The BSC Summer Session is an annual, week-long seminar with a well-known Buddhist scholar. In addition to this web page, also available are:The Buddhist Study Center presents Summer Session 2025
“The Path Comes to Meet Me”
Awakening to Namo Amida Butsu
with Rev. Dr. Enrique Galvan-Alvarez
August 4-8, 2025
In person at the Buddhist Study Center and Online via Zoom
If you have questions, please contact the Buddhist Study Center at (808) 522-9200 or 1436 University Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96822.
Rev. Dr. Enrique Galvan-Alvarez
Register Online (Google form) — you can specify in person or online attendance.
Registration Deadline: July 31, 2025
Suggested tax-deductible donation: 5 sessions $50, single sessions $10.
Checks made out to HHMH and sent to 1727 Pali Highway, Honolulu, HI 96813 with “Summer Session” in the memo line.
Or, make an Online Donation. Mahalo!
Rev. Dr. Galvan-Alvarez will also offer lectures in each district:
A lot of the English language literature about Buddhism uses very static and inward-looking images. We often talk about how the Buddha Shakyamuni attained the state of awakening, an internal, peaceful state of mind. Also, in our Jōdo Shinshū tradition, there is the risk of painting too static a picture, with Amida Buddha as an all-powerful figure residing in a far-away Pure Land, a realm of unchanging serenity where we go to rest.
As comforting as some of these themes can be in our turbulent world, we should not forget that the core principles of the Dharma are impermanence and interdependence. What would the Buddha’s awakening and Amida’s Pure Land look like if we looked outward, rather than inward, if we focused on relation rather than interiority? What if we thought of shinjin not so much as a ‘settled heart’ but as a dynamic, ever-changing relationship with awakening?
Following in the spirit of the old Sino-Japanese word for Buddhism, butsudō 仏道, which refers both to the path and to the goal of the Buddha, I will invite you to re-evaluate your understanding of the Dharma, by exploring a series of encounters, relationships and journeys. In line with this approach, I welcome all questions and interruptions, let’s walk this path together as a dialogue!
Enrique Galvan-Alvarez was born in the Canary Islands, but has spent most of his adult life in the UK. In 2011 he obtained a PhD in Modern Languages and shortly after started working at the (all-online) Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, where he is now Associate Professor.
He encountered the Buddha’s teaching in 2003 and he started practicing under various Tibetan teachers.
In 2011 he encountered Shinran Shonin’s teaching and was deeply moved by the writings of Rev. Dr. Al Bloom, with whom he sustained a 5-year long correspondence. Enrique continued his study of Jodo Shinshu with other Sensei and Dharma friends, at Dr. Bloom’s recommendation, in Europe, Japan and America.
In 2019 he was ordained at Nishi Hongwanji. Since then he has been actively spreading the Dharma, both in English and in Spanish.
During the global Covid-19 pandemic, when all Buddhist activities went online, Enrique started forming a Spanish-language online group, Jinen-kō, which now has members across the Spanish speaking world. He also serves the Jodo Shinshu UK community, by offering online sessions and visiting members in their homes across England.
He was certified as Kyōshi minister in January 2025 and is currently organizing the 21st European Shin Conference, which will take place in Oxford in September 2025.
Group photo from the 2018 Summer Session (click image for larger version)
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.