Rev. Dr. Kenji Akahoshi shares some of the common Western misunderstandings of Shin Buddhism, and the traditions behind the practice. He explains the everyday benefits of waking up everyday.

Crisis is accompanied by uncertainty. We wish we could know what's going to happen. We wish we could know that the situation will turn out OK. We wish we had some assurance that there is no need to worry. But the only assurance we have is that things will change and that worrying will have little impact on the situation.

We live in an era of climate change, social unrest, injustice, and confusion. The teachings of Shinran Shonin, the founder of Shin Buddhism, provide guidance for living and engaging with the social challenges we face. This talk discusses six principles that we can apply to our work to transform suffering and build a stronger, more compassionate sangha and society.

Discover Nagapriya and his path to Pure Land Buddhism. In part 2 of “GSS | Shin Buddhism Really Is Buddhist,” Nagapriya and Jon Sensei delve into Nagapriya's background and his journey to discovering Shinran. Throughout their conversation, Nagapriya shares his perspectives on Shinran, highlighting who he was both as a person and a practitioner. Tune in as these two esteemed practitioners explore the advantages of practice and the advancement along the Buddhist path.

In this Guest Speaker Series "Let This Be Known," Jim Pollard shares his personal insights on choosing to seek a more fulfilling life through a Buddhist path, and a few non-traditional learnings on traditional Shin Buddhist doctrine.

Shin Buddhism is frequently regarded as a faith-based perspective within the larger context of Buddhism, which often leads to its under appreciation. Nagapriya connects Shin Buddhism with the wider Buddhist tradition. Join him in his exploration of how deeply Shin Buddhism is intertwined with Mahayana teachings and Buddhist practices.

Get ready to introduce (or reintroduce) yourself to the Buddhist teachings and gain new insights for applying the teachings to everyday life in the west.

Yokoyama Sensei begins with a short, guided meditation and then introduces the practice of "just sitting." He talks about the idea of actualizing the Buddha Nature, which resides in all of us, an understanding of non-intention, and teachings on the everyday nature of Zen.

What does the next generation of American Buddhists need to know? How can we assist them on their spiritual paths? In this GSS, Rev. Dr. Kenneth Tanaka addresses these questions and more as he delves into the unique characteristics of American Buddhism, particularly from the viewpoint of younger practitioners.

Rev. Dr. Kenji Akahoshi shares some of the common Western misunderstandings of Shin Buddhism, and the traditions behind the practice. He explains the everyday benefits of waking up to reality through true understanding. Waking up from "Please" to "Thank You."

Author Chenxing Han discusses the transformative experience of writing her debut book, Be the Refuge, and the surprising connections it has fostered. Tune in as she shares stories of finding solace and comfort within the Buddhist community, going from loneliness to spiritual friendships. During her insightful GSS, she examines and debunks the dichotomy within American Buddhism of being either a traditional Asian ritualistic practice or a contemporary White driven practice centered on meditation. Chenxing Han has emerged as a prominent voice and progressive thinker in understanding the current landscape of American Buddhism. You don’t want to miss the engaging and information talk!

Can the embrace of Amida Buddha’s compassion bring solace to our minds? Rev. Dr. Carmela Javellana, armed with insights from Shinran Shonin’s work, “Kyogyoshinsho" and background in psychology, invites us to explore how the Nembutsu has the potential to be a powerful medicine, useful in ordinary day-to-day life as well as healing trauma.

As of 2010, there were approximately 3-4 million Buddhists in the United States, and that figure is expected to grow significantly. Beyond the numbers, the influence of Buddhism can be felt throughout the culture, with many more people practicing meditation, for example, than claiming Buddhist identity. A century ago, this would have been unthinkable. So how did Buddhism come to claim such a significant place in the American cultural landscape?