We welcome people from all walks of life, as the Buddha taught compassion for all living beings. The International Buddhism Friendship Association was founded in 1995 in Uptown on Argyle street, then moved to Chinatown in 2004. In 2020, the existing temple was demolished, rebuilt, and had its grand opening last year! The IBFA is the companion temple to the Mid-America Buddhist Association (MABA),
located in rural Missouri. Both the IBFA and MABA are blessed to have Master Jiru as their Abbot. Master Jiru was ordained in the Theravada tradition in Thailand in 1980, then in the Chinese tradition in 1986. The people of IBFA are also well cared for and instructed by Bhikkhuni (Nun) Chimiu, who has been practicing since the age of eight and ordained in 1963, Bhikkhuni Kongzheng, who ordained in 1989 and was a Dean and lecturer at a Buddhist college in China for four years, and Bhikkhuni Kongyan, who ordained in 2012 and has a Ph.D. That means that when you enter IBFA, you are surrounded by over 150 years of living Buddhist knowledge, wisdom, and practice! The monastics at IBFA are trained in both Theravada and Mahayana practice. You will find devotees cultivating the practices of both Southern and Northern Buddhist traditions. The IBFA Temple has four floors. The first floor is the lobby, where anyone may come in and pay respect to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, converse with the monastics and volunteers, make donations to the temple, receive acupuncture care during the office hours, and learn about the core teachings of Buddhism. The second floor is the Buddha Hall and dining room. Vegetarian lunches are served for free to those who attend a Dharma Assembly or Dharma Talk. In the Buddha Hall, devotees chant sutras and deepen their understanding and faith through invoking the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The third floor is the Arahant Hall. This is the floor where practitioners go to engage in profound study of the Buddha’s Teachings, as well as to hone their meditation practices. The fourth floor is accessible only to the Temple personnel. People from all walks of life are welcome. The Buddha preached compassion to all living beings, and this is what is practiced at IBFA.
