List of sanghas in San Diego County, California

This is a list of sanghas and Buddhist temples in San Diego County, California, which corresponds to the San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos Metropolitan Statistical Area. Both major branches of Buddhism, Theravada and Mahayana, are represented there, as is the Mahayana form Zen,^[1] as are Vipassanā and Jōdo Shinshū (Pure Land). There is also a secular Zen sangha. The area is home to monasteries as well as to less formally engaged groups who gather for meditation and community. Siddhārtha Gautama died over 2500 years ago, but the oldest Buddhist organization in San Diego County is less than 100 years old.^[2][3]

History

During 1916, Buddhist farmers were killed when what was then named Otay Dam gave way and resulted in the Hatfield Flood. The local Japanese diaspora needed a place to hold religious services and went on to found what they call the oldest Buddhist organization in San Diego County.^[4][5] They met informally until they were able to afford a temple. First they rented a second-floor room on 6th and Market in May 1926.^[3] Boys and girls in costume paraded through downtown to celebrate.^[3] Later, in 1931, they dedicated today's The Buddhist Temple of San Diego at 2929 Market.^[3]

Dharma Bums

Founded in 2006, the Dharma Bum Temple in downtown San Diego is a home for the study and practice of Buddhism in America, without regard for the particular school or sect.^[6] The organization manages the retail store Buddha for You, sponsors a sangha at San Diego State University and sponsors a group called Dharma Bum Kids.

Escondido

Built in 2000 just outside the city of San Diego in neighboring Escondido, California, the Deer Park Monastery was founded by the Most Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who has been described as the second most famous Buddhist after the Dalai Lama.^[7][8] Also in Escondido are the Drikung Kyobpa Choling Monastery, which has practiced Tibetan Buddhism since its founding in 1996 or 1997,^[9][10] and the Sunnataram California Meditation Monastery which practices in the Thai tradition.^[11]

List of sanghas

Notes