Bhikshuni Kungshih was ordained under Ven. Master Ji Ru at the ShuangLin Monastery in Tao Yuan, Taiwan in 1997. She studied and was trained the monastic life under Bhikshuni Zhao Hui and Bhikshuni Xin Guang in ShuangLin Monastery. She has joined and stayed at Mid-America Buddhist Association (MABA) in Augusta, Missouri, since July, 1998.
Bhikshuni Chimiu has been practicing since the age of eight when she entered into Jing Hui Yuan in Hong Kong. She received her novice vows as a nun in 1963, and her higher ordination as a bhikshuni in 1967. She came to the United States in 1993, first practicing at Chuang Yen Monastery and The Temple of Enlightenment in New York. In 1999 she moved to MABA, where she practiced as a student of Master Ji Ru. In 2001, she moved to MABA's sister Temple in Chicago, the International Buddhism Friendship Association (IBFA/Enlightenment Temple).
Bhikshuni Kongzheng was ordained as a Buddhist Nun at Shuicao Buddhist Nunnery, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province in Aug. 1989. She studied Buddhism at Chenglin Hall, Xianyou County, Fujian from Feb. 1990 to Jan 1991. She continued her study at Minnan Buddhist College in Feb. 1991, and gratuated in Dec. 1996. She took her higher ordination in 1996. She became a Buddhist teacher of Shuicao Buddhist Nunnery, Nanjing City in 1997. Later, she taught at the Buddhist Training Class of Zhongde Temple, Fujian in 1998. She joined MABA in Jan. 2002.
Bhikshuni Konghuan joining MABA in July 2002. She was ordained under Ven. Master Ji Ru at Teng Wai Koi Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia in 2001. She went to Taiwan to take her higher ordination at Yuan Chao Temple, Kaohsiong Hsien. After her ordination she studied and practiced at Triple Wisdom Temple in Kaoshiong before joining MABA's sangha in July of 2003.
Xianyang Carl Jerome has been practicing Buddhism formally for the past fifteen years. For the past eight years, Carl has been a student of Master Ji Ru. He teaches meditation and dharma classes and leads retreats on Chicago's North Shore and in Chicago, at MABA and in MO prisons. In 2006 Master Ji Ru granted him Lay Teaching Endorsement. Carl is founder of the North Shore Meditation and Dharma Center. MABA is his home monastery.
Bhikshuni Kongye was ordained as a Buddhist Nun, and graduated from the Buddhism College of Qi Taihe Buddhist Temple in 1991. She was enrolled in Fujian Xiamen Buddhist College in 1995 and graduated in June, 2001. She was invited to teach in Fuzhou Senlin Park Zhengxin Temple in September 2001, and Fujian Lingtaishan Buddhism College in 2002. She later offer her services at Qi Taihe Buddhist Temple in December, 2002. She has joined and stayed at MABA in January of 2008.
Venerable Kongmu was ordained as a samanera (novice) under Ven. Master Ji Ru on December 18th, 2010. Before moving to MABA in November, 2010, Kongmu spent five years as a monastic at Shasta Abbey, a Soto Zen monastery near Mount Shasta in California. Kongmu was born and raised in Oregon, and spent five years living in Scotland while a teenager. He has an undergraduate degree in political science and a Master's degree in Land Use Planning and Community Development in 2002, both from the University of Oregon. He began practicing meditation in 2000, and moved to a Buddhist monastic community in 2003 to begin formal training as a monk.
