Eastern Sun Sangha
Focusing on Everyday Spirituality

The Dharma
The Eastern Sun Sangha Way

The first most important part is to understand Eastern Sun Sangha's Lineage.

Higashi Honganji
Higashi Honganji (東本願寺, Higashi Hongan-ji), or, the Eastern Temple of the Original Vow, is one of two dominant sub-sects of Shin Buddhism in Japan and abroad, the other being Nishi Honganji (or, 'The Western Temple of the Original Vow'). It is also the name of the head temple in Kyoto, a collection of buildings built in 1895 after a fire burned down the previous temple.
Higashi Honganji was established in 1602 by the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu when he split the Shin sect in two (Nishi Honganji being the other) in order to diminish its power.
During the Twentieth Century it was troubled by political disagreements, financial scandals and family disputes, and has subsequently fractured into a number of further sub-divisions. The largest Higashi Honganji grouping, the Shinshu Otaniha has approximately 5.5 million members, according to statistics. However within this climate of instability the Higashi Honganji also produced a significant number of extremely influential thinkers, such as Soga Ryojin, Kiyozawa Manshi, Kaneko Daiei and Haya Akegarasu amongst others.
Tei-Shin
Ernest Francisco Fenollosa February 18, 1853 – September 21, 1908 was a Catalan American professor of philosophy and political economy at Tokyo Imperial University. An important educator during the modernization of the Meiji Era, Fenollosa was an enthusiastic orientalist who did much to preserve traditional Japanese art. Fenollosa converted to Buddhism and changed his name to Tei-Shin, also adopting the name Kanō Yeitan Masanobu, suggesting that he had been admitted into the ancient Japanese art academy of the Kanō. While resident in Japan, Fenollosa's accomplishments included the first inventory of Japan's national treasures, leading to the discovery of ancient Chinese scrolls brought to Japan by traveling Zen monks centuries earlier. For these accomplishments, the Emperor of Japan decorated him with the orders of the Rising Sun and the Sacred Mirror.
Rev. Kiyozawa Manshi
Kiyozawa Manshi 1863-1901 was a Japanese Shin Buddhist reformer of samurai background who studied at Tokyo University in Western philosophy under the American philosopher Ernest Fenollosa. Many Shin scholars feel that Kiyozawa's viewpoints are comparable to the religious existentialism of Europe. Many Higashi Honganji scholars trace their line of thought to Kiyozawa Manshi, including such men as Akegarasu Haya 1877-1967, Kaneko Daiei 1881-1976, Soga Ryojin 1875-1971 and Maida Schuichi 1906-1967. Some of his essays were translated into English, and have found a Western readership.
Rev. Akegarasu Haya
Akegarasu Haya暁烏敏 1877 – 1967 was a Shin Buddhist student of Kiyozawa Manshi for a decade. Haya is a former head of administration of the Higashi Honganji who was a major inspiration to the formation of the Dobokai Movement. In 1949 Haya focused Shin practice in the direction of faith alone, declaring in a statement to his disciples: "First shinjin, second shinjin, third shinjin." This is basically the moment where Dobokai became official, although the movement did not receive official recognition until 1962. The early roots for the Dobokai Movement faith movement began in 1947 as the shinjinsha, or, 'true person community'.
Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose
Although born in America, Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose spent the early part of his life in Japan where he undoubtedly absorbed a heritage rich in Buddhist influence. Returning to America, he attended the University of California at Berkeley, graduating with a degree in Philosophy in 1935. Then he went to Japan and studied under his teacher, Rev. Haya Akegarasu, at his Dai-Nippon Bunkyo-kenkyu-in at Myotatsuji Temple in Ishikawa Prefecture. Accompanying his teacher on lecture tours, he traveled extensively in Japan, Korea, China, and the US.He returned to the US in 1941 just prior to World War II and spent two years in the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp in Wyoming. Then he came to Chicago in 1944 and founded the Buddhist Temple of Chicago. In 1949, he accompanied and interpreted for the Abbot and Lady Kocho Otani of the Higashi Honganji, the Eastern Headquarters of Buddhism in Japan, on their US tour. Over the years he helped establish various organizations affiliated with the Temple; such as Boy Scout Troop 515, later followed by Cub Scouts, Explorer Scouts, and Girl Scouts; a Japanese language school; and in 1955, the American Buddhist Association.In 1966 he went to Japan for three years to do special studies in Buddhism at Otani Buddhist University in Kyoto. On his way home from Japan in 1969 he made a world tour. He visited Buddhist historical places in India, toured southeastern countries, and attended the World Buddhist Conference in Malaysia. He visited the Holy Land in Israel, and also went to Rome, Athens, and other European countries.He started the Buddhist Educational Center in Chicago in 1970, which offers courses in Buddhism and Japanese cultural arts. He also established a meditation group. He has lectured widely throughout North America, Peru and Brazil, and in Japan. Throughout his life, he emphasized and taught non-sectarian Buddhism for all. He passed away in Chicago on March 29, 2000.
Rev. Koyo S. Kubose
Rev. Koyo S. Kubose was born in Los Angeles, California. After World War II, he relocated to Chicago with his family. He earned a BA from the University of CA at Berkeley, a MA from San Francisco State University, and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Iowa. He has been on the psychology faculties at the University of North Carolina (Greensboro), University of Hawaii (Honolulu), and University of Wisconsin Center System (Janesville). He went to Japan for three years, and studied Shin Buddhism at the Eastern Buddhist Society at Otani University. He also did meditation practice under Zen masters Uchiyama Kosho of the Soto tradition and Kobori Nanrei of the Rinzai tradition. Upon his return to the US in 1977, Rev. Koyo worked with his father, the Venerable Rev. Gyomay Kubose, a pioneer in the Americanization of Buddhism. From 1983 - 1995, Rev. Koyo served as a minister at the Buddhist Temple of Chicago, which his father established in 1944. Currently, Rev. Koyo is president of BRIGHT DAWN: Institute for American Buddhism, which he established in 1996 to carry on his father's lifework. On April 4, 1998, Rev. Gyomay Kubose officially transmitted his spiritual authority to Rev. Koyo Kubose.
Sensei Toyo Teru Katamori
Sensei Toyo Teru Katamori born in Worcester Massachusetts as David George Erickson Jr. and found his path as a Buddhist as he completed his Daily Dharma (21 Day Program) which was begun on April 1, 2007 and completed on April 21, 2007. David George Erickson Jr received the
Ti Sarana (Three Treasures Buddhist Confirmation on the 8th Day of January 2008 and formally received the Dharma name To Yo which means Eastern Sun. Toyo further adapted the name Toyo Teru Katamori officially which translates as (Toyo) Eastern Sun. Teru meaning (Shining) and Katamori meaning (Kata-Wisdom), (Mori-Guard) Katamori. Toyo Teru Katamori was conferred upon by Rev. Koyo S. Kubose as a Lay Minister with all the rights and privileges there of on the 29th Day there of May, 2010 (Buddhist Era 2554) by Bright Dawn Institute for American Buddhism, a non-sectarian Way of Oneness pioneered by The Rev. Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose (1905-2000). LMin. Toyo Teru Katamori Sensei established Eastern Sun Sangha on January 1st, 2009 and has actively enrolled members and conducted Gathering monthly.

Eastern Sun Sangha feels strongly about its lineage and that is why it is included into the ESS Dharma Curriculum.

~ Every Day Spirituality ~ Oneness ~ Just keep going ~
Buddhist Teachings and Practice Paths
Basic Buddhism Guide
A Five Minute Introduction
The Eight Fold Path
The Three Treasures
Eastern Sun Sangha is a private, non-profit educational Sangha dedicated to exploring American Jodo-shinshu Buddhism. The Sangha provides a spring into the study and practice, between secular and non-secular practice. Focusing on the Everyday Spirituality, The Buddha, The Dharma, and The Sangha.
This page was last updated: April 21, 2011