Yifa

{{For|a Genshin Impact Character known in Chinese as 伊法 (Yīfǎ)|List of Genshin Impact characters#Ifa}}

{{Infobox religious biography

| background = #FFD068

| name = Yifa
依法

| image = Meditate nyc venerable yifa.jpg

| caption = Yifa in 2008

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| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1959}}

| birth_place = Taiwan

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| nationality = Taiwanese

| religion = Buddhism

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| title = Venerable

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| education = National Taiwan University (LLB)
University of Hawaiʻi (MA)
Yale University (PhD)

| teacher = Hsing Yun

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| website = www.woodenfish.org

}}

Yifa ({{zh|t=依法}}, born 1959) is a Taiwanese lawyer, theologian, and writer who is the founder of the Woodenfish Foundation. She is a nun ordained in 1979 by Fo Guang Shan, a Buddhist organization in Taiwan. She served as a department head and dean of University of the West during her tenure at the college.[http://chaplaindanny.blogspot.com/2007/04/vodcast-5-interview-venerable-dr-yifa.html Danny Fisher - April 20th 2007 blog]

Education

Yifa holds a law degree from the National Taiwan University, a masters in comparative philosophy from the University of Hawaiʻi, and a Ph.D. in religious studies from Yale University.

Career

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.[http://www.woodenfish.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=3 Brief bio of Venerable Yifa, Phd - Program Director]

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.[http://www.templeofunderstanding.org/wwd_2006_awards.html The 9th Annual Juliet Hollister Awards Ceremony, honoring Dr. Ven. Yifa, Chief Arvol Looking Horse and the late Daniel Pearl] 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, Yifa and others have published translations of the Heart Sutra, Diamond Sutra, Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva Pūrvapraṇidhāna Sūtra and the Amitabha Sutra.{{cite web|title=Sutra Translations|url=http://www.woodenfish.org/sutra/texts|website=Woodenfish|access-date=18 May 2015}}

Yifa is based in Beijing, China and travels often to meet with scholars and members of the global Buddhist community.

List of books

Authenticity: Clearing the Junk, A Buddhist Perspective{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071012165434/http://www.lanternbooks.com/detail.html?id=9781590561096 Lantern Books link]}}
The Tender Heart: A Buddhist Response to Suffering{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071012165158/http://www.lanternbooks.com/detail.html?id=9781590561119 Lantern Books link]}}
Discernment: Educating the Mind and Spirit{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110713183957/http://www.lanternbooks.com/detail.html?id=9781590561218 Lantern Books link]}}
Safeguarding the Heart: A Buddhist Response to Suffering and September 11[https://www.amazon.com/dp/1590560345 Amazon.com link]
The Origins of Buddhist Monastic Codes in China: An Annotated Translation and Study of the Chanyuan Qinggui[http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?r=1&ean=9780824824945 Barnes & Noble link]

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.[https://www.amazon.com/dp/1573229407 Amazon.com link]

External links

[http://www.woodenfish.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=3 The Woodenfish Program official website]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8v2YXzk9pI Interview with Danny Fisher about her latest book, "Junk"]