David Hurst was a Buddhist Meditation master who was born in Sydney (New South Wales) in 1929 of an English father and a Chinese/Eurasian mother. David received higher ordination as a Theravadan Buddhist Monk in a Thai monastery established in the Sussex countryside for the British Buddhist Society.

At that time he was known formally as the Venerable Jayamangalo (Tan Jai to his friends). Before embracing Buddhism, David was well known in the theatre world. He was an actor and dancer and also worked as producer with the theatre and television. He was involved with the ABC, BBC and The Old Vic Theatre company, and travelled extensively in the USA, Europe and Britain. He ventured into commercialism when he ran a bar/restaurant in Spain. It was after this venture that he went to England and changed his life by entering the monastery. After leaving the Monastery, David taught in England for a time before returning to Australia and teaching in South Australia, Victoria and finally Queensland.

David helped many people with diverse problems and illnesses. David ‘unzipped the Earth suit' on 9th August, 1995 when he felt his work was completed. However he wished his teachings to continue. They do so through the Cansurvive library and the David Hurst Column which is a regular feature in the greatly supportive Cansurvive Magazine.

His valuable contribution to Cansurvive will continue through his healing meditations, and inspirational words of spiritual wisdom.

"I am at peace with the present moment”