Shinnyo-en is an international Buddhist community founded in Japan based on the ancient wisdom and love embodied in the Buddha's teachings.

The Buddhist term shinnyo denotes both buddhahood (spiritual awakening) and the nature of reality; en refers to a boundless garden or open space. Shinnyo-en is a place for people to discover and develop the buddha, or awakened nature, within themselves through altruistic Buddhist practice.

Central to Shinnyo Buddhism is the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, one of the most seminal texts of Mahayana (Great Vehicle) Buddhism. The heart of the message of this Nirvana Sutra lies in four key points: Buddhahood is always present: The presence, guidance, and compassion of buddhas is timeless; the essence of the Buddha is present in our time as well as a cosmic reality that knows no beginning and no end.

Shinnyo-en temples and centers are "sacred" spaces created to support practitioners' training. One way to look at a Buddhist temple, and Buddhism itself, is as a sanctuary where a practitioner can recharge his or her spiritual batteries. The temple and all that transpires within it allows practitioners to connect with the expansive goodness of their buddha nature. As such, the temple is considered a "sacred" space. There are more than 100 Shinnyo-en temples and centers located around the world.

(Excerpted from shinnyoen.org)