Dassanāya Buddhist Community
Let’s keep growing
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Community
What is “dassanāya?” This word means “for the purpose of seeing” or “in order to see” in the ancient Pali language. We are a group of folks who are interested in practicing Buddhism. The early Buddhist teachings, typically associated with the Theravāda, are the primary focus of the group. Zen teachings also play a part. This endeavor is based in the community — the people, not a city or a building or a single individual. Thus, taken all together, our name means “a gathering of people for the purpose of seeing with the wisdom of Buddhism.”
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Ethics
The ethical precepts of Buddhism support clarity of mind, connection, and freedom from regret. Learn more about our approach to the ethical precepts in this video chat with our Guiding Teacher
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Member of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association
As Dhammadipa is a full member and President of the Board of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association (SZBA), Dassanaya Buddhist Community has adopted the association's code of ethics and process for conflict resolution.
Our mission is spiritual care based on meditation and ethics, to cultivate and embody the presence of Buddhist wisdom in the world.
Learn more about our Guiding Teacher and Community Teachers
Community leadership
Our dedicated Board of Directors
Dana Elliott
PRESIDENT
Dana Elliott is a long time practitioner and student of Dhammadīpā.
She is a graphic designer living and working in Atlanta, Georgia. She collaborates with thinkers and creators taking on projects that blend cultural awareness with shared beliefs to advance the well-being of children, those dedicated to helping others and creative expression.
Dana looks forward to sitting with you at Dassanāya in person or via Zoom.
Dhammadīpā
SECRETARY
Dhammadīpā is the Guiding Teacher of Dassanaya Buddhist Community. She began practicing Buddhism in 1987 and is ordained in the tradition of Soto Zen. Before becoming a full-time practitioner and teacher, she earned an MBA from UC Berkeley and worked in finance. Learn more about her on the Guiding Teacher page.
Chris Proulx
TREASURER
Chris Proulx has been dabbling in the Dhamma for over 30 years but only became a committed practitioner in 2015. Since 2021, he has been practicing with Dhammadīpā since 2021 after attending an online retreat she was co-leading during the pandemic. "The more I practice, the more I see the Dhamma everywhere in my life and in the universe. I have become fascinated with how the mind works, and how both modern neuroscience and ancient teaching can illuminate how we can lead more beneficial and healthy lives." In his professional life, he leads a global and diverse team focused on supporting humanitarian NGOs to be more financially sustainable and to deliver greater programmatic impact through more effective management practices. He lives with his wife, daughter and two companion animals live in Ithaca NY, the unceded territory of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) where he likes to hike, grow vegetables, cook, and volunteer in the community.
Jennifer Cho
BOARD MEMBER
Professionally, Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with specialties in integrative trauma therapy and holistic wellness and has had the privilege of walking alongside thousands of individuals on their unique journeys of health and healing. She has worked for the nation’s largest integrated healthcare network for nearly twenty years, first as a direct care provider and now as an administrator. As an administrator, Jennifer leads and supervises diverse interdisciplinary teams; develops and manages a wide variety of heath care programs and builds and facilitates relationships between the local hospital network and the wider community. She is also senior faculty for a national mindfulness facilitator training program for multidisciplinary healthcare clinicians throughout the country.
Jennifer welcomes you to the Dassanaya community and looks forward to practicing with you in person or via Zoom!
Kayla McAfee
BOARD MEMBER
Ms. McAfee is a Management Consultant primarily working in the federal space. Her expertise is in change management (e.g., strategic communications and stakeholder engagement) and project management. She has extensive experience solving complex problems for large organizations while driving culture change. Ms. McAfee holds a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University, is a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and has recently earned her Project Management Professional, PMP ® certification. In addition to her work at Eagle Hill, Ms. McAfee volunteers with the Association of Change Management Professionals and Offender Aid and Restoration. She is also the proud and loving daughter of Dhammadipa.
A rich history made manifest here and now.
Our community is based in the teachings of early Buddhism, as they have been passed on for more than 2,500 years. We follow in the footsteps of the awakened women, men, and folks of the Buddha’s time and the sages of Thailand, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, and America. Their teachings have been recorded in the ancient Pali texts called the Nikayas, as well as in the Mahayana texts such as the Prajña Paramita and Shobogenzo. We offer Dharma talks, meditation instruction, traditional ceremonies, sutta contemplation, and classes. We also offer a limited number of opportunities for the training of individuals who wish to explore stewardship or living the Buddhist monastic life.