OUR INSTRUCTORS
VENERABLE PRATYA (PATCH) SOTTHIJANYO
​
Venerable Pratya (Patch) Sotthijanyo is a Buddhist monk with more than 30 years of meditation experience. He has been living in the US for over twenty-four years and is currently the Deputy Abbot of the Dhammakaya International Meditation Center of California, which manages Peace Point Meditation. He is familiar with a simple life style of morality and rightness. He is passionate about meditation practice and the study of Dhamma to develop oneself. He loves to share techniques on how to maintain happiness in daily life to everyone.
​
​
​
VENERABLE NICHOLAS THANISSARO, PH.D
​
Venerable Dr. Nicholas Thanissaro is a Buddhist monk from the UK. He has been a monk for over twenty years and has over thirty years of meditation experience. Venerable Nicholas pioneered popular meditation courses in Europe since 1997 and has had several guest television appearances, audio CD's, books, book translations, and academic articles to his name. He is also a UK Complementary Medical Association qualified teacher of meditation.
Special Q&A Session with Venerable Nicholas
​
​
VENERABLE ANUCHIT (ANDREW) TIKKHAVIRO
Venerable Anuchit (Andrew) Tikkhaviro is a Buddhist monk and meditation instructor. He has been a monk for over fifteen years and has over twenty years of meditation experience. Before entering the monkhood, Venerable Andrew received his Master's degree in Computer Engineering at San Jose State University in San Jose, California. He has over ten years of experience in teaching meditation in a variety of settings, including universities, schools, hospitals, and in meditation centers in the US, Denmark, South Africa, and many countries in Asia.
​
Special Q&A Session with Venerable Andrew
​
VENERABLE PRASIT (PETER) THITICHAYO
​
Venerable Prasit (Peter) Thitichayo has been a monk for over 20 years. He first ordained at the age of 12 at Wat Wiengkasem, a forest temple, in Thailand before pursuing meditation training and the study of Pali, a Buddhist scriptural language, at Dhammakaya Temple in Thailand. Venerable Peter holds a level 6 mastery in Pali studies and a B.S. in Buddhist Theology from Dhammakaya Open University. He came to Washington D.C. to learn English before taking residence at the Dhammakaya International Meditation Center in Azusa, California.
​
Special Q&A Session with Venerable Peter
​
VENERABLE THINNAPAT SARATTACHAYO
​
Venerable Thinnapat Sarattachayo described himself as humble, kind, and friendly. Ordained as a novice monk at the age of 12 at the encouragement of his family, he studied and practiced Buddhism throughout monkhood where in 2018 he completed the highest (9th) level of monastic education. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge on meditation to everyone and spreading world peace through inner peace.
​
​
VENERABLE SOPHON PANYASOPANOE
​
Venerable Sophon Panyasopanoe first began practicing meditation in the summer of 1994 when he spent 2 months at an ordination program at the Dhammakaya Temple in Thailand. He has been working for the Dhammakaya Temple since 1999 and for the US branches since 2000, including meditation centers in New Jersey, Washington D.C., and California. Venerable Sophon received full ordination as a Buddhist monk in 2014 and currently teaches meditation to both kids and adults at various Dhammakaya branches in the US.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTORS
​
VENERABLE PASURA DANTAMANO
​
Venerable Pasura Dantamano is the Chief of the International Relations Division at the Dhammakaya Temple in Thailand. He has dedicated his life in spreading meditation worldwide and traveled to over 76 countries to teach meditation.
​
Special Q&A session with Venerable Pasura on Maintaining the Mind in a Fast-Paced World
