The Buddhist Study Center presents
Summer Session 2026
with Rev. Dr. Aaron Proffitt
July 27-29 at BSC (Mon.–Wed.)
Evening sessions, in person and online
August 1 at ‘Aiea Hongwanji (Sat.)
Daytime workshop, in person
Evening Session Topics at BSC
- July 27, 6-8 p.m.: “Entering the Mahayana Multiverse”
- July 28, 6-8 p.m.: “Shin Buddhism as Basic Buddhism”
- July 29, 6-8 p.m.: “Buddhism is Simple, Buddhist Studies is Complicated”
Half-Day Retreat at ‘Aiea Hongwanji
- August 1, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: “Buddhism and Family Culture”
Rev. Dr. Proffitt will draw on his experiences from both the college level and from his Albany sangha. He will focus on his journey as a parent and how the Dharma provides him with resources to build a family culture rooted in Buddhist wisdom and compassion.
Families are invited to attend; childcare with activities for children will be provided.
Registration
To be notified by email when registration is available:
Use the email signup form from Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii and subscribe to “Seminars and Workshops.”
About Our Speaker
Rev. Dr. Aaron Shoken Proffitt is an ordained Jodo Shinshu minister and associate professor of Japanese Studies at the East Asian Studies Department at the University of Albany-SUNY.
Originally from Lynchburg, Tennessee, Rev. Dr. Proffitt received his B.A. and M.A. in religious studies from the University of Colorado and his PhD in Buddhist studies from the University of Michigan.
He studied Japanese at the Inter-University Center in Yokohama from 2009 to 2010 and conducted research as a Fulbright Fellow at Otani University, Koyasan University, and Ryukoku University from 2014 to 2015.
He serves as the Buddhist chaplain at the University of Albany Interfaith Center and for the Buddhist Student Association.
In 2019, he co-founded the Albany Buddhist Sangha (albanybuddhist.org), a diverse, family-oriented temple serving the greater New York state capital area.
About BSC Summer Session
Buddhist Study Center (BSC)
1436 University Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96822
The BSC Summer Session held its first classes in 1974 with Dr. Alfred Bloom and Dr. Mokusen Miyuki. For over 50 years distinguished teachers have shared their knowledge and perspectives on the Wisdom and Compassion of the Teachings of Buddhism. These scholars include: Dr. Taitetsu Unno, Rev. Gyomay Kubose, Dr. George Tanabe, Prof. Takamaro Shigaraki, Dr. Mark Unno, Rev. Ruth Tabrah, Dr. David Matsumoto, Rev. Marvin Harada, Rev. William Masuda, & Rev. Dr. Takashi Miyaji.