About us

The Association

 

The University Buddhist Association of UCLA is an organization of students, faculty, and community members who come together to learn about and practice Buddhism. We're a non-sectarian Buddhist group that welcomes all Buddhists and non-Buddhist of all faiths and traditions. We hold weekly meetings and and ad-hoc activities to learn about Buddhism. We also organize team-building activities and join other groups to nurture our community. All of our activities and events are offered free of charge, and encompass several broad goals:

  • Bringing the Sangha to the University: In order for students to meet and learn about a variety of Buddhist traditions, the UBA sponsors guest speakers from many of the local temples in Southern California to come and speak at UCLA.
  • Bringing the Students to the Community: The UBA utilizes the passion of young Buddhists to reach out into the larger community and become connected beyond our college years. We sponsor field trips, retreats, and community service to forge the bonds that can last a lifetime.
  • Bringing Buddhism to the Discussion: The Buddhist teachings offer a perspective not found elsewhere, and a set of responsibilities unique to the religion. The UBA participates in interfaith events and dialog to make the Buddhist voice heard and understood.


The University Buddhist Association is a free organization, because we believe that the Buddhist teaching is priceless. Members do not have to pay to join; they only need to pay to participate in select events and fieldtrips. We have been able to do this through the generous support and contributions from the University and members of the Buddhist community.

Our support has been both monetary and material, with the donation of funds as well as books, CDs, and supplies. If you're interested in helping the UBA, please contact us

Friends of the UBA
These generous people and organizations have donated to us in the past
  • Jason Espada
  • Hien McCampbell
  • Joan Ngo
  • USC Buddhist Association
  • Abhayagiri Monastery
  • Gold Wheel Monastery
  • Metta Forest Monastery
  • John Gill

The Staff
Name: Darlene Tran
Year/Major: 4th year undergrad/ Psychology and minoring in Asian American Studies
I joined UBA because I was simply interested in religion in general. I grew up Catholic, but never truly identifying with or understanding it. Then I picked up a book from Thich Nhat Hanh, and I was surprised by Buddhism's simple, yet powerful message of love and compassion. In UBA, I've gained incredible friends and a thirst for growth and understanding.

Name: Kina Winoto
Year/Major: 4 th year undergrad/Computer science. 
UBA is a great place to be and I've met some of my closest friends through it. Overall, after consistently coming to dharma talks I've felt more peaceful and happy with life. I've learned to be more mindful and how to meditate, and from this, I have experienced changes that made me feel better as a person. UBA is a great association that is continuously changing and I love contributing to that development.

Name: Janice Chen
Year/Major: 4th year undergraduate/ Civil & Environmental Engineering
I didn't grow up with any type of religious background, but I always thought Buddhism made sense. My roommate Kina wanted to go check UBA out and I decided to go too and it's been great ever since :) I've gained FRIENDS! And the ability to cook :) but most importantly a broader sense of how to think about the world and everything that happens in it.

Name: Rafael Becerril
Year/Major: graduate/ Management.
I joined the UBA looking for personal improvement and a better way to live life but these are not the only benefits the UBA has given me. By joining staff, I have been able to contribute to the spiritual development of others. The UBA has also given me the chance to meet and befriend very especial people. Overall, the UBA has been one of the best things in my life as a graduate student.

Name: Tina Nguyen
Year/Major: 2nd Year undergrad/ Pre-Psychobio
I've grown up as a Buddhist and have not known much about it but what I do know intrigues me to learn more. And I'm always intrigued by intriguing things [: I gained GREAT friends & GREAT experiences. UBA & Buddhism has always brought a sense of calm for me and has been a constant in my life for years now. 

Name: Alice Thai
Year/Major: 2nd year undergrad/ Political Science
Like Tina, I also grew up as a Buddhist and did not know much about it. In an attempt to fix this, I joined UBA my freshmen year. Buddhism has given me a set of tools to deal with life and to gain happiness in this harsh world. I now use these tools constantly throughout all aspects of my life, from managing stress to managing sadness. I also have gained a LOT of good friends from this club and very, very fond memories (from Karaoke to trying all the delicious FREE Thai food at Wat Metta). Joining UBA has seriously changed my life; I know I am a better person because I joined this organization. 

Name: Paul Chin. 
Year/Major: 1st year undergrad/ Physics. 
I come from a Buddhist family in Taiwan and eventually got interested in Buddhism in high school. I’m most fascinated by the reality Buddhism suggests, that everything has the property of emptiness. I hope to do science about Buddhism in the future! I joined UBA because I want to take part in spreading dharma.

Name: Jason Chen
Year/Major: 3rd Year undergrad/ Linguistics & Psychology, minoring in Global Studies.
I became interested in Buddhism my last of Community College and wanted to meet like-minded people at UCLA. Joining UBA is an opportunity to meet some amazing people, a deeper understanding of Buddhism, and a weekly vacation from school.


Want to get involved? 
Join the UBA Staff! 

If you're interested in learning more about the Southern California Buddhist community and getting to work together with a group of friendly people to help manage and grow the club, then a position on the UBA staff is for you! To join, simply email us at ucla.uba.online@gmail.com or talk to a current staff member at a meeting.