News

We are excited to announce that Dr. Paula Arai will be offering a class on women in Zen next fall on Tuesdays from 2:10pm-5pm, beginning the first week of September and running through December 15, 2024. The full title is […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies and the Center for Japanese Studies at U.C Berkeley are excited to announce this bilingual workshop, which brings together chaplaincy educators and working chaplains in Japan and the United States to reflect on how we […]

Rev. Dr. Seigen Yamaoka, revered Dharma teacher, mentor, and friend of everyone at the Institute of Buddhist Studies, passed away on December 15, 2023 at the age of 89. Rev. Yamaoka played a significant role in the development of Shin […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies is pleased to co-host the inaugural event of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association’s series, Celebrating the Voices of Women in Buddhism, a monthly speaker’s series. Dr. Paula Arai will kick of the series at the […]

IBS Dean Dr. Scott Mitchell will be delivering the IBS Symposium at February 24th at 3pm. He will be in conversation with Rev. Takashi Miyaji, discussing his book The Making of American Buddhism.  All are welcome to attend virtually. Please […]

On October 6, 2023, Buddhist scholars and students from around the country gathered at the Institute of Buddhist studies to celebrate the “Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Practice,” edited by Paula Arai and Kevin Trainor. Each panelist presented a paper on […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies will hold its Annual Memorial Service via Zoom on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 7:00 pm (Pacific time). This will be an opportunity for us to remember all of the many people who have allowed […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies is pleased to announce that Dr. Scott Mitchell has been appointed the next president of IBS effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Mitchell will take over the mantle from Rev. Dr. David Matsumoto, who plans on […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies is pleased to announce that Dr. Natalie Quli has been appointed to Core Faculty as an Associate Professor of Theravāda Studies. Before this, she served as a Research Fellow for many years. Dr. Quli received […]

On October 6, 2023, IBS will host a Numata Symposium entitled, “Buddhist Practice: Perspectives on and From the Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Practice.” This day-long symposium will bring together 18 contributors to explore themes from the 2022 publication, co-edited by […]

AUGUST 5th, from 9am- 3pm IN PERSON / ONLINE SESSION Sponsored by CBE – Center for Buddhist Education, IBS – Institute of Buddhist Studies & JSIO – Jodo Shinshu International Office.  This session will be hosted in-person at the Jodo […]

On May 24, 2023, Dr. Scott Mitchell, Chenxing Han, and Rev. Harry Bridge met online to discuss the release of his newest book, The Making of American Buddhism in a book launch entitled “Race, Place, and Religious Labor.” Below is a […]

Dr. Richard K. Payne, who served as Dean at the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS) from 1994-2016 and who has been an integral part of institutional and curriculum development and teaching staff at IBS, is set to retire at the […]

On Friday, May 2023, faculty, students, trustees, and friends of the Institute of Buddhist Studies gathered to celebrate the graduating class of 2023. This event was also a chance to honor Dr. Richard Payne, who is retiring this year, and […]

IBS is beginning the search for a new President, as Rev. Dr. David Matsumoto will be retiring in June 2024. The following is the full job description for the role of President. For full consideration, candidate documents should be forwarded […]

Our 2023 Ryukoku Lecture is now available for viewing (in Japanese), featuring Profressor Nakanishi Naoki. His talk is on women’s propagation of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in modern Japan. A translation of the lecture is available below.   近代⽇本の真宗⼥性教化の展開  Development of […]

Join Dr. Scott Mitchell and Chenxing Han for a thought provoking conversation on race, place and religious labor to celebrate the launch of Dr. Mitchell’s book The Making of American Buddhism. This event will take place on May 24 at […]

On February 23, 2023, four Jodo Shin ministers gathered to share their insights about the impact of Nembutsu on their lives. Below is the video from the 2023 IBS Symposium Nembutsu: Appreciate Every Encounter.  Speakers include: Rev. Harry Gyōkyō Bridge, […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies is pleased to announce that Dr. Lilu Chen has joined our academic staff and will be serving as our new Field Education Director. In this position, Dr. Chen will develop relationships with field education sites, […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies is pleased to announce that Dr. Scott Mitchell, Tamai Chair of Shin Buddhist Studies and Dean of Faculty and Students, will be replacing Dr. Richard K. Payne as the Chair of the Pure Land Buddhist […]