Since this weekend, Purmerend has gained a piece of sacred ground. The Buddhist temple in the Leeghwaterpark, also known as Wat Buddhavihara Amsterdam, has been canonized during a large ceremony. John Romein goes to the temple as often as his illness allows to pray and do odd jobs as a volunteer. “That is so beautiful, it gives you goosebumps. This has really become my temple.”
John, 69, overcame cancer two and a half years ago and still needs to be ‘clean’ for another two years to qualify for a donor kidney. The Amsterdammer is a kidney dialysis patient and regularly receives blood transfusions. Because of this he could not be at the ceremony of ‘his’ temple. Today he walks through the building in the Purmerend park and feels as if something has changed.
Positive atmosphere
That ‘change’ may have something to do with the fact that the temple was dedicated on Sunday by hundreds of Buddhists from all over Europe. Even today there are still many orange-clad monks who eat and do odd jobs at the temple. John also helps out at the temple, showing a picture he painted. “The atmosphere is better, more positive. Like something happened, a step up in Buddha’s experience,” he explains.
Soul and salvation
A few years ago, John came to a temple in Thailand and there he came into contact with Buddhism, after which he converted. Faith helps him to live with his illness. “Don’t bury your head in the sand and think: it will be over in a few weeks. Unfortunately there are some things I can’t do, but there are also things I can do and I live them with my heart and soul and bliss. And that’s important.”