1151 W. Leland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640
Telephone: (773) 334-4661
Fax: (773) 334-4726
Pager: (312) 689-4689
Contact person: Rev. Yukei Ashikaga
Established in 1944 by the Reverend Gyomay M. Kubose, the Buddhist Temple of Chicago is a non-sectarian temple in the Japanese Mahayana tradition. Reverend Kubose founded the temple in order to establish a humanistic Buddhism based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, fully accepting that Buddhism in America would take a uniquely American path. He has been a leader in making Buddhism readily accessible to the Western mind.
Reverend Kubose is now minister emeritus and Reverend Yukei Ashikaga is our head minister. Both were both formally trained at Otani University and ordained by the Higashi Honganji, although the temple maintains hierarchical independence.
Reverend Kubose is well-known for his many books (Everyday Suchness, Zen Koans, The Center Within, American Buddhism) and his lectures at universities throughout the world.
The Temple offers Sunday services at 11 a.m. in English, and at 1 p.m. in Japanese. The Temple has a Dharma School, Toddler Group, discussion groups, special seminars, combination Rinzai/Soto meditation sesshins, Taiko, Iaido and Kendo. The Temple also hosts Japanese language classes, calligraphy instruction and cultural groups.
Please contact Reverend Ashikaga for further information on Buddhist services and temple activities.