News

On Friday, December 9th, students, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate Rev. Dr. Daijaku Kinst’s teaching career at IBS. The event began with speeches and toasts by President Matsumoto and Dean Scott Mitchell, as well as IBS faculty Dr. Nancy […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS) is pleased to announce that there are two spots available for auditors (i.e, non-degree students) in the course “Works of Shinran I,” beginning Feb. 2 and running through May 11.  The class will be […]

The Noboru and Yaeko Hanyu Buddhist Chaplaincy Professorial Chair is the IBS-endowed chair created by the legacy gift of Mr. Noboru Hanyu, in memory of his wife, Yaeko. This title has been held by Rev. Dr. Daijaku Kinst since 2015. […]

Rev. Dr. Daijaku Kinst, who has served as the Noboru and Yaeko Hanyu Professor of Buddhist Chaplaincy and as IBS full-time faculty member since 2007, will step back from her role as professor in December.  She has guided hundreds of students […]

  Last Friday, Dr. Paula Arai joined Dr. Nancy Lin, Vanessa Sasson and Mutsumi Wondra for a compelling talk on gratitude, healing rituals, and the role of women in Buddhism throughout history. The talk was followed by a rousing discussion […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies will hold its Annual Memorial Service via Zoom on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 7:00 pm (Pacific time). This will be an opportunity for us to remember all of the many people who have allowed […]

Last month, Admissions and Communications Director Gesshin Greenwood sat down with Rev. Dr. Daijaku Kinst and Certificate in Sōtō Zen Buddhist students James Farwell, Naomi Noble and Apriel Jessup. They discussed the role of studying Dōgen in their own life […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS) is pleased to announce that acclaimed scholar and author Dr. Paula Arai will be joining the faculty in January 2023 as the first Eshinni and Kakushinni Professor of Women and Buddhist Studies. Dr. Arai […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies is pleased to announce this year’s Numata Lecture, Receiving and Giving: Buddhist Women Past, Present and Future. It will be held in conjunction with the annual Federation of Buddhist Women Association’s (FBWA) meeting on Friday, October […]

  The Dharma Forward Campaign The Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) and Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS) have adopted the Dharma Forward as a shared vision to build the future of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in America.   Dharma Forward is […]

IBS is pleased to offer a Virtual Open House on Wednesday July 20, 2022 from 5:30-6:30PST. Come learn about our stackable curriculum, degree and certificate programs, financial aid and more! IBS alum CJ Sokugan Dunford will speak about their educational experiences […]

Joy and relief at being able to celebrate in person was a theme resonating throughout the Institute of Buddhist Studies’ commencement, held at the Jodo Shinshu Center on May 20th, 2022 in Berkeley, CA. Joy, but also grief and sadness […]

Please join us (virtually) for the 2022 Graduation and Commencement service on Friday, May 20, 2022. We will be honoring those students completing degree and certificate programs in 2022 as well as those students from 2020 and 2021. In order […]

On Thursday, April 28, 2022, Institute of Buddhist Studies alumni gathered online for a panel entitled “Buddhist Spiritual Care for Our Times.” Rev. Jo Laurence, Blayne Higa, and Trent Thornley work in ministry and chaplaincy in a variety of settings, […]

Curious about Buddhist chaplaincy? Join the Sati Center and the Institute of Buddhist Studies for a half-day overview of a chaplain’s work of providing spiritual care and support for people in hospitals, hospices, prisons, and a wide variety of other […]

How can we engage in Buddhist pastoral care while addressing the pressing issues of our times? Join us Thursday, April 28, from 4-5pm Pacific Time for a panel with Rev. Blayne Higa, Rev. Jo Laurence, and Rev. Trent Thornley as […]

IBS is pleased to offer a Virtual Open House on January 26, 2022. Come learn about our stackable curriculum, degree and certificate programs, financial aid and more! IBS alumni Rev. Blayne Higa and dharma teacher and chaplain Dawn Neal will […]

This spring, the Institute of Buddhist Studies will be offering a staple of our Buddhist Studies curriculum, taught by Dean Scott Mitchell: “Buddhism and the West.” It is scheduled to be offered in person, at our campus, Thursdays 2:10pm-5pm. This […]

The Public Theologies of Technology and Presence (PTTP) is a three-year program, launched in 2018 and funded by the Luce Foundation. This program gathered and funded a cohort of leading scholars of religion, theologians, and journalists for their work addressing […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the fragility of the human body to the forefront of our minds and imaginations. What tools does Buddhism offer us in confronting health and illness? This spring semester, we are excited that Dr. Courtney Bruntz […]