List of sanghas in San Diego County, California

This is a list of sanghas in San Diego County, California. All major branches of Buddhism, Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, are represented there, as is the Mahayana form Zen, as are Vipassanā and Jōdo Shinshū (Pure Land). There is also a secular Zen sangha. The area is home to monasteries as well as to less formally engaged groups who gather for meditation and community. Siddhārtha Gautama died over 2500 years ago, but the oldest Buddhist organization in San Diego County is less than 100 years old.

History During 1916, Japanese immigrant Buddhist farmers were killed when what was then named Otay Dam gave way and resulted in the Hatfield Flood. The local Japanese diaspora needed a place to hold religious services and went on to found what they call the oldest Buddhist organization in San Diego County. They met informally until they were able to afford a temple space. First they rented a second-floor room on 6th and Market in May 1926. Boys and girls in costume paraded through downtown to celebrate. Later, in 1931, they dedicated today's Buddhist Temple of San Diego at 2929 Market.

List Name School of Buddhism Founder/Date Location Mirror Mind Buddhist Sangha (Center for American Buddhist Practice) Buddhism (regardless of school), non-sectarian Mahayana ca. 2005 San DiegoPacific Seaside SanghaBuddhism (regardless of school)Gavin Seedorf (2014)4666 Cass St San Diego Dharma Bum Temple Buddhism (regardless of school) Jeffrey Zlotnik (2006) San Diego Buddha For You Buddhism (regardless of school) Jeffrey Zlotnik San Diego Vista Zen CenterZenWhite Plum Asanga lineageVistaThree Treasures Zen CommunityZenWhite Plum lineageRancho PeñasquitosDeer Park MonasteryZenThích Nhất Hạnh (2000)EscondidoSweetwater Zen CenterZenAnne Seisen Saunders (2000)National CityHidden Valley Zen CenterZen(1968)San MarcosEnsenada Zen GroupVietnamese ZenEnsenada, Baja California, MexicoAll People's World Beat SanghaPlum Village TraditionWorld Beat CenterHeart Beat Sangha (People of Color)Plum Village TraditionWorld Beat CenterOpen Heart SanghaPlum Village Tradition (2010)First Unitarian Universalist Church of San DiegoPeaceful Shores SanghaPlum Village TraditionUniversity Lutheran ChurchCompassionate Heart SanghaPlum Village TraditionEncinitasPalomitas de Paz SanghaPlum Village TraditionPalomar Unitarian Universalist FellowshipReally Beneficial SanghaPlum Village TraditionRancho Bernardo/EscondidoStill Ripening Sangha (Order of Interbeing)Plum Village TraditionDeer Park MonasteryMetta Forest MonasteryTheravada, Thai Forest TraditionAjaan Suwat Suvaco (1991)Valley CenterSunnataram California Meditation MonasteryTheravada, Thai traditionAjahn Yantra Amaro (1995)EscondidoWat Lao Navaram MonasteryTheravadaLinda VistaWat SovannkiryCambodian BuddhismSan DiegoUU Meditation CircleVipassanāSan Diego, First Unitarian Universalist ChurchUnitarian Universalist Fellowship of San DieguitoVipassanāSolana BeachBuddhist Temple of San DiegoJōdo Shinshū (Pure Land Buddhism)(1926, 1931)Grant HillHsi Fang TempleFo Guang ShanHsing Yun (1989)University HeightsVista Buddhist TempleJōdo Shinshū (Pure Land Buddhism)(1980)VistaKadampa Meditation Center San DiegoNew Kadampa TraditionGeshe Kelsang GyatsoPoint LomaDiamond Way Buddhist CenterDiamond Way BuddhismLama Ole Nydahl (ca. 1972)University CityJigme Lingpa Center San DiegoTibetan, Nyingma, Longchen Nyingthig Lama Lhanang Rinpoche (2013)North ParkTibetan Healing Center, Dzogchen Shri Singha of San Diego, Tsegyalgar WestTibetan, Drukpa Lineage DzogchenNamkhai Norbu (2003)Hillcrest, Encinitas, Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, MexicoSan Diego Shambhala Meditation CenterTibetanChögyam TrungpaKearny MesaKarma Thegsum Chöling (San Diego) Buddhist Meditation CenterTibetan, Karma Kagyu, Vajrayana16th Karmapa (1977)Closed, 2021San DiegoSan Diego RigpaTibetanSogyal RinpocheSan DiegoDrikung Kyobpa CholingTibetan(1996 or 1997)EscondidoZen Center of San DiegoSecular Pacific BeachInsight San DiegoVipassanā (2014) Liberty StationEncinitas Mindfulness CommunityNon-sectarianFounding teacher, Diana Shimkus -2009 everydaymind.com encinitasmindfulness.orgSoul of Yoga, Encinitas

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