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White Lotus Center
4105 Turnagain
Blvd. East
Suite G-2
Anchorage, AK 99517
U.S.A.
Phone: (907)
334-9984
E-mail:
whitelotus@akshin.net |
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The White Lotus Center for Shin
Buddhism, established in Anchorage in June 1998, is primarily dedicated
to the study, practice and spreading of the teachings of Shinran Shonin
(1173-1262), founder of the Japanese Pure Land school known as Jodo
Shinshu (True Essence of the Pure Land School). Although mainly Shin
Buddhist in focus, the Center is open to Buddhists of all denominations
and persons interested in Buddhism.
Resident Priests
 Rev.
Yuho B. Van Parijs, resident priest of the White Lotus Center, was born
in Antwerp, Belgium. He was ordained as a Buddhist Priest of the Jodo
Shinshu Hongwanji-ha (Japanese Pure Land Buddhism) in Kyoto, Japan in
October 1994. He continues to serve as the Assistant Priest to Rev. Shitoku A.
Peel, Jikoji-Temple, Antwerp, Belgium. Rev. Van Parijs taught Buddhism
and Buddhist Literature in the BA-levels at the Faculty of Comparative
Study of Religions, Antwerp, Belgium. He holds a Master Degree in
Comparative Religion. Yuho has traveled extensively in the Far East and
has given public lectures world-wide.
Temple Coordinator/Resident
Priest
Jishin (Diane) Johnson-Van Parijs,
born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has made her home here in Anchorage
over the past 20 years. She is the Co-Founder and Coordinator of
the White Lotus Center for Shin Buddhism. She was ordained
as a Buddhist Priest of the Jodo
Shinshu Hongwanji-ha (Japanese Pure Land Buddhism) in Kyoto,
Japan in October 2003. Jishin, as a practicing Buddhist, wife,
mother and grandmother, has been focusing on the “hands-on” approach
of Buddhist living. Jishin works full time as a Hospice Chaplain
with Denali Home Health & Hospice
and is currently enrolled in an extended unit of CPE
(Clinical Pastoral Education) at Providence Medical Center.
She coordinated the First Alaskan Buddhist Conference and continues
to host Tricycle's "Change Your
Mind Day" each June. Jishin became the first Buddhist representative
on the Interfaith Council of Anchorage, currently serves on the
Governor's Council on
Faith Based and Community Initiatives and is the Board Vice
President of the Northwest Dharma Association.
In December 2003, she opened the first Dharma School for Children
in Anchorage, Alaska and began creating a Buddhist Alphabet Book
for Children and those young at heart.
Reference Library
The White Lotus Center has a
Buddhist Reference Library. The library - which at present contains 500+
titles on Buddhist topics - is open after services on Tuesday’s and
Sunday’s or by appointment. Please feel free to call the Center house to
set up a time to visit the library.
Services
Regular Shin services are held on
Sunday mornings at 11am. These services consist of three parts. To begin
with there will be a short preparatory period of quiet sitting. This
will be followed by the actual service which begins with the taking of
the Triple Refuge, the Refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma (Teaching) and
the Sangha (Community), after which a Buddhist text is recited. Each
week a different text from the Jodo Shinshu Liturgy will be recited. The
service will be concluded by the six fold reciting of Nembutsu and the
chanting of Eko (merit transference). A short Dharma talk follows in
which aspects of the Teaching are clarified. Tea and coffee will be
served afterwards during which there will be opportunity for questions
and /or discussion. The entire service lasts between 45-60 minutes
(depending on the text that is chanted).
Permanence
Permanence at the Temple is when
the Priest is “on-call” and is available for visitors. You may
also schedule a private meeting with Rev. Yuho or Rev. Jishin by calling ahead to make
an appointment.
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