Buddhist Church of Santa Barbara

Buddhist Church of Santa Barbara A Buddhist Community in the Japanese Jodo Shinshu Pure Land Tradition.

Originally located at 131 East Canon Perdido Street, the Buddhist Church of Santa Barbara was founded in 1922 by Japanese immigrants to Santa Barbara. They had the wish that the teachings of the Buddha should thrive in this country, so that the wisdom and compassion of the Buddha would continue to illuminate the lives of future generations. As the membership grew, the current building at 1015 East

Montecito Street was constructed and dedicated for Buddhist practice and mindfulness in 1966. The Buddhist Church of Santa Barbara belongs to the Buddhist Churches of America and the Jodo Shinshu school of Buddhism. With roots in the Pure Land Buddhist tradition, we share a common spiritual heritage with many Buddhist communities active today in Japan, China, Korea, and Vietnam, as well as here in the United States. We look to the eminent 12th century Japanese Buddhist priest Shinran as the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. He taught that by listening to the words of the Buddha with an open heart, our path is illuminated by the wisdom and compassion of awakening.

Hello Dharma friends! June is just around the corner, so mark your calendars for our monthly Buddhist gathering on Satur...
05/27/2026

Hello Dharma friends! June is just around the corner, so mark your calendars for our monthly Buddhist gathering on Saturday June 13.

Join is at 10 am for our service which includes moments to calm the mind, honor our ancestors who passed away in the month of June, and listen to a Dharma message. In observance of Pride Month, Rev. JP will discuss Buddhist views of on same s*x marriage and how our mother organization, the , began conducting those ceremonies more than 50 years ago.

Then, stick around for our Lunch and Learn: Buddhism and Pop Culture discussion. We’ll discuss the 2019 film The Farewell starring Awkwafina and how Buddhism helps us navigate the moral dilemmas of what we tell, or don’t tell, our loved ones.

Whether you’re a longtime member, interested in experiencing a Buddhist temple for the first time, or somewhere in between, you belong!

For today’s Learn More Monday: did you know that BCSB was one of the first Shin Buddhist temples in North America to hav...
05/19/2026

For today’s Learn More Monday: did you know that BCSB was one of the first Shin Buddhist temples in North America to have a woman resident minister? Rev. Seiko Okahashi served BCSB in the 1960s and was our spiritual leader when we moved to our current location. She was one of only a tiny handful of woman ministers in the at the time, and paved the way for several more.

Okahashi Sensei is pictured here with the Fujinkai (Buddhist Women’s Association) during her tenure. Historically, the BWA has been the foundation of our temple and sister sanghas. They kept the community nourished and stewarded the dharma for generations through fundraisers and other organizing. They even gifted the temple the exquisite kansho bell that calls us to gather and reflect.

Shin Buddhism teaches us that all are equal in the light of infinite wisdom and great compassion, and this egalitarianism is central to our beliefs!

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our May Dharma gathering today! We were especially delighted to welcome our friends...
05/09/2026

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our May Dharma gathering today! We were especially delighted to welcome our friends from our sister temple, the Guadalupe Buddhist Church, pictured here with BCSB folks. Fun fact: our temple was established in 1913 under the auspices of GBC, and so we’re grateful that our karmic connections continue to this day. Thanks to all of the additional newcomers and longtime friends who attended.

In his message, Rev. JP discussed the life and lessons of Ven. Shinran, the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, and whose birth we observed this month.

We hope to see you at our next service and lunch and learn on Saturday June 13. And, mark your calendars for our Obon celebration on July 18!

Join our very own Rev. Marvin Harada for a series of meditation courses! Although seated meditation is not a formal prac...
05/09/2026

Join our very own Rev. Marvin Harada for a series of meditation courses! Although seated meditation is not a formal practice in Jodo Shinshu, Rev. Harada’s approach helps us calm the mind to open our hearts to the Dharma.

Open to Everyone Weekly Guided Meditations Meditation isn’t about perfection — it’s about steady practice. Our weekly live online guided meditations help

05/08/2026

Our May newsletter, the Geppo, is hot off the presses! If you'd like to receive the Geppo in your inbox, please send us a direct message or email [email protected]

05/07/2026

With June just around the corner, Obon season is almost here! We hope you’ll join us SATURDAY, JULY 18 for our annual gathering of joy to enjoy odori folk dance, entertainment, snacks, a Japanese flea market, temple tours, and more!

Obon is an annual summer Buddhist holiday in Japan to honor our deceased ancestors and made its way to the Central Coast over 100 years ago.

In addition to our Obon, please support our sister temples all across Southern California!

All are welcome to our monthy Buddhist gathering, starting at 10 am on May 9th. Join us for a Dharma service featuring m...
05/04/2026

All are welcome to our monthy Buddhist gathering, starting at 10 am on May 9th. Join us for a Dharma service featuring moments to calm the mind and reflect. Then, stick around for our Lunch and Learn: Buddhism and Pop Culture discussion stating around 11:15 (not 11 as the flyer states). This month we’ll discuss the Buddhist lessons in the hit reality show ! What some people call trashy reality, we call a valuable mirror to better understand our selves. Whether you come for the service, Lunch and Learn, or both, you belong here!

Hi Dharma pals! Our monthly Lunch and Learn: Buddhism and Pop Culture series will be on hiatus in July and August, but w...
04/25/2026

Hi Dharma pals! Our monthly Lunch and Learn: Buddhism and Pop Culture series will be on hiatus in July and August, but we want to keep our Buddhist education going! We’re gathering interest on offering a semi-weekly discussion/study class entirely on zoom this summer. We’ll cover topics such as basics of Buddhism, intro to Jodo Shinshu, and Buddhism and contemporary issues. Would you be interested in participating?

All are welcome to our monthy Buddhist gathering, starting at 10 am on May 9th. Join us for a Dharma service to honor ou...
04/21/2026

All are welcome to our monthy Buddhist gathering, starting at 10 am on May 9th. Join us for a Dharma service to honor our ancestors who have passed away in the month of May, and celebrate Gotane, our annual observance of the birth of Venerable Shinran, the father of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Then, stick around for our Lunch and Learn: Buddhism and Pop Culture discussion.

From the stresses of daily life to the uncertainty of the world we live in, we all could use moments of calm, clarity, and connection. We hope you’ll join us to find those moments together!

Address

1015 E Montecito Street
Santa Barbara, CA
93103

Telephone

+18059623633

Website

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