News

The Institute of Buddhist Studies’ Admissions Committee has revised its application policies for all degree and certificate programs. Among the most significant changes are: reduced application fees: $40 for M.Div. and M.B.S. degree program applications; $15 for all certificate program […]

The 2019 Institute of Buddhist Studies Annual Memorial Service was held on November 14th at 7 p.m. at the Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley, CA. The service was held to honor 137 dedicated supporters of the IBS. Four supporters were […]

In the last few weeks, over six million people around the globe have protested climate disaster. On Friday, September 20, 2019 over two million people walked out of their schools or workplaces. On that day, my professor and schoolmates helped […]

Current student Akiko Rogers shares with us this piece on ordaining at Hongwanji in Kyoto, Japan. You can read more about her family and journey to become a minister here. In July, twenty international Jodo Shinshu ministerial aspirants undertook tokudo […]

I’m the Dean of Students and Faculty Affairs. This means I’m chiefly responsible for working with faculty and staff to design curriculum, decide which courses to offer, and support students through the program. I’m also responsible for licensing and accreditation, making […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies, through the Offices of the President and Dean, has issued the following statement on our current human-created climate crisis. Four years ago, the Global Buddhist Climate Change Collective issued a statement to world leaders prior […]

I sat down with IBS alumnus Jamie Kimmel to discuss practice, chaplaincy, and how Buddhism can inform pastoral care. Tell us about yourself. How did you come to Buddhist chaplaincy? Like many others, it was a series of events in […]

Tadao Koyama graduated from IBS in 2018 with a Masters in Buddhist Studies. He is currently living and practicing Buddhism in Japan. We are delighted to share this update on his progress, and the challenges and rewards of training at Nishi […]

On July 20, hundreds of people from across the country, including over twenty Buddhist priest from various traditions, joined together to protest at the Fort Sill army base, in Oklahoma. The U.S army imprisoned Native Americans at Fort Sill in […]

IBS would like to introduce our new Chaplaincy Program Coordinator, Gesshin Greenwood. Gesshin is a San Francisco native, Soto Zen priest, and therapist in training. She ordained in Japan with Seido Suzuki Roshi, and trained at Toshoji Monastery and Aichi […]

On Friday, May 24, 2019, the faculty, trustees, students and friends of the Institute of Buddhist Studies gathered in the Kodo of the Jodo Shinshu Center to honor the accomplishments of its students who completed degrees and certificate programs. Additionally […]

For the last year, IBS Dean Scott Mitchell has served as a guest editor for the journal Religions overseeing a special issue on Buddhism in the United States and Canada. From the journal: Over the last century, Buddhism has grown […]

The Science and Technology of Buddhism Call for Papers Deadline for submissions: June 15, 2019  Deadline extended! July 15, 2019 Symposium: October 17, 2019 The 2019 Graduate Student Symposium at the Institute of Buddhist Studies, funded in part by the […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies is pleased to announce a new educational program — a Certificate in Buddhist Studies. This low-residency graduate program may be completed on-site in Berkeley or fully online. The program is intended to introduce students both […]

A new anthology of Pure Land texts and commentaries, edited by Georgios T. Halkias and Richard K. Payne, has been published by the Univeristy of Hawai’i Press. This diverse anthology of original Buddhist texts in translation provides a historical and […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies has recently launched a re-designed website! The new design better reflects who we are as a community of Buddhist education and research, and better serves resources for current and potential students. Some new features of […]

Joanne Laurence, a 2016 graduate of the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) and Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS) Master of Arts program in Buddhist Chaplaincy, was awarded the highest professional certification, Board Certified Chaplain [BCC], from the Association of Professional Chaplains. […]

Institute of Buddhist Studies Hosts Religion Scholars and Journalists from Across the US to Address Technology’s Impacts on Human Relationships From October 2-4, the Institute of Buddhist Studies held its first annual meeting for grantees of Public Theologies of Technology […]

At its November 2018 meeting, the Board of Trustees of the Institute of Buddhist Studies updated its mission statement to: To provide graduate level education in the full breadth of the Buddhist tradition with specialized education supporting Pure Land and […]

The Institute of Buddhist Studies conducted its 6thAnnual Memorial Service on October 1, 2018 at 7 p.m. at the Jodo Shinshu Center Kodo, Berkeley, CA to honor 130 past supporters who were founders, donors, leaders, teachers, students, staff, and friends, […]