Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple

Buddhist Churches of America

Upcoming services and events

01/07 - 10am - Shotsuki Hoyo and Hoonko Service.Dharma Youth Program.
01/14 - 10am - Sunday Service
01/21 - 10am - Sunday Service
01/28 - 10am - Sunday Service
02/11 - 10am - Nirvana Day, Shotsuki Hoyo, Dharma Youth Program, PetMemorial.
02/18 - 10am - Sunday Service
02/25 - 10am - BCA Eitaikyo Service (Virtual)

Donate

Make a one time donation to the Temple using a credit card via PayPal. A PayPal account is only necessary to setup a recurring donation.


Contact

Phone number: +1 (831) 394-0119
Email: montereydec@gmail.com
Address:
1155 Noche Buena Street
Seaside, CA 93955

Social

In Gratitude to Shinran

"....it is evident that the Shonin was a manifestation of Amida Nyorai. Therefore his teaching must be regarded as a direct communication of Amida, which is on one hand to dispel the darkness of the defiled world by means of the pure light of Wisdom, and on the other to give the necessary moisture by sending down the spiritual rain of nectar to us who are ignorant, confused and dying of dryness of heart. So let us in adoration, believe this".
Rennyo Shonin

We might say that our Monterey Peninsula Buddhist temple is a perpetual celebration and observance of the life of Shinran Shonin. Through the life and teachings of Shinran, we all have the opportunity to experience stability and peace of mind now in this life, we have the opportunity to awaken to Truth. In this life, me with all my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual limitations can encounter Infinite and Boundless Life.

This sounds very nice, but as we think about this, who needs stability and peace of mind? Lets see...how many of us use negative language, think impure thoughts, do bad things, hurt other people, talk behind peoples backs? How many of us experience anxiety over the effects of our thoughts,words and actions? How many of us worry that we are not understood? Not loved? If you answer yes to just one of these questions, you need peace of mind.

Shinran called himself a bald, ignorant fool, because he suffered anxieties over this thoughts, words and actions. And for that reason, he desired birth in the Pure Land or peace of mind. He strived for Enlightenment and birth in the Pure Land because when our thoughts are directed toward the Pure Land we become more conscious of this life and ourselves.

This is why listening to the Buddha Dharma is so important and why we recite the Nembutsu. We listen to the Buddha's teaching to cultivate the mind and heart that realizes that everything we do, one step, one smile, one sour look, one thought affects my life and is taking effect on my life and the lives of others. When we understand this Namoamidbutsu comes to our lips.

When we recite Namoamidabutsu it is an expression that something has taken an affect on our life and touches us. It is to express of the realization that despite all our physical and mental limitations we have been already embraced by Infinite and Boundless Life that is Amida Buddha. There is no other expression of gratitude but Namoamidabutsu at that moment. How grateful I am.

Namoamidabutsu,

Rev. Shinseki


Services

Services are usually on Sundays from 10:00AM–11:00AM. Check the Temple calendar for specific dates.

Services are also sometimes available here via live stream on YouTube at the same time as in-person services. Here is a Shin Buddhist Service Book that you can use to follow along with the services.


About

Temple Sangha

The Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple is located in Seaside, California. It is a member of the Buddhist Churches of America, headquartered in San Francisco, California. The temple belongs to Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha school of Buddhism. The mother temple, Ryukoku-zan Hongwanji, is located in Kyoto, Japan.

The Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple is a Safe Zone.

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