◈ Homepage — http://www.pabt.org/Skip to Main Content PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Organizations Learn Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide Home About Organizations Learn Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate More WELCOME TO THE PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE LIVING A LIFE OF GRATITUDE Everyone is welcome at our temple. We hope you’ll enjoy learning, living, and experiencing the teachings of the Buddha together with our members to make compassion, kindness, and selflessness a bigger part of all our lives. LIVE A HAPPIER MORE FULFILLING LIFE Learn to awaken your inner potential by embracing the Dharma.  Shin Buddhists find meaning, fulfillment and insight in the joys and sorrows of everyday life.  To accept things just as they are.   Our resident minister, Revered Dean Koyama leads us in our discovery to living a Dharma-centered life, supported by the community of our Sangha. EXPERIENCE THE DHARMA THROUGH ACTIVITIES We offer several groups and activities for our community to practice and experience the Dharma together: Dharma School (K-12) Junior YBA Medaka no Gakko (summer, K-8) Buddhist Study Group  Book Club Taiko (dharma school & adult) Bonsai Club  Senior Luncheons & Outings (Yuwakai) Aikido Basketball Pickleball Judo Kendo Choir Ukelele WE ARE ONE SANGHA. A COMMUNITY EMBRACED BY ALL Dharma School teaches our children to live a life of compassion and selflessness (vs. selfishness), to be kind to others and to respect all beings, even those weaker than ourselves. You will find that regardless of age or race, the spirit of our temple can be felt throughout our Sangha (our members). We embody the Buddha Dharma in everything we do, from our services to fundraising events, to the volunteer and outreach work we do. CELEBRATE, REMEMBER AND SHARE TOGETHER The annual Obon Festival is our largest event of the year!   Our temple comes together to celebrate the memory of loved ones lost, by hosting a festival offering a variety of foods, baked goods, cultural experiences, crafts, raffle, and traditional (Bon) dancing .  Hundreds of friends, family and neighbors join us during the first weekend of August 🪭 If you have a talent for baking, cooking, dancing, or simply enjoy Japanese culture, come join be a part of our summer fun! RESOURCES MESSAGE FROM OUR REVEREND View LEARNING MORE ABOUT BUDDHISM View VISITING OUR TEMPLE FOR THE FIRST TIME View Donations to the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple Donate Submit CONTACT PABT "May all beings be happy and well, may no harm or difficulty come to them, may they live in peace and harmony" Loving Kindness Meditation ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com ◈ Interior Pages — 19 pages crawled--> Our Ministers | Palo alto buddhist temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. REVEREND DEAN  KOYAMA Resident Minister Reverend Dean Koyama has been the resident minister at the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple since June 2013. ​ Before Palo Alto he served as resident minister for the Mountain View Buddhist Temple (2003-2013), resident minister at the Tacoma Buddhist Temple (1996-2002), and associate minister at the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple (1989-1996).​ A native Californian, Reverend Koyama was born and raised in Sacramento. He studied Biology at Sacramento City College and later received a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of California, Davis. ​ After working as a pharmacy technician at Mercy General Hospital, Reverend Koyama, began attending the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS) in Berkeley, California. In 1985 he earned a Master of Arts degree in Buddhist Studies from the IBS and subsequently earned another Masters Degree from Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan. The years of studying culminated in his entry into the ministry in 1989.​​   In the past, Reverend Koyama enjoyed jogging, playing volleyball, and cycling in his free time. But due to "old age" and bad knees, he now limits his physical activities to walking his Jack Russell Terrier mix, Niko. In addition, Reverend Koyama continues to practice Aikido, which he has done for almost 50 years and holds a 5th degree black belt.  When he turned 60 and started his second childhood (Kanreki) he decided to learn some things before it was too late.  He started to learn how to play the shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) and has taken up golf.​ Reverend Dean is married to his wife, Linda and they have three sons who live nearby in California. Minister's Assistants Rev. Landon Yamaoka Rev. Igor Maksayuk Rev Sydney Shiroyama Carl Yanari ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Resources | Palo alto buddhist temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Contact PABT | Palo alto buddhist temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Contact PABT Email:  pabt [email protected] ​ Phone Number:  ( 650) 856-0123   Address:  Palo Alto Buddhist Temple  2751 Louis Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 First name * Last name * Email * Message * Submit ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> SanghaGuide | PABT --> Learn | Palo alto buddhist temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. BUDDHIST EDUCATION BASICS of BUDDHISM Read more about the core teachings of Buddhism and your journey to enlightenment Learn More BASICS OF BUDDHISM SHIN BUDDHISM Shin Buddhism is the largest sect of Buddhism in Japan - learn more about how we see the teachings in our everyday lives Learn More BUDDHISM IN YOUR LIFE Learn more about applying the Dharm to your everyday life, living with more awareness and gratitude Learn More FAQ Answers to common questions about Shin Buddhism including meditation and Buddhist views on other religions Learn More ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> FAQ | Palo alto buddhist temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Resources at PABT Everyday Buddist Classes - For those interested in learning more, here is a catalog of interesting classes -  Link to Catalog   ​ ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Basics of Buddhism | Palo alto buddhist temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. BASICS OF BUDDHISM An Introduction WHAT IS BUDDHISM? BUDDHISM describes the teachings of the historical Buddha that have been handed down and transmitted throughout the Asian continent and around the world during these past 2,500 years.    Buddhism also means the path to becoming awakened. The source of our suffering and unhappiness in Buddhism is our ego self. We have no one to blame but ourselves whether we live in happiness or misery. Seeing and recognizing the ego self as the cause of our suffering is the beginning of the journey beyond the ego self, to the world of oneness and awakening. WHAT MAKES YOU A BUDDHIST? A BUDDHIST is a traveler on the path to "become" Buddha, an awakened person, and transcend samsara, our world of suffering and ignorance. Buddhism teaches us that until we become awakened, we are like a person lost in the forest, wandering about in delusion. When we pause to search for meaning in our life, or when we find that our life lacks direction, then we are beginning to see that we are lost in delusion.    Realizing that we are lost is the first step to finding real direction in our life. THE CORE OF THE BUDDHA'S TEACHINGS Resolving life's problems to live a truly happy life Buddhism challenges us to reflect on our life and look at how we are pursue happiness, and how we deal with our problems in life. The Buddhist approach is not to run away or escape from our problems, but to embrace the totality of our life experiences.   By facing and accepting the challenges of life, we learn how to see life from beyond our self-centered perspective. This change in perspective frees us from many self-created problems, allowing us to live a truly happy and meaningful life. THE THREE MARKS OF BUDDHISM NON-SELF When the Buddha awakened to enlightenment under the bodhi tree, he saw beyond his ego self, which melted in oneness with all of life, with all beings, with the entire world around him. IMPERMANENCE The Buddha taught that all things are constantly changing. This is a simple truth to understand intellectually, but much harder to understand emotionally or spiritually. Impermanence means that we have to let our children grow up and go off to college. Impermanence means we have to accept the loss of a loved one. Impermanence also means that our state of suffering won’t last forever. When we find ourselves in darkness, there are brighter days ahead. NIRVANA The Buddha’s awakening experience opened his heart and mind to a state of true peace and tranquility, referred to as nirvana. The Mahayana Buddhist tradition sees ultimate oneness between nirvana and this world of samsara. Samsara is nirvana and nirvana is samsara. Nirvana is not a geographic state somewhere “out there,” but is the world around us, if we have the awakened eyes to see it, or the heart and mind to sense it. THE THREE TREASURES Fundamental to all schools of Buddhism is to take refuge in the Three Treasures. Buddha: our teacher Dharma: the Buddha’s teachings Sangha: the community of Buddhists The Vietnamese Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh teaches that these three treasures are interdependent and cannot exist without each other. The Buddha needs the Sangha to be the Buddha. Without the Dharma to transmit, there is no Buddha or Sangha. Without the Buddha as teacher and guide, a Sangha cannot truly exist and practice. Without the Buddha to expound the teachings, and a Sangha to hear and receive them, there is no Dharma. ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Services | Palo Alto Buddhist Temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Services Services @ PABT We warmly invite you to join us for our weekly Sunday services at 10:00 AM. Our services are held year-round, with a short break during the month of August. If you’re visiting for the first time, we encourage you to introduce yourself to our greeter or one of our minister assistants—they’ll be happy to help guide you and share what to expect during the service.   The Palo Alto Buddhist Temple has been a part of the community for over 110 years, with the past 70 years at our current location on Louis Road. We are a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist temple, a tradition that began in Japan over 800 years ago and is deeply rooted in the teachings of the historical Buddha from over 2,600 years ago.   If you have any questions about our services or the temple, please feel free to reach out to Carl Yanari at [email protected]. We look forward to welcoming you!   We also post our services  on Youtube which you can review below.     Thank you for your interest, Carl Yanari 2026 PABT President Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Play Video Play Video 19:38 Palo Alto Buddhist Temple PABT Dharma Talk by Carl Yanari 10 May 2026 Dharma Message by Carl Yanari from the 10 May 2026 Sunday Service. In his talk Carl talks about the Joso Shinshu concept of Sesshu Fusha, embraced and never abandoned. Amida's boundless compassion reaches out to us and never leaves us. Play Video Play Video 35:13 Palo Alto Buddhist Temple PABT Dharma Talk by Joanne Gozawa 03 may 2026 Dharma message by Joanne Gozawa from the 03 May 2026 Sunday Service. In her talk, Joanne talks about the intersection between the AI world and Buddhism. Play Video Play Video 23:57 Palo Alto Buddhist Temple PABT Dharma Talk by Rev Sydney Shiroyama 26 Apr 2026 Dharma message by Rev Sydney Shiroyama from the 26 Apr 2026 Sunday Service. In her message, Rev Sydney talks about how values emphasized by growing up in the Silicon Valley differ from those found in Jodo Shinshu teachings. Load More ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Shin Buddhism | Palo alto buddhist temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. SHIN BUDDHISM INTRODUCTION Shin Buddhism is a family-friendly path that all ages can participate in together. Shin is the largest tradition of Buddhism in Japan and has been in America for over 120 years. THE HEART OF SHIN BUDDHISM Shin Buddhism is a path of deep self-reflection and introspection through listening. Seeing the teachings in our everyday life, we are led to a life of gratitude and appreciation for all that sustains our life, nurtures our life, and enhances our life. Central to Shin Buddhism is the recitation of “Namu amida butsu,” which literally means, “I bow my head to the truth of enlightenment, wisdom and compassion.” The Shin Buddhist path is a life of listening, reciting, and coming to see Namu amida butsu as a deep and profound truth, and not just a word or recitation. HEARING THE DHARMA IN OUR LIFE Listening can mean listening to Dharma talks at the temple, but it can also mean reading and discussing the teachings, and listening to others. By listening, we come to see the teachings in our everyday life, all around us. Anyone and anything can be a teacher to us, if we have the heart and mind to listen, to learn, and to receive. NAMU AMIDA BUTSU Namu literally means to “bow one’s head," and comes from the Indian word Namas. What are we bowing to when we say “Namu amida butsu?” We are bowing to Amida Buddha.    Amida Buddha is not a being, a deity, or a historical person. Amida Buddha is a symbol of the contents of enlightenment, great wisdom and great compassion. We bow our head to the truth of enlightenment, saying “Namu amida butsu,” and we come to receive that truth of wisdom and compassion into our hearts and minds. ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Buddhism in Your Life | Palo alto buddhist temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. BUDDHISM IN YOUR LIFE Following the path of Buddhism is simply living our life in awareness. There is no Buddhism apart from our life, nor is there life apart from Buddhism. Our everyday life, our joys and sorrows, our success and failures, our losses and gains, the totality of our life is Buddhism. We find meaning even in failure, even in disappointment. Our everyday life experience is the vehicle to reflect on and deepen our spirituality. LIFE OF GRATITUDE Modern psychology is finding that grateful people are actually happier people. This is something that Shin Buddhism has taught for centuries. Countless Buddhists have lived very modest lives, yet had profound gratitude for the teachings, for simple things like a home, a job, food on the table, friends and family, and above all, for life itself. Because of our ignorance or delusion, our un-awakened life, we fail to appreciate or be grateful for all that life gives us. This is why we need the Shin Buddhist teachings. This is why we need the Dharma in our life, so that we might awaken to all that we have received, are receiving, and will continue to receive from this thing called life. LIFE AND DEATH Of all of the problems that we face in life, the matter of our mortality is the most challenging. Some religions teach an everlasting life after death. Shin Buddhism aims to awaken us to the timeless in the here and now, to transcend life and death and awaken to our true essence. Our journey is like a wave in the ocean that awakens to its essence as water and no longer fears hitting the shore. HUMILITY In Shin Buddhism, listening to the teachings makes us humble. But we cannot “strive” to become humble. It is not like earning your black belt in Karate. If you feel like you are making progress, you might think, “Wow, I’m becoming really humble,” but you are actually becoming more arrogant.  A truly humble person is someone who sees their ego self. Becoming humble and seeing the ego self are two sides of the same coin that occur simultaneously. An arrogant person is weak, like a stiff oak tree that snaps in a strong wind. A humble person is strong, like a bamboo or willow tree bending in the wind.  MINDFULNESS Mindfulness originated from the Buddha’s enlightenment and earliest teachings over 2,500 years ago. Mindfulness has become popular in recent times, a positive sign that the Buddha’s teachings are reaching our society and culture. As people seek out the origins of today's mindfulness practices, Buddhism can deepen our understanding. Mindfulness has long been central to Shin Buddhism. The Chinese character 念 Nem (or Nen ) means “to think on, to contemplate on.” The character 仏 Butsu means Buddha. Nembutsu 念仏, or “Mindfulness on the Buddha,” means that one reflects on the “contents” of Buddha, which is great wisdom and great compassion.  ENGAGED BUDDHISM Our society and world faces many issues and challenges. Problems abound. Suffering abounds. The Buddha teaches us that all beings are ultimately equal, but how does a Buddhist live in a world of suffering, injustice, conflicts, and crisis? We cannot turn our eyes away from the many issues of our society and the world. However, the way a Buddhist works to eliminate social inequality is important.  First, we have to be grounded in the Dharma, in the teachings, or else our solution for a social issue or problem will be based on ego-centered ignorance. “I’m right, you’re wrong” thinking only adds fuel to the fire. Based on our understanding of the teachings, a Buddhist moves out into the world and takes on various challenges in our own unique manner, often quietly and in an unassuming way. ECOSANGHA From a Buddhist perspective, humans do not rule over the world of other beings. We are one being, one species, among millions. We must first see ourselves in our proper perspective, dependent on the lives of innumerable sentient beings who sustain our lives every day. We must see our interconnected oneness with all of life and live with a sense of gratitude.  BCA's EcoSangha movement increases awareness of the profound implications of our actions on future generations and promotes ecologically-friendly behavior in our communities. RELATIONSHIPS Our relationships in life are the source of our great joy and also the source of our great suffering. How do we understand our relationships with others? How do we live and work with others, even those with whom we have great difficulty? How do we cope when we lose those dearest to us? Shin Buddhism is a path for the everyday person who experiences both joy and anguish in their human relationships. Shin teachings guide us through our regular lives, as difficult as they may be at times. SELF-ESTEEM AND TRUE SELF Buddhism addresses the issue of the self, challenging our notion of the self, who we are and what we are. Low self-esteem or having too high a view of oneself are both issues of the ego at their core. Whether we avoid situations or beat our chests to deal with people or circumstances, our ego can make us feel as if the whole world is against us when life doesn’t go as we want it to. Applying a Buddhist perspective to our life, we come to see our ego self that is the source of all of our problems and frustrations, and the true self that enables us to live our most meaningful and fulfilled life. BUDDHISM IN THE WORKPLACE We spend the greatest portion of our adult lives in the workplace. Can Buddhism help me in my work life? We don’t seek the path just for materialistic goals of making more money or having a successful business, but that also doesn’t mean being a Buddhist is detrimental to success in life. On the contrary, it might be that a humble person, a sincere person, a person who is a good listener, is really valued by a company or business. For person who knows themselves deeply, spiritually, in a Buddhist sense, their happiness does not depend on success or prosperity in their work life. ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Dharma School | Palo alto buddhist temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. DHARMA SCHOOL Our Dharma school strives to enrich our K-12 children with Buddhistic values: compassion, kindness to others, selflessness instead of selfishness, respect all beings, and to be responsible for oneself and not blame others. WEEKLY MEETINGS We meet after service every Sunday and welcome your children to join us.  Our Dharma School consists of 70 students, grades pre-kindergarten through high school. ​ The Dharma School mission is to develop our Temple youth, using understanding and appreciation of the Buddha, the Teachings of the Buddha (Dharma), and the build community with our Temple Sangha.   Our goal is to create curriculum and lessons that engage our students to incorporate the Dharma in their daily activities. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Our Dharma School year runs from September through June, but we are always VERY pleased to welcome new families to our Temple and Dharma School at any time of the year. If you are interested in joining our PABT Dharma School, please download  Registration Information Flyer . Already registered? We will welcome students and parents to Dharma School 2024-2025 in September! Please read the welcome letter and calendar of events.  Dharma School Welcome Letter ​ ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Buddhist Women's Association | Palo alto buddhist temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Buddhist Women's Association (BWA) PABT BWA lives the Buddha Dharma through its Dana which supports such worthy projects as the Institute for Buddhist Studies’ Ministerial Student Scholarship Fund, the Center for Buddhist Education, and the Federation of Dharma School Teachers’ League.  They also sponsor Dharma lectures, conferences, and other enjoyable social activities for all temple members. The BWA plays an important role in the practice and transmission of traditional Buddhist values such as compassion, community, and gratitude for others ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Obon 2026 | PABT top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. ​ Welcome to Palo Alto Buddhist Temple Obon and Bazaar 2026​! ​ ​ Obon is an opportunity for everyone to remember those who have passed before us. It is a time to appreciate all that they have done and to recognize the continued impact of their deeds upon our lives.   Saturday August 1st - 1-8pm Food for sale in the PABT gym - 1-6:00pm Food including Miso Salmon, Teriyaki Chicken Craft beer, sake and wine Homemade desserts (cookies, scones, manju, breads) Crafts booth Games for children (and adults!) Live taiko, music and other entertainment Raffle tickets sold for drawing @ PABT Car Show Bonsai demonstrations and sales Flowers and Plants sales Grandma's Treasures (located in Issei Hall) T Shirts, Hoodies, Hats pre-order pick up and new sales (limited quantities) Bookstore ​ ​ Sunday August 2nd - Open 2-7:30pm Bentos and BBQ for sale 2-5pm Games 2-5:00pm Obon Service at 5pm Odori dancing from 5:30-7:30pm Craft beer, sake and wine for sale ​ GEAR Coming Soon! ​ Pre-Order Pickup at the T Shirt Booth T Shirts (S, M, L, XL) and Hats in limited quantities available! Vintage T Shirts available! ​ Palo Alto Buddhist Temple 2751 Louis Rd, Palo Alto CA ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Facilities Rental | PABT top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. PABT Facilities Rental Helping our Community Thrive PABT's Facilities are for rent by organizations for basketball, volleyball and pickle ball use.  Open times and Rates are available at this link .   ​ We also rent our commercial kitchen, Issei Hall meeting space and classrooms for community events and needs.  Please contact the PABT office ( [email protected] ) for information. ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Organizations | Palo alto buddhist temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE ORGANIZATIONS DHARMA SCHOOL Our organization always appreciates the generosity and involvement of people like you, with every contribution going towards making PABT an even better Non-Profit Organization than it already is. We want to provide you with the correct and appropriate information pertaining to your mode of support, so don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions. BUDDHIST WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION This is one of the simplest ways to help out our cause. We believe the best way for our initiatives to be successful is for the community to actively get involved. This is an easy and efficient way of contributing to the great work we do at PABT. Get in touch with any questions about how you can Volunteer Your Time today. MAKE A DONATION Want to join our efforts but not sure where to start? Make a Donation and take advantage of this incredible opportunity to lend your support. It’s a great way to contribute to our cause, and every little bit counts towards paving the path for a better tomorrow. Get in touch with us today for more details about how you can help. ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Our Board | PABT top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. PABT Board The PABT Temple Board, is a volunteer organization elected by pledge members of the Sangha (congregation), who support the health, growth and business of the temple. Each board member serves a three-year term (one-year for appointees) with fiscal responsibility, collaborate on committees that plan and coordinate events, and make decisions on temple matters. While the board meets (hybrid) on the second Wednesday each month, members of the board are in constant communication with each other, the Sangha and our resident Minister. The board works on behalf of the entire Sangha and depends on your ideas, support and volunteering to realize these ideas. Each year, all pledge members are welcome and encouraged to run for a seat on the board, to help broaden our Sangha outreach and support. ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Donate | PABT top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. How to Donate ​ The Palo Alto Buddhist Temple welcomes your donation!   For your convenience you can either mail us your donation (using the downloadable Donation Form at the bottom) directly to the temple office at: ​     Palo Alto Buddhist Temple     Attn: Office     2751 Louis Road     Palo Alto, CA  94303 ​ …or you may donate online using a major credit or debit card by completing the form to the right and clicking the “Donate w/ Credit Card” button.   Is my donation tax-deductible? Yes, all donations to the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple (“PABT”) are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. ​ Will I receive a receipt? Yes, you will receive an email receipt immediately after your online donation is verified. If you mail in or drop off a donation to the temple office, a hard copy receipt will be mailed to you.   The temple will incur a processing fee for donations made by credit card, but will issue a receipt for the full amount of your donation. If you use a credit card to make your donation, the temple would welcome an additional 4% contribution to cover its processing costs. Alternatively, you may help the temple avoid this processing fee by making your donation in a check (or by cash) to the PABT.   Should you have any questions about donating, such as setting up recurring contributions, please contact the temple office at (650) 856-0123.    Thank you for your kindness! 🙏 ​ Support Our Cause Leave a one-time donation First name Last name Email Honoree name: Please state what this donation is for Enter the amount you wish to pay: $ Donate w/ Credit Card Thank you for your support! If you would like to donate in memory of a loved one or to commemorate a major observance, please print out and com plete the form below, and mail or drop off at: PABT Office  2751 Louis Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303 We thank you for your generosity!🙏 DOWNLOAD ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> Welcome Message | Palo alto buddhist temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. WELCOME MESSAGE We appreciate your interest in the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple. The heart of our temple lies in what we call the Three Treasures: the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. The Buddha, refers to the historical Siddhartha Gautama, who went on to become the Buddha Sakyamuni, after his awakening to the realities and truths of this human life. He then provided a teaching (Dharma) of the Buddha Amida representing the ultimate way in living a life of immeasurable wisdom and unwavering compassion. He shared this Dharma to a community (Sangha) willing to listen and practice. The Palo Alto Buddhist Temple belongs to a sect of Buddhism called Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha or simply, Jodo Shinshu. The founder of this particular sect was  Shinran Shonin (1173–1263) who advocated that all is necessary to attain Enlightenment is the reliance upon the Infinite Wisdom and Compassion, embodied in the act of reciting the Nembutsu (Namo Amida Butsu). This form of Buddhism advocates that you do not need to be a monk to practice. Our mother temple is located in Kyoto, Japan, and our National Headquarters (The Buddhist Churches of America) is located in Berkeley, California. Our temple programs and services are open to all who wish to observe and participate. But in order to maintain these temple activities for the community to enjoy, we rely upon donations and individuals who make annual financial pledges to maintain temple operations. If you feel the temple can be of assistance upon your path, I hope you will consider becoming a member of our community so that we can continue to offer the Three Treasures to others who may be interested. If you would like further details or have questions, please feel free to contact me: 650-856-0123 [email protected] In gratitude, Namo Amida Butsu,   Rev. Dean Koyama Resident Minister Welcome Messsage ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page --> FAQ | Palo alto buddhist temple top of page PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE Log In Home About Welcome Message Our Ministers Our Board Facilities Rental Contact PABT Organizations Dharma School Buddhist Women's Association Learn Basics of Buddhism Shin Buddhism Buddhism in Your Life FAQ Buddhist Studies Resources Services Announcements Obon 2026 Donate Sangha Guide More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. FAQ Answers to common questions about Shin Buddhism HOW WILL BUDDHISM HELP ME IN MY LIFE? Buddhism has many practical applications to our lives. We all want to live a happy life, but Buddhism first challenges how we are pursuing happiness, or what we think is the source of happiness. Our entire approach to happiness is questioned, which can lead to a true sense of happiness and fulfillment through a life of gratitude. There are many other ways in which Buddhism helps us to live a fulfilled life, a meaningful life, a reflective life, and an awakened life. HOW DO BUDDHISTS LOOK AT OTHER RELIGIONS? In Buddhism, we respect other religions and other religious traditions. There are many paths to the top of a mountain, and Buddhism is one path. Once you get to the top of the mountain you can appreciate the other paths that you could have taken to the top. Buddhism does not claim to be the only path or the only true path. HOW IS SHIN BUDDHISM DIFFERENT OR SIMILAR TO OTHER BUDDHIST TRADITIONS? Shin Buddhism was founded in Japan in the 1200’s by a religious teacher named Shinran, who left the monastic tradition and shared Buddhism among the common people. It spread throughout Japan and is one of the largest schools of Japan today. It came to this country in the early 1900’s with early immigrants from Japan. ​ ​ Shin Buddhism is similar to other Buddhist traditions in that all Buddhism comes from the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha. From the original Buddha’s teachings and sermons, compiled into sutras or texts, Buddhism evolved and spread throughout Asia, reaching Japan in the 5th century. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE PURE LAND? The Pure Land is a metaphor for the world of truth or enlightenment in Buddhism. The Pure Land is not a physical place, nor is it a realm like heaven. It represents, symbolizes, the world of enlightenment, which is in contrast to the world of ignorance and delusion, or the unenlightened world. The Pure Land also represents the ideal world that we aspire to live in and to also create as a human being. ​ In Buddhism, we, the unawakened, do not see our life as being in delusion. That is why it is called delusion. It is like being lost somewhere in the forest and not admitting or realizing that you are lost. Once we realize that we are lost or in delusion, we can begin to find the path out of the forest, or out of the world of delusion. DO YOU PRACTICE MEDITATION? While meditation is not a central practice in Shin Buddhism, meditation is being offered at many of our churches and temples. In Shin Buddhism, we do not regard meditation as a practice to attain enlightenment, but we look at it as a way to calm and settle our hearts and minds to be able to listen to and receive the dharma, or the teachings. The sutra chanting in a Shin Buddhist service also has a meditational aspect to it. ©2024 by PABT. Proudly created with Wix.com bottom of page