ABOUT THE PALO ALTO BUDDHIST TEMPLE
Almost anyplace can be turned into a "special place" if you bring a group of very special people with a dream, heart for compassion, gratitude and tenacity to carry out a common goal. So over 100 years in Palo Alto, that very special place was established at our Temple.
Here are some landmark events:
1914-1925
The Palo Alto Buddhist Temple (PABT) had its beginnings in the 1914 when a group of Japanese immigrants requested the assistance by the Buddhist Churches of America to form a Jodo Shinshu Sangha in Palo Alto. The group met monthly and ask the Sangha grew, ministers from San Francisco Temple took turns coming to Palo Alto to hold weekly services.
Membership grew, the venue for services moved from house to house, eventually ending up at the Kaneda Home Laundry in Palo Alto from 1914 to 1925
1925-1942
● The home on Ramona Street rented from 1925 to 1927 by the ever growing number of members. The women members formed the first Fujinkai (women's club) and the younger members formed the young people's group. Buddhist education classes (Dharma School) were started for children.
● Another home on Ramona Street purchased in 1927, served as a temple for the still increasing numbers of Palo Alto Buddhists until the outbreak of the war and subsequent internment in 1942.
1943-1953
● The internment camps from 1942 until 1945, where the Palo Alto Buddhists continued to follow, under most trying conditions, the Teachings of the Buddha.
● The homes of the members in 1945, when a few Palo Alto Buddhists returned and quickly resumed their Buddhist activities.
● The Native Sons Hall downtown in 1946, when more of the faithful Buddhist members returned from the internment camps. The Dharma School was resumed.
● The old Japanese-American Society Building, in 1947, where the ever-devoted community of members (the Sangha), restored the remaining organizations in the temple.
● The empty lot purchased in 1953, where our first temple was to be built by the dedicated and devoted Sangha.
1954-PRESENT
● The new temple dedicated in 1954, for the first time, was able to retain its own minister. Previously, all the temple services and activities were overseen by truly dedicated, generous, and overworked "itinerant" ministers who came from other temples near and far. The devoted work of these very special people provided the inspiration and the incentive for the Palo Alto Sangha to continue on the path to a greater understanding of Buddhism. Our debt to them can never be fully repaid, but their noble effort and thoughts will always continue to inspire and guide us.
● The new Dharma School building built in 1964 to accommodate the constantly growing number of young people in our Sangha.
● The minister's residence finally built in 1968, by a grateful Sangha.
NOTE: For further detailed historical information, see references in the temple library.