The Way of Oneness

Honoring the Kubose Dharma Legacy

“The reality of nature, the reality of life is Oneness.” - Rev. Gyomay Kubose

This site is dedicated to the Kubose Dharma Legacy and their timeless message of Everyday Spirituality!

The Way of Oneness has its origin in the Japanese Mahayana tradition and focuses on individual spiritual awareness and non-dualism with the goal of integrating the Buddha's timeless teachings into our everyday lives so that they can help us develop true inner peace and harmony.

Shakyamuni Buddha teaches us that we are all capable of attaining the state of Buddhahood, awakening, just as we are. Through our daily practice of the Dharma we come to experience the Oneness of Universal Life that underlies all things in the universe.

The Way of Oneness is hosted and maintained by The Universal Light Fellowship and Rev. Sayo Shenpän , a long time student and friend of Rev. Koyo Kubose.

Drawing by Rev. Koyo as a gift to Rev. Sayo.

The Way of Oneness

An Introduction to Kubose Dharma Legacy

The Way of Oneness is the non-dual, non-dichotomized method of everyday spiritual awareness focusing on the universal teachings of the Buddha and developed as a uniquely American Buddhist approach to everyday spiritual life.

The Way of Oneness is based upon consistent descriptions and lectures by Rev. Gyomay and Rev. Koyo Kubose's approach of emphasizing non-dualism and non-dichotomy of life, focusing on the Universal Life that underlies each person's individual life.

The Way of Oneness is living in oneness with the Suchness of Life. It means to transcend all labels and concepts, going beyond ego and self calculations.

Oneness

by Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose

The reality of nature, the reality of life is oneness. But we humans have such a strong egotistic nature. We are the ones who create dualism; we are the ones who talk about two sides: front and back, right and wrong, me and you. As soon as life is dichotomized, tension is created. But when life is harmonized, there are no quarrels, no complaints. Each takes his or her part and does the best. There is totality in oneness. A mother and child are one. A mother forgets danger and risks her life for the child. It is not a sacrifice. They are two separate beings but they are one. A mother exhibits an immediate, direct action of oneness. It is a natural act - not a sense of duty, or “must,” or “ought.”

Oneness and individuality coexist. There is no question about the importance and uniqueness of each individual life. However, difference is no difference. The very difference is equality, is one. When colorless light is put through a prism it separates into different colors. This very light is all colors; all the colors are one light. Our life is like that: various manifestations, various individualities, but the core of life is one. When we become one, it is colorless no self, no ego. But our narrow, self-centeredness prevents us from seeing this oneness. When we learn to transcend this ego activity, we find that our ego as it is becomes the true self. This is enlightenment. Different lives become one life, transcending differences yet maintaining uniqueness. We harmoniously live one life. We say a hand has a front and back. But there is only one hand. Hand is hand. Dichotomizing and labeling are only concepts. We should not conceptualize and divide things into two. Reality is one. Our life is one.

Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose

Although born in America, Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose spent the early part of his life in Japan where he undoubtedly absorbed a heritage rich in Buddhist influence. Returning to America, he attended the University of California at Berkeley, graduating with a degree in Philosophy in 1935. Then he went to Japan and studied under his teacher, Rev. Haya Akegarasu, at his Dai-Nippon Bunkyo-kenkyu-in at Myotatsuji Temple in Ishikawa Prefecture. Accompanying his teacher on lecture tours, he traveled extensively in Japan, Korea, China, and the US.He returned to the US in 1941 just prior to World War II and spent two years in the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp in Wyoming. Then he came to Chicago in 1944 and founded the Buddhist Temple of Chicago as an independent religious organization with no administrative ties to a higher headquarter of any other Buddhist sect.

Rev. Gyomay was a pioneer of the Way of Oneness, the non-dual approach to the practice and study of Buddhism. He taught that the means are the end - enlightenment - and living a life of gratitude and oneness was the basis for our spiritual and worldly life, being that they are one. His life was dedicated to promoting Buddhism in America.

Throughout his life, he emphasized and taught non-sectarian Buddhism for all. He passed away in Chicago on March 29, 2000.

Rev. Koyo Kubose

Rev. Koyo S. Kubose was born in Los Angeles, California. After World War II, he relocated to Chicago with his family. He earned a BA from the University of CA at Berkeley, a MA from San Francisco State University, and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Iowa. He has been on the psychology faculties at the University of North Carolina (Greensboro), University of Hawaii (Honolulu), and University of Wisconsin Center System (Janesville). He went to Japan for three years, and studied Shin Buddhism at the Eastern Buddhist Society at Otani University. He also did meditation practice under Zen masters Uchiyama Kosho of the Soto tradition and Kobori Nanrei of the Rinzai tradition. Upon his return to the US in 1977, Rev. Koyo worked with his father, the Venerable Rev. Gyomay Kubose, a pioneer in the Americanization of Buddhism. From 1983 - 1995, Rev. Koyo served as a minister at the Buddhist Temple of Chicago, which his father established in 1944. Currently, Rev. Koyo is president of BRIGHT DAWN Center of Oneness Buddhism, which he established in 1996 to carry on his father's lifework. On April 4, 1998, Rev. Gyomay Kubose officially transmitted his spiritual authority to Rev. Koyo Kubose.

Rev. Koyo Kubose passed away on March 7, 2022.

Historic Mentors

Our line of Buddhist thought and interpretation follows that of our historic mentors: The Rev. Manshi Kiyozawa and The Reverend Haya Akegarau, both who were a major influence on Rev. Gyomay Kubose’s view of the Dharma.