Welcome to the Pasadena Buddhist Temple

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 The Pasadena Buddhist Temple belongs to the Jodo Shinshu tradition of Buddhism. Our national organization is the Buddhist Churches of America, headquartered in San Francisco, California. Our temple was established in 1948, and incorporated in 1956. The temple and classrooms were completed in 1958. The annex, which is used by the PJAA Bruins organization to conduct basketball practices, was constructed in 1962. We celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2008. We welcome all to come and learn about the Buddha Dharma.

Reverend Lee Rosenthal is our resident minister. (626)798-4781
Reverend Tetsuo Unno is our Japanese speaking minister.

Family services are held each Sunday. Service begins at 10:00 am and is followed by separate a English speaking Discussion Group and a Japanese language Dharma Talk. Dharma School meets on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month following Sunday Service.  Sangha Teens and Jr. YBA meet monthly.

The Temple is located at 1993 Glen Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103.
Phone: (626) 798-4781
Office Hours: 9am-5pm. Closed Wednesday and Thursday.

2012 Big Pot Drawing Tickets

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Our largest fundraiser for 2011 was the 2011 Monthly drawing. The temple will only sell 400 tickets at $40 each. A ticket will be selected at the monthly board meetings and the monthly winner (from January - November) will win $500! Not only do they get the money, their ticket will be tossed back into the ticket bin and this same ticket can be selected another month! In 2011, we had two people that won twice! In December, the winner will get $2000!
So, contact Gerry Ito or Shelley Shinmoto for your tickets. They are going fast!

Last day for Volume Discount! Dec. 31
New Cookbook! Heritage of Japan, Vol. 3

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Volume 3 of the popular Heritage of Japan, Favorite Recipes Cookbook was published July, 2011. It’s been 30 years since BWA published our last cookbook and we are proud to present our latest edition, filled with over 400 family favorite recipes from all generations of our temple. Book stand included with book.  Order your copy today. A perfect gift for the holidays, birthdays and weddings. Take advantage of our volume discount and save! Regular price is $25 per book, buy 4 and the 5th is free (5 for $100). The volume discount will end Dec. 31, 2011. Pick-up or delivery.
For more information, contact Lynne Ozawa, 818-790-7049
Downloadable Order Form

    Contact Us.

Upcoming Events

January, 2012
  • 1     New Year's Service
  • 8      Shotsuki Hoyo (Monthly Memorial Service) & Dharma School
  • 10    Culinary Class at 7:00 PM CANCELLED
  • 15    Family Service at 10:00 AM
  • 22    Ho-Onko Service at 10:00 AM, Rev Doami, OCBC, guest speaker
  •          General Meeting and New Year's Party
  • 28   Winter Pacific Seminar "A Life of Shinjin" at Nishi Hongwanji
  • 29   Family Service at 10:00 AM

Ho-Onko Service January 22, 2012
"A Gathering to Repay a Kindness"

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Ho-Onkoo, meaning a gathering to express our indebtedness and thankfulness, is a memorial service in honor of Shinran Shonin. It is also an occasion to express our gratitude to Amida Buddha for having awakened us to life's supreme meaning. Ho-Onko is the most important Jodo Shinshu ceremony. At Honzan, our parent temple in Kyoto, Japan, Ho-Onko is a week-long observance from the 9th through the 16th of January.
According to the western calendar, Shinran Shonin was born on May 21, 1173 and died on January 16, 1262. After his death, Shinran's followers would gather in memory of their teacher on the 28th day of each month according to the traditional lunar calendar. Some 33 years later, Kakunyo Shonin, the 3rd Gomonshu, a descendent of Shinran sama and head of the Hongwanji religious organization, established the regulations for this ceremony called Ho-Onko Shiki. Later, the 4th Gomonshu, Zonkaku Shonin, set the observance for once a year. The ceremonies were started on the 21st and concluded on the 28th of the 11th month according to the lunar calendar. In 1872, the Hongwanji-ha (Nishi Hongwanji) changed to the western calendar, setting the date of Shinran sama's death at January 16. The Otani-ha (Higashi Hongwanji) observes Ho-Onko according to the old lunar calendar and has established the date as the 28th of November.
Ho-Onko is one of the principal religious festivals in which one participates in "Hearing the Light" of Amida's Compassionate embrace through listening to Dharma Messages, holding ritual ceremonies, and participating in Sangha Fellowship.

January Culinary Class Cancelled

Repairs on the natural gas line to the Temple are scheduled to be completed in January, but not in time for the culinary class on Jan.10th.  Reluctantly, this class will be cancelled. Please excuse us for this inconvenience. Please join us in February.