Information about Monshin and Shumon

In 1995, encouraged by Reverend Ichishima, Monshin and his wife, Shumon Tamami Naamon, opened the Karuna Tendai Dharma Center in Canaan, New York. Monshin and Shumon modeled the Dharma Center after Japanese village temples like the one they administered at Tamon-in.

When it first opened in an old Shaker-style farmhouse in a corner of rural Columbia County, New York, the Karuna Tendai Dharma Center hosted a small number of participants. The group gathered for lectures and meditation sitting in a small dining room or on a small, glassed-in porch. Eventually, a section of an old barn was transformed into a shikando, which boasted a wood stove for cold winter evening meditations and a lovely view of the rural countryside through old barn windows.

For ten years, Monshin and Shumon Naamon have guided and instructed students in the history and practices of Tendai-shu. During this period, the Dharma Center has grown to include over 100 families from a wide area of New York and Massachusetts. Branch sangha have also been formed in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Albany and Buffalo, New York, Washinton DC, and in Germany and Denmark.

The Tendai Buddhist Institute - incorporating the Tendai-Shu New York Betsuin and the Karuna Tendai Dharma Center with its resident Jiunzan Tendai-ji sangha - is dedicated to presenting Buddhist teachings, practices and lifestyle. Guided by Tendai tenets, our activities are rooted in the core values of wisdom, compassion and mindfulness.

Specific Objectives and Purposes

To create and maintain a non-residential and residential community dedicated to Buddhist philosophy and lifestyle. The Institute is intended to grow organically to meet the changing needs of the Sangha, guided by Tendai Buddhist religious practices and tenets.
To conduct Buddhist religious services, meditations, esoteric practices, blessings, weddings, purifications, funerals, memorial services, and other Buddhist religious functions requested by the sangha and the public in accordance with the Tendai School of Buddhism.
To sponsor seminars and other events where concerned members of the public may meet to exchange ideas, suggest solutions, and implement strategies to encourage peaceful change toward a more responsible, meaningful, and spiritually fulfilling society.
To conduct educational, retreat, and training programs for people in various stages of spiritual pursuit. These range from weekly meetings, one-day and weekend spiritual retreats, to long-term training programs for laity development and monks¹ ordination.
To encourage cross-cultural understanding and compassion through lectures, seminars and other activities.
To provide much-needed interpersonal pastoral services to a growing Buddhist and non-Buddhist fellowship, with a non-materialist, family-oriented emphasis.
To offer comfort and rest to those in need.
To inform the public concerning non-sectarian Buddhist philosophies and practices, without proselytizing.
To publish newsletters, brochures, books, and other materials that focus on issues of social and cross-cultural importance, Buddhism in general, and Tendai Buddhist philosophy and practices in particular.
To operate the Institute in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
To contribute positively to the local and world community.

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. Monshin was designated the Jushoku (abbot) of the temple, and Shumon was appointed Managing Director. This Betsuin (branch) designation authorizes Monshin and Shumon to teach and train people for ordination and to represent Tendai Buddhism in the West.