Pasadena Buddhist Temple

The Pasadena Buddhist Temple welcomes everyone and anyone who would like to learn more about the Buddha's message of compassion, inclusion and being caring and mindful of others.

Please join us for a class or service.

Welcome to the Pasadena Buddhist Temple

Shinran Shonin, Founder of Jodo Shinshu

We are a Sangha (community) for those seeking to learn and follow the Dharma (teachings) of the Buddha. The Pasadena Buddhist Temple belongs to the Jodo Shinshu tradition of Buddhism. Shin Buddhism offers a path through the chaos of our lives and the world that embraces all and forsakes none. 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 (Sakai Hall), 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.
Rev. Gregory Gibbs has been our resident minister since January 1, 2014. The Temple is located at 1993 Glen Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103. Temple Phone: (626) 798-4781

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursdays from 9am-5pm.
Sensei can be reached on his cell phone outside of office hours if needed.

Glimpse of our Sangha....at work and at play...

Rev. and Mrs. Okada came for our Ohigan Service. They have been living in WLA after losing their home in the recent fire. It was great to see them!

Quick Calendar

MARCH
16......Spring Ohigan Service @ 10am and live-stream: https://youtube.com/live/cu5EI4htk9A
23......Family Service @ 10am
30..... Family Service @ 10am
APRIL
2........PBT Board Mtg (ZOOM) @ 7pm
6........Monthly Memorial Service @ 10am
13......Family Service @ 10am
20......HANAMATSURI SERVICE @ 10am
Rev. Torii, San Fernando HHBT
27......Family Service @ 10am

Donations

Let there be Hope

Temple member, Cliff Nakatani, was visiting family in Hawaii when his house was consumed by flames in Altadena. He recently returned with his daughter to see where his house once stood. Amongst the destruction he found this statue of the Buddha.

BCA Dharma Talk Links

These are links to the other temples in BCA that have streaming or recorded services or dharma messages. Available 24/7 hear talks from all temples in BCA.

BCA Dharma Links

Buddhist Online Events

Click on event to view upcoming BCA, CBE (Center for Buddhist Education), IBS (Institute of Buddhist Studies) and other BCA temple seminars, lectures, special events and service flyers and register for free.

Seminars, Conferences, Services

Study Buddhism Online EVERYDAY BUDDHIST
Learn more about Shin Buddhist fundamentals, thought and practice; and how they apply to your everyday life. Our Buddhist Course Pathway is 40+ courses taught by certified Buddhist Ministers, curated for step-by-step learning. Designed for new seekers or long-term practitioners maintaining a beginner’s mind. Everyday Buddhist offers a Guest Speaker Series and a free weekly Blog.

Visit EVERYDAY BUDDHIST for more details. Every time a Sangha member or temple friend subscribes, our temple receives a donation from Everyday Buddhist.

Eaton Fire Sangha Support Fund

Update Feb. 22: Thank you for your support! We are closing our GiveButter.com dedicated online Eaton Fire Sangha Support Fund. Words cannot express our deep gratitude for your generosity that has exceeded our goals and expectations. The funds will continue to be distributed among our Sangha survivors. The scope of the destruction and disruption to not only their homes but their lives and livelihood has become a harsh reality after a month long wait and searching.
We will continue to provide support, protection and encouragement to our Sangha and those in our neighborhood. Donations can continue to be made to the fund by check/cash mailed to our Temple. Please designate that your donation is to go to the Eaton Sangha Support Fund. Unfortunately, our Temple is in need of remediation and repair. The scope and cost of all the work on the Temple buildings and parsonage are far greater than expected. Due to the damage, we have lost rental income and have had to cancel our spring fundraiser. We have found that we must consider a new campaign and funding that will cover what is not covered by insurance or FEMA. Please be on the lookout for the launch of this new fundraiser on our website and social media. Please also support the BCA Southern California Wildfire Relief Fund.
Update Feb. 1: Thank you! We have reached $34,000, exceeding our goal of $20,000. We will keep the fund open until at least Feb. 14. The number of Sangha members impacted by the fire continue to grow. Your support is greatly appreciated.

We have started the PBT Eaton Sangha Support Fund to provide emergency assistance to members who have suffered losses due to the fire. This is a short-term fund drive with an end date of February 14, 2025 for fund-raising and distribution of funds. This fund is primarily to help people.

We have begun the process of having damage to the temple evaluated for remediation and repair. If we find that repairs to the temple are more extensive than appears, we will launch a second fund-raiser. Use the button below to make a donation. Instructions for sending a check donation is detailed there too. Namo Amida Butsu!

PBT Heroes
Elliot Sloane & Michael Murray

The PBT has 2-Neighborhood heroes! Elliot Sloane and his brother-in-law Michael Murray. Elliot and his wife Jessica live on Mentone, their backyard fence is also the Temple's west fence. On that first day, Elliot and Michael noticed that there was smoke rising from the Temple grounds. So they ran to hop the fence, grabbed hoses and started wetting the hot spots that had started from the fire on Montana. When Lori and Alan came by that day to open the parking lot gates, they found them on the roof of the hondo, wetting down the roof.
We know that without their selfless efforts our Temple would have also been burned. Their home was also threatened, but they came to help us! Last week we dropped off bentos, but Elliot or Michael were not home. Today we went to thank them in person to thank them and present them with gifts from the Temple and sangha members that also wanted to offer them a reward.
We are soooo grateful!
Gassho, Lori and Jeannie

L-R: Rev Gibbs, Lori Hatakeyama, Jessica and Elliot Sloane, and Jeannie Toshima.

Bruin Parent - Scott Yoshikawa

Scott, single-handly wet mopped the gym floors. And with Ron's help, they took the top layer of dust/ash from all the countertops in the gym kitchen. Scott said that "...he needed to do something..." and got the Temple's permission to clean. We truly appreciate his efforts, the gym is much less dusty now.
Gassho,
PBT Board
PS Scott did not want us to take a frontal photo of him....So here he is at work.

Eaton Fire Update

Eaton Fire Info
PBT sends out our heartfelt thought to our Sangha members and neighbors that lost their homes in the horrific fire that came through Altadena. Our beautiful Temple is OK, just a little bit scorched. Our Temple was fortunate to have wonderful neighbors that noticed that there was smoke rising from the Hondo and climbed the fence to dowse the hondo roof and garden area. We had parts of the building that had been burned but the damage was minimal, thanks to our neighbors who saw the smoke rising from the grounds and then jumped the fence to put the fire out.
The Temple is in a restricted area, but we now can use the water to clean-up. There is no gas service, so we are not able to cook.
The Bruins will be helping get the gym professionally cleaned. We appreciate all the efforts of the Pasadena Bruin Organization.
View the Eaton Fire Info page for more information.

January 9. SOGs, Rev. Gibbs and Lori Hatakeyama return to check on temple. photo credit: Kyoko Gibbs