Resouces for Further Inquiry: Research Center

Buddhist Churches of America


http://buddhistchurchesofamerica.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=30

The Buddhist Churches of America is America’s branch of a type of Buddhism called Honpa Hongan-ji more popularly known as Shin Buddhism. They are located in San Francisco, California. The Buddhist Churches of America is the oldest Buddhist organization in the United States. It began with Japanese immigrants coming to America in the late 1800s. Shin Buddhist saw the lack of religious practice in the United States and requested priest from Japan to come and establish a temple. In the beginning this organization was responsible only for Japanese-Americans Buddhist practice, weddings and funerals but the modern Buddhist Churches of America a massive organization with over 50 temples and churches around the country. Most of their priests are educated at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley, California. Buddhist Churches of America, being the first Buddhist center in America had to go through many hardships to survive and grow throughout the years. World War II was devastating to the Shin Buddhism effort and people. Many people were forced to destroy their religious items and were afraid to practice Buddhism throughout the years of the war. At the time Buddhism was not recognized as a religion and even those Japanese-Americans fighting in the war were not allowed to have a military chaplain. They are currently the only organization that can send Buddhist chaplains to the U.S. Armed Forces. The Buddhist Churches of America is the foundation of Buddhism in America and is the most significant center in American Buddhism today.