The ThunderBlogs

Six worshipers followed a nun’s lead in a slow procession, their palms pressed together in front of them. Their chanting echoed off the temple walls. A thin line of smoke rose from an incense pot in the centre of the hall while gold Buddha statues, surrounded by flowers, glistened in the sun.

The middle statue extended a hand to the worshipers – a Hindu, a white man in Buddhist robes and a woman of mixed faith.

The diversity of worshipers who gathered at the Lingyen Mountain Temple on Saturday afternoon is a common sight. The temple, which stands along the Highway to Heaven, shares a fence with two Christian churches, faces another church across the street and is within walking distance of a synagogue, mosque, and Sikh, Hindi and Tibetan temples.

Many Sikhs and Hindus come to the Lingyen temple, according to volunteer Gary Wu. Devon, a devout Hindu, first came to the temple during Chinese New Year celebrations. He enjoyed the atmosphere and started to attend Buddhist workshops in addition to practicing Hinduism.

“I’ve never felt pressure to change my faith here,” he said. “It’s the most loving place I’ve been to.”

Scott McMyn’s burgundy robe and shaved head gave him an aura of authority in the chanting procession. McMyn works at a mental health institute and comes to the temple to regain his strength.

“I repair the damaged organ – my brain,” he said after describing his struggle with one patient.

McMyn was the first Caucasian to complete an advanced, 3-day Buddhist ceremony at a Vancouver temple, which involved chanting for 12 hours each day.

Donna Hemingson moved to the temple’s neighbourhood over a year ago. She received a Dharma name in a Buddhist initiation ceremony, but is also open to the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths.

The Lingyen temple offers youth education programs, mediation workshops and free vegetarian meals. Since the temple currently operates at full capacity, its administration plans to expand by building a larger temple on adjacent land.

An open house was held on Sept. 15 to give community members a chance to comment on the expansion designs.

The pace in the temple slowed after the evening meal as the monks prepared for their chants and worshipers headed for the parking lot. Across the road, the Christian church invited a new round of visitors to the Highway of Heaven with its billboard announcement of the upcoming Sunday service.