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Buddhism and Free Religion: Continuing the Dialogue
The Free Religion Institute is pleased to announce another session in our ongoing series with Rev. Michinori Maruta exploring the connections between Buddhism and Free Religion (自由宗教 jiyū shūkyō).
These talks and discussions have thus far been offered as standalone sessions rather than a formal course for the Institute. We’re excited to share that we have plans to develop this into a structured course offering, with details of a new series to be announced soon.
All Institute materials are available to IARF members registered on our community platform. If you don’t have an account yet, you can set it up for free at iarf.net/register.
Buddhism and Free Religion (自由宗教 jiyū shūkyō)
San Francisco: 1:00 AM
New York: 4:00 AM
London: 9:00 AM
Amsterdam: 10:00 AM
New Delhi: 1:30 PM
Tokyo: 5:00 PM
Previous Sessions in this Series
26 April 2025: What does jiyu (自由, freedom) mean to you?
Rev. Maruta shared perspectives on freedom from a Buddhist viewpoint and invited participants to share their ideas.
29 March 2025: Buddhism and Jiyū Shūkyō
Exploring connections between Buddhism and free religion.
22 February 2025: Buddhism and Liberation
Rev. Michinori Maruta explored Buddhist perspectives on liberation in this initial session of the series.
About the Instructor: Rev. Michinori Maruta
Rev. Michinori Maruta has dedicated his life to Buddhist practice and interfaith dialogue since joining Rissho Kosei-kai (RKK) in 1966. After studying applied chemistry at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, he pursued Buddhist studies at RKK Seminary and later studied the New Testament at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, England. His diverse experience includes significant work in interfaith dialogue and cooperation at RKK headquarters, serving as minister at RKK centers in California and Hokkaido, and since 2001, leading the Institute of Mindful Life. Through lectures, seminars, and digital platforms, he continues to share Buddhist wisdom and promote mindful living, bringing together traditional teachings with contemporary understanding.
Free Religion Institute Presents: Imaoka’s Religious Practices (Session 3)
The Free Religion Institute continues its inaugural e-learning season with the third session of Rev. Andrew Brown’s exploration of Japanese free religion through the work of Imaoka Shin’ichirō. This course examines how Imaoka’s ideas have shaped liberal religious thought in Japan, with previous sessions now available as recordings for IARF members.
We’re excited to announce that several new courses are in development and will begin within the next three months, further expanding our educational offerings on free religion and related topics.
For more information about the Institute and its mission, please visit our Free Religion Institute page.
Imaoka Shin’ichirō and Free Religions
Rev. Andrew Brown’s course continues with an exciting third session exploring the practical dimensions of Imaoka’s free religious approach. Recordings and materials from previous sessions are available to registered members through our e-learning platform.
All Institute materials are available to IARF members registered in the IARF Network. If you don’t have an account yet, you can set it up for free.
Enroll in Course
San Francisco: 12:00 AM
Boston: 3:00 AM
London: 8:00 AM
Amsterdam: 9:00 AM
New Delhi: 1:30 PM
Tokyo: 5:00 PM
The session will delve into fascinating practices including:
- Seiza Meditation (the Quiet Sitting method learned from Okada Torajiro)
- Weekly talk and Q&A sessions at the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai
- The recitation of Imaoka’s eight “Principles of Living”
- Educational journeys and pilgrimages
- Walking in nature and aesthetic practices like calligraphy
- Imaoka’s vision for free-religious ceremonies and music
About the Instructor: Rev. Andrew James Brown
A philosophically/theologically inclined writer with deep sympathies towards Imaoka Shin’ichirō’s understanding of creative, inquiring, free and liberative spirituality (jiyū shūkyō 自由宗教), Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism, Konkokyo, Christian non-theism, D. G. Leahy’s “thinking now occurring for the first time”, a Lucretian inspired religious naturalism, new materialism and Kyoto School philosophy. Beyond his academic pursuits, Rev. Brown is also a photographer, cyclist, walker and jazz bass player, serving as the minister of a small, liberal, free religious community in Cambridge (UK).
New Courses and Events at the Free Religion Institute
The Free Religion Institute launches the first course on its e-learning platform this spring, beginning with an exploration of Japanese free religion through the work of Imaoka Shin’ichirō. Led by Rev. Andrew Brown, this course examines how Imaoka’s ideas shaped liberal religious thought in Japan. Following January’s opening session, which is now available as a recording, the course continues with live sessions this spring.
Our second course, led by Rev. Michinori Maruta, examines connections between Buddhism and free religion. Drawing on his experience in both Buddhist practice and interfaith dialogue, Rev. Maruta will explore Buddhist perspectives on liberation and their relationship to free religious thought.
All Institute materials are available to IARF members registered on our community platform. If you don’t have an account yet, you can set it up for free at iarf.net/register.
For more information about the Institute and its mission, please visit iarf.net/free-religion-institute.
Imaoka Shin’ichirō and Free Religions
Rev. Andrew Brown’s course is now available on the Institute’s e-learning platform. The recording and materials from the first session can be accessed by registered members.
View Course
Session 2 Materials
Session 2: Free Religion and the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Join Session
San Francisco: 12:00 AM
Boston: 3:00 AM
London: 8:00 AM
Amsterdam: 9:00 AM
New Delhi: 1:30 PM
Tokyo: 5:00 PM
About the Instructor: Rev. Andrew James Brown
A philosophically/theologically inclined writer with deep sympathies towards Imaoka Shin’ichirō’s understanding of creative, inquiring, free and liberative spirituality (jiyū shūkyō 自由宗教), Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism, Konkokyo, Christian non-theism, D. G. Leahy’s “thinking now occurring for the first time”, a Lucretian inspired religious naturalism, new materialism and Kyoto School philosophy. Beyond his academic pursuits, Rev. Brown is also a photographer, cyclist, walker and jazz bass player, serving as the minister of a small, liberal, free religious community in Cambridge (UK).
Buddhism and Free Religion (自由宗教 jiyū shūkyō)
Session 1: Buddhism and Liberation
Rev. Michinori Maruta exploring Buddhist perspectives on liberation
Thursday, February 22, 2025
Join Session
San Francisco: 5:00 PM (Feb 21)
Boston: 8:00 PM (Feb 21)
London: 1:00 AM
Amsterdam: 2:00 AM
New Delhi: 6:30 AM
Tokyo: 10:00 AM
Session 2: Buddhism and Jiyū Shūkyō
Exploring connections between Buddhism and free religion
Friday, March 29, 2025
Join Session
San Francisco: 1:00 AM
Boston: 4:00 AM
London: 8:00 AM
Amsterdam: 9:00 AM
New Delhi: 1:30 PM
Tokyo: 5:00 PM
About the Instructor: Rev. Michinori Maruta
Rev. Michinori Maruta has dedicated his life to Buddhist practice and interfaith dialogue since joining Rissho Kosei-kai (RKK) in 1966. After studying applied chemistry at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, he pursued Buddhist studies at RKK Seminary and later studied the New Testament at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, England. His diverse experience includes significant work in interfaith dialogue and cooperation at RKK headquarters, serving as minister at RKK centers in California and Hokkaido, and since 2001, leading the Institute of Mindful Life. Through lectures, seminars, and digital platforms, he continues to share Buddhist wisdom and promote mindful living, bringing together traditional teachings with contemporary understanding.
Happy Thanksgiving!
In the United States, it is customary to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. Despite global challenges, there is still much to be grateful for—even as the world stands at a tipping point between hope and fear, light and darkness.
This year has been fraught with war, climate inaction, and growing inequities, yet the principles of religions and spiritualities calling us to beauty, truth, and justice are more necessary than ever. In the darkness, the candles of liberal faith can shine brightly.
The International Association for Religious Freedom is moving in a new direction. All International Council members are now expected to contribute either as workers or by appointing associates to represent their chapters or member groups. So far, this has proven effective in our committees for finance, UN representation, and developing the website for free communication.
Membership has grown, with Sony College in Chhindwara, India, and Pagan Federation International joining us. IARF’s strength lies in its openness to diverse perspectives—religious, spiritual, or secular—and its recognition of every faith’s unique contributions to our collective enrichment. No tradition has a monopoly on truth; through dialogue, we find new ways to serve a struggling world. (Several more groups are preparing their applications.)
Contributions from regions such as Europe and the U.S. have increased, and individual donations—some surpassing those of member groups—have been especially impactful.
Personally, I am deeply grateful for the positive reception of the Free Religion Institute. The concept of “free religion” – inspired by figures like Raja Rammohan Roy, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Dr. Imaoka Shin’ichirô – explores liberating spiritualities across traditions. Translating this vision across languages remains challenging, as political and historical contexts often distort the meaning of freedom.
Andrew Brown suggests “free-religion” as a way to reconnect with the liberative essence of faith traditions. Today, we face enslavements in new forms. Free-religion invites us to confront these with liberating practices.
We need your support. Volunteer as an editor, librarian, teacher, or researcher, or help with technical tasks for the Institute and the website. If volunteering isn’t possible, please consider donating to sponsor an intern or a program.
Let us honor Guji Yukitaka Yamamoto’s plea: “Do not let IARF die.” Together, we can keep its mission alive.
George Williams
IARF President
Free Religion Institute: Inaugural Sessions
We’re excited to introduce the Free Religion Institute, a new IARF initiative where people from free and liberal religious traditions can find inspiration in each other’s wisdom and experiences. The Institute creates spaces for learning, sharing ideas, and exploring religious thought together. We welcome both members of different faiths and individual seekers from our global community.
About the Institute
“In the university of human life there is no graduation.”
— Rev. Dr. Shinichiro Imaoka
The Free Religion Institute represents IARF’s commitment to fostering liberal religious thought and education. Taking inspiration from Rev. Dr. Imaoka’s wisdom, we recognize that learning is a lifelong journey – one that transcends formal education and embraces the continuous pursuit of understanding across religious traditions, cultures, and philosophies.
As we embark on this ambitious journey, we begin with humble steps but clear vision. Our mission is to create an accessible platform where IARF members and all those interested in liberal religion can explore, learn, and grow together. We don’t aim to replace formal education but rather to provide resources and opportunities for continuous learning and development throughout life’s journey.
Since last Congress in September 2023, over a year ago, Prof. George Williams, our team of volunteers from the Institute Working Group, as well as our first instructors, Rev. Andrew Brown and Rev. Michinori Maruta, have been working to create an ambitious educational platform that will serve the IARF community and beyond.
We envision the Institute as a vibrant hub of liberal religious education and inspiration, offering a diverse range of learning and sharing opportunities:
Live & Self-Paced Courses
Interactive sessions with expert instructors and self-guided learning modules on liberal religious thought
Digital Library
Growing collection of resources on liberal religion, including historical documents and contemporary scholarship
Global Collaboration
Partnerships with IARF member institutions, special events at IARF Congresses, and international meetups
With our e-learning platform now ready, we’re preparing to release our first courses in the coming weeks and months. These are being developed with scholars and practitioners from within and beyond the IARF community. Our first sessions, which will later be published as short courses on our platform, will be held on 30 October, 27 and 30 November on Zoom (see below for details). They are free and publicly accessible.
Going forward, we’ll be partnering with IARF member seminaries and educational institutions, organizing in-person events and summer schools, creating a curriculum that explores free and liberal religious thought, and building a library of resources for our community. We’re grateful to everyone who has helped make this possible.
Learn More About the Institute
Inaugural Events
Imaoka Shin’ichirō and Free Religions
The sessions are now a part of Rev. Brown’s course on the Institute’s e-learning platform.
View Course
Session 1 Materials
Session 1: An Introduction to Imaoka Shin’ichirō (1881-1988)
Understanding Free Religion (jiyū shūkyō 自由宗教)
Wednesday 29 January 2025
View Recording
San Francisco: 1:00 AM
Boston: 4:00 AM
London: 8:00 AM
Amsterdam: 9:00 AM
New Delhi: 1:30 PM
Tokyo: 5:00 PM
Session 2 Materials
Session 2: Free Religion and the Tokyo Kiitsu Kyōkai
Wednesday 26 February 2025
Join Session
San Francisco: 12:00 AM
Boston: 3:00 AM
London: 8:00 AM
Amsterdam: 9:00 AM
New Delhi: 1:30 PM
Tokyo: 5:00 PM
About the Instructor: Rev. Andrew James Brown
A philosophically/theologically inclined writer with deep sympathies towards Imaoka Shin’ichirō’s understanding of creative, inquiring, free and liberative spirituality (jiyū shūkyō 自由宗教), Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism, Konkokyo, Christian non-theism, D. G. Leahy’s “thinking now occurring for the first time”, a Lucretian inspired religious naturalism, new materialism and Kyoto School philosophy. Beyond his academic pursuits, Rev. Brown is also a photographer, cyclist, walker and jazz bass player, serving as the minister of a small, liberal, free religious community in Cambridge (UK).
Buddhism and Free Religion (自由宗教 jiyū shūkyō)
Session 1: Buddhism and Liberation
Rev. Michinori Maruta exploring Buddhist perspectives on liberation
Thursday 22 February 2025
Join Session
San Francisco: 5:00 PM (Feb 21)
Boston: 8:00 PM (Feb 21)
London: 1:00 AM
Amsterdam: 2:00 AM
New Delhi: 6:30 AM
Tokyo: 10:00 AM
Session 2: Buddhism and Jiyū Shūkyō
Exploring connections between Buddhism and free religion
Friday 29 March 2025
Join Session
San Francisco: 1:00 AM
Boston: 4:00 AM
London: 8:00 AM
Amsterdam: 9:00 AM
New Delhi: 1:30 PM
Tokyo: 5:00 PM
About the Instructor: Rev. Michinori Maruta
Rev. Michinori Maruta has dedicated his life to Buddhist practice and interfaith dialogue since joining Rissho Kosei-kai (RKK) in 1966. After studying applied chemistry at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, he pursued Buddhist studies at RKK Seminary and later studied the New Testament at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, England. His diverse experience includes significant work in interfaith dialogue and cooperation at RKK headquarters, serving as minister at RKK centers in California and Hokkaido, and since 2001, leading the Institute of Mindful Life. Through lectures, seminars, and digital platforms, he continues to share Buddhist wisdom and promote mindful living, bringing together traditional teachings with contemporary understanding.
