Upāsaka Chuán Fán

Amitoufo! I'm a Pure Land Buddhist and have taken my Upsaka vows, and I further study the Dharma at Buddha Jewel Monastery in Seattle. My birth name is Joseph Thomas Evans (very Christian as my family is Catholic) My nickname is Joe and my Dharma name is Chuán Fán. Explanation for the Upāsaka title. It is from the Sanskrit and Pāli words for "attendant". This is the title of male followers of Buddhism (or, historically, of Gautama Buddha) who are not monks nor nuns. Upasaka's are lay-devotes who undertake certain vows similar to vows the Monastics take but not as restricting to life in monastery. In modern times Upasakas have a connotation of dedicated piety that is best suggested by terms such as "lay devotee" or "devout lay follower". It is said by monastics that it's harder to be a Upasaka rather than a monk because Upasakas are always challenged by the daily life outside of the monastery. I'm also a very happy vegetarian and I became a vegetarian when I was in my early twenties. I am also a