Dhammadarsa Bhikkhu

Dhammadarsa Bhikkhu is a Theravada monk (bhikkhu), formerly known as Norman Joseph (Joe/Jou) Smith.

In 1975 he took a Transcendental Meditation course. He has also studied Yoga, Zen, Tai Chi, and Judo.

In 1986 he took ordination at Wat Thai Nakorn Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. In 1987 he moved to Brisbane to held establish and develop Wat Thai Buddharam. In 1988 he made a pilgrimage to Northern India. In 1993 he disrobed.

In 2004 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Chinese and Studies in Religion focusing on Buddhism, including Pali, Buddhist Chinese and Sanskrit language studies, Linguistics and Psychology of Religion.

In 2005 he wrote and published The Gift of the Buddha - A Happy Life with a Foreword by the Dalai Lama. In 2008 he ordained as a bhikkhu in Thailand.

Since that time he has been asked to give guest lectures at universities, proof-reading, and leading retreats.

Dhammadarsa Bhikkhu's Insights is his blog.

References

• http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dhammadarsa/brief_history.htm
• http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dhammadarsa/book.htm (link to the book he wrote)