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Gyomay Kubose (久保瀬 暁明; June 21, 1905[1]–March 29, 2000), born Masao Kubose was a Japanese-American Buddhist teacher. In 1944, after leaving theHeart Mountain internment camp,[2] he founded the Chicago Buddhist Church, later renamed theBuddhist Temple of Chicago.[3][4]
Although born in the United States,[2] he spent a large amount of his youth in Japan.[5] After graduating fromUniversity of California at Berkeley,[2] Kubose moved back to Japan where, for five years, he studied under his spiritual instructorHaya Akegarasu,[5] who was in turn a student ofKiyozawa Manshi, aMeiji-era reformer ofShin Buddhism.[6]
Kubose was anon-sectarian Buddhist and followed Kiyozawa's message thatBuddhism should be implemented as a personal voyage, and not merely a communal tradition as it had become prior to the Meiji era. He also extended a great amount of influence in North America, and traveled much of the United States on his lecture tours.[2] In addition to founding one of the first non-sectarian Buddhist temples in America,[7][5] he also established theAmerican Buddhist Association,[5] the Buddhist Educational Centre inChicago, Scouting Clubs, and many among other groups. Rev. Gyomay was a pioneer in American Buddhism, preaching Pureland Dharma while also conducting Zen meditation sessions. Returning to Japan in 1966, he attendedŌtani University inKyoto for three years, pursuing special studies in Buddhism.[8]
Rev. Gyomay extended the Buddhist ideal that duality is an illusion created by egotism, and that primordially everything is Oneness. Many of his lectures and teachings focus upon this, using a juxtaposition that oneness and individuality can coexist, provided one does not allow the ego to get in the way. Another focus of his was the extension of Kiyozawa's message, that Buddhism should be a personal experience and it is not sufficient to merely attend temple services and recite sutras. The experience must come from within, or there is no substance. To that end, Kubose placed theBuddha in the same field asSocrates, in that Buddhism should be regarded as a philosophy first, and a religion second. Philosophy is something a person contemplates anew, and while one may rely on the teachings of a religious tradition, the deeply personal practice of realizing Oneness and therebyEnlightenment must be one’s own. He published several books of his own Dharma writings, includingEveryday Suchness andThe Center Within, published collaborative works with other authors, and also published English translations of Japanese Buddhist texts, such as those byHaya Akegarasu with his own accompanying commentary.
Gyomay Kubose’s son,Koyo Kubose, was named his spiritual successor in 1998. Rev. Koyo later founded Bright Dawn Center of Oneness Buddhism to carry on the Dharma legacy of his father, a center which has thus far trained approximately one hundred non-sectarian Buddhist ministers.[9][10]
In 2000 a street sign was installed in Chicago at the corner of N. Racine Av. and W. Leland Av. which reads "The Honorary Reverend Gyomay and Minnie Kubose Way"[11] to honor his and his wife's contribution to the community.
In 1971 he was awarded theBuddhist Mission Cultural Award (Bukkyo Dendo Bunka-Sho) fromYehan Numata'sSociety for the Promotion of Buddhism (Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai).[12]
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