2014 Commencement

M. Editor  |  May 30, 2014

IBS 2014 Commencement:

Four Institute of Buddhist Studies’ Buddhist Chaplaincy students received their joint Graduate Theological Union/IBS Masters Degrees at commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 23, 2014.

The event was chaired by Rev. Dr. David Matsumoto. The opening service was conducted by Bishop Kodo Umezu, President of IBS. Opening remarks were made by Dr. Richard Payne, Dean, and Richard Endo, Chair, of the IBS Board of Trustees.

The address for the event was presented by Rev. Peter Yuichi Clark, Ph.D. manager of Spiritual Care Services at the UCSF Medical Center. Dr. Clark in his address pointed out one key point and four corollaries that all chaplains must consider based on his reading of the “Tannisho,” Chapter 12. The key point is “Knowledge is the servant of wisdom and compassion, not their master.” The first corollary is, “knowledge can promote wisdom, but it can also mislead us if we use it inappropriately,” The second corollary is, “upaya, an expedient means that requires discernment.” The third corollary is, “knowledge is relational; we learn in connection with others.” The fourth corollary is, “our training is a trust, to be wielded humbly and compassionately, not with a sense of entitlement or arrogance.”

Conferral of Graduate Degrees were presented by Dr. Payne and Rev, Marvin Harada, Vice Chair, IBS Board of Trustees.

Graduates were:

  • Diana L. Clark, Ph.D., “The Ambattha Sutra of the Buddha Pali Canon: Its Socio-Historical Literary Context,” with committee members Dr. Payne, Gil Fronsdal, Ph.D., Scott Mitchell, Ph.D.
  • Carole Gallucchi, Ph.D, “Lojong for Buddhist Chaplains,” with committee members, Rev. Dr. Daijaku Kinst, Ph.D., Dr. Mitchell
  • Chenxing Han, “Engaging the Invisible Majority: Conversations with Young Adult Asian American Buddhists,” with Dr.Mitchel, Dr. Clark
  • Trent T. Thornley, “A Literary Analysis of the Ariyapariyesnna Sutta, with committee members Dr. Kinst, Dr. Matsumoto, Dr. Fonsdal, and Eleanor Rosch, Ph.D.

Certificate of Buddhist Chaplaincy were presented to Judith S. Long, Gullucchi, Han, and Thornley. Dr. Kinst was their advisor.

A reception followed with family and friends.