Deceased April 4, 2003
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In Memory
Doug MacPhillamy, also known as Reverend Master Daizui Douglas MacPhillamy, traveled a different path through life from all his classmates. Doug, head of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives based in Mount Shasta, Calif., died April 4, 2003.
Doug came to Amherst from Chatham High School, N.J. Jay Beech '67 was his freshman roommate. Those who knew him at Amherst remember him as quiet, studious, and friendly. He was active in the Outing Club, Debate Council, and served as president of Phi Alpha Psi fraternity. He graduated magna cum laude in psychology and anthropology.
After receiving his M.A. at Stanford in secondary education, he went on to earn his M.A. and Ph.D. from University of Oregon in 1973 in clinical psychology. He then practiced clinical psychology in Oregon and California and authored articles in professional journals on psychological measurement and depression.
Doug was ordained a Buddhist Monk in 1974 and named a Master and Dharma Heir in 1978. In 1996, he became Head of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives. This organization is a Western Monastic Order within the Soto Zen Tradition with about a hundred male and female monks who serve monasteries and temples in the U.S., Canada, Scotland, Wales, England and the Netherlands. The author and editor of several volumes on Buddhism, Doug recently published an acclaimed book, Buddhism From Within: An Intuitive Introduction to Buddhism.
It is interesting that Doug devoted some time to helping Amherst in fundraising in recent years. Amherst can take pride in remaining at the core of this intellectual and spiritual man’s life. To those of us who know little of Buddhism, we can only know that he touched many lives and offered the world a model of spiritual goodness. We will miss him.
Alan Havighurst ’67