Early Beginnings
In 1911 the Berkeley Young Men's Buddhist Association, composed of 73 members, was organized under the guidance of Reverend Gyodo Haguri. At the time, Reverend Haguri was minister of the Oakland Buddhist Church. The inaugural service was held on May 10, 1911 at the Odd Fellows Hotel. This marked the modest beginnings of the Berkeley Buddhist Temple which was to later impart its broad and pervasive influence on the future of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in America. ...