Nayaka Thero is the teacher and mentor of our resident chief incumbent, Ven. Huruluwewe Chandrawansa Thero. Ven. Mangala was ordained into the Ramañña Nikaya branch of monks and later, at age 34, founded the Sri Saranatha Dharma Vidya Peetha Mahapirivena, known also as Sri Sudhammananda Samanera Bhikkhu Training Centre, in Halloluwa, Kandy, Sri Lanka in 1992.  Since then, Nayaka Thero has ordained and trained more than 400 novice monks under his tutelage.

Currently there are more than 15 temples with monasteries under Nayaka Thero’s auspices in Sri Lanka, serving more than 10,000 devotees and educating many children in the Buddha Dhamma.  In 2005, Nayaka Thero began touring overseas to bring the Buddha’s teachings to different countries.  During a visit to Washington D.C., Nayaka Thero met Mr. Asoka Ganhewa and his wife, who invited him to our Center here in Pennsylvania.

Seeing the peaceful vistas at our Center and knowing the American people’s thirst for meditation, Nayaka Thero had the vision to expand it from a temple into a meditation center. Consequently, in 2016 Nayaka Thero urged his student Ven. Chandrawansa to come to the United States and bring his vision to fruition. When Ven. Dr. Mangala can take a break from his duties at the Bhikkhu training center and monasteries in Sri Lanka, Nayaka Thero visits our Center and Nayaka Thero’s enthusiastic devotees here in the United States.

Bhante Chandrawansa is our resident and chief incumbent monk.  Bhante Chandrawansa began his training as a monk at the Sri Sudhammananda Samanera Bhikkhu Training Centre, in Halloluwa, Kandy, Sri Lanka in 2002 and received higher ordination as a Buddhist monk in 2008. Bhante Chandrawansa received Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

Bhante Chandrawansa was a resident monk at the Bhikkhu Training Centre, preaching the Dhamma and teaching devotees as well as the novice monks until 2015 when Bhante Chandrawansa went to Canada to serve as assistant clergy at the Ottawa Inter-Community Buddhist Society, teaching and leading discussions in English.

Currently, Bhante Chandrawansa delivers his sermons and conducts discussions in English, even on highly complex Buddhist subjects.  Upon the request of Bhante Chandrawansa’s teacher Ven. Dr Mangala and our Center, Bhante Chandrawansa came to Pennsylvania in 2016 and began serving our Center as the resident monk.

Over the last few years, Bhante Chandrawansa has participated in several intensive long term meditation retreats for Buddhist monks, to enhance his meditation teaching skills. Bhante Chandrawansa now conducts meditation programs and retreats not only at our Center but also at the Long Island Buddhist Meditation Center and other venues in the United States.

Bhante Ariyawansa is a resident monk at the PA Meditation Center. Bhante Ariyawansa began training at the Sri Sudhammananda Samanera Bhikkhu Training Center in Hallaluwa, Kandy, Sri Lanka in 2003. Bhante Ariyawansa received higher ordination as a Bhuddist monk in 2014.

Bhante Ariyawansa was a resident monk at the Bhikkhu Training Center where Bhante Ariyawansa preached The Dhamma and taught devotees. In 2021, Bhante Ariyawansa came to the U.S. where he began teaching devotees at the PA Meditation Center in Crystal Spring, PA. Bhante Ariyawansa currently continues his teaching.

Bhante Ariyawansa delivers his messages and seminars in Sinhalese. He is currently studying English. He has also participated in several long-term meditation retreats for Bhuddist monks.

Bhante Ariyawansa looks forward to seeing you at the Meditation Center.

Our Center opened and was incorporated in 2004 as International Buddhist Society of Pennsylvania, in fulfillment of the vision of Mr. Asoka Ganhewa and his wife to provide a Buddhist temple suitable for weekend Dhamma retreats in a peaceful rural setting that is removed from the bustle of the city yet accessible to families and working individuals.  The generous support from the wider Sri Lankan American community, both monastic and laypersons, and the local community, made the vision a reality as Dhamma programs grew and flourished over the years.

Due to the inspiration of Ven. Dr. Mangala to serve the wider community and to expand our temple to become specialized in meditation, our chief monk, Bhante Chandrawansa, has carried out that vision, expanding our Center’s programs to include meditation retreats and group meditation not only at the Center but also at libraries, a local prison, and on Zoom.

Pennsylvania Meditation Center is located in a beautiful valley in rural south central Pennsylvania, nestled in the scenic Appalachian Mountains. This tranquil atmosphere is ideal for meditative retreats for mindfulness training that result in inner peace. The Center is located within a two-hour drive of the DC Metro area, and easily accessible from Interstate 70 (Exit 151), Route 30, and the PA Turnpike (Exit 161).

We are able to accommodate a few overnight guests, but overnight lodging is available in the nearby town of Breezewood, PA.

Open Hours: 8:30am to 7:30pm