Founded in 1976 by Zen Master Gosung Shin, the American Zen College is located on a 12-acre farm at 16819 Germantown Road in Germantown, dedicated to practicing and teaching Zen Buddhism. While perhaps not widely known to all Marylanders, this institution holds a significant place in the propagation of Zen in the United States and houses a remarkably ancient artifact.
One of the most striking features of the American Zen College, and indeed its most significant treasure, is a magnificent 30-foot tall pagoda carved from Indian limestone. The pagoda, visible from the Greenway Trail in Seneca Creek State Park, is surrounded by a brick courtyard, Buddha statues, and a serene flower garden, creating an atmosphere of profound tranquility.
Constructed between 1980 and 1982, this pagoda is not merely an architectural marvel; it serves as a reliquary for four sarira of the historic Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (also known as Sakyamuni). According to Buddhist belief, sarira are sacred, pearl-like remains found after the cremation of enlightened beings. These precious relics were a gift to the college from the national treasury of South Korea, making the Germantown pagoda one of only two sites in the entire United States to house remains of the original Buddha.
The American Zen College was originally founded in 1976 by Zen Master Gosung Shin. A distinguished Ph.D. and an ordained priest of the Jogye Order (a major school of Korean Buddhism), Master Shin arrived in the U.S. in 1969 after serving as abbot of several Zen monasteries in South Korea. He established multiple Zen institutions across the Eastern Seaboard before creating the college in Germantown, with the express purpose of studying and practicing Zen Buddhism.
In October 2016, upon Master Shin’s retirement, the non-profit Dizang-Qi Buddhist Association of America, founded by Dr. Sheng Ran, acquired the property. They have since worked to preserve the spirit and name of the American Zen College, continuing its mission to serve society through the teachings of compassion and wisdom.
While it is a private property with a community of teachers and students, the pagoda area is generally open to visitors between 8am and 6pm. Visitors are asked to be respectful of the sacred space and obtain permission before venturing beyond the pagoda area. When arriving, exercise caution as the entrance involves a sharp 90-degree turn from Germantown Road into a one-lane driveway shared by incoming and outgoing vehicles. Additionally, as the pagoda is a sacred shrine, please refrain from touching or disturbing any items around it.
For more information, visit the college’s official website or refer to these sources:
• americanzencollege.net
• Atlas Obscura
• Encyclopedia.com
• Ordinary Zen Sangha.