Yifa

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 at the college.^[1]

Yifa has participated in many interfaith dialogues such as the Gethsemani Encounter, and contributed to the UNICEF South Asia's Safe Motherhood Project. She is also the current director of the Woodenfish Program for college students.^[2]

In 2003, Yifa was awarded an Outstanding Women in Buddhism Award. In October 2006, she was honored at the 9th Annual Juliet Hollister Awards Ceremony, which was held at the United Nations Headquarters.^[3] Yifa was recognized along with Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was honored posthumously.

Venerable Yifa has also been involved in translating sutras from Mandarin to English. 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.

List of books

• Authenticity: Clearing the Junk, A Buddhist Perspective ^[4]
• The Tender Heart: A Buddhist Response to Suffering ^[5]
• Discernment: Educating the Mind and Spirit ^[6]
• Safeguarding the Heart: A Buddhist Response to Suffering and September 11^[7]
• The Origins of Buddhist Monastic Codes in China: An Annotated Translation and Study of the Chanyuan Qinggui^[8]

Yifa has also co-authored Benedict's Dharma: Buddhists Reflect On the Role of St. Benedict, along with Norman Fischer, Joseph Goldstein, Judith Simmer-Brown, David Steindl-Rast, and editor Patrick J. Henry.^[9]

See also

• Fo Guang Shan
• Hsing Yun
• Woodenfish Program

External links

• The Woodenfish Program official website
• Interview with Danny Fisher about her latest book, "Junk"

References