The Portland Buddhist Priory was established in 1975. It is a temple following the Soto Zen (Serene Reflection Meditation) tradition. It is affiliated with the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, an international Buddhist Order whose North American headquarters is at Shasta Abbey, in Mt. Shasta, California.

The founder of the Order and this temple is the late Reverend Jiyu-Kennett. An English woman who was ordained in Malaysia in the Chinese Buddhist tradition, she went on to study in Japan where she eventually was certified as a roshi, or master, and was authorized to teach and to ordain men and women as monastics in the Soto Zen Tradition. This temple and those who practice here follow the teachings of Soto Zen as passed on by Reverend Jiyu-Kennett. We describe ourselves as the Serene Reflection Meditation tradition, this being a translation of the Japanese word 'Soto Zen'. 

We offer the Teachings (Dharma) of Shakyamuni Buddha and emphasize the formal practice of Serene Reflection Meditation (Zazen), and the following of the Precepts of Mahayana Buddhism to guide our lives. Another important aspect of our practice is awakening the heart of compassion within and expressing it through wholehearted selflessness and mindful activity in our lives. Our wish is that this temple be a true refuge for all those who choose to participate with us in following these teachings.

The background design for these web pages was developed from images of the priory main altar and includes the Buddha statue and Chinese calligraphy on the screen at the back of the altar. Translation of the calligraphy was offered by a Burmese nun in the Chinese Mahayana tradition: Left side, “With our hands empty, we are born into this life; leaving it empty handed we go.” Right side, “The mountain is empty, still you can see flowers there.”  The central circle represents the circle of emptiness (sunyata), the teaching that has come forth  from the Prajnaparamita Scripture and greatly influences many schools teachings and practices within the Mahayana Tradition.