Cultivation, Education & Spiritual Care
Three ways the temple serves the community — through Dharma practice, lifelong learning, and compassionate care. Select a section below, or jump straight to one from the Service menu above.
Cultivation
Meeting in the Dharma
A Dharma service is a gathering that usually consists of religious ritual and activities such as Buddhist chanting, Dharma talks, and offerings.
These gatherings aim to deepen practitioners’ connection to Buddhist teachings and to receive blessings from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas through sincere chanting and prayer. The Dharma talk is essential to each gathering — the goal is to enhance every devotee’s confidence and joy in the Buddha Dharma.
Regular & Annual
Regular Dharma Services
Held weekly on Sunday mornings, designed to be accessible for modern practitioners seeking a consistent rhythm of practice.
Learn more →Annual Dharma Services
Special observances held throughout the year, marking significant dates in the Buddhist and lunar calendars.
Learn more →New to Dharma Services?
Everyone is welcome, regardless of background or experience. Reach out and we’ll help you find your first visit.
Contact the Temple
Education
Something for Every Stage of Life
English-language instruction welcomes learners of all cultural and religious backgrounds.
Humanistic Buddhism Courses
Introducing Buddhist philosophy and practice to diverse learners, offered in Mississauga and Markham.
Learn more →Dharma Classes for Children & Youth
Spiritual education designed specifically for younger participants.
Learn more →FGS Toronto Chinese School
Cultural and language instruction rooted in Chinese heritage.
Learn more →Senior Classes
Programs tailored to the interests and pace of older community members.
Learn more →Humanistic Buddhism Reading Association
A study group focused on Buddhist texts and teachings.
Learn more →Library Services
The Fo Guang Shan Library of Toronto maintains an online database for research and learning.
Learn more →Institute for Humanistic Buddhist Thought & Practice
Deeper scholarly exploration of Buddhist thought, alongside Fo Guang HuB, which offers broader resources across North America.
Curious which program fits you or your family? The temple office is happy to help you find the right starting point.
Ask the Temple Office.avif)
Spiritual Care
Buddha’s Light Spiritual Care
Founded in late 2020, the temple’s Spiritual Care Group offers compassionate, non-denominational support for anyone facing life’s harder passages — regardless of faith or cultural background.
A team of trained counsellors, coordinators, and volunteers provides one-on-one spiritual and psychotherapeutic counselling, support for stress, anxiety, and depression, and guidance through grief, loss, and end-of-life transitions. The group also runs peer support programs and visits residents in long-term care homes, hospitals, hospices, and correctional facilities, extending care to people who may not be able to come to the temple themselves.
Four Ways We Show Up
One-on-One Counselling
Individual spiritual and psychotherapeutic support for stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and loss.
End-of-Life & Palliative Support
Compassionate accompaniment through life’s final chapter, for patients and their families alike.
Outreach Visits
Regular visits to long-term care homes, hospitals, hospices, and correctional facilities.
Peer Support
Group programs that let people facing similar challenges support and accompany one another.
Reach the Spiritual Care Team
All services are offered free of charge. The team can be reached directly at spiritualcare@fgs.ca or (905) 814-0465.
Email Spiritual Care