Friday 24 May: lecture by Venerable Dr. Yifa: “The Current State of Buddhism in China”

The Current State of Buddhism in China

A lecture by Venerable Dr. Yifa

Friday 24 May, 15-16.30

East Asian Library, Green Room (http://www.leidenuniv.nl/loc/index.html?lang=nl&loc=7)

Venerable Dr. Yifa, Ph.D (依法法師)(b. 1959) is a Taiwanese Buddhist nun, scholar, and writer. Ordained by the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order in 1979, Yifa holds a law degree from the Taiwan National University, a masters in comparative philosophy from the University of Hawaii and a doctorate in religious studies from Yale University. She served as a department head and dean of University of the West during her tenure. She is the current director of the Woodenfish Program for college students.

Since 2006, Venerable Yifa and others have published translations of the Heart Sutra, Diamond Sutra, Ksitigarbha Sutra, and Amitabha Sutra. Venerable Yifa and Fo Guang Shan seek to make Buddhist practice relevant to contemporary life. She lives at Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights, California.