the Zen Buddhist Temple is a temple where Zen Buddhism (another major school of Buddhism) is practiced. It was founded in the early ‘70s with the purpose of serving the Korean-Canadian community, but it has since grown and is open to everyone who wishes to learn more about Zen Buddhism.

Public services are offered on Sundays at 10 am, while other services also take place here, including a monthly children’s service, meditation courses, retreats, one-week stays for further practice, as well as daily practice for members. However, make sure to check in with the temple for accurate schedules for the events as they may be organized according to attendance.

Zen Buddhist Temple-Toronto

Address: 86 Vaughan Rd, York, ON M6C 2M2, Canada

Website: Zen Buddhist Temple-Toronto

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7. Riwoche Tibetan Buddhist Temple

Posted by Riwoche Tibetan Buddhist Temple of Toronto on Thursday, 29 August 2019

With a focus on the present age and Vajrayana Buddhism (Tibetan Buddhism), the Riwoche Tibetan Buddhist Temple welcomes individuals who wish to grow spiritually through several means, such as meditation practices, recitation, and teachings.

Traditional Tibetan methods have been used to build six impressive Buddha statues that harmoniously fit in with the temple, while a Green Tara statue (that symbolizes growth and healing) is also found here.

Riwoche Tibetan Buddhist Temple

Address: 28 Heintzman St, Toronto, ON M6P 2J6, Canada

Website: Riwoche Tibetan Buddhist Temple

Opening hours: Tue: 7.30pm - 8.30pm; Thu: 8pm - 9pm; Sat & Sun: 9am - 10am (closed on Mon, Wed, & Fri)

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8. Jing Yin Temple

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

A number of cultivation sessions and religious practices take place in this Buddhist temple and include bathing ceremonies, yoga practice, fire offerings, and mantra chanting (a sacred utterance with spiritual connotations). Teachings of the Buddha are observed, while if you wish to support the temple’s beliefs, you can make donations through check or a bank account.

Jing Yin Temple

Address: 722 Brimley Rd, Scarborough, ON M1J 1C2, Canada

Website: Jing Yin Temple

Opening hours: 10am - 7pm daily

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9. Buddhist Prajna Temple

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The Buddhist Prajna Temple is a non-profit social charity organization and a humble place where people come to find harmony and peace. The temple was founded with the purpose of promoting Chinese traditional culture but also aims to urge people towards charitable actions.

The temple is open to everyone, regardless of one’s background, and is nowadays also a platform where believers may practice Buddhist teachings and doctrines. Books and audiovisual materials, all related to Buddhism, have uniquely enriched the temple.

Buddhist Prajna Temple

Address: 313 Main St N, Markham, ON L3P 1Z2, Canada

Website: Buddhist Prajna Temple

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 9:30am - 5pm

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10. Karma Sonam Dargye Ling Temple

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

This Tibetan Buddhist Temple is an active temple that coordinates a number of events throughout the year, including a Deity Practice (Green Tara, White Tara, and more), meditation classes, offerings, world peace prayers, and other activities, such as Calm Abiding.

If you wish to learn the basics of the Tibetan language, then the Karma Sonam Dargye Ling Temple is the place to do it as they offer a language camp in the summers.

Karma Sonam Dargye Ling Temple

Address:12 Maynard Ave, Toronto, ON M6K 2Z9, Canada

Website: Karma Sonam Dargye Ling Temple

Visited this place?

Focus within to find peace

Toronto offers so much more than just theme parks and shopping malls. Visit one of those Buddhist temples in Toronto to take a moment and contemplate how your life is passing by. Finding peace within is something hard to achieve and requires tremendous practice and mental strength, but a little goes a long way, so if you ever want to try it, pay a visit to any of these temples.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Meet Villy, a perpetual explorer with an insatiable curiosity for the world and an unwavering eagerness to learn. Growing up in Greece, Villy embarked on a journey to transcend her comfort zone....Read more

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