The Tendai Buddhist Institute

Background and History

The Tendai Buddhist Institute incorporates three intimately related entities - Jiunzan Tendai-ji, the Karuna Tendai Dharma Center and the Tendai-Shu New York Betsuin. The Karuna Tendai Dharma Center was established in 1995 in Canaan, NY as a branch of Tamon-in Tendai Buddhist temple in Chiba, Japan. We registered as a not-for-profit corporation with the State of New York in February, 1995. Originally, we offered weekly meditation services, periodic spiritual retreats and ran a small bed and breakfast. In 1996, we received our 501(c)3 designation from the IRS as a Buddhist church. The Tendai-Shu New York Betsuin is also a part of this same legal entity.

For the past ten years we have functioned continuously as a Buddhist temple offering various spiritual, religious and pastoral services. We ceased bed and breakfast operations in 1999 as the demand for Buddhist activities grew and bed and breakfast reservations began to interfere with the timing of our retreats and other spiritual activities.

As the Jiunzan Tendai-ji sangha (congregation) began to grow larger than our facilities could accommodate, we formed smaller sitting groups as sangha in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Albany and Buffalo, New York. The total membership of the Dharma Center, including these smaller sitting groups, is currently about 100 families.

Retreat participants regularly arrive from several states and foreign countries to study with Monshin. Besides weekly gatherings for meditation and dharma talks, classes are held once a month at the Dharma Center to deepen sangha members’ understanding of Buddhism in general and Tendai philosophy and practices in particular. A wide variety of practices is taught.

In 2001, the central authority of Tendai Buddhism in Japan designated Karuna Tendai Dharma Center the Tendai-shu New York Betsuin, a branch of Enryakuji, the head Tendai temple on Mt. Hiei, in Japan. The head priest in Canaan, NY, Monshin Paul Naamon was designated the Jushoku (abbot) of the temple. His wife, Shumon Tamami Naamon, who also received ordination in Japan, was appointed Managing Director. Our Betsuin (branch) designation authorizes us to teach and train people for ordination and to represent Tendai Buddhism in the West.

In May 2004, (1200 years after Saicho returned to Japan with the T’ien T’ai teachings) a Jichin-sai (ground blessing) ceremony was held in Caanan, New York and was attended by several Tendai officials from Mt. Hiei’s Enryaku-ji and by various Jigyodan officials. The ceremony was led by Morisada-Daisojo who enshrined relics from Mt. Hiei under what has become the main altar of the new hondo. The new temple was dedicated on June 25, 2005. Presided over by Ven. Kosen Kobori of Sanzen-in , over 30 monks and priests completed the ceremonies which included the consecration of the hondo, Saicho statue and the "eye-opening" ceremony for the new honzon.

Facilities and Functions

We are situated on 32 acres of rolling Berkshire foothills, most of it undeveloped. These grounds are used for walking meditations and devotional activities.

Currently, there are three major structures on the property and a fourth under construction. The three major structures include the new Hondo (temple), the main house, a pole barn garage, and the remaining original barn. Another barn was, until recently, used as a temple for about 30 people. That barn was dismantled and renovated as our new Temple. Our new Hondo, seating about 100 people, was dedicated on June 25, 2005.

We presently use the main house as an administrative center and for several other functions including; lectures and discussions (we are limited to about 30 people); housing during retreats (12 people in 4 rooms); and for meals and potluck dinners during retreats and gyo (we can seat 20 people for seated meals, and about 40 for buffet). We also have 3 full baths and 1 half bath that are used for both weekly events as well as retreats and gyo.

As a result of constant wear and tear on these very old facilities (the main house and barns are more than 175 years old), the continuing growth of our sangha, and the expansion of our responsibilities as an ordination platform, we have initiated a Capital Campaign to raise funds for the construction of a much-needed, all-purpose facility that will provide sufficient space for sleeping, training, meeting, dining, administration and a library. For additional information about our development plans and needs, please click here.

Weekly Events: Each Wednesday, we conduct a meditation service preceded by a lecture or discussion, and concluded with a pot-luck dinner. The event begins at 6:30pm and ends at 9pm.

Monthly Events: On the first Saturday of each month we conduct a Buddhist service and Survey of Buddhism class from 8:30 - 10:30am. Every other month, we host a spiritual retreat for sangha members and the public. Retreats typically include 8 -12 people.

Seasonal and Special Events: During the year there are special ceremonies and programs that are conducted as part of the Buddhist calendar. These include; O-Higan ceremonies during the fall and spring equinox; Segaki Service, New Years Services (from December 31st - January 3rd), Refuge ceremonies and ordinations. Additionally, we conduct a number of memorial and wedding services.

Novitiate and Priest Training: Ours is the only training facility for Tendai Buddhism outside of Japan. Once a year we conduct a 10-day gyo (training period) for those aspiring to be ordained Buddhist priests. Besides the Western gyo participants, we typically have 4 - 5 Japanese clerics who join us to assist in the training. There are currently four people who have completed the full training program, with a total of sixteen men and women in different stages of training. We also conduct one-day workshops each quarter for these same people.

Future Plans: As noted, our current activities are restricted by a combination of limited program and parking space. These conditions will improve significantly with the construction of our new all-purpose facility. We will maintain our full schedule of current offerings - on a more comfortable, efficient and larger scale. We also anticipate offering more special programs, including retreats, training and public ceremonies, to larger groups. Additionally, we will make our expanded facilities available to a range of community groups - such as twelve-step programs or scout troops - in need of meeting or sanctuary space.