The BCNY Officers
Rev. Doyeon Park is a Kyomunim, meaning one who devotes oneself to teach Buddha dharma in the Won Buddhist tradition. She has served as a minister of the Manhattan Won Buddhist Temple and a representative of Won Buddhism to the United Nations since 2008. Also, she is the Buddhist chaplain at Columbia University and New York University, the president of the Buddhist Council of New York and the co-chair of the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations.
Rev. James A. Lynch, Jr. is a Dharma Teacher as authorized by the lay Buddhist Organization Rissho Kosei Kai. He is an official representative for Rissho Kosei Kai to the United Nations. James sits on the Board of Religions for Peace USA, and is a Trustee to the prestigious international Parliament of World Religions. James is a tenured professor and Chairman of the Business Management Department in the Koppelman School of Business located at Brooklyn College, where he teaches Workplace Happiness and Spirituality.
Ven. Re Fa Shi is an abbot and founder of Ruiguang Temple of Buddhist Peaceful Enlightenment, in Brooklyn, NY. He is a former president of The American Buddhist Confederation, which consists of various Chinese temples in New York City area. He was ordained in 1979, and graduated from Buddhist College in Suzhou, China in 1987. He came to the United State in 1993, and graduated from York College social work program of CUNY in 2003.
Sylvie Sun is a board member of Buddhist Global Relief and has been practicing Chinese Chan Buddhism since 1989, as a disciple of the late Master Sheng Yen. She has been a volunteer with Dharma Drum Mountain and Chan Meditation Center in Elmhurst, NY, for more than twenty years. She has led the coordination of countless fundraising events and special programs, trained other volunteers, and helped to organize ties between the local chapters. Sylvie loves to share her experiences in Buddhist practice, social activism, and community life.
Ven. Aluthgama Dhammajothi was ordained as a novice monk in 1971 in accordance with the tradition, and practice of Theravada Buddhism in Kollura Sri Walagamba Rajamahaviharaya, Polgahawela. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colombo. Further, he received a Diploma in Education in 1992. He has worked as a teacher and also as a High School principle in Sri Lanka for many years. In 1993, he was invited to New York Buddhist Vihara to serve as a resident monk. Since then, he has been doing many religious activities while giving leadership to many events of the New York Buddhist Vihara.
Bob Stevens was introduced to the dharma in 1980 when he moved to NY wanting to study Hinduism but discovered the NY Shambhala Center (then named Dharmadhatu). He has been a student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. He teaches Shambhala Training as well as the Center’s “In Everyday Life” series. Bob is Chairperson of the Governing Council of the New York center.
