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Lunar New Year Celebration (Jan 29)

1/23/2025

Start out the new year at the monastery with good friends and Dharma!

Date: Wed, Jan 29, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Please join us in-person at Berkeley Buddhist Monastery!

Online option: YouTube or Zoom.

We will chant Om Mani Padme Hum to welcome the new year, an online Dharma reflection by Rev. Heng Sure at 12:30pm, and some surprises! Come share in this joyful beginning of the Year of the Snake as we join our voices and hearts in practice together. A vegetarian lunch is included. ;) All are welcome to attend any portion of the day's events.

Saturday Night Avatamsaka Sutra Lecture

1/7/2025

Also available via live streaming (webcast) from Berkeley Monastery
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.

Master Hsu Yun's Pictorial Biography Lecture by Rev. Heng Sure (Fri 6:30-7:30pm)

1/5/2025

Date/Time: Fri, 6:30-7:30pm (Pacific Time)
Speaker: Rev. Heng Sure

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.

To sign up: [email protected].

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

Redwood Vihara Website & Newsletter Signup

12/31/2024

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

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

Applying Buddhist Perspectives to Ordinary Life with Steven Tainer

12/28/2024

The first in a series on Buddhist views of reality drawn from different Buddhist schools, this course will examine human existence and day-to-day life patterns, and suggest ways to correct negative tendencies and enhance life overall. Emphasis will be placed on perspectives that can be understood by newcomers to meditation training, but will also include some more advanced teachings. Each point will be explained in terms of several levels of insight, with suggestions for applications in practice.

Taught by: Steven Tainer
Dates: Jan 22 - May 14, 2025
Time: Wednesday, 7:30-8:45pm (Pacific Time)
Online Only Zoom Link: Join Here (Meeting ID: 874 3126 0912 / Passcode: 558681)

Avatamsaka Sutra Lecture by Martin Verhoeven

9/16/2024

7:30 - 8:15 pm Meditation
8:15 - 9:00 pm Lecture / Q & A

Friday, Feb 7, Classes Resume In-Person

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.

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

9/1/2024

Meditation practice, Teachings, and Community
With James Baraz and Eve Decker
Thursdays 7:30-9pm PT

We will meet in person the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. In-person gathering at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, 2304 McKinley Ave., Berkeley. Or, people can join us online using the usual Zoom link.

More information at www.insightberkeley.org.

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].

First Tuesdays with Abhayagiri Monks

4/1/2024

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

On break until April 1, 2025

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.

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
Applying Buddhist Perspectives to Ordinary Life
by Steven Tainer
7:30-8:45pm

Thursday
Insight Meditation Community
7:30-9:00pm
(2nd and 4th Thursday each month starting October 10)

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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