New Core Faculty: Daijaku Judith Kinst

The Rev. Dr. Daijaku Judith Kinst, Professor of Buddhism and Psychology, has recently been appointed as a core faculty member of the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS). The announcement was recently made by Dr. Richard Payne, Dean.

Dr. Kinst, is an ordained Buddhist Priest in the Soto Zen tradition. She earned her BA at Occidental College in Los Angeles and upon completing her formal priest training she studied Western Psychology, earning an MA degree and license in psychotherapy. During her studies she trained at UCSF Medical Center’s Clinical Pastoral Education program. She completed her Ph.D. at the California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco.

She teaches graduate course in Buddhist Studies, Contemplative Psychology, and Spiritual Direction and has an ongoing commitment to interfaith dialogue.

With the MA/MDiv chaplaincy program, IBS offers the opportunity for Buddhists of any tradition to get a graduate education in chaplaincy at a Buddhist institution with a long and rich history. It is a gift to people of the wider Buddhist world to be able to do this, to benefit from this, and form sustained contact with the Shin Buddhist tradition.

There are many people who want to serve, who want to express their dedication to Buddha’s teachings through caring for others. What is needed is an effective training in how to serve. IBS is uniquely able to fulfill this need.

Dr. Kinst is building relationships with Graduate Theological Union faculty and chaplains, supervising chaplains at various hospitals in the area, and other institutions who are need of chaplains.