Pine Mountain Buddhist Temple
Pine Mountain Buddhist Temple is a temple and meditation retreat center affiliated with the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, a monastic and lay order in the Soto Zen tradition, founded by Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett. The temple is located on 45 acres in rural Ventura County, California in the Ozena Valley (see map for locating the temple). The temple was formerly the Santa Barbara Buddhist Priory, from 1979 – 2000, before moving to Ventura County. The temple comprises three houses, including guest facilities, making it possible to offer residential training as well as Buddhist ceremonies, meditation instruction and Dharma Talks.
At the moment, the monastic community has three members: Rev. Houn Phoebe, Rev. Seikai Luebke, and Rev. Leon Kackman. Rev. Phoebe is the abbess of the temple. The three monks are senior members of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives and Teachers of Buddhism. Rev. Master Phoebe and Rev. Master Seikai were disciples of the late Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett; Rev. Leon is the disciple of Rev. Master Eko Little, abbot of Shasta Abbey. The temple is visited regularly by other monks of the OBC and supported by congregation members who live throughout Southern California.
Pine Mountain Buddhist Temple is one of many temples of the O.B.C. in North America and Europe. Revs. Phoebe and Seikai trained as monks at Shasta Abbey in Mt. Shasta, California under the late Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett. Following her death in 1996, they were both qualified as Zen Masters by Rev. Master Daizui MacPhillamy, who succeeded Rev. Master Jiyu as Head of the O.B.C. Rev. Master Daizui died in April, 2003. Pine Mountain Buddhist Temple monks regularly visit the two meditation groups associated with the temple in Los Osos-Morro Bay, and Ojai.