List of sanghas in San Diego County, California

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This is a list of sanghas in San Diego County, California. All major branches of Buddhism, Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, are represented there, as is the Mahayana form Zen,[1] as are Vipassanā and Jōdo Shinshū (Pure Land). There is also a secular Zen sangha. The area is home to monasteries as well as to less formally engaged groups who gather for meditation and community. Siddhārtha Gautama died over 2500 years ago, but the oldest Buddhist organization in San Diego County is less than 100 years old.[2][3]

History

During 1916, Japanese immigrant Buddhist farmers were killed when what was then named Otay Dam gave way and resulted in the Hatfield Flood. The local Japanese diaspora needed a place to hold religious services and went on to found what they call the oldest Buddhist organization in San Diego County.[4][5] They met informally until they were able to afford a temple space. First they rented a second-floor room on 6th and Market in May 1926.[3] Boys and girls in costume paraded through downtown to celebrate.[3] Later, in 1931, they dedicated today's Buddhist Temple of San Diego at 2929 Market.[3]

List

Name School of Buddhism Founder/Date Location
Mirror Mind Buddhist Sangha (Center for American Buddhist Practice) Buddhism (regardless of school), non-sectarian Mahayana ca. 2005 San Diego[citation needed]
Pacific Seaside Sangha Buddhism (regardless of school) Gavin Seedorf (2014) 4666 Cass St San Diego
Dharma Bum Temple Buddhism (regardless of school) Jeffrey Zlotnik (2006) San Diego[6]
Buddha For You Buddhism (regardless of school) Jeffrey Zlotnik San Diego[6]
Vista Zen Center Zen White Plum Asanga lineage Vista[1]
Three Treasures Zen Community Zen White Plum lineage Rancho Peñasquitos[7]
Deer Park Monastery Zen Thích Nhất Hạnh (2000) Escondido[1]
Sweetwater Zen Center Zen Anne Seisen Saunders (2000) National City[8]
Hidden Valley Zen Center Zen (1968) San Marcos[1]
Ensenada Zen Group Vietnamese Zen Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico[9]
All People's World Beat Sangha Plum Village Tradition World Beat Center[10]
Heart Beat Sangha (People of Color) Plum Village Tradition World Beat Center[11]
Open Heart Sangha Plum Village Tradition (2010) First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego[12]
Peaceful Shores Sangha Plum Village Tradition University Lutheran Church[13]
Compassionate Heart Sangha Plum Village Tradition Encinitas[10]
Palomitas de Paz Sangha Plum Village Tradition Palomar Unitarian Universalist Fellowship[10]
Really Beneficial Sangha Plum Village Tradition Rancho Bernardo/Escondido[10]
Still Ripening Sangha (Order of Interbeing) Plum Village Tradition Deer Park Monastery[10]
Metta Forest Monastery Theravada, Thai Forest Tradition Ajaan Suwat Suvaco (1991) Valley Center[14]
Sunnataram California Meditation Monastery Theravada, Thai tradition Ajahn Yantra Amaro (1995) Escondido[15]
Wat Lao Navaram Monastery Theravada Linda Vista[16]
Wat Sovannkiry Cambodian Buddhism San Diego[17]
UU Meditation Circle Vipassanā San Diego, First Unitarian Universalist Church[18]
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito Vipassanā Solana Beach[19]
Buddhist Temple of San Diego[20] Jōdo Shinshū (Pure Land Buddhism) (1926, 1931) Grant Hill[3]
Hsi Fang Temple Fo Guang Shan Hsing Yun (1989) University Heights[21]
Vista Buddhist Temple Jōdo Shinshū (1980) Vista[22]
Kadampa Meditation Center San Diego New Kadampa Tradition Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Point Loma[23]
Diamond Way Buddhist Center Diamond Way Buddhism Lama Ole Nydahl (ca. 1972) University City[24]
Jigme Lingpa Center San Diego Tibetan, Nyingma, Longchen Nyingthig Lama Lhanang Rinpoche (2013) North Park[25]
Tibetan Healing Center, Dzogchen Shri Singha of San Diego, Tsegyalgar West Tibetan, Drukpa Lineage Dzogchen Namkhai Norbu (2003) Hillcrest, Encinitas, Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico[26]
San Diego Shambhala Meditation Center Tibetan Chögyam Trungpa Kearny Mesa[27]
Karma Thegsum Chöling (San Diego) Buddhist Meditation Center Tibetan, Karma Kagyu, Vajrayana 16th Karmapa (1977)
Closed, 2021[28] 		San Diego[19][29]
San Diego Rigpa Tibetan Sogyal Rinpoche San Diego[30]
Drikung Kyobpa Choling Tibetan (1996 or 1997) Escondido[31][32]
Zen Center of San Diego Secular Ezra Bayda and Elizabeth Hamiltin (2006–present)
 Pacific Beach[33]
Insight San Diego Vipassanā (2014) Liberty Station[34]
Encinitas Mindfulness Community Non-sectarian Founding teacher, Diana Shimkus -2009

everydaymind.com encinitasmindfulness.org

Soul of Yoga, Encinitas

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Warth, Gary. "What we believe: Spiritual path of Buddhism leads to enlightenment". North County Times. Retrieved October 15, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ Rapson, Edward James (1922). "The Cambridge History of India". 1. Univ. Pr.: 156. Retrieved October 19, 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e Estes, Donald H. (Fall 1978). "Before the War: Japanese in San Diego". The Journal of San Diego History. 24 (4). San Diego History Center. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  4. ^ "Our Partners". Japanese American Citizens League. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  5. ^ Mellin, Maribeth, Jane Onstott, and Judith C. Devlin (2009). Insiders' Guide to San Diego (6 ed.). p. 333. ISBN 978-0-7627-4870-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b "Business Spotlight: Buddha For You". Gay & Lesbian Times (1154). February 4, 2010. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  7. ^ "The Venerable Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi Roshi, founder, White Plum Asanga". White Plum Asanga. Archived from the original on April 24, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  8. ^ "One Thousand Days Program: Prison, Family, Community Initiative". The Ojai Foundation. February 2009. Archived from the original on October 15, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  9. ^ "Ezenzia: Directorio Holístico: Ensenada Zen Group". Ciudad de México. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Deer Park Monastery Directory". Archived from the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  11. ^ "Heart Beat Sangha Blog". Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  12. ^ "Open Heart Sangha Blog". Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  13. ^ "The Mindfulness Bell Directory". Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  14. ^ Ryan, Philip (June 26, 2007). "Metta Forest Monastery". Tricycle. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  15. ^ "Faith & Values briefs for the week of April 16". North County Times. April 16, 2010. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
  16. ^ Opincar, Abe (June 11, 1998). "Baltimore to Buddha". Reader. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  17. ^ "Directory of Religious Centers". Pluralism Project: President and Fellows of Harvard College and Diana Eck. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  18. ^ "Unitarian Universalist Buddhist Practice Groups". Unitarian Universalist Association. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  19. ^ a b "Faith & Values calendar for Aug. 12-18". North County Times. Archived from the original on August 28, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
  20. ^ "Buddhist Temple of San Diego". Official Site of Buddhist Temple of San Diego. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  21. ^ "San Diego Buddhist Association Hsi Fang Temple". Pluralism Project: President and Fellows of Harvard College and Diana Eck. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  22. ^ "Vista Buddhist Temple Shokenji Taiko". Japanese American National Museum. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  23. ^ "Kadampa Buddhism Gallery". The New Kadampa Tradition. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  24. ^ "Diamond Way Buddhist Centers". Diamond Way Buddhist Centers USA. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  25. ^ "About Us". Buddhist San Diego. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  26. ^ "International Dzogchen Shri Singha Organizations". Dzogchen Shri Singha. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  27. ^ "San Diego Shambhala Meditation Center". Shambala International. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  28. ^ "We're sorry, KTC San Diego is closed". Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  29. ^ "Karma Thegsum Choling (San Diego)". Karma Thegsum Choling (San Diego). Retrieved 2016-08-04.[dead link‍]
  30. ^ "New Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Center Opens in Downtown San Diego". KPBS. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  31. ^ "Drikung Kyobpa Choling: About Us". Tibetan Meditation Center. Archived from the original on December 15, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  32. ^ Kellogg, Marga (May 2, 2009). "Escondido: Tibetan monastery making final push on expansion effort". North County Times. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  33. ^ "Stuart Lachs". Non-Duality. August 26, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  34. ^ "Insight San Diego". Insight San Diego. Retrieved Dec 19, 2014.