International Buddhist Meditation Center - Los Angeles, CA

06/15/2026

Bhikkhu Bodhi - "I was originally ordained a novice in 1967 in the Vietnamese Mahayana order with a Vietnamese monk who studied at Claremont Graduate School, where I was studying. Through him I met Ven. Thich Thien An, who was teaching at UCLA.

Thich Thien An stayed in the US and in 1970 started the Intl Buddhist Med Ctr, first in a small house in West Hollywood, then he moved it to a larger house on South New Hampshire Avenue (still there). I came to stay there with him when he moved to the larger house, I think in June or July 1971.

In August 1972 I left the US for Sri Lanka, where I was re-ordained into the Theravada Sangha under Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera, at the time the chief prelate of the Unified Amarapura Nikaya. My novice ordination in Sri Lanka was 1972 and higher ordination was in 1973.

I didn't actually "study" with Thich Thien An. I was living at the IBMC, teaching at California State College in Fullerton, finishing my PhD, and giving occasional talks at the meditation center."

- / Photo, Bhikkhu Bodhi @ the IBMC 1970's

06/09/2026

Sakyadhita is an alliance of Buddhist women and allies who work for gender equity in the world's Buddhist traditions.

The Core Initiators… These three women organized the historic first International Conference on Buddhist Women in Bodhgaya, India, which directly led to the formation of the alliance.

Ayya Khema: A prominent German-born Theravada Buddhist nun and teacher.

Venerable Karma Lekshe Tsomo: An American Tibetan Buddhist nun, scholar, and long-time central coordinator of the organization.

Dr. Chatsumarn Kabilsingh: A Thai scholar who was later ordained as a bhikkhuni under the monastic name Dhammananda Bhikkhuni.Key Early Founders and Participants

Several other prominent monastics and laywomen played crucial co-founding roles during and immediately following the inaugural 1987 gathering:

Carola Roloff (Bhikshuni Jampa Tsedroen): A German scholar and nun deeply involved in the movement for full ordination.

Dr. Kusuma Devendra (Bhikkhuni Kusuma): A pioneer from Sri Lanka instrumental in reviving the Theravada bhikkhuni order.

Sylvia Wetzel: A prominent German Buddhist teacher and writer.Venerable Thubten Chodron: An American Tibetan Buddhist nun who was part of the foundational group that read the Bhiksuni Pratimoksa at the initial gathering.

Karuna Dharma: An early American Buddhist nun and Abbess at the International Buddhist Meditation Center, Los Angeles CA.

06/08/2026

06/07/2026

Zendo Backyard Buddha - Morning Sun

06/03/2026

Nuns in the West III / Teachers and Training for the Inner Life

Nuns in the West III, the third in a series of dialogue events sponsored by Monastic Interreligious Dialogue, was held Friday, August 29, through Monday, September 1, 2008, at St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island, Illinois.

Photo - Ven. Karuna @ Nuns in the West III - 2008

06/02/2026

... IBMC Bell

06/01/2026

Why Do People Offer Flowers to the Buddha?

🌸 Why Do People Offer Flowers to the Buddha? 🌸

Many people offer flowers to the Buddha, but not because the Buddha needs them.

A flower blooms beautifully, spreads its fragrance, and brings joy. Yet after a short time, it fades and withers.

This simple offering reminds us of one of the Buddha's deepest teachings:

🍃 Everything in life is impermanent.

Our youth, possessions, successes, and even our lives will one day change and pass away, just like a flower.

When we offer flowers, we are not only showing respect to the Buddha. We are also reflecting on the nature of life and reminding ourselves to live with wisdom, kindness, and gratitude.

🪷 The flower is not just an offering. It is a lesson.

05/31/2026

... IBMC Zendo Backyard / Kwan Yin Bodhisattva

05/30/2026

Shinzen was part of the IBMC family in the 1970's as a resident teacher and then Vice-Abbot with Abbess Karuna Dharma. He will turn 83 in August of 2026.

"The beginning of my Buddhist journey started at the IBMC in 1979 with Shinzen. His weekly talks and monthly retreats at the IBMC helped me build a solid foundation." - Kusala

Shinzen Young is an American meditation teacher. He leads residential and phone-based meditation retreats for students interested in learning the Vipassana tradition of Buddhism. He was originally ordained in Japan as a monk in the Shingon (Japanese Vajrayana) tradition.

05/29/2026

The Ullambana Festival, widely known as the Ghost Festival is a Buddhist holiday. It is a celebration of filial piety, compassion, and ancestral remembrance.

The Origin Story: According to the Ullambana Sutra, Maudgalyayana used his spiritual powers to locate his deceased mother and found she had been reborn as a hungry ghost, starving and unable to eat. Distressed, he sought the Buddha's advice.

The Buddha instructed him to make offerings to the monastic community at the end of their summer retreat. The combined merit of these generous offerings successfully liberated his mother from her torment.