Greetings from the Temple President

Welcome to the website for the Buddhist Temple of Salinas.  I hope this website is useful for the temple members and anyone interested in our temple and our activities.  We also have information for those people that are curious about the type of Buddhism that we practice. In 2024, we will mark our 100th year in Salinas, and our history is available on the website.

We practice a form of Buddhism called Pure Land Buddhism, and more specifically, called Shin Buddhism that got its start in Japan in the 1200s. Our practice is firmly rooted in the original teachings of Gautama Buddha, which was transmitted to Japan through China. We are part of a network of temples in the US, called Buddhist Churches of America, with over 60 temples. There is also a separate network of temples in Hawaii, Canada, and South America.  Our head temple is located in Kyoto, Japan, called Nishi Hongwanji. Our sect is the largest in Japan, and it also has the most extensive global reach of any Buddhist sect in the world.

We have links to sites that will provide detailed information on our practice, its rich history, and the benefits.  There are also links to our recorded services on our own YouTube channel.  Please also check out our FaceBook page for the latest sermons, our activities, and topics of interest on Buddhism. Additional links to sermons at other temples and links to Shin Buddhism material at our national headquarter website are also available.

We are now open for services on most Sundays, starting from 10AM. Please check our calendar for details of our schedule. Wearing mask during our service is optional. Once a month during our memorial “Shotsuki” service days, we serve tea and sweets after the service, and it is a good time to get to know more about us and meet people. The services are open to the public.

Updated April 20, 2023

Tom Yamashita

President, Buddhist Temple of Salinas

Photo by Patricia Arrance on Unsplash