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12th Annual Interfaith Community Blood Drive (July 28)

7/11/2026

Give the gift of life by joining our annual Interfaith Community Blood Drive. Together with our partner faith communities, we invite you to support patients in need through this simple act of compassion.

Tuesday, July 28, 2026
12:00–5:00 p.m.

Congregation Netivot Shalom
1316 University Ave., Berkeley
blood drive flyer 2026.pdf

Register
Schedule your appointment at RedCrossBlood.org using the sponsor code CNS, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Please bring a photo ID.

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.

Avatamsaka Sutra Lecture by Martin Verhoeven

2/12/2026

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

Class is on summer break and will resume in September 2026. Check back here for updates.

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.

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.

A Basic Set of Buddhist Meditation Practices

1/15/2026

Beginning- and intermediate-level practices for protecting, taming, training, edifying and opening the ordinary mind. Two or three sessions will be spent discussing various implementations of each emphasis, after which we’ll shift to a comparison of these methods with Buddhist ritual and recitation-based practice. The discussion should be accessible to anyone, regardless of background and religious/secular orientation.

Taught by: Steven Tainer
Dates: Jan 21 - May 13, 2026
Time: Wednesday, 7:30-8:45pm (Pacific Time)
Online Only Zoom Link: Join Here (Meeting ID: 898 3648 6671 / Passcode: 842649)

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

Dharma Realm Buddhist University Application

8/1/2022

Embark on a Path of Freedom, Compassion & Self-Discovery

BA in Liberal Arts & MA in Buddhist Classics at Dharma Realm Buddhist University

DRBU offers comprehensive no-loan financial aid through service scholarship (work-study) and grants.

Please visit: www.drbu.edu/info

I have a purpose in every moment of my life, whether I follow it or not. At least I know what I should be doing in every moment and how to make every moment meaningful.
- BA Class of 2019

Students' experiences at DRBU change them in a positive direction. When they graduate, they will have the kind of inner strength that will set them on a course that will lead them to be happy, fulfilled, and useful in the world.
- Dr. Susan Rounds, President

Newsletter Sign-up

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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

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