Connecticut Buddhist Vihara
The Connecticut Meditation Center is a community-based organization and is established as a nonprofit religious organization (registered as (IRC) SECTION 501 (C) (3) 47-3500828) to serve both Buddhist and non-Buddhist communities living in Connecticut.
Connecticut Meditation Center exists to provide community in the Connecticut area with the opportunity to learn Buddha’s teachings and meditation practices that help them to accomplish mindfulness, inner peace, and wisdom. Our meditation center conducts traditional Buddhist rituals for Sri Lankan communities in Connecticut and neighboring areas. Our teaching programs are for both adults and children. Our adult programs are focused on mindfulness, inner peace, and wisdom. Children programs focus is scattered across multiple areas named, Buddhist and Sri Lankan culture, Sinhala language, meditation, and mindfulness. Our programs are an accessible manner that can be easily integrated into your modern busy lifestyle.
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Programs and Services
Religious Teachings and Activities
• Buddhas teaching and Meditation practices to helps accomplish mindfulness and inner peace
• Mindfulness retreats
• Traditional Buddhist rituals for Buddhist Community
• Dhamma School for Kidds
• Yoga Programs
• Conduct full moon holy day (Poya) progress
• Sadaham Charika Program
• Vesak Ceremony
• Vassana Season Dhamma Service
• Provides Alms giving opportunities
Cultural Services
• New Year Blessings Programs (Jan 1st)
• International Vesak Festival
• Sri Lankan New Year Event
• Annual Cricket Tournament (Fundraiser)
• Sri Lankan Cultural event and Kids Talent shows
• Sri Lankan Food festivals
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History of the Temple
Late Rev. Karunegoda Piyatissa Maha Thero, a prominent Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka, was then invited by the London Buddhist monastery for the specific purpose of teaching Buddhist practices and meditation in New York. He initially set up the New York monastery for this purpose. Lately his cleric students setup multiple Buddhist monasteries in the eastern United States. The Connecticut Meditation Center is the newest member grown up from the roots of the New York Buddhist monastery. Rev. Babarenda Sumedha led and pioneered this meritorious activity. While residing in either New York or Boston monasteries, Rev Sumedha traveled to Connecticut, organized the Sri Lanka Buddhist community, and helped them in conducting Buddhist rituals and Dhamma school for children. Though the meditation center conducted its operations since 2011, we have not had our own permanent facility. During this period Laos Temple in South Windsor and the Burmese Temple in Manchester, Connecticut helped us generously and enabled us to use their facilities. In the year 2021, Connecticut Meditation Center was newly set up in the city of Andover in central Connecticut.
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Board of Governors
Venerable Hennbunne Kondañña Thero is a Theravada Buddhist Monk from Sri Lanka. He is the founder of Staten Island Buddhist Vihara in New York. He got his novice ordination in 1968 and received his monastic training in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In 1985, he joined New York Buddhist Vihara, Queens Village, New York to provide his services to the religious community connected to that temple.
Hennbunne Kondañña Thero
PresidentVenerable Babarende Sumedha Thero is the founder of Connecticut Meditation Center Inc. He is a Theravada Buddhist monk, and he was born on April 16th, 1971 in Matara, Southern Province, Sri Lanka. He was ordained as a novice monk on June 28th, 1981, in Anuradhapura when he was 10 years old and he received his full ordination on June 23rd, 1995 in Jayawardenepura.
Babarende Sumedha Thero
Vice President, C.E.O & SecretaryVenerable Akmeemana Nagitha Thero was born on November 9th, 1953, in Akmeemana, Galle, Sri Lanka. He was ordained in 1967 at the Vijayatungarama, Polgahawela which is a Theravada Buddhist Monastery belongs to the Ramanna chapter. He came to United States and joined New York Buddhist Vihara in 1998. Ever since he arrived in New York, he has been serving as a Dhamma teacher and religious event's organizer at NY Buddhist Vihara.
Akmeemana Nagitha Thero
TreasurerVenerable Aluthgama Dhammajothi Thero is a Buddhist monk, born in Sri Lanka in March 1957. He was ordained as a novice monk in 1971 in accordance with the tradition, and practice of Theravada Buddhism in Kollura Sri Walagamba Rajamahaviharaya, Polgahawela, Sri Lanka. In 1993 he was invited to New York Buddhist Viahara to serve as a resident monk Now he does the leading role in the activities of the New York Buddhist Vihara as the vice president.
Aluthgama Dhammajothi Thero
AdvisorVenerable Kurunegoda Dhammaloka Thero was born on August 11th, 1966 in Kegalle district, Sri Lanka. He got his ordination in 1982 and his higher ordination in 1985 from Bhikkhu Training Center, Maharagama, Sri Lanka. He came to New York Buddhist Vihara, Queens Village, NY in 1998 and he was a resident monk there for two years. In 2000 he founded Carolina Buddhist Vihara, Greenville, South Carolina and he is also the founder president of United Sangha Council.
Kurunegoda Dhammaloka Thero
AdvisorVenerable Parambe Siriniwasa Thero is a Theravada Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka. He got his ordination in 1972 and he received his higher ordination in 1980. In recognition of his invaluable Service to the Buddha Sasana, he was conferred with the honorary title of "Justice of Peace" with island-wide jurisdiction by the government of Sri Lanka in 1990. He arrived in New York in 1999 and he has been living as a resident monk in New York Buddhist Vihara.
Parambe Siriniwasa Thero
AdvisorVenerable Aregama Sirisumana was born on February 13th, 1981 in Kegalle Sri Lanka. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk on November 1st 1990 and received his higher ordination on February 2nd 2002. He functioned as a teacher at the Sri Dheerananda Buddhist Institute Kurunegala, Sri Lanka until his departure to U.S. in late 2005
Aregama Sirisumana Thero
AdvisorVenerable Wekandawala Thusitha Thero was born in 1983 in Sri Lanka. He was traditionally ordained as a Buddhist Monk in 1998. He received further training towards Higher Ordination at Midigama Sirisumana and Middeniya Sri Sumangla religious institutions. Rev. Wekandawala Thusitha left Nawa Polonnaru Galviharaya, Dehiwala in Sri Lanka for New York in 2008.