Isaac Bluestein
The Longmont Buddhist Temple (LBT) is a Japanese True Pure Land (Jodo Shinshu) Buddhist temple located in Longmont, Colorado. Originally founded in 1925 as the Longmont Kyudokai by eight individuals of the Longmont Japanese community and their families, the organization operated out of its members’ homes until 1929 when their first building, titled “Showa Hall” was erected. These founding members were Kikutaro Mayeda, Kunihei Miyasaki, Daijiro Furuiye, Motozo Matsuda, Seizo Fukaye, Goroku Kanemoto, Toyokichi Kawano, and Kamekichi Shimoda.
LBT functioned as a branch of the Denver, Colorado-based Tri-State Buddhist Temple until 2010, when it became an independent community. Originally comprised of only Japanese families, many of whom attained American citizenship in the 1950s, it was and continues to be important to the Longmont Buddhist Temple that its Asian-American members remain in touch with their heritage. At various points in time, LBT offered Japanese language and dance classes.
Buddhist Tradition
The Longmont Buddhist Temple is a Jodo Shinshu, or Japanese True Pure Land Buddhist temple. Pure Land Buddhism is a type of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in India and is now the dominant form of Buddhism in Japan. Based on the teachings of the Amitabha Buddha, Pure Land Buddhists believe that by remembering Amitabha with “serene trust,” you can escape to the Land of Bliss (Sukhavati), where you are guaranteed to be able to achieve enlightenment. Pure Land Buddhism eventually spread from India to China and Japan. Jodo Shinshu is a subsect of Japanese Pure Land founded by Shinran Shonin. True Pure Land claims that it is easier for evil people to reach the Pure Land because they will be more likely to renounce their own power in favor of the Amitabha Buddha’s power. This is convenient for True Pure Land Buddhists, because according to Shinran, all people are evil people. Shinran greatly increased the popularity of Pure Land in Japan, widening its appeal to all levels of society, most notably lay people.
The Longmont Buddhist Temple observes the practices of Japanese True Pure Land, including the basics of Theravada, in the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path; the core of Mahayana; Indian, Chinese, and Japanese Pure Land; and Japanese True Pure Land, specifically Shin Buddhism. Focusing heavily on the importance of chanting and nembutsu (thinking on and trusting the Amitabha Buddha) in Jodo Shinshu, LBT places particular emphasis on three sutras: the Sutra of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life, the Sutra of Contemplation on the Buddha of Immeasurable Life, and the Sutra on Amida Buddha. Their website defines Buddhism as “a religion, a psychology, a philosophy, and a way of life.”
Longmont Buddhist Temple is affiliated with a few other Buddhist organizations. From 1929 to 2010, LBT was a branch of the Tri-State Buddhist Temple in Denver, Colorado, until eventually becoming an independent temple. Now it is a member of the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) and maintains ties with the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha international organization headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. LBT also maintains frequent contact with other BCA and Hongwanji-ha temples, maintaining a monthly newsletter featuring teachings and messages from LBT’s leadership as well as insights and teachings from other ministers around the country and the world.
Practices
The Longmont Buddhist Temple features four regular events in addition to holiday and fundraising events: regular services, meditation services, Dharma talks, and mindfulness classes. Meditation services, regular services and Dharma talks are all held consecutively on the first and third Sundays of each month. Mindfulness classes are held on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, which are led by Sensei Hughes.
Meditation services are silent periods of time dedicated to giving temple members the ability to meditate, “calm the mind and be fully present.” During this time, Minister’s Assistant Sensei John NyuDō Hughes usually provides brief instruction on Jodo Shinshu meditation practices. A regular service follows, led by a member of LBT’s executive board. During these services, participants sing and chant traditional Sino-Japanese teachings in unison. While these chants can be easily mistaken for prayers, they are intended to create specific sounds to prepare one’s mind for meditation. The actual meaning of the words being spoken is secondary, although still important; they are declarations of entrusting oneself to the power of the Amitabha and Amitayus Buddhas. Incense is then burned as a show of humility, gratitude, and respect. Every willing member of the present community burns a dash of incense at the central altar and shrine (onaijin) and frequently monetary donations are made. A short Dharma talk, akin to a Western-style sermon but for Buddhist teachings, is then given. Mindfulness classes are held on alternating weeks. They are led by Sensei Hughes and intend to teach mindfulness practices and Jodo Shinshu Buddhist thought to participants. They are a combination of mindfulness teaching, guided meditation, and a period for “connection and twenty minutes of sitting.”
In addition to these routine events offered by the Longmont Buddhist Temple, they celebrate and commemorate many holidays and special events. Unfortunately, I could not obtain significant information regarding holiday practice and observance, however their website does list many holidays that are celebrated by the LBT community. These include, but are not limited to, Shusho-e (New Year’s Day), Ho-on-ko (the commemoration service for Shinran’s passing), O-Higan (Spring & Fall Equinoxes), Obon, an annual Eitaikyo Service (yearly mourning service), Bodhi Day (commemorating Buddha’s enlightenment), and Gotan-E (commemorating Shinran’s birth).
Community Demographics
I had difficulty finding demographic information on the Longmont Buddhist Temple. While it was originally founded by eight Japanese individuals and their families and stayed this way for a long time, at some point the community began incorporating Euro-American individuals, as the community now appears to be comprised of a mix of Asian-American and Euro-American members based on photos from LBT’s social media and on limited information listed in the Temple’s monthly newsletter.
LBT is funded primarily through three methods; $390 yearly required membership dues, donations from sangha members and the broader community, and specific grants from the Buddhist Churches of America.
The temple maintains a moderate, central facility where most services are held, featuring a small library of available literature, a central Buddhist altar imported from Japan in 1955 as a centerpiece for the community (called an Obutsudan), and a basement housing LBT’s Dharma school that offers weekly classes for children. Longmont Buddhist Temple also possesses a secluded Meditation Garden for members to take advantage of in their individual pursuits, and a public five story pagoda, called the Tower of Compassion, in nearby Kanemoto Park, where holiday and now physically distanced events are held.
Citations
Longmont Buddhist Temple. “About Jodo Shinshu.” Newcomers. Last modified 2021. https://longmontbuddhism.org/newcomers/about-jodo-shinshu/.
Longmont Buddhist Temple. “About Us.” Newcomers. Last modified 2021. https://longmontbuddhism.org/newcomers/about-us/.
Longmont Buddhist Temple. “Chants.” Resources. Last modified 2021. https://longmontbuddhism.org/resources/chants/.
Longmont Buddhist Temple. “Digital Newsletter.” Resources. Last modified 2021. https://longmontbuddhism.org/resources/digital-newsletter/.
Longmont Buddhist Temple. “Etiquette.” Newcomers. Last modified 2021. https://longmontbuddhism.org/newcomers/etiquette/.
Longmont Buddhist Temple. “Holidays.” Resources. Last modified 2021. https://longmontbuddhism.org/resources/holidays/.
Wikipedia. “Shinran Shonin, Nara National Museum, Japan.” Accessed December 7, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinran#/media/File:Shinran_(Nara_National_Museum).jpg.