Our Mission
Gothamachethiya Theravada Buddhist Association is dedicated to propagating the teachings of Gautama Buddha within the Theravada Buddhist monastic tradition, fostering peace, loving-kindness, mindfulness, equanimity, and wisdom in the English-speaking community in the world. As a nonprofit organization, our core mission is centered on encouraging the practice of the noble path taught by Gautama Buddha.
Our Vision
Our vision is to establish a global community where individuals can explore meditation, self-discovery, and inner peace. This community aims to provide a place of solace from the challenges of everyday life and to showcase the transformative benefits of Theravada Buddhist meditation practices. Through these efforts, we aspire to contribute to personal growth, well-being, and spiritual enrichment for all who seek refuge in our community.
Our Founder
The founder of Gothamachethiya Theravada Buddhist Association, Inc. Rev. Ріӏіyаndаӏа Маһіndаvіјаyа Thero, is a devout Buddhist monk hailing from the Sri Lankan Theravada forest monastic tradition. His journey into monkhood began in his youth, soon after completing his education, driven by a profound admiration for the teachings of the Buddha, especially the Kayanupassana (Body mindfulness) meditation path.
During his undergraduate years, his intuition led him to seek wisdom beyond conventional worldly education, prompting him to immerse himself in Dhamma books and meditation texts authored by renowned senior Buddhist monks. This pursuit granted him a comprehensive understanding of the Buddha’s teachings. Fuelled by an unwavering passion to explore the true essence of the Buddha’s teachings, he embraced monkhood and received higher ordination under the tutelage of the late most venerable Dodampahala Chandasiri Maha Thero in the Kalyaniwansa Chapter of Amarapura Maha Nikaya (fraternity).
Rev. Ріӏіyаndаӏа Маһіndаvіјаyа Thero dedicated significant time to delve into the ancient teachings of Gautama Buddha found within the Theravada Pali Canon. His quest encompassed learning Pali, the language of the Buddha, and practicing various meditation techniques observed in numerous Theravada forest monastic traditions. Furthermore, he explored non-Theravada philosophies and meditation methods from around the world in his pursuit of spiritual wisdom.
After seven years of devoted monastic life, Rev. Ріӏіyаndаӏа Маһіndаvіјаyа Thero commenced teaching Dhamma to lay disciples in both English and Sinhalese languages, all while continuing his personal Dhamma studies and practice. With a noble intention to propagate the teachings of Gautama Buddha in the Western world for the utmost benefit of humankind, he established the Gothamachethiya Theravada Buddhist Association, Inc. This association stands as a testament to his unwavering dedication to sharing the wisdom and teachings of the Buddha with the broader community.