About DhammaJāta Arañña (Meditation Society)

Present Spritual Advisor of DhammaJāta Arañña (Meditation Society)

It is the Most Venerable Pahalavitiyala Janānanda Mahāthēra, who at present, holds the post of ‘the Chief Advisor of Sri Kalyāni Yōgāshrama Saṁsthā (The Association of Sri Kalyāni Hermitages), which has been existing up to now prioritizing the forest monastery tradition. The Mahāthēra was born on the 6th of May in 1938 in the village of Pahalavitiyala in Thihagoda electorate in Matara district. He, who loved very much enjoying the country scenery, attended the Buddhist mixed school in the village of Kitalagama.

Unveiling the parami powers endowed on him, he was ordained by the name of ‘Pahalavitiyala Janānanda’ at the Kirinda monastery under the Preceptorship of Most Ven. Panditācāriya Kekunēwela Indaguptta Mahāthēra on the 22nd of December in 1961. Thereafter, learning all the necessary parts of Dhamma and Vinaya required for a bhikkhu, he was higher ordained on the 20th of August in 1964 at Udakuḳḳhēpa Sīma Pavilion built on the Mādu river near Vivēkārāma – Delduwa, under the same Preceptorship of Most Ven Indaguptta Mahāthēra. It was Most Ven Godagama Vijayapāla Mahāthēra who was his ‘Ācariya’ – the teacher.

The Mahāthēra, who exhibits a calm and peaceful demeanour and a lifestyle, shines up among bhikkhus by lighting up his pure life well by powers of virtues like ‘appiccatā’ (contentment), ‘santuṭṭitā’ (satisfaction), ‘pavivēkatā’ (seclusion), and ‘asaṁsaggatā’ (non-attachment) without being attached to benefits, civilities, reputation and praise while safeguarding and sticking to the customs of his own sect by making him a living example of a great bhikkhu for all the big and small in the Sāsana at present. Bhante, who lives a simple monastic life, whose only property consists of the three robes and bowl, is a pleasing spectacle in the eyes of viewers.

Holding the honoured title of ‘Shāsanakīrthi Sri Patipattisōbhana’ along with the appointment for the post of ‘the Great Preceptor’ bestowed on him by Sri Lanka Ramañña Mahā Nikāya, the Most Ven. Mahāthēra is a distinguished bhikkhu, who is serving as ‘the Chief Advisor’ to ‘Sri Kalyāni Yōgāshrama Saṁsthā’ while rendering a yeoman service for the betterment of the Dispensation.

Present Spritual Advisor of DhammaJāta Arañña (Meditation Society)

A birth of a virtuous child, of whose life destined to be full of loving kindness and compassion to the world in all his thought, speech and action, happened to be born to the family of Mr. & Mrs. Mudiyanselage in the village of Bootawatta, Kandy, Sri Lanka on 28th October 1953. No one knew that one day he would be a person with a big heart, filled with the noblest qualities of humanity.

In 1965, he entered monastic life as a novice Buddhist monk at the age of 12 under the mentorship of Ven. Sumanjothi Maha Thera; and it was this “suited station” that nurtured his life to have an altruistic spiritual journey to heal the hearts of fellow humans out of compassion. Then, he underwent monastic education for the next 11 years until he is a fully ordained Bhikkhu, receiving the Higher Ordination at the age of 22 in 1976 at Malwatta Chapter in Kandy. He later obtained “Diploma in Buddhist Philosophy” from the Vidyodaya Buddhist Institution, which is the most renowned institution for the Buddhist and oriental studies in Sri Lanka. Following that, 8 years of his life were dedicated for the benefit of people of Sri Lanka.

As a great son of the Buddha and a real propagator of his master’s noble discovery, he decided to follow a new direction of his spiritual journey, leaving his motherland and stepping into his destined home – Malaysia at the age of 30 in 1984. Upon his arrival at the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple in Sentul, he was invited by Sri Jayanti Association to take over the resident monk’s post, where he oversaw the transformation of the temple from an old and ruined look to an attractive Buddhist temple inspired by Sri Lankan traditional architecture. The decision took by him to reside in Sentul temple not only change his life, but also the lives of thousands of people who arrived at this temple seeking for the inner peace, serenity and solace in Buddha Dhamma.

From the beginning, he has a positive outlook about his role in serving the people of Malaysia both spiritually and charitably. Thereupon, to serve the needy in Malaysia further, he started the free clinic, free tuition classes and the Metta home through Sri Jayanti Welfare Organization (SJWO), which was an organization he formed in 1991. To ensure that his spiritual and welfare program could benefit a larger section of the Malaysian community, he later initiated “Maha Karuna Buddhist Society (MKBS)” in the year 2001. Since the day of its establishment, MKBS has been playing a leading role in helping people in Malaysia and overseas, covering almost all aspects of the charity service under his patronage. In 2003, he established the Maha Karuna Compassionate Home, which is a senior citizen home. Furthermore, the Maha Karuna Buddhist Centre was opened in 2004 to serve the community in Subang 2 and its vicinity. On 5th May 2006, he formed the Yayasan Maha Karuna to serve the needy in Malaysia irrespective of ethnic and religion. The charitable activities of Yayasan Maha Karuna are:

EDUCare (Annual programme established in 2001)

Maha Karuna Mobile Free Clinic

Aid to Senior Citizens & People with Disabilities

Medical Aid to Needy Patients

Financial Aids to the Needy.

Through Siri Jayanti Association, MKBS and SJWO, he has also contributed to victims of natural disasters (tsunami, earthquakes, et cetera) in Sri Lanka, Haiti, Nepal, China, Indonesia, Pakistan and others by providing essential relief items and undertaking reconstruction projects for schools, hospitals, temples, community halls, houses and water project initiatives. Moreover, numerous international welfare programs are also being organised in those nations under his guidance. Other great initiatives incepted by him to serve the Buddhist community in Malaysia include:

Monks Education Funds

Young Buddhist Novitiate Training Program (For teenagers)

Adult Novitiate Training Program

Provision of assistance in the formation of numerous Buddhist organisations

Become spiritual adviser to many Buddhist societies in Malaysia

Provision of consolations, advices, blessings to devotees in need

Became the joint-organising chairperson of Buddhist Culture and Arts Festival (BCAF 2007) – first ever grand Buddhist event in Malaysian history participated by 50 Buddhist societies in Malaysia representing Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana.

Hence, considering of his selfless devotion to the development of the Buddha Sasana and his immense contribution to the international community, he was honoured by the Supreme Council of the Maha Sangha of Malwattha Chapter, Kandy, Sri Lanka by conferring the title “Sangha Keerthi Sri” upon him in 2017. Also, he was appointed as the Chief High Priest (Judiciary) of Malaysia in year 2007.

It is needless to say that one would have to write hundreds of volumes about his great sense of compassion and great commitments that he has been portraying throughout his 60 years of his monk-hood, which consolidates his position as an inspirational icon and a role model for the Sangha members, Buddhist community and Dhamma friends in Malaysia to be kind, generous and compassionate towards the fellow mankind, regardless of their social, cultural, religious, racial and ethnic diversities.

Present Medition Teacher of DhammaJāta Arañña (Meditation Society)

Brief Biography of The Most Venerable Angulgamuwa AriyaNanda MahāThera

The Most Ven. Nā-Uyane AriyaDhamma MahāThera can be interpreted as an extraordinary buddhist monk who emerged from The Sri Kalyāni Yōgāshrama Saṁsthā (The Association of Sri Kalyāni Hermitages), which was founded by Most Ven. Matara Ñānārāma MahāThera and Most Ven. Kadawaddūwē JinaWaṁsa MahāThera. Ven. Angulgamuwē AriyaNanda MahāThera can be introduced as one of the important buddhist figures who was born during the Sāsana renaissance carried out by the aforesaid great sons of The Blessed One.

This humble AriyaNanda MahāThera works with a strong determination, courage, and perseverance for the upliftment of Buddha Sāsana by dedicating himself to build a disciplined generation of monastic bhikkhus as well as to expand Buddhism not only in the country but also in foreign countries while explaining deep and complex concepts of Buddhism in a simple, accessible and understandable way to the grassroot Buddhists drawing down-to-earth examples. He now lives in the Nā-Uyana Forest Monastery leading a simple lifestyle.

Most Ven. Angulgamuwē Ariyananda MahāThera was born on the 27th of February 1964 as the 5th and the youngest son of Mr. D.M. Muthubandā and Mrs. D.M. Lokumenikā. At the age of 11, his parents offered him to the Sāsana (The Dispensation of the Buddha) in front of Most Ven. Kadawaddūwē Jinawaṁsa MahāThera, from whom he received happy predictions.

When he was still a child he showed inborn talents and competencies for learning. He received his primary education from the village school and then his secondary education from Ibbagamuwa Central College. He completed his higher education by qualifying himself as a competent Electronic Engineer.

On such a sound footing of completion of his formal education, he led a virtuous life as a layman until he renounced his lay life on 18th March 1992. On 18th June 1992, he decided to have the going-forth in the Buddha Sāsana by the name of “Ven. Angulgamuwē AriyaNanda” in order to fulfil his ‘Pāramī’ powers to call a halt to the cycle of saṁsāra. He lit up his bhikkhu life by the influence of both Most Ven. Kadawaddūwē JinaWaṁsa MahāThero and Most Ven. Nā-Uyane AriyaDhamma MahāThero who could be considered as great sources appeared in the world to lit up the Buddha Sāsana. On 18th June 1993, he obtained higher ordination which elevated him to a higher step in his religious life.

Most Ven. Ariyananda thero has now traversed a long distance of his arduous religious life as a buddhist monk while doing meditation and studying Dhamma and Vinaya. The knowhow he received during the Myanmar Meditation Program became a real test of his mettle and a milestone on his journey. During his stay in Myanmar for a period of one year, he expertized the Pa-Auk meditation method even he was gravely ill but forgetting all his physical inconveniences he had to suffer in the poor health condition. Thera, who now lives by practising qualities required for a great follower of The Blessed One, by coming to Nā-Uyana monastery along with 10 other bhikkhus on the 10th of November 1997, initialized a project to build a Meditation Centre to bring out exemplary bhikkhus for the community of Saṅgha in the motherland who would be able to taste the flavor of real monasticism in this emancipation-bound Sāsana.

Since then, he has been rendering a layman service manly possible for the upliftment of Buddha Sāsana beyond words up to today.

Committed to give advice and admonitions without any reluctance to enhance the virtue, concentration and wisdom of his student bhikkhus while giving priority to meditative monks and nuns, he gives dhamma talks on a basis of a regular timetable to all who may like to reap the benefit of dhamma.

The MahāThera is an exemplary character who demonstrates the advice he may give others through his actions. The monastery which was founded with 10 bhikkhus then, now is committed to housing for nearly 200 including local and foreign monks.

MahāThera who dedicates his time and labor for the betterment of the Dispensation of The Blessed One, lives his life while travelling abroad and interpreting the core concepts of Buddhism in an accessible manner to other peoples in other countries too.

Having embodied the whole bhikkhu life through Dhamma, the venerable MahāThera has been working hard to introduce the comfort and the sheer contentment he experienced from the strenuous training, to the vast majority of people out there who may be not even at the border of the understanding and bliss of the Dhamma, for, they are stuck fast in the mire of the world of endless suffering owing to the ignorance.

Present Preceptor of DhammaJāta Arañña (Meditation Society)

Venerable DhammaPutta MahāThera Brief Biography (法子大长老)

In 1988, Ven. Bhante Dhammaputta was ordained into the monastic life under the mentorship of the late Most Ven. Chu Mor (竺摩长老). His Dharma name is "Ji Zang" (继藏) and his courtesy name is "Xin Di" (心地).

Monastic Education and Spiritual Journey

After his initial ordination, he spent five years in Taiwan pursuing Buddhist studies. Upon graduation, he returned to Malaysia and served for three years at both the Malaysia Buddhist Institute and The Buddhist Triple Wisdom Hall.

Following this period of service, he travelled to Myanmar to practice at the Pa-Auk Tawya Meditation Centre (Mawlamyine), where he placed himself under the spiritual guidance of the Most Ven. Pa-Auk Sayadaw. In the year 2000, he received his Higher Ordination (Bhikkhu Upasampadā) in the Theravada tradition under Ven. Pa-Auk Sayadaw.

Currently, Ven. Bhante Dhammaputta serves as the Abbot of:

• Sītavana Vihāra (悉达林) in Penang

• VivekaVana (武拉必静修园) in Berapit, Bukit Mertajam

Teachings and Dhamma Propagation

In addition to his personal practice, Bhante focuses his teachings primarily on Dāna (generosity), Sīla (morality/precepts), and Bhavana (meditation).

He strongly advocates for right faith in Shakyamuni Buddha and the correct practical application of the Tipitaka (the Buddhist Canon). Through his guidance, he encourages practitioners to cultivate merits and Pāramīs (spiritual perfections) in order to realize the fruits of the Path and Nibbāna, ultimately achieving liberation from all suffering.

Present Abbot of DhammaJāta Arañña (Meditation Society)

Venerable DhammaSiri Bhikkhu Brief Biography

1970: Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

1986: Entered the Buddhist community, serving as a lay volunteer (Dhamma worker) to support the Dhamma.

1993: Studied at a monastic Buddhist college in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan and received the Threefold Ordination (full ordination in the Chinese Mahāyāna tradition).

1996: Researched Chinese Mahāyāna Vinaya (monastic discipline) and studied suttas, Abhidhamma, and commentaries in Puli, Nantou County, Taiwan.

1997: Received Upasampadā (higher ordination) in the Forest Tradition's Dhammayuttika Nikāya in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He then engaged in a tudong walk, practicing meditation at and visiting various meditation centers.

1998: Went to Pa Auk International Forest Monastery in Myanmar for intensive meditation and Vinaya study.

2001: Went to Nā-Uyana Aranya International Forest Monastery in Sri Lanka for intensive meditation and Vinaya study.

2002: Began editing Theravāda Buddhist meditation manuals and translating Vinaya books.

2006: Established DhammaJāta Publications on Penang Island. To date, he has published over 300 multimedia Dhamma works in various languages.

2008: Organized short-term monastic ordinations and founded the DhammaJāta Overseas Pilgrimage & Mahā Saṅgha Dāna Group.

2010: Began public Dhamma propagation, giving lectures, leading meditation retreats, and conducting Buddhist classes and camps for primary, secondary, and tertiary students.

2016: Established DhammaJāta Vihāra to promote Buddhist youth Dhamma Leadership education.

2017: Appointed Abbot of the DhammaJāta Arañña Meditation Centre (Meditation Society) by MahāThera AriyaNanda.

2018: Constructed the DhammaJāta Arañña Meditation Centre and invited local & overseas Mahā Saṅgha to establish the Sīmā (ordination boundary).

2019: The Mahā Saṅgha from local & overseas was invited to hold the inauguration ceremony for the DhammaJāta Arañña Meditation Centre.

2020: Conducted an online Ten Meritorious Deeds Practice Retreat, a meditation retreat, a series of Dhamma lectures & Dhamma Talks, Youth Dhamma Leadership Program, and taught courses at universities.

2024: Taught meditation and Dhamma lectures in prisons.

2025: Conducted a nationwide Dhammadūta propagation for both Mahāyāna and Theravāda Buddhist associations in Malaysia, and gave Dhamma talks at nursing homes.