The Buddhist Temple of Chicago (BTC) is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Chicago. Our membership has historically been Japanese American, but the temple has diversified over the decades to include members of European, African, Asian, Latin, and Native American descent. We welcome those who identify as LGBTQ. We even have members of other religions who believe that the teachings of the Buddha are compatible with their beliefs. Anyone wishing to learn about the Dharma is welcome.
BTC is an administratively independent temple with a historical lineage rooted in the Japanese Pure Land tradition. All serving ministers have been ordained in the Higashi Honganji denomination of Jodo Shinshu and maintain strong ties to the head temple in Kyoto. Our temple offers meditation sessions on a regular basis, along with study classes covering a wide range of Buddhist teachings, such as the Sutta Nipata and the Lotus Sutra. We hold services nearly every Sunday morning at 11, in addition to hosting a wide variety of educational and cultural classes (see the Education link above). There are also several special Buddhist and Japanese culture events throughout the year. All services and classes are in English. In addition, we have amplification devices to assist the hearing-impaired.
ABOUT US
The Buddhist Temple of Chicago (BTC) is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Chicago. Our membership has been and continues to be Japanese American, but the temple has diversified over the decades to include members of African, Asian, European, Latin, and Native American descent. We welcome those who identify as LGBTQA+. We also have members of other religions who believe that the teachings of the Buddha are compatible with their beliefs. Anyone wishing to learn about the Dharma is welcome.
BTC is an administratively independent temple with a historical lineage rooted in the Japanese Pure Land tradition. All serving ministers have been ordained in the Higashi Honganji denomination of Jodo Shinshu and maintain strong ties to the head temple in Kyoto. Our temple offers meditation sessions on a regular basis, along with occasional Buddhism study classes and seminars. We hold services nearly every Sunday morning at 11, in addition to hosting a wide variety of educational and cultural classes (see the Education link above). There are also several special Buddhist and Japanese cultural events throughout the year. All services and classes are in English.
The temple was founded on October 8, 1944, by survivors of Japanese mass Incarceration (or Internment/Concentration) camps, including Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose. Rev. Kubose was a pioneer in presenting Buddhism in everyday English and one of the first Jodo Shinshu ministers in the United States to conduct Zen meditation sessions. The original site was 5487 S. Dorchester Ave., and the temple was later moved nearby to 5446 S. Dorchester Ave. in Hyde Park on Chicago’s South Side. The temple is now located in the vibrant neighborhood of Uptown on the North Side. The inauguration ceremony was held on October 26 and 27, 1957. A new six-sided temple building modeled after the six-sided Rokkakudo Temple in Kyoto, Japan, was dedicated on May 21, 2006.
Please visit. We welcome all newcomers and old friends alike.
Last updated January 15, 2023.
The Buddhist Temple of Chicago 