This Buddhist temple does it right!…read more When I wanted to start studying Buddhism to see what all the fuss was about I went to several temples in the city. Unfortunately I was turned off by quite a few of them. Some places call themselves Buddhist but actually follow other philosophies that sort of disqualify them from being Buddhist in the strictest sense. And some places also had Instructors who were born and raised and taught Buddhism in the West. Call me old fashioned or prejudice, but I prefer a teacher who was born and raised in a traditional Buddhist society outside of Western Culture. So one day I stumbled across Atlantic Chan Buddhist Association and was blown away! They are very unassuming being on Windsor street in a converted Presbyterian church. But once you walk in you feel like you are transported into another country or another world. They have a beautiful interior with an incredible looking Buddhist statue. But what I was really impressed by them was that they weren't trying to make money from you. At least they weren't trying that hard. I remember when I went to one temple and they had a pamphlet that gave you the price for each stage of enlightenment course. I thought how strange it was to have to pay for a stage of enlightenment. I also thought it was contrary to the very idea of enlightenment but forgave them for the fact that a business needs to make money. However this temple does not charge. They simply accept what donations you can give but they also never ask. For months I went there with a friend, learning Buddhism every Sunday, and practicing mediation's for hours on end. At no point did they charge. I would have kept it up but later on found out that my path was elsewhere. I will always be grateful for what I learned at Atlantic Chan Buddhist Association. They were very kind, welcoming and were everything my friend and I expected and hoped to find in a Buddhist temple.

I was a bit hesitant the first time I attended services even though I had read quite a bit about…read moreBuddhism. If you're debating attending, fear not: members are very welcoming. Expect a lot of sitting and staring at walls in a spartan environment with some breaks for walking meditation. After that there is chanting followed by a rotating educational session. Some weeks it's dharma discussion (where you learn more about the Buddha's teachings), others it's protocol training (learning the hows and wherefors of zen practice) and sometimes it just wraps up after the chanting.. There is not cost to attend but donations are welcome. Regular Sunday services are held at the Dalhousie Mulitfaith Centre. The first Sunday of the month has a newcomers session beginning at 10:30 a.m. but you'd be welcome any week.

The Shambhala Center is a great spot for anyone looking to explore and expand upon their spiritual…read moreside. The Center offers educational programs, a sense of community and welcoming approach to anyone curious enough to visit. Many of the people working here are volunteers with a lifestyle to genuinely parallel with the Center's offerings. Courses, workshops, lectures and retreats on different elements of Buddhism and spirituality are offered, and its always approached with an open mind-- there is no force-feeding of beliefs here. East meets West-- our culture continues to integrate traditional Eastern techniques into the daily routine. Shambala is simply a platform to further delve into such curiosities. Besides a common ground for Halifax's Buddhist community, the center welcomes all walks of life. Its very open minded. Try the free meditation class on Wednesday. Or check out their website for upcoming seminars and workshops. The Shambhala Center allows for new explorations and an open platform for spiritual inquires.