Seabrook Buddhist Temple
Religion
AffiliationJōdo Shinshū Buddhism
LeadershipSupervising Minister: Reverend Kurt Rye
Location
Location9 Northville Rd
Upper Deerfield Township, New Jersey
CountryUnited States
Geographic coordinates39°30′27.0″N 75°13′16.0″W / 39.507500°N 75.221111°W / 39.507500; -75.221111
Architecture
Date established1969
Website
http://sbtnj.org/

The Seabrook Buddhist Temple is a Buddhist temple of the Jōdo Shinshū Hongwanji-ha sect in the Seabrook section of Upper Deerfield Township, New Jersey. It is an affiliate of the Buddhist Churches of America.[1][2]

History

Establishment

Between 1944 and 1947, during the US Government relocation program, about 600 families (an estimated 2,500 Japanese-Americans) had been living and working at Seabrook Farms.[3][4][5][6][7][8] In response to the community's spiritual concerns, Shosetsu Tsufara[9] and Zaishin Mukushina[10] began holding non-denominational Buddhist services. Initially services took place in a Child Care Center building, funded by the Federal Public Housing Authority, in Hoover Village, north of the Upper Deerfield Township Municipal Building.[7] The Buddhist church was formed in the winter of 1945[8][11] and Kaoru Kamikawa was selected as president of the organization.

In 1946, the Seabrook chapter of the Young Buddhist Association was formed with Kiyomi Nakamura as its chairperson.

By 1965, the Seabrook Buddhist Sangha was officially recognized as an independent temple. On October 6, 1966, members of the congregation planned for the construction of an independent temple building and purchased more than 7 acres of land.

In 1968, the groundbreaking of the current temple began and construction was completed in 1969 [7] The temple was officially dedicated on November 27,1969 with all Buddhist Ministers of the Eastern District in attendance, along with twenty-third Monshu Ōtani Kōshō and Lady Yoshiko Ōtani.

In 1983 the temple was incorporated as a nonprofit organization. 1986 saw the addition of a residential home for the presiding sensei. A meditation garden was constructed in 1988.

Outreach

The temple served as host for the 2016 Eastern Buddhist League Conference entitled "Come As You Are: Buddhism and Daily Life." The keynote speaker was Kenneth K. Tanaka.[12][13]

The temple serves as the headquarters for the taiko drumming troupe Hoh Daiko[14][15] and Seabrook Minyo Dance Group

See also

References

  1. "Sangha". Seabrook Buddhist Temple. 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  2. "Find a Temple". Buddhist Churches of America. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  3. Jung, Taylor (2018-12-06). "A South Jersey Farm Town with a Hidden History". WNYC. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  4. Mautner, Lynn (1994-10-09). "50 Years Later, Japanese-Americans Return to Seabrook for a Dedication". New York Times. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  5. Barlas, Thomas (2016-12-09). "The story behind Seabrook's Japanese-American Population". The Press of Atlantic City (subscription required). Archived from the original on 2016-12-10. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  6. Niiya, Brian (1993). Japanese American History. Japanese American National Museum (Los Angeles, Calif.): VNR AG. p. 307. ISBN 0-8160-2680-7. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "Upper Deerfield Township "The UpDate: Centennial Edition"" (PDF). Township of Upper Deerfield. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  8. 1 2 Noguchi, Rei. "Seabrook: A New Beginning". Rutgers University Libraries. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  9. "Welcome to Buddhist Church of Parlier: History". Buddhist Church of Parlier. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  10. "LOOK TOWARD THE MOUNTAIN, EPISODE 6 TRANSCRIPT" (PDF). Heart Mountain Relocation Center. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  11. Fajgier, Sue (2023-03-23). "Seabrook Farms: A History of Japanese American Internees in NJ After Wartime Hysteria". The New Jersey Digest. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  12. "2016 EBL Conference". 2016 EBL Conference. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  13. "2016 EBL Wrap-Up". Midwest Buddhist Temple. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  14. "Hoh Daiko Taiko". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  15. "Hoh Diako Drummers". Hoh Daiko. Archived from the original on May 27, 2017. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
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