Speakers

Dr Gregory Kramer

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Mr Gregory Kramer, developer of Insight Dialogue

Gregory Kramer

A meditation teacher, author and director of the Metta Foundation, Gregory Kramer will bring vast experience to the program this year.

He has been teaching meditation since 1980 when he began instructing on Vipassana and Metta practice. Since 1995, he has been developing the interpersonal meditation practice of Insight Dialogue which is based on the Four Noble Truths, and recasting the teachings of the Buddha to encompass interpersonal lives.

The Metta Foundation provides retreats, workshops and practice groups that investigate meditation practice, loving kindness with children and has a Whole of Life program.

A background as a composer and scientist, Gregory holds a Ph.D. in Learning and Change in Human Systems and is a visiting teacher at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Massachusetts.

He is the developer of Insight Dialogue and teaches the practice worldwide.

He is the author of INSIGHT DIALOGUE - The Interpersonal Path to Freedom (Shambala) and co-authored Cultivating Mindfulness in Relationship: Insight Dialogue and the Interpersonal Mindfulness Program.


Bhikkuni Dhammananda

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Bhikkuni Dhammananda

Ven. Bhikkhuni Dhammananda, pioneer in Buddhist womens issues

Venerable Bhikkhuni Dhammananda

This inspiring pioneer in Buddhist women’s issues came from a family where her father was a Democrat politician in Thailand and her mother was the first bhikkhuni (fully ordained female nun) taking her ordination from Taiwan.

Ven Dhammananda is well known internationally among Buddhist academics for her involvement in ordination for women and concern for the environment.

She has written 40 books on Buddhism and hosted a popular television talk show Cheewit-mai-sin-wang (Life is not Without Hope) before taking her vows.

Before embarking on her spiritual journey, she was married and raised three sons.

In 2004 she was awarded the Outstanding Buddhist Woman by the UN and 2005 she was nominated among 1000 women for Nobel Peace Award.

She sits as a Buddhist committee member to select Niwano Peace Prize, is editor of Yasodhara (a newsletter for International Buddhist women’s activities), runs her own temple, Songdhammakalyani and is establishing her own Sangha despite the fact Thai Bhikkhu Sangha has no place for Bhikkhuni Sangha.

Ven Dhammananda also runs a home of peace and love to help underprivileged girls and women and offers her temple as an international centre for learning and training, primarily for women.


Ven Huifeng

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Ven Huifeng

Ven. Huifeng, Chan Academic and Chinese Scholar

Venerable Huifeng

Venerable Huifeng is a New Zealand-born Buddhist monk and the 49th generation of Chinese Linji Chan at Fo Guang Shan monastery, Taiwan, (Dajue monastery Yixing).

He was tonsured in February 2000, by Ven Huili, as representative of Ven Master Hsing Yun of Fo Guang Shan, Taiwan, and took his Sramanera (novice) ordination in April 2001. In October 2004, Venerable Huifeng took his Bhikshu and Bodhisattva Vows during full ordination at Nantian Monastery in Wollongong, NSW.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Auckland and is a post-grad Ph.D candidate at HKU Center for Buddhist Studies. He has also completed a Degree of Master of Buddhist Studies from the University of Hong Kong.

Ven Huifeng has tutored classes and lectured at universities, acted as translator and interpreter (Chinese to English) on many occasions and translated several books and essays.

He has taught meditation and Buddha’s biography at the African Buddhist Seminary at Nan Hua Temple, South Africa.

Since 2002, Ven Huifeng has been teaching short retreats, Buddhism classes, Agama and Mahāyāna Sūtras, under the auspices of Fo Guang Shan (South Africa, Taiwan and Hong Kong) in English and Chinese.


Ven Ajahn Brahm

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Ven Ajahn Brahm

Ven. Ajahn Brahmavamso, author of "Opening The Door Of Your Heart"

Ajahn Brahmavamso Mahathera (known as Ajahn Brahm)

Venerable Ajahn Brahmavamso Mahathera was born Peter Betts in London.

His thirst for knowledge saw him win a scholarship to study Theoretical Physics at Cambridge University in the 1960s. He taught for a year then travelled to Thailand to become a monk.

Whilst still in his years as a junior monk, he was asked to undertake the compilation of an English-language guide to the Buddhist monastic code - the vinaya.

First travelling to Australia to assist in teaching with the Buddhist Society of Western Australia, he soon saw the potential to open Buddhism to more of the community.

In 1983, a parcel of land was purchased south of Perth which became Bodhinyana Monastery - the first dedicated Buddhist monastery in the Southern Hemisphere and today the largest community of Buddhist monks in Australia.

Ajahn Brahm has become a sought-after teacher and speaker around Australia and the world.

In 2004, he was awarded the John Curtin Medal for his vision, leadership and service to the Australian community by Curtin University.

Ajahn Brahm has written two books Opening the Door of Your Heart (formerly published as 'Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung?') and Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond: A Meditator's Handbook.

Sarah Napthali

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Ms Sarah Napthali, author of "Buddhism for Mothers"

Sarah Napthali

Mother of two school aged boys, Sarah Napthali is a practising Buddhist from the Insight tradition attending Bluegum Sangha in Crow’s Nest where she is secretary.

Her working life has ranged from teaching English as a Second Language and corporate training, to human rights activism and interpreting.

Since becoming a mother, she has focused on writing, initially for companies and later for individuals wanting to record their memoirs.

Her first book Buddhism for Mothers, which has sold 54,000 copies around the world, has been translated into nine languages. She is also the author of Buddhism for Mothers of Young Children and the recently released Buddhism for Mothers of Schoolchildren.

She has written 12 biographies for members of the community to share with their families and friends.

Ven Thubten Chodron

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Ven Thubten Chodron

Ven. Thubten Chodron, author of "Buddhism for Beginners"

Venerable Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron

Educator, author and Buddhist nun do not go near explaining Ven Thubten Chodron.

After spending time travelling, gaining teaching credentials and working in the education system, her spiritual path took a front seat.

In 1975, she studied under Ven. Lama Yeshe and Ven. Zopa Rinpoche, and travelled to their monastery in Nepal to continue to study and practice. In 1977, she received the sramanerika (novice) ordination, and in 1986, received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan.

Thubten Chodron studied and practiced Buddhism of the Tibetan tradition for many years in India and Nepal under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan masters.

She has directed the spiritual programs in Italy, studied in France and taught in Singapore and Seattle.

Ven. Chodron travels worldwide to teach the Dharma: North America, Latin America, Israel, Singapore, Malaysia, and former communist countries.

Ven. Chodron emphasizes the practical application of the Buddha’s teachings in daily lives and is skilled at explaining them easily.

She is well-known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings.

Ven. Chodron has written many books including Open Heart, Clear Mind, Working with Anger, Transforming Problems, Taming the Mind and How to Free your Mind: Tara the Liberator.

Ven Heng Sure

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Ven Heng Sure

Ven. Heng Sure, writer/performer of Buddhist folk songs

Venerable Heng Sure

World-renowned for his efforts towards awareness and practice of peace, Rev. Heng Sure is a very welcome addition to the conference program.

The Ven. Heng Sure took practical steps towards global peace in a pilgrimage that saw him travel 600 miles from South Pasadena to Ukiah, repeatedly taking three steps and one bow to cover the entire journey.

Over the two years and six months it took to complete this journey, he maintained a practice of complete silence.

Courageous and entertaining, he is an accomplished musician

Born Christopher R. Clowery in the United States, he was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1976 at the city of Ten Thousand Buddhas.

He was ordained as Heng Sure, a Dharma name which means Constantly Real.

Ven. Heng Sure has an M.A. in Oriental Languages from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.

He serves as the Managing Director of the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery and teaches on the staff at the Institute for World Religions.

He is actively involved in interfaith dialogue and in the ongoing conversation between spirituality and technology.

Ven Tenzin Palmo

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Ven Tenzin Palmo

Ven Tenzin Palmo, featured in "best-selling book Cave in the Snow"

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo was raised in London and became a Buddhist in her teens.  At the age of 20, she made a conscious decision to pursue her spiritual path by travelling to India. There she met her guru, His Eminence the eight Khamtrul Rinpoche Dongyu Nyima, a great Drukpa Kagyu lama. She was one of the first Westerners to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun.

After many years learning and practicing, she sought more seclusion to practice more intensely.  She found a secluded cave near Lahaul where she spent 12 years, the last three years in strict retreat. Tenzin Palmo left India in 1988, travelling to Italy where she taught at various Dharma centres.  

Before Khamtrul Rinpoche passed away in 1980, he had on several occasions asked Tenzin Palmo to start a nunnery. In 2000 she established Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, India, and the first nuns arrived.  Dongyu Gatsal Ling is now a thriving Nunnery with 70 nuns studying and practicing the Dharma.    

In 2008 Tenzin Palmo was given the title of Jetsunma, which means Venerable Master, by His Holiness the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa, Head of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage.