Bhikkhu. Dr. Dhammadipa Sak, recognized in Chinese as 法曜 (Fa Yao), holds esteemed positions as the Abbot and President of the Amata Vihāra and Zen Center, both extensions of the US Zen Institute located in Boyds and Germantown, Maryland, respectively. He also presides as Abbot at the Wisdom Temple in Billerica, Massachusetts. His illustrious journey includes roles as Abbot and resident monk at the Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, NY (2008-2015), followed by service at the Temple of Enlightenment in Bronx, NY until 2017. Currently, he assumes the role of Vice President for the Buddhist Association of the United States. A notable accomplishment during his tenure in Taiwan (2020-2022) was the establishment of the Sino-Bhavanā Association, a body responsible for organizing an array of meditation retreats in Taiwan.
An academic and meditation maestro, Ven. Dr. Dhammadipa Sak possesses an in-depth knowledge of early Mahāyāna and Theravāda Buddhism. His primary academic interests lie in Sarvāstivāda Abhidharma and Theravāda Abhidhamma. Additionally, he delves deep into the Yogacāra system, especially Yogacārabhaumi, and Tientai, emphasizing the confluence of Śamatha and Vipraśyana in meditation theory. Outside the realm of academia, he leads meditation retreats of varied durations globally.
Ven. Dhammadipa embarked on his academic voyage with his monastic ordination in Sri Lanka in 1987. Subsequently, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Buddhist Studies and Western Philosophy from the Pali and Buddhist University. This was succeeded by a Master's in Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Kelaniya. Over the years, he has lectured at prestigious institutions, including the Yuan Kuang Institute of Buddhist Studies and the Fuyen Buddhist Institute in Taiwan. After dedicating six years to rigorous research in the UK, he achieved a Ph.D. from the Department of Religions at the University of Bristol."
Since 2008, Dr. Dhammadipa has been affiliated with Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China, as a distinguished research fellow. In 2019, he undertook a visiting lectureship at the University of Chicago, offering courses on various subjects, including 'The Foundation of Buddhist Thoughts', 'Comparative Reading of Pali and Chinese Buddhist Texts', ‘Buddhist Scholasticism and Its Practice Structures’ and ‘Towards Ecumenical Buddhism’.
Despite a hectic schedule, he has recently shifted his focus more to the Meditation Center Amata, promulgating meditation techniques like Brahmavihāra bhavanā, Ānāpānasati/smṛti with regards to satipaṭṭhāna/Śmṛti-upasthāna, and Satipaṭṭhāna meditation methods.
His current research encompasses a detailed exploration of Satipaṭṭhāna across different canonical sources in and an exhaustive analysis of Buddha's life, grounding his studies in Pali, Sanskrit, and Chinese canons.
Prowess with a remarkable aptitude for languages, Ven. Dhammadipa demonstrates proficiency in reading a diverse set of languages such as Pāli, Sanskrit, English, Chinese, French, and Japanese. His scholarly interests span well beyond the boundaries of Buddhism, encompassing Western Philosophy, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. Currently, he holds a distinguished position on the Board of Trustees of the Parliament of World’s Religions, fervently advocating for global religious unity and the promotion of ecumenical Buddhism.
Select Publications:
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《中國六朝時期的廣州為海運線上菁英型佛教所扮演發展中的角色》 (A Study on Guangzhou and its Role in Elite Buddhism during the Maritime Era of the Sixth Dynasty). Yuan Kuang Journal of Buddhist Studies No. 37, June 2021.
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“Guangzhou and its Role in Elite Buddhism during the Maritime Routes of the Six Dynasties.” In Maritime Buddhist Transmissions, edited by Long, Xiu & Jiang, Hong, Religion Culture Publishing House, April 2016.
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“The Great Compassion and Fraternity in Mahayana Buddhist Traditions.” In Proceedings of the Buddhist-Catholic Dialogue on Suffering, Liberation, and Fraternity, Claritas: Journal of Dialogue and Culture, vol. 4, no. 2, 2015.
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“How to Practice Four Establishment of Mindfulness.” Translated by Dhammadipa Sak from the original by Shih Mom. Carmel: BAUS, 2010.
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“The Divisions of anapanasati/smati in their Chronological Development.” In Buddhist and Pali Studies in Honour of the Venerable Professor Kakkapaliye Anuruddha, The University of Hong Kong, Feb. 2009