The Temple Buddhist Center (TBC) is located inside the historic Unity Temple in Kansas City, Missouri. The Center is dedicated to the practice of Western-style Buddhism. Western-style Buddhism is a blend of Eastern philosophy and Western psychology and is dynamic, inclusive, and active. The goal isn’t to get everyone to agree on a specific lineage, sect or philosophy, but rather it’s on cultivating a shared experience of mindfulness, oneness, and love. Like Buddha’s turning of the wheel, Western-style Buddhism is establishing itself in the context of the culture and people of where it is located. This new and exciting form of spirituality is developing and growing right in front of our eyes. As Buddhism has grown in America, it has blended with what was already very prevalent in Western society: psychology. Psychology is able to answer a lot of difficult questions and paradoxes from Buddhism, and the more scientific aspect of how things work combined with the spiritual side of Buddhism is able to create a deep and profound practice. As the Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh says, the emerging Buddhism in the west is less of a religion and more of a practice or way of life. [source?]
Many different aspects of traditional Buddhism are incorporated into this modern practice, from Theravada to Tibetan to Mahayana. The boundaries between the schools of thought are breaking, and the nature of the Western people underscores that. Many people don’t want anything to do with religion, dogma, or structured practices. In Western Buddhism, they find a refreshing discussion of the human condition and they are able to apply what Buddhist principles mean for their individual self and awakening. Rather than focusing on strict ceremonies and rituals or the distinctions between monastics and laypeople, this practice focuses on core Buddhist insights, mindfulness, meditation and their practical application in daily life.
Unity Temple is a building full of many diverse activities and acts as a center for well-being, where everyone is welcome. Its mission is to be a source of support and inspiration, and is a spiritual home for a countless number of people. Unity Temple began as part of a new thought movement that came out of the turn of the century of the 1900s, centered around the needs for spiritual living, unity and science of the mind. Starting with Eastern philosophy on Christianity and an interest in world religions and philosophies, it felt natural to the senior minister to build a meditation center. In the late 1990s, interest in Buddhism began to grow around the country and in Kansas City. In 1996, Buddhist Teacher Ben Worth founded the American Buddhist Center at Unity Temple. It wasn’t seen as a competition to Christianity, but simply a way to live closer to spiritual truth and closely aligned to Unity’s principles based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Ben Worth, from the Buddhist lineage of Bhante Gunaratna, who was a Theravada monk, ran the American Buddhist Center for almost 14 years. He facilitated classes, led retreats, delivered Sunday messages, and offered individual spiritual guidance. Today it is known as the Temple Buddhist Center and is flourishing with classes and services under the direction of Victor Dougherty. Victor Dougherty was one of Ben Worth’s students, and believes the only one way to truly repay his teacher for years of instruction and insight training is to carry on the teachings.
Victor has been practicing Buddhism for over 20 years and has participated in numerous retreats. In addition to his work at TBC, he is a co-founder of The Pathless Land Center for Meditation and Mindfulness, and serves on the board of Mid America Dharma, Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council and several other organizations. He offers a depth of practice and keen insights into what is known as Personal Wisdom Training, which is a form of one to one consultation that helps the practitioner understand areas where they may be stuck in limited thinking. Though it is now Victor’s 5th year running Temple Buddhist Center, he still meets with Ben Worth twice a week for mediation and discussion. Victor’s leadership style is one of inclusion and unification, so he also seeks guidance from the wonderful family of teachers and leaders at TBC, who have worked together to grow TBC into what it is today.
The focus of the Temple Buddhist Center can be illustrated by a 5-tier dharma cake. Dharma means truth, both as written teachings and the actual reality of this moment. The bottom tier of the dharma cake is the largest and most important, providing a strong basis for the life of a practitioner. This base is meditation, which is an essential tool to the practice. The tier above that is mindfulness, which is how a Buddhist uses the practice to engage with everyday life. Next is śīla, which is ethical conduct. This practice could take the form of voting, being environmentally conscious, or anytime one intends to do the right and skillful thing. The fourth tier is sangha, or the spiritual community of teachers and people attending retreats, services and more. Finally, the top tier of the dharma cake is Buddhist studies, such as books, videos and discussions. This image of a dharma cake demonstrates the numerous ways Western-style Buddhism is practiced and supported.
The Temple Buddhist Center has many differing practices to get involved with. Meditation being the basis of the practice and one of the cornerstones for spiritual living, free secular meditation is offered twice daily, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. These 45-minute practices help people integrate meditation and mindfulness into their everyday life. They are not meant to be difficult, and anyone is welcome to join regardless of skill level or background. It can be beneficial for anyone needing some peace and calm amidst the business of everyday life, to take a moment to regroup and restart. Morning and afternoon meditations are silent and each person is encouraged to meditate in whatever manner seems right for them, with time at the end available for whatever sharing, discussion, and questions people want. There are also special meditations throughout the week, including midday Metta practice, community meditation, Sonic Savasana Sound Immersion Meditation, a mindful heart meditation group, and evening insight meditation. TBC also offers deepening meditation retreats a few times a year. These retreats demonstrate meditation as a means of transforming the mind, encouraging and developing concentration, clarity, emotional positivity, and a calm seeing of the true nature of things. Such experiences can have a transformative effect to cultivate more positive ways of being and can lead to a new perspective on life.
In addition to meditation, a key part of what TBC offers is services. A regular Temple Buddhist Service consists of chanting, guided and silent meditation, and after the sangha spends time in Noble Silence there is an inspiring Dharma talk for a practical approach to spiritual awakening. The Dharma talk applies Buddhist principles in a practical way to people’s daily lives, and the spiritual message presented is a positive approach to life, seeing the good in all people and circumstances. There are regular speakers as well as a guest musician every Sunday, who creates a contemplative and soothing background with a unique energy and feel. The service ends with loving-kindness practice and an opportunity for refreshments and discussion. In addition to Sunday services, TBC offers a Wednesday Evening—Renew, Inspire, Support, Evolve (WE-RISE) Service as a mid-week spiritual celebration. Services are given on a Dana (love offering) basis, meaning that they are offered to all people, free of charge. The community is funded through the practice of donation and generosity, not for anything a person has received but so the offerings will be there for the next individual to enjoy.
TBC and Unity Temple act as a support to the community in many ways and has countless events and offerings. TBC offers events, classes and conscious groups including Mid America Dharma, Bridging the Gap, Mindful Ministries, Tell Me Your Story, Science of Mind, Temple Women’s Circle, daytime study groups, midday healing chants, conversations related to social causes, classes for youth and family education, and much more. Unity Temple offers support in the forms of spiritual blessings, weddings, holy unions, vow renewals, memorials and celebration of life services. People can attend support groups and counseling, request prayer, and there are even over 20 12-step group meetings weekly with an attendance of over 300 people. The center is involved in numerous community outreach programs, such as the Temple Helping Hand program which provides necessities like warm clothes, nutritional snacks and water bottles for the homeless and indigent people in the area. The space also displays local and international artists who share the inner landscapes, intuitions, and viewpoints of the greater world community. The art of Gallery Hall is meant to connect people to a visual universe of wholeness, healing, and spirituality. Unity Temple and the Temple Buddhist Center believe that feeling valued, respected and loved is at the heart of our sense of well-being. They emphasize that wherever you are in your life journey, whatever your challenges or joys, there are resources and people who care and are there to listen and help.
The Temple Buddhist Center is a large community, with 3,600 people receiving the newsletter each month and about 175 people attending the service every Sunday. Similar to the demographic makeup of Kansas City, most of the constituents are white and middle class, though there are a number of African-American and Asian-American practitioners as well. There is a good makeup of different genders, ages, and lifestyles. Recently, there have especially been a lot more young people and LGBTQ+ people joining the community. There are no requirements to become a member of the Temple other than a desire to belong to a community “where diversity is praised, and peace and harmony are the rewards.” This community represents Buddhism because of its diversity of lifestyles and beliefs, as there is no set practice anyone is forced to follow. However, they come together in their beliefs in the importance of mindfulness, meditation and the power of the sangha. At TBC, individuals are able to find connection to the Dharma and ultimately their Buddha nature by cultivating more happiness and less suffering, “one breath at a time.”