A Comprehensive History of CBMV
It would be worthwhile to precisely note here how the untiring step towards organizing the Calgary Buddhist Maha Vihara (CBMV) in the City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada surfaced its emergence, lest it would never be enshrined elsewhere in record.
It was under untold tragic circumstances faced by the admired spiritual leader, Bhikku – Venerable Werapitiye Somananda Thera, who served this community for over 14 long years, that the grateful Calgary families gathered round him in steady and determined conglomeration in mid 2018, averting the possibility of losing the incumbent Bhikku’s selfless services, especially to the younger generation that was being fine-tuned on Theravada Buddhist Teaching, traditions and culture, among a host of religious activities.
A simple building was rented out and a temporary Monks’ Residence was organized overnight at a convenient location at Temple Road, North East of Calgary. Canada’s Sangha Nayake Elect, Dr. Dedunupitiye Upananda Thera was also present to help the valuable inauguration, which we wish to note here with gratitude.
Meanwhile, Venerable Udadumbara Lankananda Thera, a popular and distinguished proponent of the Dhamma from Sri Lanka’s most celebrated Maharagama, Sri Vaijragnana Dharmaayathanaya visited us, in order to extend his unstinted assistance to his colleague of ordainment – Venerable Somananda Thera. The daily religious activities took off the ground promptly, but soon found that this temporary aboard could not accommodate the influx of devotees on a prolonged basis of observance practices and to organize the much longed for Sunday Dhamma School for children.
In the circumstances the Monks’ Residence and place of religious observances was registered officially as Calgary Buddhist Maha Vihara (CBMV) and the young, persevering and prudent organizers formulated into a formal Executive Committee and continued to shoulder the various tasks entailed. A larger building was rented out at the 64th Street in the same vicinity of Calgary North East, where the Temple and Monks’ Residence operates with effect from 28th day of October, 2018.