>Lion of Wisdom Founder
Bhante Maharagama Dhammasiri
Bhante Maharagama Dhammasiri was born in 1949 in Maharagama, Sri Lanka. At the age of 11, he received monastic ordination at Maharagama Bhikkhu Training Center in Colombo, under the late Most Veneragle Madihe Paññāsīha Mahanayaka Maha Thera and Most Venerable Ampitiye Sri Rahula Maha Thera in June 1960.
After completing his religious education, he was appointed director of the Vajirarama Vihara in Anuradhapura in 1972. Soon after, in 1975, he returned to Maharagama Bhikkhu Training Center as acting director.
Then, in 1987, he came to the United States as the general secretary of the Washington DC Buddhist vihara, then taking over as president of the vihara from 1988 until today. Now, he is also the founder and abbot of the Lion of Wisdom – Paññāsīha Meditation Center.
Director and Guiding Teacher
Bhante Yogavacara Rahula
Bhante Rahula was born in Southern California in 1948. After following the hippie trail to India, he eventually discovered Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka, where he ordained as a novice monk in 1975. He received his bhikkhu upasampada ordination at Wat Thai Los Angeles in May 1979.
After returning to Sri Lanka for some years, he came to help Bhante Henepola Gunaratana establish the Bhavana Society Forest Monastery, where he served as vice-abbot from 1986 to 2010. Now, after seven years of teaching Dhamma and leading retreats around the world, Bhante Rahula has taken on the role as managing director and chief meditation teacher at the Lion of Wisdom – Paññāsīha Meditation Center.
Read his travel blog Bhante Yogavachara Rahula
BOOKS BY BHANTE RAHULA
For the latest availability, visit Bhante Rahula’s Amazon author page.
One Night’s Shelter:
From Home to Homelessness, Autobiography of an American Buddhist Monk
FREE: PDF Download
The Masterful Teachings of Gotama Buddha
REVISED EDITION: Now Available in Paperback & Kindle on Amazon
Breaking Through The Self-Delusion:
A Guide to Vipassana Meditation
NEW EDITION: Now Available on Amazon
Meditation:
The Body/Mind Connection
NEW EDITION: Now Available for Kindle on Amazon
