Our History
Ottawa is a highly diverse city. The South Asian community and organizations like the Ottawa Buddhist Society had a part to play in weaving our city’s rich cultural tapestry.
From its charter the objectives of the OBS are:
To propagate, promote and advance the teachings of the Buddha by practicing the religious observances, tenets, and doctrines of Buddhism, with emphasis on those of Theravada Buddhism, and to promote the practice of these teachings in everyday life.
To promote an awareness of the contributions made by Buddhism to mankind’s intellectual advancement, and spiritual and physical well-being.
To engage in charitable activities within Canada to alleviate suffering, whether physical, mental, or spiritual, without regard to the species, gender, race, nationality, or religion of the sufferer.
In 2003 Luang Por Viradhammo came to Ottawa to care for his aging mother, Mrs. Aker. OBS lay members offered dana and other requisites to this Thai Forest monk and his mother for 10 years. And at the invitation of the OBS, “Ajahn V” offered regular reflections on the Buddha’s teachings at Quaker House and the Tu-An Pagoda.
The Buddha Batik, pictured below, was a gift from Luang Por Viradhammo to the OBS. It was created and given to him in 2003 by a Polish couple, Bzyszek and Goska Molski. It hangs at in person dhamma events and retreats. Adrienne Herron donated her photograph of the batik and Marco Fraschetti developed the OBS logo from one of the golden Buddha figures in the batik.
The meaning of the three mudras (or symbolic hand gestures) which the OBS web design team chose for the website are as follows:
Dhyana Mudra (Gesture of Meditation)
The central Buddha shows the mudra of palms facing upward with hands in the lap. This mudra represents the practice of meditation as the kernel, the gateway, and the commitment to fulfilling our highest spiritual potential. This gesture symbolizes the overcoming of the world of appearances through the Awakened mind.Bhumisparsha Mudra (Gesture of Calling the Earth to Witness)
The image at the top left depicts the Buddha touching the earth with his right hand. This mudra symbolizes the Buddha’s victory over the Tempter Mara (who represents the seductive passions that entrap and delude us) as the result of practicing unshakeable awareness in the present moment. The Buddha is said to have made this gesture at the moment of his Enlightenment.Bodhyangi Mudra (Gesture of Supreme Wisdom)
The image at the bottom left shows the Buddha grasping his right index finger in the fist of his left hand. There are many interpretations for this mudra. It stands for the unity of the five worldly elements (earth, water, fire, air, and metal) with spiritual consciousness. Also called the Mudra of the Fist of Wisdom, it stresses the importance of spiritual wisdom.
The full recording of Ayya Medhanandi’s personal reflections on the Buddha batik mudras was captured by Andre Vellino at the Quaker House on April 4, 2009. All these gifts of dhamma point to the rich spiritual heritage of the OBS.
During these teaching days in Ottawa, Jim Bedard on behalf of many in the community invited Ajahn Viradhammo to stay in the region and build a monastery. So, it was then that in October 2006, land for Tisarana Buddhist Monastery was purchased near Perth, ON.
Later in 2008, with an invitation from the Ottawa Buddhist Society and Toronto Theravāda Buddhist Community, Ayyā Medhanandi returned to her native Canada to establish an order of bhikkhunis, and later Sati Saraniya Hermitage.
A Short Video Interview on the Origins of Ottawa Buddhist Society
In the mid-1970’s the idea to form an Ottawa-based Buddhist association came from an impromptu discussion at the Sri Lankan High Commission. Like newcomers from everywhere families and friends missed going to community temples, as is the culture in Sri Lanka. A few resolute families took the idea for an association to heart and so dhamma meetings once a month on a Sunday night began.
In 1980, this Ottawa Buddhist Association (OBA) accepted an invitation from the Vietnamese Buddhist Community to share their temple located on Ladouceur Street in Mechanicsville. The first Poya (a full moon fasting celebration of sila/bhavana) was held on August 26, 1980, with 22 people present.
Simultaneously Mayor Marion Dewar had initiated Project 4000 sparking awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. The Vietnamese Buddhist Community experienced an influx of refugees and outgrew their Bayview temple and purchased a one-acre lot on Albion Road. In 1993 the president and members of the OBA helped walk the Vietnamese Buddhist Communities statues south down Bank Street and participated in the cornerstone laying ceremony for the new Tu-An Pagoda.
The OBA continued to grow as a lay community and in May 1995 and 1998 respectively, new by-laws and a constitution were federally approved and the Ottawa Buddhist Society (OBS), was established as a registered charity in Canada. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana was one of the earliest teachers to visit and teach to the OBS.