The center maintains library and computer facilities for faculty and student research, develops research projects, and provides support for individual researchers.

The SCBS Library. The center houses a reference collection and reading room open to all members of the Stanford community. The library, which includes the 3000-volume Michel Strickmann collection, is built around primary works on religion in Chinese and Japanese languages. SCBS is actively developing its collection through purchases and donations and is working with other Stanford libraries to expand the university's resources for the study of Asian religions.

Research Projects and Publications. SCBS develops and administers research projects of Stanford faculty and students that often involve scholars worldwide.

Buddhist Manuscript Project. This project seeks to foster international collaboration and understanding of the different Buddhist manuscript finds worldwide through ongoing workshops and conferences. The goal of the project is to publish a state of the field survey of recent research on Buddhist manuscripts, and to facilitate networking among the various international project groups now working in this area.

Mahaparinirvana Sutra Project. This project will bring together leading scholars to discuss their research on the Mahaparinirvana Sutra and the traditions connected with the sutra. The workshops and conferences will aim toward publication of the findings.

Soto Zen Text Project. Undertaken with support from the Center for the Study of Soto Zen Texts, Tokyo, this project organizes an international team of scholars for work on the major texts of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism. When complete, it will provide annotated translations and glossaries, in both electronic and printed forms, for over one hundred works. The project offers an annual reading group open to all members of the Stanford community.

Asian Religions and Cultures Series. A scholarly publication series in collaboration with the Asian Religions & Cultures (ARC) Initiative and the Stanford University Press, under the editorship of Professors Carl Bielefeldt and Paul Harrison.

Visiting fellows program. SCBS hosts visiting scholars, postdoctoral fellows, and doctoral students from other universities around the world to do research and writing at Stanford on Buddhist Studies and other Asian religions. Since the founding of SCBS, over sixty scholars from around the world have taken advantage of this program, which provides research assistance, incidental research expenses, and opportunities to participate in the colloquia, reading groups, and other activities of the Center. Please contact SCBS for information on the application process for the visiting fellows program.