Temple opens doors

[attach]1695[/attach]For the fifth year in a row, the Junction hosted one of the Doors Open festival’s more colourful attractions.

Riwoche Tibetan Buddhist Temple, on Heintzman Street, is one of 150 buildings across the city that threw open its doors to the public on May 29 and 30 as part of the free annual event. But at Riwoche, Doors Open isn’t just about the space, it’s about opening the doors to a culture.

“For the temple it’s always been a good (opportunity) to engage with members of different communities,” said Kelsang Dolkar, an ethnic Tibetan who’s been one of the hosts in the past.

“This is why I think Doors Open is so fun,” she said. “We have people from all different faiths that come and they always have questions.”

Dolkar pointed out that sacred spaces can often be intimidating to outsiders who fear they might disturb a holy place or do something unintentionally disrespectful. Doors Open offers the perfect chance for the curious to come and dive in, said Dolkar.

Even the monks get in on the fun.

“I like Doors Open,” said Khenpo Pema, one of the temple’s resident monks, through Dolkar’s translation. “We perform music.”

In addition to hourly musical performances played on traditional Tibetan instruments, Doors Open at Riwoche usually features various educational displays, activities, drawing for the kids and an outdoor bazaar offering Buddhist trinkets and snacks.

A major highlight is the series of clay statues located in the shrine. Sculpted and gilded by masters brought to Canada from the Himalayas specifically for the statues’ construction, they are some of the finest examples of Tibetan art in Canada. The shrine features several figures important to the particular stream of Buddhism practised here, but it’s the Buddha himself that most captivates.

“Of all the statues here, the Buddha looks to be the simplest, but Buddha is actually the most complex and difficult statue and painting to do for an artist because the proportions have to be very precise,” said Dolkar.

Though most of the guests at Riwoche for Doors Open are families and casual visitors, prospective members interested in a deeper understanding of Buddhism and meditation sometimes join the temple because of the festival.

“They come in on Doors Open and they feel more comfortable and then they start coming to the temple,” Dolkar said.