Mr. George T. Aratani, a long time supporter of Institute of Buddhist Studies, was presented an Honorary Doctorate. Upon the conferring of the honorary doctorate to Mr. Aratani, Rev. Dr. David Matsumoto stated that Mr. Aratani could not be present to receive the award, but was truly appreciative. Rev. Dr. Seigen Yamaoka received the degree on behalf of Mr. Aratani.

The commencement address was presented by Dr. Paul Harrison, co-chair of the Ho Center Buddhist Studies at Stanford University, who spoke on the expanding interest in Buddhist Studies, which is based on the discovery of new documents in ancient languages closer to the Buddha’s time.

Copies of this footage are available on DVD for students, friends, and family. Please contact contact Scott Mitchell for more information.

The Tibetan manuscripts from Dunhuang include a large number of copied dhāraṇīs, both sūtras and stand-alone spells. In this talk I will examine the content, the colophons, and the formats of these manuscripts and attempt to draw some broader conclusions about how dhāraṇīs were used by early Tibetan Buddhists living around Dunhuang. I will then turn to the dhāraṇī collections (dhāraṇī-saṃgraha). The contents of these collections could vary according to the interests of the manuscripts’ owners, yet certain shared patterns may be discerned. The significance of these formal patterns becomes clear when we see how the same template was used by later Tibetans to structure the dhāraṇī (gzungs ‘dus) section of their Tibetan canon (bka’ ‘gyur). Finally, I will step back to consider the historical development of dhāraṇī ritual practice and textual codification in light of the emergence of the tantras around the seventh century.

Originally recorded April 30, 2010 at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in the Jodo Shinshu Center, Berkeley, Ca.
Copyright © 2010 Jacob Dalton

The Tibetan manuscripts from Dunhuang include a large number of copied dhāraṇīs, both sūtras and stand-alone spells. In this talk I will examine the content, the colophons, and the formats of these manuscripts and attempt to draw some broader conclusions about how dhāraṇīs were used by early Tibetan Buddhists living around Dunhuang. I will then turn to the dhāraṇī collections (dhāraṇī-saṃgraha). The contents of these collections could vary according to the interests of the manuscripts’ owners, yet certain shared patterns may be discerned. The significance of these formal patterns becomes clear when we see how the same template was used by later Tibetans to structure the dhāraṇī (gzungs ‘dus) section of their Tibetan canon (bka’ ‘gyur). Finally, I will step back to consider the historical development of dhāraṇī ritual practice and textual codification in light of the emergence of the tantras around the seventh century.

Originally recorded April 30, 2010 at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in the Jodo Shinshu Center, Berkeley, Ca.
Copyright © 2010 Jacob Dalton

Dennis Hirota, Professor in the Department of Shin Buddhist Studies at Ryukoku University, Kyoto, was the Institute of Buddhist Studies’ 2010 Ryukoku Lecturer.

Dr. Hirota’s topic was “Shinran’s Phenomenology of Religious Life: Toward a Rethinking of Shinjin.” The lecture was divided into three parts over the course of three separate days. The audio tracks here roughly compare to the following:

• Lecture One, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Truth”: parts one and two
• Lecture Two, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Time”: parts three and four
• Lecture Three, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Dwelling”: parts five and six

Dr. Hirota is known for his translation work in “The Collected Works of Shinran” and original works such as “No Abode: The Record of Ippen,” “Toward a Contemporary Understanding of Pure Land Buddhism,” “Shinran: An Introduction to His Thought,” and “Tannisho: A Primer.”

Originally recorded March 10, 16, and 17, 2010 at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in the Jodo Shinshu Center, Berkeley, Ca.

Copyright © 2010, Denis Hirota.

Dennis Hirota, Professor in the Department of Shin Buddhist Studies at Ryukoku University, Kyoto, was the Institute of Buddhist Studies’ 2010 Ryukoku Lecturer.

Dr. Hirota’s topic was “Shinran’s Phenomenology of Religious Life: Toward a Rethinking of Shinjin.” The lecture was divided into three parts over the course of three separate days. The audio tracks here roughly compare to the following:

• Lecture One, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Truth”: parts one and two
• Lecture Two, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Time”: parts three and four
• Lecture Three, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Dwelling”: parts five and six

Dr. Hirota is known for his translation work in “The Collected Works of Shinran” and original works such as “No Abode: The Record of Ippen,” “Toward a Contemporary Understanding of Pure Land Buddhism,” “Shinran: An Introduction to His Thought,” and “Tannisho: A Primer.”

Originally recorded March 10, 16, and 17, 2010 at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in the Jodo Shinshu Center, Berkeley, Ca.

Copyright © 2010, Denis Hirota.

Dennis Hirota, Professor in the Department of Shin Buddhist Studies at Ryukoku University, Kyoto, was the Institute of Buddhist Studies’ 2010 Ryukoku Lecturer.

Dr. Hirota’s topic was “Shinran’s Phenomenology of Religious Life: Toward a Rethinking of Shinjin.” The lecture was divided into three parts over the course of three separate days. The audio tracks here roughly compare to the following:

• Lecture One, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Truth”: parts one and two
• Lecture Two, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Time”: parts three and four
• Lecture Three, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Dwelling”: parts five and six

Dr. Hirota is known for his translation work in “The Collected Works of Shinran” and original works such as “No Abode: The Record of Ippen,” “Toward a Contemporary Understanding of Pure Land Buddhism,” “Shinran: An Introduction to His Thought,” and “Tannisho: A Primer.”

Originally recorded March 10, 16, and 17, 2010 at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in the Jodo Shinshu Center, Berkeley, Ca.

Copyright © 2010, Denis Hirota.

Dennis Hirota, Professor in the Department of Shin Buddhist Studies at Ryukoku University, Kyoto, was the Institute of Buddhist Studies’ 2010 Ryukoku Lecturer.

Dr. Hirota’s topic was “Shinran’s Phenomenology of Religious Life: Toward a Rethinking of Shinjin.” The lecture was divided into three parts over the course of three separate days. The audio tracks here roughly compare to the following:

• Lecture One, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Truth”: parts one and two
• Lecture Two, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Time”: parts three and four
• Lecture Three, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Dwelling”: parts five and six

Dr. Hirota is known for his translation work in “The Collected Works of Shinran” and original works such as “No Abode: The Record of Ippen,” “Toward a Contemporary Understanding of Pure Land Buddhism,” “Shinran: An Introduction to His Thought,” and “Tannisho: A Primer.”

Originally recorded March 10, 16, and 17, 2010 at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in the Jodo Shinshu Center, Berkeley, Ca.

Copyright © 2010, Denis Hirota.

Dennis Hirota, Professor in the Department of Shin Buddhist Studies at Ryukoku University, Kyoto, was the Institute of Buddhist Studies’ 2010 Ryukoku Lecturer.

Dr. Hirota’s topic was “Shinran’s Phenomenology of Religious Life: Toward a Rethinking of Shinjin.” The lecture was divided into three parts over the course of three separate days. The audio tracks here roughly compare to the following:

• Lecture One, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Truth”: parts one and two
• Lecture Two, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Time”: parts three and four
• Lecture Three, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Dwelling”: parts five and six

Dr. Hirota is known for his translation work in “The Collected Works of Shinran” and original works such as “No Abode: The Record of Ippen,” “Toward a Contemporary Understanding of Pure Land Buddhism,” “Shinran: An Introduction to His Thought,” and “Tannisho: A Primer.”

Originally recorded March 10, 16, and 17, 2010 at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in the Jodo Shinshu Center, Berkeley, Ca.

Copyright © 2010, Denis Hirota.

Dr. Hirota’s topic was “Shinran’s Phenomenology of Religious Life: Toward a Rethinking of Shinjin.” The lecture was divided into three parts over the course of three separate days. The audio tracks here roughly compare to the following:

• Lecture One, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Truth”: parts one and two
• Lecture Two, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Time”: parts three and four
• Lecture Three, “The Shin Buddhist Path and Dwelling”: parts five and six

Dr. Hirota is known for his translation work in “The Collected Works of Shinran” and original works such as “No Abode: The Record of Ippen,” “Toward a Contemporary Understanding of Pure Land Buddhism,” “Shinran: An Introduction to His Thought,” and “Tannisho: A Primer.”

Originally recorded March 10, 16, and 17, 2010 at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in the Jodo Shinshu Center, Berkeley, Ca.

Copyright © 2010, Denis Hirota.

Originally recording October 2, 2009
© 2009 Daniel Veidlinger

Panel Presentation that sought to connect Ministers, Chaplains, and Counselors to the names, faces, stories, and concerns of members of the LGBT Community. Through their voices we hear from all people who have experienced alienation, exclusion or exile from their faith community.

Facilitator: Demetrio Tafoya (Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, GTU)
Commentator: Dr. Daijaku Judith Kinst (Institute of Buddhist Studies)

Originally recorded April 10, 2009.

Audio only

© 2007 Demtrio Tafoya

This is part three of a three-part series.

Buddhist allowances for compassionate torture, killing, and warfare are dissonant with with the established perception of Buddhist pacifism. While academic studies of Buddhism have accepted that Mahayana and Tantric though allows for such actions, it has been argued that these allowances are rare and narrow allegorical or magical references, not general ethical guidelines. Prof. Steve Jenkins argues that Buddhist allowances for violence are broad and authoritatively attested to in both Yogacara and Madhyamaka treatises of Mahayana sources. Building on previous work, a survey of tantric sadhanas for killing, and references to Buddhist art and folklore, this lecture argues that the exaggeration of Mahayana pacifism has created a false negative space for the evaluation of trantrism.

Originally recorded April 17, 2009
© 2009 Steven Jenkins

This is part two of a three-part series.

Buddhist allowances for compassionate torture, killing, and warfare are dissonant with with the established perception of Buddhist pacifism. While academic studies of Buddhism have accepted that Mahayana and Tantric though allows for such actions, it has been argued that these allowances are rare and narrow allegorical or magical references, not general ethical guidelines. Prof. Steve Jenkins argues that Buddhist allowances for violence are broad and authoritatively attested to in both Yogacara and Madhyamaka treatises of Mahayana sources. Building on previous work, a survey of tantric sadhanas for killing, and references to Buddhist art and folklore, this lecture argues that the exaggeration of Mahayana pacifism has created a false negative space for the evaluation of trantrism.

Originally recorded April 17, 2009
© 2009 Steven Jenkins

This is part one of a three-part series.

Buddhist allowances for compassionate torture, killing, and warfare are dissonant with with the established perception of Buddhist pacifism. While academic studies of Buddhism have accepted that Mahayana and Tantric though allows for such actions, it has been argued that these allowances are rare and narrow allegorical or magical references, not general ethical guidelines. Prof. Steve Jenkins argues that Buddhist allowances for violence are broad and authoritatively attested to in both Yogacara and Madhyamaka treatises of Mahayana sources. Building on previous work, a survey of tantric sadhanas for killing, and references to Buddhist art and folklore, this lecture argues that the exaggeration of Mahayana pacifism has created a false negative space for the evaluation of trantrism.

Originally recorded April 17, 2009
© 2009 Steven Jenkins

After the three respondents spoke, Mark Graves had an opportunity to respond to their questions and talk about his work.

The third panelist/respondent was IBS Dean, Richard K. Payne.

The second panelist/respondent was GTU graduate and clinical psychologist Mary Walsh.

The first panelist/respondent was Doug Oman of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health.

This event was filmed on March 13, 2009.

In part four of this four-part series, Peter Hata discusses youth jazz bands at the West Covina Buddhist Temple.

In part three of this four-part series, Rev. Harry Bridge of the Buddhist Church of Oakland discusses non-representational Buddhist music.

In part two of this four-part series, Dr. Scott A. Mitchell of the Institute of Buddhist Studies reflects on the historical development of Shin Buddhist gathas in the United States.

In part one of this four-part series, Rev. Kodani of Senshin Buddhist Temple gives a presentation of the long history of Buddhist music and important place within the Shin tradition.

The Kalacakra Tantra—Kalacakra means “wheel of time”—is a tradition of Buddhist theory and practice whose root text treats a fantastic expanse of knowledge ranging from observations of the cosmos to investigations of meditative states and vital bodily energies.

For more information on As Long As Space Endures, please visit the publisher’s website.

Originally recorded March 20, 2009
© 2009 David Gray

In her Keynote Address, Dr. Simmer-Brown discusses the obstacles and opportunities women have as women in the Dharma.

For more information on this confernece, see the full Denver video page here

Originally recorded August 29, 2008
© 2008 Judith Simmer-Brown

Zen is famous for its celebration of nature, but there are few premodern texts that explicitly address the Zen view of the natural world. This talk will look at one such text, by the famed thirteenth-century Zen master Dogen, and explore the several ways in which nature and culture are woven together in the Buddhist landscape.

Originally recorded March 11, 2008

© 2008, Carl Bielfeld

Originally recorded February 28, 2008

© 2008 David Matsumoto

Originally recorded February 28, 2008

© 2008 Mark Blum

Originally recorded February 28, 2008

© 2008 Gregory Gibbs

Originally recorded February 28, 2008

© 2008 Gordon Bermant

Originally recorded February 28, 2008

© 2008 Steven Shankman

Our first speaker was Dr. Mark Unno who delivered a moving discussion of embodied Shin Buddhist philosophy.

Originally recorded February 28, 2008

© 2008 Mark Unno

Professor Takanori Sugioka discusses Shinran’s use of various metaphors by Shinran Shonin in his expression of Shin Buddhist faith.

Originally recorded June 7, 2007

© 2007 Takanori Sugioka

Audio Version

Taigen Leighton of the Institute of Buddhist studies and the Ancient Dragon Zen Gate meditation group in Chicago, IL, discusses the ways in which Dogen referenced the Lotus Sutra.

Originally recorded May 19, 2007

© 2007, Taigen Daniel Leighton

Dr. Gardiner, of Colorado College, discusses Kukai’s Shingon philosophy.

Originally recorded May 8, 2007

© 2007, David Gardiner

Video Version

Dr. Kawamura begins his lecture by reiterating the usual understanding of anatman (no-self) — that a “self” does not exist. But if a self does not exist, then there would be little or no need to be concerned or involved in the Buddha-Dharma (teachings of the Buddha). What does it mean to say “no-self” in Buddhism? In his lecture Dr. Kawamura will approach this issue from a purely Mahayana perspective and discuss both Madhyamaka and Yogacara systems.

Originally recorded Spring 2007, © Leslie Kawamura

Audio Version

Dr. Kawamura begins his lecture by reiterating the usual understanding of anatman (no-self) — that a “self” does not exist. But if a self does not exist, then there would be little or no need to be concerned or involved in the Buddha-Dharma (teachings of the Buddha). What does it mean to say “no-self” in Buddhism? In his lecture Dr. Kawamura will approach this issue from a purely Mahayana perspective and discuss both Madhyamaka and Yogacara systems.

Originally recorded Spring 2007, © Leslie Kawamura

Video Version

Taigen Leighton of the Institute of Buddhist studies and the Ancient Dragon Zen Gate meditation group in Chicago, IL, discusses the ways in which Dogen referenced the Lotus Sutra.

Originally recorded May 19, 2007

© 2007, Taigen Daniel Leighton

Visiting from Tokyo, the former Dean of the Institute shares his thoughts on the meaning of Amida Buddha in Shin Buddhism.

Originally recorded 14 February 2007

© 2007, Kenneth Tanaka

In this talk Prof. Orzech examines three important developments of Song Esoteric Buddhism. First he examines the renewed translation efforts by the first two Northern Song Emperors and their establishment of the Institute for the Translation of Scriptures (Yijing yuan). Second, he explores evidence for the circulation and use of Esoteric scriptures and rituals recorded in the journal of the Japanese pilgrim Jojin on his visit to Wutaishan. Finally he looks at the integration of Esoteric themes, deities, and rituals in the Dazu region during the Southern Song.

Originally recorded in the Spring of 2007; © Charles D. Orzech