Institute of Buddhist Studies

Ojinjo services are on hold for a couple weeks while our Dean, Rev. Miyaji, is out of the office. But don't worry! Past morning services are available on our YouTube channel!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LVfhHejq5E&list=PL04f3DnuTtUDwE0NJMjKHDqQ7VOQBd3uo

IBS Ojinjo (Morning Service) 5/22/2026 Morning Service, Ojinjo, at 7 AM. Chanting: Shoshinge 正信偈 (Sofu)Wasan: p. 188「勢至念仏」Reflection: Nondual and DualRitual: none todayAnnouncements: Ojinjo servi...

Looking for something to do in Berkeley this weekend? Check out this session of the Bay Area Book Festival, Mindful Democracy, with our recently appointed Research Fellow, Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad!
https://www.baybookfest.org/session/mindful-democracy/

Mindful Democracy – Bay Area Book Festival Mindful Democracy Event date: Saturday, May 30 Event time: 11:00am-12:00pm Location: The Freight Audiences: AdultYoung Adult Themes: CommunityDemocracy DialoguesPoliticsQueer VoicesSpirituality Booksales: Green Apple Books, in the lobby of the venue Access: FREE Jeremy David Engels, Kailea Loften, L...

Since 1949 we've been providing Buddhist education in Berkeley. Since the 1960s, we've been awarding graduate degrees. And since 2006, we've been holding annual commencement ceremonies at the Jodo Shinshu Center. Here's a few pictures from graduations of old! We are so proud of our alums! ...and we're guessing they could add some more pictures here if they wanted!

Join us next week for the 2026 Graduation and Commencement Ceremonies!
https://www.shin-ibs.edu/event/2026-graduation-and-commencement/

FYI -- the fall deadline for certificate program applications is coming up quick -- June! Get your application in by then to start your studies at the nation's oldest Buddhist seminary and graduate school!

All of our certificate programs -- in Shin, Zen, Theravada Buddhism and Buddhist chaplaincy -- are available fully online. Check us out here:
https://www.shin-ibs.edu/admissions/

Admissions | Institute of Buddhist Studies Applications for IBS degree and certificate programs can be completed online using the links and instructions below. Official transcripts, evidence of prior study, and letters and reference are required for all programs. Be sure to review state authorization information before applying to an IBS pro...

Tell us what's on your playlist today? We're enjoying some Bonbu Stories, featuring IBS grad Sydney Shiroyama.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZMJ39gNHU0

Bonbu Stories 257 likes, 33 comments. "Lantern Song (Official Music Video)- Bonbu Stories"

Join us in person or online for the 2026 Graduation and Commencement Ceremony at the Institute of Buddhist Studies on May 22. This year's commencement speaker is IBS alum Rev. Aki Rogers. And check out the student thesis symposium the day before graduation. See you there!

Graduation RSVP: https://www.shin-ibs.edu/event/2026-graduation-and-commencement/

Student Symposium RSVP: https://www.shin-ibs.edu/event/thesissymposium26/

Amida Buddha in the naijin at the Jodo Shinshu Center.

Some photos from last Friday's Taitetsu Unno Memorial Lecture with Jeff Wilson -- "All Power to the Sangha." Thank you to Prof. Wilson for an engaging and thoughtful presentation, to Unno, and for everyone who joined us in person or online.

And video from the talk is available at IBS's YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/3pF1nHqDvQI

Join our very own Dr. Lilu Chen for an inter-religious conversation on Hope at St. Agnes Catholic Church in San Francisco, this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Hope: An Interfaith Conversation With Deena Aranoff (Center for Jewish Studies), Jerome Baggett (Jesuit School of Theology), Lilu Chen (Institute of Buddhist Studies), Mahjabeen Dhala (Center for Islamic Studies), and moderator Donal Godfrey, SJ (USF) This event will be livestreamed and recorded, and a reception will follow.

The 2026 Unno Memorial Lecture is happening this Friday in Berkeley. And also online!
We're happy to announce that we'll be streaming Dr. Wilson's talk, "All Power to the Sangha," via Zoom. Check out the website and register to join us online or in person.

This event is free and open to the public.

https://www.shin-ibs.edu/event/unno26/
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/-34nIS6wTqKjVBmuY2ERiw #/registration