hello...
To Our Visitors

WE ARE FREQUENTLY asked if people can attend services at our Temple and we are happy to say that we have reopened and welcome your visit. Please check our calendar for services and special events. If you have any questions, please contact our office Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Besides our weekly services, we are still offering services online so you may attend from the comfort of your home.

To keep up on services and events, please feel free to subscribe to our newsletter by contacting the office.

See here for our current COVID-19 protocols.

MORE INFORMATION

Our Temple is one of many in San Diego County -- by the last Census, the second most Buddhist area in the United States! -- and starting in 1926 for about 50 years, it was the only Buddhist Temple in the area. Here are answers to frequent questions from visitors.

General

  • We are open most Sunday mornings, but not all --so please check our schedule.

  • We are a worship center and devotional Temple for everyday people.

  • We are non-monastic. You will not see monks and nuns in training.

  • Please keep food or drink outside the worship area (our main hall or hondo).

Service format

  • Services are Western in format with Buddhist content and meaning.

  • Services are conducted in English with ritual chants in Pali, Sanskrit, or Sino-Japanese. All chants appear in our service book in roman characters so you can follow along.

  • We are also able to provide Dharma Talks in Japanese from time to time; our video program includes talks in Japanese and Spanish.

  • We sit in pews, and not on the floor.

  • Elevator access (from our parking lot) makes services accessible to all.

  Dress

  • No special dress is required, but please dress respectfully.

  • We keep our shoes on to enter the Temple.

Photos

  • You are welcome to take photographs in the Temple after the service and after all people who wish to offer incense have done so.

  • You may take photographs from the ground level or first stage level if accompanied by a Temple member.

  • Please do not enter the altar area itself.

Meeting with visitors

One of our Temple members is always available after services to answer your questions. Often this is Ministerial Assistant, Kaytee Sumida, who also usually leads our Introduction to Buddhism, held on the last Sunday of each month (except December).

Student Assignments 

If their schedule permits, students are encouraged to let the Temple know a few weekdays before you would like to attend. For the remainder of 2023, we will be scheduling Introduction to Buddhism sessions on rerquest and typically takes place on a Sunday at 9 a.m. The session includes a description of Temple etiquette and time to have your questions answered. Sessions can be in-person at the Temple or we can arrange for a Zoom session if you prefer. Attendees at the Temple on the day of a service would then be able to attend the service at 10 a.m. in our main building.

Students assigned interview questions can send them to us care of info@btsd.net, and we will try to get answers back to you in several days from a Minister's Assistant or member of our Buddhist Education Committee.