Bhante Buddharakkita

Bhante Buddharakkita was born in Uganda, Africa. He first encountered Buddhism in 1990 while studying in India. He was ordained as a Theravada Buddhist monk by the late Sayadaw U Silananda in 2002 at the Tathagata Meditation Center in San Jose, California. He then spent eight years under the guidance of Bhante Henepola Gunaratana at the Bhavana society, West Virginia. Founder and Abbot of the Uganda Buddhist Center in Uganda, Bhante is a Visiting Professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York, USA. He is also a Spiritual Advisor to the Global Buddhist Relief in New Jersey. Since 2005, Bhante has been teaching meditation in Africa, Australia, Europe, Asia, South America and the United States. His book, Planting Dhamma Seeds: The Emergence of Buddhism in Africa, tells the story of his religious and spiritual work in Africa. He is also the author of Sowing Seeds of Peace: Mindfulness Meditation for Finding Peace Within, a practical guide to mindfulness in your daily life.

The Theravada Buddhist Community is pleased to announce that on Sunday, December 12th at 10:00 am Ajahn Achalo will be joining us during our weekly meditation session to offer a dhamma talk followed by a short question and answers period. The morning meditation period will follow afterwards.

Ajahn Achalo

Ajahn Achalo is the Abbot of Anandagiri Forest Monastery in Thailand. Born in Australia in 1972, Ajahn Achalo developed a keen interest in meditation at the age of 20. In 1996, Ajahn Achalo ordained as a Theravada Bhikkhu under Luang Por Liem at Wat Nong Pah Pong, the monastery founded by Luang Por Chah.

During his years of training, he has received personal guidance from many teachers, including Luang Por Sumedho, Luang Por Pasanno, Ajahn Jayasaro and Ajahn Kalyano.

Ajahn Achalo considers Tan Ajahn Anan, the abbot of Wat Marp Jan in Thailand, as his principal mentor. In addition, he has found the Dalai Lama’s instructions and example to be of tremendous value.

Earlier this year, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, King Rama X of Thailand, granted Ajahn Achalo the honorific title of Chao Khun Vajira Nyanamuni (Diamond like knowledge of peacefulness) in recognition of his good practice and service to Buddhism.

The Theravada Buddhist Community is pleased to announce on Sunday, November 21st at 10:55am Ayya Nimmala will be joining us during our weekly meditation session to offer her dhamma reflections followed by a short question and answers period.

Ayya Nimmala

Venerable Bhikkhuni Theri Ayya Nimmala is a Canadian born bhikkhuni in the Thai Forest tradition of Ajahn Chah. Recently she was recognized as a venerable Theri, or edler in the international bhikkhuni sangha.

The Theravada Buddhist Community would like to invite you to a Day of Mindfulness with Ajahn Pavaro on Sunday, October 24, 2021. The retreat will be available online using the Zoom platform.

Ajahn Pavaro

Ajahn Pavaro’s early formative monastic training began in 2001 with Ajahn Sona at Sitavana Forest Monastery in British Columbia. He spent his 7th year as a Bhikkhu with his preceptor, Luang Por Pasanno, and the Sangha at Abhayagiri Monastery in Pechabun. He benefitted from periods of practice at Wat Pah Nanachat and from opportunities to receive teachings from leading elders of the Wat Non Pah Pong Sangha, including Luang Por Liam and Tan Ajahn Anan. In June 2020, Ajahn Pavaro was welcomed to Tisarana, where he now resides.

To join our Zoom Meeting, click on this link:

The Day of Mindfulness will include meditation, mindfulness instructions and Buddhist reflections.

Registration is not required. If you would like to donate to the Tisarana Monastery for this event, please use the TBC donation page and include a message that the donation is for Ajahn Pavaro’s Day of Mindfulness retreat. 100% of all donations will be passed on to the Monastery.

The chants for the Days of Mindfulness will be displayed on the Zoom screen during the opening and closing chants. However, you can print the chants ahead of time if you prefer. They are available at this link.

We look forward to you joining us on October 24th.  The retreat will start at 8:40 am EDT and finish by 4:00 pm.

Daily Schedule

The Theravada Buddhist Community would like to invite you to two Days of Mindfulness with Elliot Johnson (Khemako) on Saturday and Sunday, August 21 & 22, 2021. The retreat will be available online using the Zoom platform.

Elliot Johnson (Khemako)

Elliot Johnson was born in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1959 into a large Catholic family and received his education from priests and nuns at the local Church-run schools. His long-standing interest in the core questions of philosophy and religion led him to begin lay Buddhist practice in 1997. Eventually, he abandoned a career in Silicon Valley and found his way into the order of monks, ordaining as Khemako Bhikkhu on June 2, 2012, with Ajahn Pasanno as preceptor, at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in California. In June of 2014, Ven. Khemako moved to Tisarana Monastery in Ontario until June 2021.

On June 2, 2021, he left the robes and returned to lay life in Texas to care for his father during a difficult and uncertain illness. He currently lives in Wichita Falls, where he continues to study and practice the teachings of the Buddha.

To join our Zoom Meeting, click on this link:

The Days of Mindfulness will include meditation, mindfulness instructions and Buddhist reflections.

No registration is required. If you would like to make a donation to Elliot Johnson for this event, please use the TBC donation page and include a message that the donation is for Elliot or the Days of Mindfulness retreat. 100% of all donations will be passed on to Elliot Johnson (Khemako).

The chants for the Days of Mindfulness can be printed out ahead of time and are available at this link.

Participants may use the raised hand or chat features to ask questions during the Q&A periods. If you would like to learn more about using these features, please click on this link.

We look forward to you joining us on August 21 & 22.  Each day will start at 8:40 am EDT and end at 3:50 pm.

Daily Schedules