Buddhism in Watsonville
True Pure Land Buddhism
Finding Peace of Mind through Buddhism
Basics of Buddhism
The path of Buddhism is toward awakening or realization. The historical Buddha, Sakyamuni Buddha, lived in ancient India over 2,500 years ago. He awakened to the underlying truths of existence: all things are impermanent, we are all interconnected, suffering arises from our denial of these truths, and liberation is to become one with these truths. To practice Buddhism or to be a Buddhist can have different meanings within the traditions across the world.
Jodo Shinshu Buddhism
There are numerous sutras attributed to the Buddha during his lifetime, each of them are ways be which the realm of Enlightenment can be reached. Enlightenment is the emancipation from the illusory world of life and death. For us, the only way we can truly be freed from illusion to attain Enlightenment is the Jodo Shinshu – the True teaching of the Pure Land. As the name indicates, it means the true doctrine for birth in the world of Enlightenment of all, without exception.
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Shinran
Founder of Jodo Shinshu
Shinran Shonin was born on May 21, 1173. At the age of 9 he received ordination and entered the priesthood. He underwent rigorous training and study at Mt. Hiei, the great center of Tendai teaching and disciplines. After 20 years of effort to find the way of Enlightenment he becae disillusioned by the trend of Hiei-san which not only tended to cater to the social and political authorities, but also compromised with traditional folklores and had lost sight of the essential teachings of the Buddha
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Daily Creed of Jodo Shinshu
I take refuge in the Vow of the Buddha; saying his Sacred Name I will live through life with strength and serenity
I adore the Light of the Buddha; I will put my effort in my work with self-reflection and gratitude;
I follow the Teaching of the Dharma; discerning the Right Path, I will spread the True Dharma;
I rejoice in the Compassion of the Buddha; I will respect and help others and do my best for the welfare of all sentient beings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about our Temple.
1
Are your services open to the public?
Absolutely! We welcome anyone interested in Buddhism or anyone who is just curious about our services.
2
What is the dress code for your services?
Dress is casual, we only ask that you remove your hats inside the main hall (hondo).
3
What time do your services start?
Typically our services begin at 10:00 am every Sunday. Please visit the homepage for the latest times for our services.
4
How long do your services last?
Most of our services last for about one hour