Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple

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Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple We are an American Temple. We are accessible to our community, we offer practical applications of the Buddha’s teaching. meditation begins
7 p.m.

We strive to have a warm and inviting temple where everyone is welcome regardless of spiritual traditions. Buddhism in the Heart of Grand Rapids:

The Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple (GRBT) is an American temple. We emphasize the interdependence and interbeing of all things, the emptiness of all phenomena, the inherent Buddha nature in all beings, and the bodhisattva aspiration. Additionally, we stress inclusiveness and a living experience of the buddhadharma. We strive to bring the buddhadharma to the everyday lives of the Sangha. Our Sangha is primarily made up of folks who have full time jobs and families so we emphasize practical applications of the Buddha’s teaching. We offer a full array of basic and advanced classes, regular meditation periods, and special services. We also are a social group and meet frequently as a community for potlucks and discussions. We strive to have a warm and welcoming temple where everyone is welcome regardless of spiritual tradition or life style choice. Children are always welcome to our services and we provide children’s activities during our Sunday services September through May. Additional Programming:

Buddhist Based 12 Step Recovery Meetings:

Mondays
6:30 p.m. meeting begins
Meets at the Temple

Wednesdays at Alano Club, 1020 College NE
6:30 p.m. meeting begins

Fridays
10 a.m. meditation begins
10:30 a.m. meeting begins
Meets at the Temple

Join us this Sunday, October 4th, for our weekly Sunday talk as Venerable Kunga Nyima Drotos explores what it means to b...
10/02/2026

Join us this Sunday, October 4th, for our weekly Sunday talk as Venerable Kunga Nyima Drotos explores what it means to be generous from a Buddhist perspective. Instead of focusing strictly on the precept of not to steal, he shares how Tibetan Lojong teachings encourage us to fill our days with positive activities so that negative ones naturally have no room to grow. Drawing from Shantideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva, he will explore the four types of giving—material support, emotional support, protection, and the gift of dharma—showing how true generosity fulfills the Buddha’s teaching that abstaining from taking what is not given offers immeasurable beings freedom from fear, hostility, and oppression.

Sunday Service
-9:00 a.m. Dharma Hall setup (all are welcome to join)
-9:30 a.m. Morning chant
-10:00 a.m. Service begins 11-11:30 a.m. Social time

Join us in person or if you can’t make it, Sunday services are live-streamed and can be viewed on our YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC4fhh9twPzX4DtNoUzPuCGg?reload=g

Or on Zoom
Zoom information:
Meeting ID: 915 9282 1333
Passcode: 089654

Follow along using the Rituals and Practices Handbook https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 1QLpgMDxGyU9tFb_nQcvmzXI0Ef98c3Ub/view?
usp=sharing

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We care about your comfort. Michigan weather can change quickly especially as the seasons change. The temperature in the temple may also fluctuate. So for your comfort, wear layers of clothes that you can add or shed. Please wear socks or borrow from our clean socks basket.

In the event of severe weather:
Please check for closing announcements at: https:// www.woodtv.com/weather/closings-and-delays/or on WOOD TV8.

We will also try to send out e-alerts and post on social media platforms.

Join us this Sunday, October 4th, for our weekly Sunday talk as Venerable Kunga Nyima Drotos explores the topic “Be Gene...
10/02/2026

Join us this Sunday, October 4th, for our weekly Sunday talk as Venerable Kunga Nyima Drotos explores the topic “Be Generous” and what that truly means from a Buddhist perspective. Instead of focusing strictly on the precept of not to steal, he shares how Tibetan Lojong teachings encourage us to fill our days with positive activities so that negative ones naturally have no room to grow. Drawing from Shantideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva, he will explore the four types of giving—material support, emotional support, protection, and the gift of dharma—showing how true generosity fulfills the Buddha’s teaching that abstaining from taking what is not given offers immeasurable beings freedom from fear, hostility, and oppression.

Sunday Service
-9:00 a.m. Dharma Hall setup (all are welcome to join)
-9:30 a.m. Morning chant
-10:00 a.m. Service begins 11-11:30 a.m. Social time

Join us in person or if you can’t make it, Sunday services are live-streamed and can be viewed on our YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC4fhh9twPzX4DtNoUzPuCGg?reload=g

Or on Zoom
Zoom information:
Meeting ID: 915 9282 1333
Passcode: 089654

Follow along using the Rituals and Practices Handbook https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 1QLpgMDxGyU9tFb_nQcvmzXI0Ef98c3Ub/view?
usp=sharing

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We care about your comfort. Michigan weather can change quickly especially as the seasons change. The temperature in the temple may also fluctuate. So for your comfort, wear layers of clothes that you can add or shed. Please wear socks or borrow from our clean socks basket.

In the event of severe weather:
Please check for closing announcements at: https:// www.woodtv.com/weather/closings-and-delays/or on WOOD TV8.

We will also try to send out e-alerts and post on social media platforms.

Introducing the Paramita Teams!We’re excited to announce a new way to get involved at GRBT: the Paramita Teams! Rooted i...
10/02/2026

Introducing the Paramita Teams!
We’re excited to announce a new way to get involved at GRBT: the Paramita Teams! Rooted in the six paramitas — Dana (generosity), Sila (ethical conduct), Kshanti (patience), Virya (effort), Dhyana (meditation), and Prajna (wisdom) — these teams offer a meaningful way to bring practice into action by supporting the life of our Sangha.

This is part of an effort to shift GRBT toward a more “bottom up” way of organizing — one where the community itself helps shape and sustain the Temple, rather than relying on decisions coming from the top down. As an all-volunteer organization, we depend on each other, and every bit of help matters.

There’s no long-term commitment required — participate as much or as little as feels right for you. Whether your gifts lie in hospitality, teaching, event planning, or behind-the-scenes support, there’s a team where you can contribute.

Interested in joining? Sign up here:
https://us.list-manage.com/r5hxnAUqVc7?e=8aa03ec5b8&c2id=cf2b6b5f77565eabe6abf6b999ae641b

We’d love to have you!

Join us Sunday, September 27, 2026, as Kshantibhava Angel Hayden shares the talk on taking refuge. Taking refuge is real...
09/26/2026

Join us Sunday, September 27, 2026, as Kshantibhava Angel Hayden shares the talk on taking refuge. Taking refuge is realizing that the thing you have been desperately searching outside of yourself for was never another person, another circumstance, another relationship, or another version of your life. Refuge is the moment you stop asking the world to become safe enough for you to finally be at peace, and begin cultivating a place within yourself that suffering cannot take away. The Buddha is awakening. The Dharma is the path. The Sangha is the reminder that we do not walk it alone. And perhaps the deepest part of taking refuge is this: you can lose almost everything you thought would save you and still discover that you were never without a way home.

Sunday Service
-9:00 a.m. Dharma Hall setup (all are welcome to join)
-9:30 a.m. Morning chant
-10:00 a.m. Service begins 11-11:30 a.m. Social time

Join us in person or if you can’t make it, Sunday services are live-streamed and can be viewed on our YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC4fhh9twPzX4DtNoUzPuCGg?reload=g

Or on Zoom
Zoom information:
Meeting ID: 915 9282 1333
Passcode: 089654

Follow along using the Rituals and Practices Handbook https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 1QLpgMDxGyU9tFb_nQcvmzXI0Ef98c3Ub/view?
usp=sharing

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We care about your comfort. Michigan weather can change quickly especially as the seasons change. The temperature in the temple may also fluctuate. So for your comfort, wear layers of clothes that you can add or shed. Please wear socks or borrow from our clean socks basket.

In the event of severe weather:
Please check for closing announcements at: https:// www.woodtv.com/weather/closings-and-delays/or on WOOD TV8.

We will also try to send out e-alerts and post on social media platforms.

Join us Sunday, September 20, as Rev. Upaya Jeff Filo invites us to dive deeper into the practice of the First Precept a...
09/19/2026

Join us Sunday, September 20, as Rev. Upaya Jeff Filo invites us to dive deeper into the practice of the First Precept and what it means to refrain from harming life. This practice can extend beyond how we treat other living beings and invite us to look inward at the ways we may unknowingly harm ourselves through negative thoughts, harsh speech, self-judgment, and actions rooted in unkindness toward ourselves. Trough practicing the First Precept and refraining from harm also becomes a practice of non-self-harm. Learning to notice the ways we speak to ourselves and choosing, instead, words that offer compassion, patience, and understanding. Together, we’ll explore how this practice can transform the relationships we have with ourselves, and, in turn, the way we meet all life around us.

Sunday Service
-9:00 a.m. Dharma Hall setup (all are welcome to join)
-9:30 a.m. Morning chant
-10:00 a.m. Service begins 11-11:30 a.m. Social time

Join us in person or if you can’t make it, Sunday services are live-streamed and can be viewed on our YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC4fhh9twPzX4DtNoUzPuCGg?reload=g

Or on Zoom
Zoom information:
Meeting ID: 915 9282 1333
Passcode: 089654

Follow along using the Rituals and Practices Handbook https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 1QLpgMDxGyU9tFb_nQcvmzXI0Ef98c3Ub/view?
usp=sharing

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We care about your comfort. Michigan weather can change quickly especially as the seasons change. The temperature in the temple may also fluctuate. So for your comfort, wear layers of clothes that you can add or shed. Please wear socks or borrow from our clean socks basket.

In the event of severe weather:
Please check for closing announcements at: https:// www.woodtv.com/weather/closings-and-delays/or on WOOD TV8.

We will also try to send out e-alerts and post on social media platforms.

Join us Sunday, September 13 as Ven. SonShin shares the talk on The Platform Sutra. 🪷Have you ever wondered what it trul...
09/12/2026

Join us Sunday, September 13 as Ven. SonShin shares the talk on The Platform Sutra. 🪷
Have you ever wondered what it truly means to give and receive without holding on?
This week, Ven. SonShin will guide us through the profound wisdom of Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism. Originally an illiterate woodcutter, Huineng’s remarkable story turns traditional ideas of status and intelligence upside down. His teachings in the Platform Sutra remind us that awakening doesn’t require elite knowledge—it just requires an open heart.
Together, we’ll continue exploring the relationship between a student and a teacher; What can we learn from the Sutra of Huineng and his story about giving and receiving with no attachment and what it means to be a student and a teacher?

Sunday Service
-9:00 a.m. Dharma Hall setup (all are welcome to join)
-9:30 a.m. Morning chant
-10:00 a.m. Service begins 11-11:30 a.m. Social time

Join us in person or if you can’t make it, Sunday services are live-streamed and can be viewed on our YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC4fhh9twPzX4DtNoUzPuCGg?reload=g

Or on Zoom
Zoom information:
Meeting ID: 915 9282 1333
Passcode: 089654

Follow along using the Rituals and Practices Handbook https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 1QLpgMDxGyU9tFb_nQcvmzXI0Ef98c3Ub/view?
usp=sharing

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We care about your comfort. Michigan weather can change quickly especially as the seasons change. The temperature in the temple may also fluctuate. So for your comfort, wear layers of clothes that you can add or shed. Please wear socks or borrow from our clean socks basket.

In the event of severe weather:
Please check for closing announcements at: https:// www.woodtv.com/weather/closings-and-delays/or on WOOD TV8.

We will also try to send out e-alerts and post on social media platforms.

What does it mean to truly cherish the people around us? This Sunday, September 6th, join us as Ven. Kunga Nyima Drotos ...
09/04/2026

What does it mean to truly cherish the people around us? This Sunday, September 6th, join us as Ven. Kunga Nyima Drotos shares a heart-opening Dharma talk: Cherishing Spiritual friends.
The practice of all the Bodhisattvas is to cherish spiritual friends, by regarding them as even more precious than one’s own body, since they are the ones who will help rid us of all faults, and make our virtues grow even greater just like the waxing moon.-The 37 Practices of the Bodhisattvas
Cultivate deeper connections and find support on your path by exploring these practices with us. Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been practicing for years, all are welcome here.Sunday Service
-9:00 a.m. Dharma Hall setup (all are welcome to join)
-9:30 a.m. Morning chant
-10:00 a.m. Service begins 11-11:30 a.m. Social time

Join us in person or if you can’t make it, Sunday services are live-streamed and can be viewed on our YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC4fhh9twPzX4DtNoUzPuCGg?reload=g

Or on Zoom
Zoom information:
Meeting ID: 915 9282 1333
Passcode: 089654

Follow along using the Rituals and Practices Handbook https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 1QLpgMDxGyU9tFb_nQcvmzXI0Ef98c3Ub/view?
usp=sharing

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We care about your comfort. Michigan weather can change quickly especially as the seasons change. The temperature in the temple may also fluctuate. So for your comfort, wear layers of clothes that you can add or shed. Please wear socks or borrow from our clean socks basket.

In the event of severe weather:
Please check for closing announcements at: https:// www.woodtv.com/weather/closings-and-delays/or on WOOD TV8.

We will also try to send out e-alerts and post on social media platforms.

Introducing the Paramita Teams! We’re excited to introduce a new way to get involved at Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple: th...
09/04/2026

Introducing the Paramita Teams!
We’re excited to introduce a new way to get involved at Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple: the Paramita Teams. Rooted in the six paramitas—Dana (generosity), Sila (ethical conduct), Kshanti (patience), Virya (effort), Dhyana (meditation), and Prajna (wisdom)—these teams create meaningful opportunities to bring our practice into action while supporting the life of our Sangha.

The Paramita Teams are part of our ongoing effort to grow GRBT through a more “bottom-up” approach to community life—one where the Sangha itself helps shape, support, and sustain the Temple. As an all-volunteer organization, we depend on one another, and every contribution matters.

There’s no long-term commitment required. Participate as much or as little as feels right for you. Whether you’re drawn to hospitality, teaching, event planning, community care, communication, technology, or behind-the-scenes support, there’s a place for your gifts.

Interested in joining a Paramita Team? Sign up in temple or at this link here: https://us.list-manage.com/1ByO2Dyofb8?e=8aa03ec5b8&c2id=cf2b6b5f77565eabe6abf6b999ae641b

We’d love to have you be part of this next chapter of our Sangha. Six paths of service. One Sangha.

Last week, we explored Je Tsongkhapa’s ten qualities of a teacher. This Sunday, we turn toward the other side of that re...
08/29/2026

Last week, we explored Je Tsongkhapa’s ten qualities of a teacher. This Sunday, we turn toward the other side of that relationship: the student.

Āryadeva describes a suitable Dharma student as impartial, discerning, and diligent. Je Tsongkhapa adds focused attention and respect.

These teachings raise an honest question: Are we open enough to be taught while remaining responsible for discerning what is true?

Join us Sunday as we explore what it means to become teachable.

Sunday Service
9 a.m. Dharma Hall setup
9:30 a.m. Morning chant
10 a.m. Service begins
11-11:30 a.m. Social time

Join us in person or if you can’t make it in you can join us via our YouTube livestream (see link in bio) or Zoom.

Zoom information:
Meeting ID: 915 9282 1333
Passcode: 089654

Follow along using the Rituals and Practices Handbook: https://zengr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c6f93e0684e1bf6c6164200c9&id=e4a1239996&e=711c261f0d

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We care about your comfort. Michigan weather can change quickly especially as the seasons change. The temperature in the temple may also fluxuate. For your comfort, wear layers. Please wear socks or borrow from our clean socks basket.

In the event of severe weather:
Please check for closing announcements at woodtv weather closings and delays or on WOOD TV8. We will also try to send out e-alerts and post on social media platforms.

This Sunday, August 23rd, join us as we are honored to welcome Bhikshuni Lozang Yönten for a special virtual Dharma talk...
08/22/2026

This Sunday, August 23rd, join us as we are honored to welcome Bhikshuni Lozang Yönten for a special virtual Dharma talk, The Ten Qualities of a Spiritual Teacher. Bhikshuni Lozang Yönten is Chaplain and Abbess of the Maitripa Rabjungma Community. A nun since 2003, she trained extensively in Australia and India before becoming an accredited FPMT teacher in 2012. She has taught at centers across Australia, New Zealand, Israel, and Europe, and now teaches at Maitripa College, bringing with her experience in hospice care and a deep commitment to social justice and animal welfare.

Sunday Service
9:00 a.m. Dharma Hall setup (all are welcome to join)
9:30 a.m. Morning chant
10:00 a.m. Service begins 11-11:30 a.m. Social time
Join us in person or if you can’t make it, Sunday services are live-streamed and can be viewed on our YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC4fhh9twPzX4DtNoUzPuCGg?reload=g
Or on Zoom
Zoom information:
Meeting ID: 915 9282 1333
Passcode: 089654
Follow along using the Rituals and Practices Handbook https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 1QLpgMDxGyU9tFb_nQcvmzXI0Ef98c3Ub/view?
usp=sharing
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We care about your comfort. Michigan weather can change quickly especially as the seasons change. The temperature in the temple may also fluctuate. So for your comfort, wear layers of clothes that you can add or shed. Please wear socks or borrow from our clean socks basket.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We care about your comfort. Michigan weather can change quickly especially as the seasons change. The temperature in the temple may also fluctuate. So for your comfort, wear layers of clothes that you can add or shed. Please wear socks or borrow from our clean socks basket.
In the event of severe weather:
Please check for closing announcements at: https:// www.woodtv.com/weather/closings-and-delays/or on
WOOD TV8.
We will also try to send out e-alerts and post on social media platforms.

Address

451 Division Avenue S
Grand Rapids, MI
49503

Opening Hours

Monday 6:30pm - 8pm
Thursday 9:30am - 11am
Friday 10am - 11:30am
Sunday 9am - 11:30am

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