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Institute of Buddhist Studies
@ibsofficial.bsky.social
190 followers 68 following 48 posts
A leader in American Buddhist education, IBS prepares students to effectively apply Buddhist teachings to inspire personal and collective transformation, inform compassionate healing and care, and create meaningful social impact.
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ibsofficial.bsky.social
Missed Dr. Paula Arai’s live discussion of Of Mud and Lotuses? The recording is up now: youtu.be/ZlIKWjtl5Ek #ThrowbackThursday
IBS Book Launch: Of Mud and Lotuses
Prof. Paula Arai discusses her new book, Of Mud & Lotuses: Dreaming the Lives of Buddhist Women, A Historical and Imaginative Exploration of their Struggles and Triumphs. A discussion with Prof.…
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October 1, 2026 at 5:15 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
Tomorrow we kick off our new speaker series in a conversation with our very own Dean, the Rev. Dr. Takashi Miyaji.
www.shin-ibs.edu/event/badba1/
#BlackBuddhistStudies #AsianAmericanBuddhism #InstituteOfBuddhistStudies
Shin Buddhism and Black Culture: A Conversation with Dean Takashi Miyaji - Institute of Buddhist Studies
“How Do We Meet Each Other? Black-Asian Dialogue in Buddhist America” This conversation series brings Black and Asian-American Buddhist scholars and practitioners together for honest dialogue about…
www.shin-ibs.edu
September 29, 2026 at 5:02 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
Join us next Wednesday September 23 for the official launch of Dr. Arai's newest book, Of Mud and Lotuses! Register here: www.shin-ibs.edu/event/book-l...

#WednesdayWisdom #OfMudAndLotuses #BuddhistWomen #Buddhism
September 16, 2026 at 4:04 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
Reminder! Join us next Tuesday evening at the Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley for a conversation with Rev. Dr. Unapane Pemananda Thero, a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk and scholar, on Bhikkhunī Identity in Contemporary Sri Lanka.

www.shin-ibs.edu/event/ibs-th...

#Buddhism #Theravada #WomenInBuddhism
September 15, 2026 at 4:31 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
“How do we meet each other? Black-Asian dialogue in Buddhist America” launches September 30, with new conversations each month through spring 2027.
www.shin-ibs.edu/new-conversa...

#InstituteOfBuddhistStudies #BuddhistStudies #BlackBuddhists #AsianAmericanBuddhism #FollowFriday
September 11, 2026 at 6:11 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
It's the first day of the 2026–27 academic year at IBS! Welcome to our new and returning students. www.shin-ibs.edu
September 8, 2026 at 4:45 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
Join us in Berkeley for a conversation with Rev. Dr. Unapane Pemananda Thero, a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk and scholar, on Bhikkhunī Identity in Contemporary Sri Lanka.

www.shin-ibs.edu/event/ibs-th...

#Buddhism #Theravada #monastics #WomenInBuddhism
September 4, 2026 at 5:15 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
Celebrating the retirement of longtime IBS Registrar Helen Tagawa — thank you for years of steady, caring service to our students. #ThrowbackThursday
September 3, 2026 at 5:02 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
New or returning to IBS this fall? Welcome (back)! First day of the semester is Tuesday, Sept 8. www.shin-ibs.edu #TipTuesday #InstituteOfBuddhistStudies #BackToSchool #BuddhistEducation
September 1, 2026 at 5:15 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
DATE CHANGE! The book launch event for Dr. Arai's Of Mud and Lotuses is Wednesday September 23. Thank you!

www.shin-ibs.edu/event/book-l...
Book Launch: Of Mud and LotusesInstitute of Buddhist Studies
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August 10, 2026 at 10:14 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
Coming soon! Dr. Paula Arai's latest book Of Mud and Lotuses to be published August 25!

This book was supported in part by a generous grant from the Lenz Foundation.

www.shambhala.com/of-mud-and-l...
www.shambhala.com
July 30, 2026 at 6:02 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
Over the decades, we’ve published monographs and academic journals, hosted research projects, and posted recordings from public lectures and conferences. Check out our website to learn more about the many contributions to Buddhist scholarship IBS has helped support!
www.shin-ibs.edu/research/
Research | Institute of Buddhist Studies
Published annually, with generous support from BDK America, the Pacific World is an open-access, peer-reviewed academic journal of research on contemporary issues—intellectual, academic, and…
www.shin-ibs.edu
July 23, 2026 at 5:30 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
En no Shita no chikaramochi 縁の下の力持ち is a Japanese phrase that means “the power underneath the floorboards.” Watch this video to learn more about how your generosity can help power IBS’s mission of Buddhist education.

#ThankfulThursday #Buddhism #giving #dana
youtu.be/mE-hmOQm_8c?...
What is an area of greatest need?
In Japan, there is a phrase "en no shita no chikaramochi." It means "the power underneath the floorboards." We're grateful for your support of our areas of greatest need- the hidden power of our…
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July 16, 2026 at 5:05 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
It’s Obon season! A partial list of some festivals can be found on Rafu Shimpo: rafu.com/2026/06/2026...

Drop a comment below to let folks know about your own temple’s Obon schedule.

#MondayMood #NamuAmidaButstu #Obon #BonOdori #Buddhism #Summer
July 8, 2026 at 10:14 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
Join us on Zoom for the official book launch of Dr. Paula Arai's Of Mud and Lotuses!

Register for this event online here: www.shin-ibs.edu/event/book-l...
Book Launch: Of Mud and LotusesInstitute of Buddhist Studies
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www.shin-ibs.edu
June 25, 2026 at 3:06 PM
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In case you missed it: IBS Prof. Emeritus Dr. Richard Payne recently published Tantra Across the Buddhist Cosmopolis, a book decades in the making! Add it to your summer reading list. And big congratulations, Dr. Payne!
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
June 22, 2026 at 3:05 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
Check out Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad's latest — The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde

www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790233...
The Fire Inside by Rima Vesely-Flad, Ph.D.: 9798889842583 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
Black, queer, feminist, Buddhist: The Fire Inside casts a fresh new light on the radical literary legacies of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde A Lit Hub Independent Press Bestseller Includes…
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
June 19, 2026 at 2:04 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
Check out this talk from Dr. Paula Arai at the Midwest Buddhist Temple!
#WayBackWednesday #DharmaTalk #Buddhism #WomenAndBuddhism
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eROm...
2025 10 19 MBT Dharma Talk Dr Paula Arai
Guest speaker, Dr. Paula Arai, shares her Dharma message for Family Service. About Dharma Talks: Any ideas and opinions expressed in these talks are those of the individual speakers. These recordings…
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June 17, 2026 at 9:01 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
We wouldn’t be able to provide Buddhist education without your support. Big or small, one time or monthly donations, your generosity makes it possible for our students to engage deeply with the Dharma and go out and make the world a better place. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE-h...

#ThankfulThursday
June 11, 2026 at 7:30 PM
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IBS's Dr. Courtney Bruntz was invited to speak at the Midwest Buddhist Temple earlier this year. In her Dharma talk, she reflects on her family connections to BCA communities and encountering the Bodhisattva of Compassion in China. Check it out!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXOM...
#Buddhism
2026 03 29 MBT Dharma Talk Courtney Bruntz
Courtney Bruntz, Professor at the BCA Institute of Buddhist Studies, shares her Dharma message for Family Service. About Dharma Talks: Any ideas and opinions expressed in these talks are those of the…
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June 8, 2026 at 4:15 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
Coming soon! Dr. Paula Arai's latest book Of Mud and Lotuses to be published August 25!

You can pre-order the book direct from Shambhala Books, Bookshop.org, your favorite local independent bookstore.

www.shambhala.com/of-mud-and-l...
Of Mud and Lotuses
A unique blend of personal reflection, creative histories, and interview-based nonfiction that vividly imagines the lives of Buddhist women over 2,500 years. Of Mud and Lotuses illuminates the…
www.shambhala.com
June 4, 2026 at 6:15 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
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!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LVf...

#MondayMood #namuamidabutsu #buddhism
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 Dual Ritual: none today Announcements: Ojinjo services will end on 5/22/2026 and resume…
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June 1, 2026 at 5:03 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
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!
www.baybookfest.org/session/mind...
#buddhism #berkeley #democracy
Mindful Democracy – Bay Area Book Festival
IT’S FESTIVAL WEEK!  |  View the full 2026 Festival Schedule Here
www.baybookfest.org
May 28, 2026 at 7:59 PM
ibsofficial.bsky.social
#ThrowbackThusday to commencement ceremonies of old! Join us next week for the 2026 Graduation and Commencement Ceremonies!
www.shin-ibs.edu/event/2026-g...
We are so proud of our alums! ...and we're guessing they could add some more pictures here if they wanted!
May 14, 2026 at 9:01 PM
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FYI -- the fall deadline for certificate program applications is coming up quick -- June! All of our certificate programs are available fully online. Check us out here:
www.shin-ibs.edu/admissions/

#TuesdayTip #buddhism #BuddhistStudies #Zen #JodoShinshu #Theravada
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…
www.shin-ibs.edu
May 12, 2026 at 7:45 PM