HOME

念佛聯誼活動｜Pure Land Practice Day

10/4/2026

日期 Date: October 11, 2026
時間 Time: 9:00 AM–3:30 PM
地點 Location:
Berkeley Buddhist Monastery
2304 McKinley Avenue, Berkeley, CA

誠摯歡迎對念佛有興趣的佛友，一同參加念佛聯誼活動，分享念心得與喜悅。本次活動希望為蓮友提供交流、認識彼此的機會，增進友誼，建立互相支持與關懷的連結。
We warmly invite anyone interested in reciting the Buddha’s name to join us for a day of practice and friendship. Share your experiences and the joy of practice, get to know fellow practitioners, and build a community of mutual support and care.

本活動將以中文進行，並邀請萬佛聖城的法師開示及回答有關淨土修行的問題。
The event will be conducted in Chinese. Dharma teachers from the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas will be invited to offer teachings and answer questions about Pure Land practice.

有意參加者，請於 2026年10月5日前填寫下方報名表。
Please complete the registration form below by October 5, 2026, if you would like to attend.

Avatamsaka Sutra Lecture by Martin Verhoeven

8/8/2026

7:30 - 8:15 pm Meditation
8:15 - 9:00 pm Lecture / Q & A
(US Pacific Time)

Join Online: DharmaRealmLive

The class will examine the practices and path set forth by the Avatamsaka Sutra, or Flower Ornament Sutra, which describes a cosmos of infinite realms upon realms, mutually containing one another.

The text touches on various topics such as the Bodhisattva path, the interpenetration of phenomena (dharmas), the visionary powers of meditation and the equality of things in emptiness.

For more details such as how to access the live broadcast link and the speaker bio, please visit the class link.

Levels of Understanding Buddhism and Life

7/31/2026

In this course we’ll work through a few main points of both basic and intermediate levels of Buddhist meditation training, with an emphasis on the implications for living better. Several different forms of practice will be introduced and used both in the classes and for homework, supplemented by recommended readings. The course should be accessible to anyone, regardless of background and religious/secular orientation.

Dates: Weekly from September 23 through December 23.
Time: Wednesdays evenings on Zoom, 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Pacific Time (US and Canada).

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86316312313
Meeting ID: 863 1631 2313
Passcode: 928488

Awakin Circle in Berkeley Buddhist Monastery (Oct 4)

7/14/2026

Date: Sunday, Oct 4th
Time: 3:30PM - 6:00PM
Location: Berkeley Buddhist Monastery

SIGN UP HERE

This circle is inspired by decades of kindred circles around the globe, and it is a space to connect more deeply in stillness and community, with ourselves and with one another. These gatherings have no teachers or proposed beliefs -- they are simply a space to come together to listen within and to each other, with a simple wish for greater awakening of awareness and compassion.

Here's the format for our time together:

3:30 PM -- An hour of collective silence. (If it's your first time, this primer on meditation may be helpful.)

4:30 PM -- A short reading, followed by a circle of sharing of "aha" moments from our everyday lives.

5:15 PM -- Vegan meal and informal conversation

Saturday Night Avatamsaka Sutra Lecture (In Person & Online)

7/10/2026

This lecture is now both in-person at Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, and streamed online:

YouTube Channel: DharmaRealmLive

Lecturer: Rev. Heng Sure (or DRBA monks and nuns)

Every Saturday night, the Berkeley Monastery community gathers to listen to a lecture on the Flower Adornment Sutra. We investigate the sutra text line by line and endeavor to bring its ancient wisdom up to date for our modern lives in the 21st century.

For more class info: Please Click Here.

Insight Meditation Gatherings with James and Eve (In-Person and Online)

5/15/2026

Meditation practice, Teachings, and Community
With James Baraz and Eve Decker
Thursdays 7:30-9:00pm PT
(tea served from 6:45-7:20pm)

Come join us in person at Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, 2304 McKinley Ave., Berkeley. Or, people can join us online using the usual Zoom link.

Also we will serve tea from 6:45-7:20pm every Thursday so that the community can get to know each other better. All are welcome!

More information at www.insightberkeley.org.

First Tuesdays with Abhayagiri Monks

2/5/2026

Date: First Tuesday of the Month
Times: 5pm (Tea Time)
7:30pm - 9:45 (Dhamma Talk)
Speakers: Abhayagiri Monks

Please join us for a Dhamma evening with the Monks from Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery. At 5pm there is an informal time to ask questions of the monks over tea, and then at 7:30pm, there will be chanting, meditation, followed by a Dhamma talk. All are welcome.

Urban Lotus: American Buddhist Folks Songs Vol. 2

7/13/2025

We are excited to announce the release of Reverend Heng Sure’s newest album: Urban Lotus: American Buddhist Folk Songs Vol. 2.

Urban Lotus is our second go at setting the Buddha’s Dharma teachings to Western melodies, played on six- and twelve-string guitars, banjos, and an octave mandolin. The title of the album references how Venerable Master Hsuan Hua opened monasteries in the heart of major urban cities along the West Coast and highlights the nature of the Buddhist symbol: the lotus flower. Lotuses are rooted in the mud but their blossoms stand above the mud and water, pure and undefiled.

Listen to previews of the songs and learn more about Reverend Heng Sure’s newest album on the Urban Lotus page.
Urban Lotus is available on Bandcamp and all major music platforms: Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music and more.

Daily Silent Meditation at Berkeley Buddhist Monastery

5/11/2025

Join us for daily silent meditation at the monastery—a quiet and sacred space for personal practice.

Mornings: 6:15–7:15am (doors open at 6:00am), weekdays only
Evenings: 5:15–6:15pm (doors open at 5:00pm), everyday

All are welcome to come and go quietly at any time during the session. These are open periods of silent sitting without instruction, offering a calm and supportive environment to deepen your practice.

Redwood Vihara Website & Newsletter

4/17/2025

Berkeley Buddhist Monastery is branching out and establishing a monastery in the redwoods! Visit our new Redwood Vihara Website.

Read our first Redwood Vihara newsletter here. If you are interested in getting news and updates, please sign up for our Redwood Vihara newsletter.

Master Hsu Yun's Pictorial Biography Lecture by Rev. Heng Sure (Fri)

1/5/2025

Date/Time: Fri, 7:30-8:30pm (Pacific Time)
Speaker: Rev. Heng Sure

For joining the online talks, please sign up by emailing: [email protected].

Rev. Heng Sure gives stories and lectures on the Pictorial Biography of Master Hsu Yun. The lecture will be in English, with Chinese and Vietnamese translation.

Ten Transferences Chapter Lecture on Sunday by Rev. Heng Sure

1/4/2025

Come learn how Bodhisattvas creatively dedicate merit to all living beings from the "Ten Transferences" chapter in the Avatamsaka Sutra.

Speaker: Rev. Heng Sure
Date/Time: Sundays 7:30 – 9:00 pm

English Zoom link：Join Here (ID: 929 8519 9033 / Passcode: 95482)
Vietnamese Zoom link: Join Here (ID: 879 7769 2844 / Passcode: 922407)
YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/QEM_3BhT8IA?feature=share

Morning and Evening Ceremonies Streaming Online

1/3/2025

In the morning and evening, please join us in our daily ceremonies, where the ancient chants connect us to ourselves and all living beings.

5:00-6:00am Morning Ceremony
6:30-7:30pm Evening Ceremony

YouTube Channel: DharmaRealmLive
Register Here to Join on Zoom

Come Join Our Chinese Music Ensemble at the Monastery!

4/24/2024

Have fun learning and playing music in a Chinese ensemble! All instruments are welcome (strings, plucking, woodwind, percussion). Please bring your own instrument. No experience needed, although preferred. We can help you get started on an instrument. Sessions are free. All ages are welcome.

Dates: 1/25, 2/22, 3/29, 4/26, 5/31, 6/7 (Last Saturday)
Time: 1:00-3:00pm
Location: Dining Hall, Berkeley Buddhist Monastery

Interested? Please email: [email protected].

Great Compassion Mantra Dedication of Merit

2/5/2024

Next Date: TBD
Time: 6:30-7:30am
YouTube: Dharma Realm Live Channel
Zoom: BBM Online (register for link)

Please join us in dedicating the merit of our recitation of the Great Compassion Mantra to all living beings, especially those suffering due to the pandemic. This Dedication of Merit Ceremony is only once a month. Our regular daily practice consists of meditation and Three Steps, One Bow. See BBM Online schedule.

If you would like to sign up to recite the Great Compassion Mantra on your own throughout the month, please do so here: Great Compassion Mantra Recitation Form (link)

Vietnamese Translation Available
Zoom link: Join Here
Meeting ID: 879 7769 2844
Passcode: 922407

<<Previous

Newsletter Sign-up

Sign-up email here

Classes & Events

Daily Practice
Meditation
5:15-6:15pm

Wednesday
A Basic Set of Buddhist Meditation Practices
by Steven Tainer
7:30-8:45pm (Online)

Thursday
Insight Meditation Community
7:30-9:00pm

Friday
Online Talk
by Rev. Heng Sure
6:30-7:30pm

Avatamsaka Sutra Lecture
by Martin Verhoeven
7:30-9:00pm

Saturday
Avatamsaka Sutra Lecture
by Rev. Heng Sure
7:30PM to 9:30PM
Click here for live broadcast

Retreats (Ukiah, CA)

7-Day Retreats in a Contemplative Setting

Blogs, Videos, Podcast

Rev. Heng Sure's Blog
DharmRealmLive TV on YouTube
Avatamsaka Sutras on Podcast

RSS Feed