Ajahn Brahm is a well-known Buddhist teacher to a growing international audience keen to learn meditation and to develop a deeper spiritual understanding. A Theoretical Physics graduate from Cambridge University, Ajahn Brahm was ordained as a Theravadan monk in Bangkok in 1974.

 

He is the Abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia and the Spiritual Patron of Buddhist Fellowship. Ajahn Brahm has a knack for blending humour with profound insights, offering a modern take on ancient Buddhist wisdom. He is the author of several popular books: “Opening The Door of Your Heart” - an international bestseller, “Happiness Through Meditation”, “Simply This Moment”, “The Art of Disappearing” and “Good Bad Who Knows?”.    

Venerable Guo Huei (果暉法師) became a monk in 1985 under Master Sheng Yen, the founder of Dharma Drum Mountain. Ven Guo Huei is the Abbot President of the Dharma Drum Mountain, a Buddhist organization in Taiwan focused on promoting Chan (Zen) Buddhism through educational, cultural, and social welfare programmes.

 

He is also the President of Dharma Drum Sangha University and the Director of the Buddhist Studies, Department of Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts. His leadership at Dharma Drum Mountain continues to foster spiritual growth and well-being among followers and the broader community. His specialized areas include the studies of dhyana concentration, Buddhist missionary An Shigao, Chinese translated sutras on dhyana completed in early Han dynasty, as well as life and death. He has authored several books on Chan Buddhism.

Venerable Chodron is the Abbess of Sravasti Abbey in rural Washington State. In 1977, she received sramaneri (novice) ordination, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Seeing the importance and necessity of a monastery for Westerners training in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, she founded Sravasti Abbey in 2003. She emphasizes the practical application of the Buddha’s teachings in daily life and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners.

 

She travels worldwide to teach the Dharma. She has also been present at several of the Mind and Life Conferences in which His Holiness the Dalai Lama dialogues with Western scientists. She has published many books on Buddhist philosophy and meditation in multiple languages, and is currently co-authoring with His Holiness the Dalai Lama a multi-volume series of teachings on the Buddhist path, "The Library of Wisdom and Compassion". 

Ajahn Brahmali was born in Norway in 1964. After hearing teachings from Ajahn Brahm he decided to travel to Australia to train at Bodhinyana Monastery. He has lived at Bodhinyana Monastery since 1994, and was ordained as a Bhikkhu in 1996. Ajahn Brahmali’s knowledge of the Pali language and of the Suttas is excellent. Bhikkhu Bodhi, who translated most of the Pali Canon into English for Wisdom Publications, called him one of his major helpers for the recent translation of the “Numerical Discourses of the Buddha”.

 

He has also published two essays on Dependent Origination and a book called “The Authenticity of the Early Buddhist Texts” in collaboration with Bhante Sujato. Ajahn Brahmali’s clear and thoughtful talks make the teachings of the Buddha easily accessible to all. As his teachings and Sutta Retreats were getting more and more popular over the years and as the word about him spread, he started to travel to Singapore, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Europe and USA to share his knowledge and experience.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche was born in 1975. He was formally enthroned as the 7th incarnation of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche by Tai Situ Rinpoche when he was 12 years old. When he was 23 years old, he received full monastic ordination from Tai Situ Rinpoche. He is an advisor to the Mind and Life Institute in Virginia and participates as a research subject in the ongoing studies of the neural and physiological effects of meditation. He is especially well-known for his ability to enrich his presentation of the ancient insights and practices of Tibetan Buddhism with the findings of modern science.

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It is his hope that the emerging relationship between these seemingly disparate fields will yield key insights to help us realize our full human potential. He founded Tergar Meditation Community and oversees social engagement projects, and meditation centers on six continents. He is an internationally-acclaimed author. His first book, "The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness", debuted on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into over 20 languages. 

In 2000, Ayya Santini became the first modern woman to be ordained in the Theravadan Buddhist tradition in Indonesia. Now the abbess of Wisma Kusalayani, a women’s hermitage in Bandung, West Java, she represents a new wave of female Theravadan monastics ordained in Asia, and has devoted much of her life to reviving the bhikkhuni sangha in her home country. She provides social services in places of need, such as in places where natural disasters occur.

 

She has since been invited to participate as a preceptor at ordination ceremonies in Australia, and teaches the Dhamma in various cities in Indonesia as well as abroad in Singapore, India, Nepal, Malaysia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Thailand, Germany, Cambodia, Australia, China and USA. The United Nations named her one of 2007’s “Outstanding Women in Buddhism” for her work in reviving the bhikkhuni sangha.

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Bhante Buddharakkita was born in Uganda, Africa. He first encountered Buddhism in 1990 while studying in India. He was ordained as a Theravadan Buddhist monk in 2002 in California. He then spent eight years under the guidance of Bhante Henepola Gunaratana at the Bhavana Society, West Virginia. He is the founder and Abbot of Uganda Buddhist Centre in Uganda, and a Lecturer / Adjunct Faculty of Interreligious Engagement at Union Theological Seminary in New York, USA.

 

Since 2005, Bhante has been teaching meditation in Africa, Australia, Europe, Asia, South America and the United States. His book, "Planting Dhamma Seeds: The Emergence of Buddhism in Africa", tells the story of his religious and spiritual work in Africa. He is also the author of "Sowing Seeds of Peace: Mindfulness Meditation for Finding Peace Within", a practical guide to mindfulness in daily life.

Venerable You Guang (有廣法師) is the Abbot President of Samantabhadra Vihara and Secretary-General of Singapore Buddhist Federation. He is 1st Vice President of the Metta Welfare Association. Ordained in the Mahayana tradition in 2005, he guides Buddhists & like-minded ones on the path to a harmonious way of life through giving talks, conducting Dharma classes, and meeting people from different walks of life.

 

He actively participates and supports inter-faith events and dialogues organised by MCCY, IRO and other faith organisations, establishing deeper understanding, trust and respect among the community.