Limited guest parking is now available at IBMC. As always, visitors are welcome to find street parking. If you can't find a parking spot, feel free to enter through the alley behind IBMC and look for the lotus flower symbol on the gate. We'll have the gate open on Sunday mornings for our Sunday service guests from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. For meditation sessions on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights, please contact us at (213) 384-0850 or email Rev. Kusala before your arrival. We'll open the gate for you. On Sunday, September 28, 2014, IBMC held a refuge and five-precepts ceremony for Samantha Kinkaid. She took the Buddhist name 'Chintamani' (Wish Fulfilling Jewel) as an Upāsikā. The first two steps in the process of becoming a lay disciple of the Buddha are going for refuge and accepting the five precepts. IBMC offers the ceremony for Buddhist laypeople/householders at the discretion of a monk, nun or Dharma teacher. IBMC held its annual Ullambana ceremony this year on Sunday, August 17, 2014. The ceremony is a time for helping those who are suffering, so that they may achieve awakening. It is based on the Ullambana Sutra in Mahayana Buddhism, where the Buddha teaches his disciple Maudgalyāyana how to obtain liberation for his mother who had been reborn into a lower realm of existence. Names of the departed were read. A vegetarian lunch followed the ceremony. Photos by Vincent Lim. On June 1, 2014, IBMC held its 100-Days ceremony for Ven. Karuna Dharma. Ven. Karuna was the former abbess of IBMC and a prominent American Buddhist nun who passed away earlier this year. In many Buddhist traditions, it is believed that there is a period of 100 days between death and rebirth.
IBMC celebrated the Buddha's birthday on Sunday, April 13, 2014. In Japanese communities here and around the world, Hannamatsuri celebrates the birth, death and awakening of Siddhartha Gautama. In other Buddhist communities, this is celebrated in May. Since IBMC was founded in 1970, it has celebrated the Buddha's birthday according to the Japanese tradition.
On the same day, IBMC held its 49-Days ceremony for Ven. Karuna Dharma, the former abbess of IBMC and a prominent American Buddhist nun who passed away earlier this year. In Mahayana Buddhism, especially the Vietnamese tradition, there is chanting for the dead 49 days after his/her passing, 49 being the estimated time it takes for the spirit to be reborn again into a new life. Photos by Vincent Lim. Ven. Karuna Dharma, the former Abbess of IBMC and a prominent American Buddhist nun, passed away peacefully on the morning of February 22, 2014 with her daughter holding her hand at her side. Her last words before she passed: "That's it!"
A memorial service was held for Ven. Karuna on March 9, 2014. Around 150 people came to IBMC's Ananda Hall to pay their respects to Ven. Karuna including several prominent Buddhist monks and nuns. Former students, spiritual friends, friends, family and extended family shared their stories about Ven. Karuna and how she embodied here Dharma name "karuna" in her life and teachings. To view a PDF of Ven. Karuna's memorial service program book, please click here. To view a video tribute to Ven. Karuna, please click here. Photos by Vincent Lim. IBMC celebrated the year of the horse on Feb. 9 with its usual Sunday service. It was followed by a blessing ceremony and a delicious vegetarian lunch.
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January 2024
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