Piya Tan
Piya Tan (b. 1949) is a former Theravada monk of 20 years, is doing an annotated translation of the early Pali Suttas, harmonizing between the historical critical method and Dhamma moved inspiration, and teaching them. Piya specializes in early Buddhism and its application today. His Sutta translations are especially popular with the forest monastics.
In the 1980s, working closely with Dr Ang Beng Choo, project director of the Buddhist Studies Team (BUDS), Piya was consultant and regular lecturer. BUDS successfully introduced Buddhist Studies in Singapore Secondary Schools.
After that, he was invited by Prof Lewis Lancaster as a visiting scholar to the University of California at Berkeley, USA. He has written a number of educational books on Buddhism (such as Total Buddhist Work) and social surveys (such as Buddhist Currents and Charisma in Buddhism).
As a full time Dhamma teacher, he runs regular Sutta and Dhamma classes at various temples, centers and tertiary Buddhist societies. He practices Buddhist counseling therapy using a combination of Forest Insight meditation and Sutta based psychology.
Piya often critically writes on contemporary Buddhist related issues, and often speaks out against the misinformation, misuse and abuse of Buddhism. He sees Buddhism as a humanistic and life affirming way to spiritual awakening, and has great faith in gaining it in this life.