Learn about some of our new students. Hear about their journey and what drew them to DRBU.

Lavanya, BA in Liberal Arts

Throughout my high school years I was extremely confused regarding what subject I should take up in college. I always wanted to study something beyond traditional majors and minors, not because it’s fun to watch people be confused but because none of the subjects offered gave me exactly what I had been looking for. Then came an email from DRBU. I had never heard of the university before but its name struck some chord somewhere, and then I just knew I had to be there.If I were to speak the truth, I’ve always wanted to do something for others. Everywhere I look I see issues that need to be fixed, but for me to do anything for anyone I need to get rid of my ego, my selfishness. I need to feel totally safe and confident in my own skin and in my own thoughts, and maybe that’s why I come here. Deep inside my heart I know that this place is going to make me a better person inside out, and that’s the prerequisite for making a difference in the world, right?

Ivwananji, BA in Liberal Arts

I am very excited to join the DRBU family this fall. A little bit about me: I love things that have to do with the medical field, whether that be movies, series, or books. I love coming across a new disease/condition that I wasn’t aware of before. It never ceases to amaze me just how fragile the human body is and how quickly things can go south if one does not take care of one’s body properly.

Because of my deep desire and interest in the medical field, I do plan on applying to medical schools after my time at DRBU. Medicine falls in line with another interest of mine, which is to help people. What better way to make a huge difference than becoming a doctor?

I feel very honored that DRBU will be a part of this journey. I believe that my time at DRBU will have a long-lasting impact on the rest of my life. The holistic approach to education is very important, especially for people who would like to go out there and make a real difference in the world. We live in uncertain times, and if you are someone who wants to make it quite far in this life, you need to be equipped with the tools to handle life’s many obstacles and challenges. At the end of the day life is one big test to see how you will react. I have no doubt in my mind that DRBU will instill in me all the right tools and skills, laying a strong foundation in me so that no matter what may come, I will remain steadfast. Just like a house with a weak foundation finds itself experiencing structural failure after experiencing harsh weather, so it shall be with a person who does not possess the right tools to deal with what will come their way as they journey through life. I say “will” because none of us can run away from this thing called life.

Adam, BA in Liberal Arts

I chose DRBU because I’m interested in practicing mindfulness and cultivation. I felt as if the school would be a perfect place to expand my mind and show me new ideas. I enjoy reading all different genres of books and engaging in conversations about books. I spend a lot of time outdoors (hiking, playing games, listening to music, practicing nature awareness).

 

Tsering, BA in Liberal Arts

I came from Tibet with a heavy heart and hope, embarking on a perilous trek over snowcapped mountains and leaving my beautiful family behind. My journey to India was filled with uncertainty about what life would hold and what my new home would be like. I found solace and a new beginning at the Tibetan Children’s Village (T.C.V.) School in Suja, Bir, where I embraced the opportunity to learn, starting with the alphabet at eighteen. T.C.V. has been transformative, allowing me to absorb knowledge inside and outside the classroom.
Amid my academic pursuits, I often wonder about the cost of opportunities in this free land. Memories of my parents and missing key family moments bring sadness, yet my immense gratitude for those who supported me prevails. My journey now leads me to Dharma Realm Buddhist University, driven by a desire to understand Buddhist philosophy’s importance in today’s world. I believe studying Buddhist psychology is essential before Western psychology.
The fully integrated course and supportive community at DRBU resonate with my principles and goals. My interests in reading biographies, exploring philosophy, and appreciating nature fuel my passion for learning. I hope DRBU will provide me with profound knowledge and a sense of oneness, uniting us all in our shared desire for happiness and aversion to suffering. I aspire to gain knowledge and a deep understanding of life, contributing to the community and embracing the sense of belonging DRBU promises.

Taylor, BA in Liberal Arts

Hello, community! My name is Taylor. After spending the last few years working and traveling around the US, I am excited to reconnect with my hometown (Ukiah) while I attend DRBU.
Though I am not Buddhist myself, Zen Buddhism has had a profound influence on Western psychotherapy, which is the field I hope to enter one day. I believe that studying this school of thought directly within a Buddhist environment will provide me with unique insight into how clarity, equanimity, and mindfulness can be cultivated in order to ease anguish and build a healthy, fulfilling life. I struggle with these qualities myself, and wish to develop them not only for my career, but to find a personal sense of peace and contentment.
Outside of academics, I like to make art (in all its forms!), attend live shows, and compete at pub trivia. Above all else, I am a very social person, with a deep love for humanity. For me, there is no greater joy than learning about others and forming meaningful connections. I look forward to learning with and from my peers and instructors in the coming four years.

John, BA in Liberal Arts

I grew up in the Midwestern tallgrass prairies of Iowa. Middle school: I enjoyed expressing my creativity through making video game mods with my friends. High school: marching band, show choir, theater, track, and chamber choir. I had lots of fun but felt like a fish out of water.
I studied computer science for five years at a Midwestern university. Discrete mathematics, the Turing thesis, lambda calculus. I enjoyed the theory, though I felt limited in what I could create. I grew dissatisfied and lost. Took another direction. Spent a summer exploring Colorado. Spent another summer and a half visiting Sacramento, California. I stopped feeling burned out. I applied to AmeriCorps NCCC’s North Central Region. Got it. My first project: free tax prep in Cincinnati, Ohio, with United Way of Greater Cincinnati. Second project: camp maintenance in Huguenot, New York, with Camp Reimagined. After I finished up AmeriCorps, I applied to DRBU to expand my creative faculties. Got it. Get ‘er done.

Adrian, MA in Buddhist Classics

Somehow the spiritual path finds me here, about to start an MA in America of all places. Never would I have believed it, but now that I am here, I am only grateful and incredibly excited. My cultivation from the past ten years is a bit of a patchwork, having practiced with teachers and sanghas from the Thai Forest, Vajrayana, Gaudiya Vaishnava, and Rinzai Zen traditions. I came to CTTB for a retreat this March, and their way of practice seemed to bring together many of the elements of Dharma practice that resonate the most with me. When I heard of the opportunity to study at DRBU, I immediately decided to pursue it. I am very much looking forward to getting to know everyone.
“What a joy it is that the Flower of the Dharma has existed for eon after eon! What a joy it is that there is a flowering of the Dharma day and night! Because the Flower of the Dharma continues from eon to eon and flowers throughout both day and night, even though our own bodies and minds wax and wane in strength, this very waxing and waning is also the flowering of the Dharma.” – Dogen Zenji

Meiying, MA in Buddhist Classics

I am interested in Chinese Chan ideas and Mahayana Buddhist texts, especially the Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva. I look forward to connecting with like-minded friends at DRBU who share an interest in studying these profound texts.
Additionally, I wrote an unpublished novel in Chinese about Master Dao Ji last year, which obviously needs further polishing. If anyone is interested in reading it, I am eager to share it with you and discuss its ideas and details together.
Furthermore, I believe that translating ancient Chinese Buddhist texts and Chan ideas into English is a purposeful endeavor that will certainly spread the Buddha’s teachings on a broader scale worldwide. This would help to calm an increasingly contentious, anxious, and restless world.
Therefore, I’m excited about the opportunity to embark on this academic journey, deepen my understanding of Mahayana Buddhism, and collaborate with peers who are also dedicated to studying the Buddha’s teachings.

Venerable Xing Xing, MA in Buddhist Classics

My name is Le Thi Diem Ni, and my Dharma name is Xing Xing (行性). I was born in 1992, the Year of the Monkey according to the lunar calendar. I have two younger sisters who are both bhikkhunis. As a Buddhist monastic practicing the Bodhisattva path, I always strive to bring goodness to others. I dream of opening a free class for children in remote and impoverished areas, where they cannot afford to go to school. I want to engage in community service work.
I chose to study at DRBU because, to be honest, DRBU offers scholarships and financial aid for students who are struggling but still seek knowledge. Additionally, DRBU feels like a small Buddhist community because it applies Buddhist principles in daily life. Here, students gain knowledge from professors and also have the opportunity to develop their own spiritual life, reflecting inwardly. This is crucial for everyone in today’s world.
Students at DRBU come from different countries and diverse backgrounds. This provides an opportunity for me to learn from and listen to their perspectives. I am genuinely excited to live and study at DRBU.

Joe, MA in Buddhist Classics

Buddhism has been a lifelong interest of mine, but until now I have not had an opportunity for formal study or to be a part of a Buddhist community, so I look forward to really delving into the philosophy and practice here. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at UC Davis in 2013 and have worked as a tutor for several years, tutoring a variety of subjects at community colleges in California.
I love to hike, backpack, camp, snowboard, mountain bike, and pretty much anything else that gets me out in our wonderful outdoor environments. Music is another important part of my life, and I really enjoy playing guitar and bass with others, as well as attending shows and performing live. I am eager to meet everyone at DRBU and embark on our journey of reading, discussing, and living together over the next couple years.

Yidan, MA in Buddhist Classics

Namaste everyone! I am very glad to be in the DRBU community encore.
I enjoy nature, music and creative arts. I am looking forward to the new school year, learning with wise teachers and noble friends. The future is unknown, where infinite potential and possibilities lie, where beauty abides and where transformation awaits.

 

Daniel, Translation Certificate

I am a graduate from Penn State University with a double major in Religious Studies and Japanese. My second language is Japanese, and I have ample experience dabbling in languages such as Hindi, Mandarin Chinese, Pali, and Sanskrit. I consider myself an eclectic enthusiast, as I often find myself deeply immersed in visual arts, interactive media, and music of various genres, fascinated by cultural and religious themes in popular culture.
I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel extensively, visiting places such as England, Japan, and Taiwan. I recently returned from a five-year journey on foot across the Northwestern United States, visiting Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese diaspora communities, as well as becoming more familiar with the Japanese Shingon school. The latter has been the focus of my intellectual endeavors, as I have been casually studying up on Buddhist astrology through Japanese Sukuyōdō (宿曜道) and related materials such as the Big Dipper Sutra (佛説北斗七星延命經), the Star Mandala (北斗曼荼羅) and the Edo-period iconographic compendium, the Butsuzōzui (仏像図彙).
Here’s to all of us having an “enlightening” time at DRBU. Dōzo yoroshiku!