Shinnyo-en New York is the East Coast hub of Shinnyo-en, an international Buddhist community that was originally founded in Tachikawa, Japan in 1936. The White Plains temple first opened its doors in 1994, and since then, we have been supporting people’s spiritual development and offering buddhist training in the Shinnyo Tradition.
Shinnyo (in sanskrit, tathata) is a buddhist concept referring to the truth of the awakening of a buddha that exists within all of us. The en of Shinnyo-en refers to a “garden without borders,” where all people can bring forth their innate, true nature. As this name suggests, all are welcome, and we believe that with sincere effort, anyone can reach enlightenment and find true happiness, without exception.
Shinnyo Buddhism is based on the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, a collection of teachings that are considered the final teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. This set of teachings emphasizes that all people have the "seed" of enlightenment within, and that through acting with compassion and concern for others, anyone can cultivate that seed and bring forth their true self and full potential. Shinnyo-en offers a path of practice for people to discover and develop their inner-buddha (or awakened) nature in their daily lives, and gain insight into themselves through altruistic practice that supports the well-being of others.
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Shinnyo Buddhism’s roots lay in the 1,100 year old Dharma lineage of Shingon Buddhism, one of the main forms of esoteric Buddhism in Japan.
Shinjo Ito (also referred to as Master Shinjo), the founder of Shinnyo-en, received training at the Daigo School of Shingon Buddhism. Shinjo completed the highest levels of monastic training at Daigo monastery that few are able to complete. Wanting to establish a Buddhist path that is accessible to all people, Shinjo was given permission to open his own lineage of Buddhism, which was accessible not only to monastics, but to lay persons alike. This new lineage, founded in 1936, was the start of Shinnyo-en.
Shinnyo-en derives its main inspiration from the Nirvana Sutra, the final teachings of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, which expounds that all beings have the ability to attain enlightenment. Through the years, Master Shinjo focused his efforts on forging a path for practice that allows for anyone to use their daily lives as a training ground for spiritual development and growth.
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Her Holiness Shinso Ito is the current head of the Shinnyo-en spiritual community. For practitioners of the Shinnyo tradition, she serves as a living embodiment of the enlightened qualities of lovingkindness, compassion, and wisdom.
Shinso was born in Japan in 1942, the daughter of Masters Shinjo and Tomoji. She began her formal Buddhist training as a child under the care of her parents, who were her main spiritual teachers, and eventually she became their formal and spiritual successor. She was ordained in the Shinnyo tradition in 1966 and undertook her initial priestly Buddhist training between 1970 and 1982. In 1984, her accomplishment as a dharma (teaching) master and future successor was announced by Master Shinjo, and since 1989 she has led the sangha. She is one of the few women to have become a master of Esoteric Buddhism and receive the highest priestly rank of daisojo. She has twice conducted important services at Daigoji, a 1,100-year- old Shingon monastery in Kyoto, Japan, and the place where Master Shinjo trained as a priest.
In recent years, she has created innovative ceremonies to reach out to more people around the world. Through her teachings of an engaged Buddhism, she guides both the individual and the sangha. Under her leadership, Shinnyo-en has established or supports a number of foundations and organizations that promote education, health, the arts, economic empowerment, environmental awareness, and interfaith dialogue.
Her palpable joy and warmth continue to inspire as she shares the message of peace and enlightenment taught by the founders of Shinnyo-en.
