Rev. Kevin Roche (back row, center) with members of the San Antonio Dharma Center after they performed a play featuring the parable of the medicinal herbs.
Rissho Kosei-kai of San Antonio is a vibrant and welcoming Buddhist Center. Over the past decade, the Center has grown steadily, increasing membership by approximately 10 percent per year. Our sangha is reflective of our city: a richly diverse population of members from varied cultural and ethnic backgrounds. While honoring our senior Japanese members, RK San Antonio continues to engage a younger, multicultural community through dynamic programs and services. Our typical member is in their early forties.
The Center offers in-person and online Recitation Services four times per week. We offer Meditation Classes, Basic Buddhism Classes, and Lotus Sutra Study Classes in both English and Spanish.
We provide compassionate care and spiritual guidance through support groups for women, youth, veterans, and those recovering from addiction. Members also participate in enriching activities like Japanese martial arts, Kodo (The Way of Fragrance), and our popular Arts and Crafts classes.
RK San Antonio’s Youth Group is vibrant and provides many activities for our young members, who participate in several annual Matoi (standards carried by traditional Japanese firefighters) Parades in San Francisco and Los Angeles. We are adding a Sutra Recitation Service that will be led entirely by our youth members. This will feature a Dharma talk and hoza (Dharma circle) led by young members. In addition, the Youth Group is developing ways to assist our elderly members.
Interfaith collaboration is a valued part of the Center’s mission, exemplified by our hosting of a Native American Drum Circle Ceremony each month.
Sunday Services feature Dharma talks by the minister, Dharma teachers, and members, including personal Dharma Journeys. The Center also holds special culturally-relevant Recitation services, such as a recent service to honor our Planet Earth.
RK San Antonio attracts many visitors who walk through the doors and are met with open arms by our leadership team. These new visitors often become part of our joyful sangha. Our wonderful leadership team is dedicated to the practice of tedori (enhancing people’s connection with the Dharma) and provides compassionate care and guidance to our members.
RK San Antonio remains committed to creatively sharing the Dharma and serving the spiritual needs of our growing community. We like to think of ourselves as the happiest sangha in the world!
For news and updates on upcoming events, please visit our News and Events page.
