Founded in 1914, the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple provides a variety of services with the goal of promoting and spreading the teachings of the Buddha Dharma. Finding its start in the homes of members with a minister traveling from San Francisco, the temple now has a congregation of 290 families from all over the Santa Clara Valley. A member of the Shin Sect of Buddhism, the temple offers Buddha's teachings in weekly services. There are also a variety of smaller organizations within the temple. These organizations include groups for children of any age; high school and college students; adults with young families; and the elderly. There is also the Buddhist Women's Association which is the women's auxiliary of the Buddhist Movement. The Palo Alto Buddhist Temple hosts many events, both religious and cultural. On the first weekend of August the temple holds Obon, their dance festival which is one of the most well known Buddhist celebrations. Throughout the year, however, they also hold a number of special services with religious meaning. In the classrooms that have been added to the temple, there are a wide variety of cultural classes held, teaching everything from ikebana (flower arranging) to Minyo (Japanese singing). This temple also includes a library, in which there are books, video tapes and cassette tapes available on Buddhism. These resources can be borrowed at no cost by contacting the secretary.
Staff, "Obon Festival in Palo Alto", San Jose Mercury News, Saturday, 30 July,1994, Morning Final Edition, Religion and Ethics Sec., p. 10C Staff, "Celebrating Life -- in Miniature", San Jose Mercury News, Monday, 2 August, 1993, Peninsula/AM Edition, Local Sec., p. 1B
Erin Kimura
