Our Chief Monk
His Biography
Dr. Khammai Dhammasami
BA (Burma), MA (BPU), MA, MPhil (Kelaniya, Sri Lanka), DPhil (Oxford).
Born in Shan State, Union of Myanmar and a Theravada Buddhist monk over thirty years, Venerable Dr. K Dhammasami has studied in Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka where taught Pali, Abhidhamma and meditation.
Based in Great Britain since 1996, he ran a Sunday School in London for four years before completing his doctorate study at Oxford and setting up a monastery there in 2003 where he is the abbot.
He served as secretary general of United Nations Day of Vesak in Bangkok (2006–2010), founder-executive of the two Buddhist universities associations: IATBU (2007–present) and IABU (2007–present). Among academic posts he holds are: Fellow and Trustee at the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies (2004–present) and a member of Theology Faculty (2009–present) as well as Buddhist chaplain at Oxford University (2010–present); professor responsible for research, publication in Pali, and international affairs at International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University, Yangon, Myanmar (2006–present).
Since 2006, he has supervised and examined a few theses for MPhil and PhD in London, Colombo, Bangkok and Yangon and been a visiting lecturer in India, Indonesia and Thailand.
He has been teaching mindfulness vipassana meditation since 1996 in Britain, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, Spain, Thailand, USA, Canada, Hungary and Serbia. His book Mindfulness Meditation made Easy has been translated into Thai, Korean and Spanish. Its Hungarian and Serbian versions are expected to be out soon. Apart from running regular retreats, he also organises some conferences on meditation.
Oxford Buddha Vihara South Korea
The Oxford Buddha Vihara in South Korea was established on February 7, 2025, under the guidance of Chief Monk Venerable Prof. Dr. Khammai Dhammasami. The temple was founded and is led by Venerable Kavithaja during his studies at Dongguk University in Seoul, South Korea.
Brief Biography of Venerable Kavithaja
Venerable Kavithaja originates from Kehsi Township in Shan State, Myanmar. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Pāli and Buddhist Studies from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and completed a Master’s degree in Buddhist Studies at the Postgraduate Institute of Pāli and Buddhist Studies (PGIPBS), University of Kelaniya. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the same institution, while also undertaking a second Master’s degree in Buddhist Studies at Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea. In addition, he has earned diplomas in Buddhist Studies, English, and Information and Communication Technology.
Beyond his academic achievements, Venerable Kavithaja is actively engaged in community education and the digital dissemination of Dhamma. He has authored publications in the Shan language and produces educational content on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, promoting Buddhist teachings to both laypeople and monastics. He is particularly committed to engaging younger generations, offering free online courses to deepen their understanding of the Buddha’s teachings, especially from psychological and ethical perspectives.
From 2022 to 2024, he served as a volunteer media coordinator and English coach for the CJ Tai (Shan) Sangha Community. In this role, he facilitated English education for monastics and introduced innovative pedagogical techniques to enhance scriptural study and the practical application of Buddhist teachings in daily life. Venerable Kavithaja is widely recognized for his compassion, intellectual rigor, and dedication to bridging traditional Buddhist learning with the needs of contemporary society.
Since establishing the Oxford Buddha Vihara in South Korea on February 7, 2025, Venerable Kavithaja has actively propagated Buddhism through teaching mindfulness meditation, Vipassanā practice, and the foundations of psychological well-being. His teachings emphasize cultivating good character, practicing mindfulness, and understanding human psychology, particularly from early Buddhist perspectives. He regularly conducts meditation sessions and workshops at the Vihara, guiding both laypeople and monastics in applying mindfulness for psychosocial healing. His approach integrates traditional Theravāda meditation techniques with psychological principles to support emotional resilience, mental well-being, and adaptability in contemporary life.
Our Contributors
Korean devotees
International students and residents
Monastics and dedicated practitioners
Overseas devotees
We welcome contributions from all supporters. Your generous assistance enables the sustained operation of our meditation centre, facilitates the delivery of structured spiritual and educational programs, and enhances its broader impact on community well-being and social welfare initiatives.