By Taylor Slaven
Background
While Southern California has numerous Buddhist temples in the Los Angeles area, the West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple (WLABT) was specifically created in someone’s home in 1926 by Japanese Buddhists, who, previously, had no way to worship locally. Though originally a branch of the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, WLABT became independent in 1950 despite having been shut down for sixteen years during World War II. Some of the original pioneers were Sotaro Yamanaka, Reverend Eishin Hayashi, and Robert Iwamoto. The forced hiatus didn’t stop them, and the temple created quite a community through many families. Over the next century, it continued to grow in members, property, and events to become the popular Buddhist community it is today.
Buddhist Tradition
The temple follows the True Pure Land tradition (also known as Jodo Shinshu or Shin Buddhism), a branch of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition founded by the monk Shinran. While the two sects are very similar to each other, True Pure Land Buddhism was created at a time when it was thought the world was coming to an end, and Buddhists wished a faster way to reach the Pure Land. This said land was produced by Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. When he was only a bodhisattva named Dharmakara, he vowed to create a world through his own great merit in which any sentient could be reborn and easily achieve awakening. As opposed to Nirvana, which is almost unimaginable to an unenlightened human, this “blissful land” is easily pictured in one’s mind – a perfectly flat world with paths of gold and jeweled trees. Achieving access to the Land of Bliss seems simple – one turns their attention to Amitabha and has ten moments of resolution in their lifetime. However, one cannot only think of Amitabha ten times and succeed just like that. Complete trust in Amitabha’s vow is necessary. In addition, there is a “mindful recitation” meditation done which involves chanting Amitabha’s name, thus thanking him for allowing you to put your trust in him, while simultaneously visualizing the Buddha. WLABT offers “The Basic Teachings of Jodo Shinshu” and “Buddhism Beyond Mindfulness” in which the background of the religion is taught as well as the chants and rituals associated with the True Pure Land tradition. Interestingly enough, WLABT members are not interested in achieving a better place for themselves after death. Instead, they wish to become a bodhisattva in the Pure Land and then immediately return to this world and guide others to enlightenment. The goal of WLABT is to “work toward the realization of a society in which everyone is able to live a life of spiritual fulfillment.”
The religion also believes in dependent arising, for WLABT proudly displays the quote “All things in this world are constantly changing and depend on others for their existence” by Sakyamuni Buddha. Once one finds estrangement from material things and feelings and perceptions, then passion fades out, and liberation takes its place. The Buddha spoke of this subject through the Fire Sermon, in which he described these said estrangements from the burning of all sensations, which can lead to a great awakening.
Community
Joining a temple is often about maintaining a community. Many, even if having lived in the area a while, will not call their place a “home” until they have officially joined a temple. The WLABT strives to create their own sense of community by funding an “80+ Lunch Program” through donations, in which the temple members over the age of eighty attend a monthly meal free of charge to them. They enjoy food and music and movies, all while socializing with their friends.
The temple’s family includes young children too, with a Halloween “Family Fun Night” encouraging kids to dress up for food, crafts, storytelling, and games. There is also an annual summer camp for kids – allowing Buddhist children to learn more about their background while still bonding with friends and enjoying the beautiful outdoors. Many Asian-Americans may grow up to feel ostracized because their culture and religion is unique, and hosting a summer camp, which many American children participate in, is a great way to give everyone a shared childhood experience.
The Southern District Dharma School Summer Program, lasting morning to afternoon on weekdays, provides a backbone for families with working parents by offering children classes in Japanese culture, whether it be cooking, music, art, etiquette, math, or foreign language help. In this way, the temple often extends a helping hand, forming an even tighter bond than through normal temple services.
WLABT has managed to create a strong knit society despite having solely relied on themselves from the time of origination. While other temples may have programs with or receive monks from their home country, this California temple does not appear to have any connections with Asian countries – rather, it has grown through immigrants and families that have been in America for generations.
Practices and Events
In addition to the classes on history and meditation, WLABT schedules biweekly yoga classes. There is also a weekly Sunday Dharma service, in which members chant sutras and listen to both an English and Japanese version of the Dharma message. Members take the opportunity to learn the message and reflect upon it. The center has annual events, such as a New Year’s Eve service (called Joya-e) in which a bell is rung 108 times as a symbol of their recognition of the “self-centered” attachments that may keep an individual from achieving awakening. Another annual event is a celebration on December 8th for Bodhi Day, or the day the Buddha achieved enlightenment. Shotsuki Hoyo is a memorial service (occurring each month as needed) at which the members gather out of respect to those who recently passed. There is also the Buddhist version of a baptism called a Hatsumairi Service, or when a child is formally presented to the Buddha for the first time. To further reach out to members, the temple’s reverend sends out a bimonthly newsletter that contains words of wisdom from the reverend, vice reverend, and the president, as well as WLABT’s event calendar, merchandise order forms, a donation page, news from the Buddhist Women’s Association, and names of those that will be honored during Shotsuki Hoyo.
WLABT does not keep its events solely within the building. It hosts an annual Obon festival – a Japanese Buddhist tradition meant as a time to appreciate and pay respects to ancestors. It originates from a sutra of a Buddhist monk who gave offerings to generations of his ancestors in exchange for his mother’s awakening. The festival includes performances of beautiful dances for it is said that when the mother did reach peace, the monk danced for joy. While photos on the WLABT website show images of mainly Asian-Americans, there seems to be a genuine effort to encourage non-Buddhists to learn more about the religion, for there are many exhibits and displays, guest speakers, and stands of ethnic food. The temple’s website includes links to tutorials of the dancing (called Bon Odori), and WBLAT says it doesn’t matter if someone has two left feet – “the important thing is to leave your ego behind and simply express your joy and gratitude for life through the dance.” The temple connects with sixteen other Jodo Shinshu temples in Southern California by taking turns hosting an Obon festival each weekend in the summer.
Conclusion
While giving their members enough time to practice American holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving, the Buddha’s enlightenment is celebrated and an emphasis is placed on the True Pure Land tradition, and the temple doesn’t seem to skimp on any practices either. It has strived to maintain a balance of staying traditional with their Japanese celebrations and children’s courses, while still growing with the modern American world through methods of education, such as their classes on the background of the religion, and the summer camp. However, they do not appear to include a monastery in their religion – references are only made to presidents and reverends, which is a position in the Christian church. Perhaps WLABT, like many other Buddhist temples in the United States, have felt compelled to align with American timelines and Christian titles in order to be more easily accepted into the Los Angeles atmosphere.
Sources
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple (wlabt.org)
All images are from the WLABT website linked above.