Welcome to the Tendai Buddhist Institute
The Tendai Buddhist Institute / Jiunzan Tendaiji, founded by Ven. Abbot Monshin Paul Naamon and Rev. Shumon Tamami Naamon in 1995. Tendai Buddhist Institute is a branch temple of Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei, the administrative center of the Tendai School and the birthplace of Japanese Buddhism. As an officially recognized branch temple, Tendai Buddhist Institute is also the first fully authorized Tendai Buddhist training center for the education of priests and the establishment new Tendai Buddhist temples, dharma centers, and sanghas in North America and beyond.
Tendai Buddhist Institute is also known as “Jiunzan Tendaiji,” – Mountain Cloud Tendai Temple, which is our village temple’s official Japanese name, and meant to reflect the natural surroundings of the Berkshires. This name was given to our temple by Rev. Shōshin Ichishima, who trained Ven. Abbot Paul Monshin Naamon and Rev. Tamami Shumon Naamon in Japan. For more information, please check out our About Us page.
All events are open to the public.
We also offer services online via Zoom. For security purposes, we do not publish the links for the events online. However, to receive those links and our monthly newsletter to stay up to date with upcoming events, you can add yourself to our mailing list here.
Recent Meanderings
The abbot (jushoku) of the Tendai Buddhist Institute is Monshin Paul Naamon. This section is devoted to his writings. You can find an entire list here.
Jushoku’s Journal 4-14-20 – April 2020
I’ve lost track of how long we have participated in the New York State executive order to stay at home. It feels like a month. Many of us do not go out, except to occasionally grocery shop, one day runs into the other with little distinction. Once we started staying at home our expectations of simple things like going to a restaurant, visiting a friend, or attending a religious service ceased to be a demarcation in our lives. This latter feature is probably most relevant to me, since I retired from teaching, I spend most my time in my study at the temple.
Jushoku’s Journal 4-7-20 – April 2020
Right now, as I write this the sun is shining, the goldfinches are changing to bright yellow with their summer plumage, green buds are appearing on the lilac bush, red and white sprouts from the peonies, the peepers are in full symphony, a chipmunk showed up on a rock under the bird feeder, and I am waiting for the swallows to make an appearance for the season. It seems so incongruent because we are in ‘stay-at-home’ mode, I’m not traveling, except once a week to the grocery store, I don’t see people, except Tamami, that are not on my computer screen. Social life has been altered considerably for the next few months, yet the immediate environment is what one would expect this time of year.
Jushoku’s Journal 4-1-20 – April 2020
Twenty-five years ago this month (April 27, 1995) we held our first meditation service and discussion at what is now Tendai Buddhist Institute. It saddens me that we will not be able to be together to celebrate this important milestone. There are so many significant events that we had had to cancel or postpone as a result of the pandemic. We will appreciate getting together for an appropriate celebration later this year, and next year when the Jigyodan will be joining us for a belated observance. I will be discussing this in the last discussion this month.
Weekly Meditation Service
Meditation services are held on Wednesday evenings from 6pm. A Dharma talk and discussion are held in the main house. Meditation service is held in the Main Hall, followed by a potluck dinner.
Starting Your Practice
As a comprehensive and holistic Mahayana Buddhist tradition, there are many forms that an individual’s personal practice may take. Different temples and teachers may emphasize particular teachings or practice, but ultimately Tendai Buddhist practice is customizable depending on your needs and inclinations. Therefore, it is important for practice to be guided by an authentically trained teacher.
- For the daily practice manual click here.
- For more information about basic Buddhist practices.
- If you have any questions about starting your practice, please feel free to contact us.
Contact us with any questions or inquiries.
Tendai Buddhist Institute
1525 Rte. 295
East Chatham, NY
12060
