First Overseas Centre

We are pleased to inform you that the Toronto Chapter became the first overseas centre of the Mahamevnawa Monastery which has 35 such centers presently functioning in Sri Lanka, with the main Monastery located at Polgahawela, Sri Lanka. Our chapter was formally inaugurated on Esala Poya Day, July 8, 2006 with the participation of most Venerable Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero who heads the Mahamevna order of Bhikkus.

The birth of Buddha is indeed a very rare and great occurrence. Such an occurrence took place tow thousand five hundred and ninety six years ago with the birth of Gautama Buddha. Gautama Buddha understood and taught the Buddha’s doctrine to the world. Having heard and understood this doctrine devas and humans were able to escape the dukka (suffering) of this sansara (cycle of birth and death). 

The world at the time of the Buddha was also an age of Arahants. Following Gautama Buddha’s Parinibbana (final passing away), the Arahants held the first Dhamma Sanghayanawa (a Council of 500 hundred elders, all of whom were Arahants) to preserve the Dhamma, for the benefit of gods and humans. With the passing of time, the existence of Arahants began to diminish. As the number of Arahants wavered, the knowledge of the essence of Buddha Dhamma also began diminish. At a time in which the purity of Buddha’s Dhamma was rarely heard, a great monk, our most Venerable Kiribathagoda Gnanananda Thero, appeared in our world.

Venerable Gnanananda Thero worked tirelessly to find the core Teachings of the Buddha and has since strived to teach people the Dhamma, directly from the Suttas, simply and clearly. Venerable Gnanananda Thero’s wish is to help people follow the Path that leads to ultimate happiness. Venerable Gnanananda Thero started the Mahamevnawa Bhavana Asapuwa in Polgahawela eight years ago. Preaching Buddha’s words with clarity and insight, Thero’s sermons spread all over Sri Lank and now there are more than thirty five Asapuwas all over Sri Lanka. More than three hundred and fifty young monks have been ordained. These young monks are now on the Path, trying to escape the suffering that this sansara holds. More than one million people have now realized that real happiness is attainable and are also treading the Path.

Through this propagation of Dhamma, the community in Toronto, ON (Canada) started a branch of the Mahamevnawa in July of 2006. This branch is the first chapter to be established outside of Sri Lanka. Since its’ opening, the Asapuwa has drawn a large number of lay devotees that benefit from the sermons, meditation sessions and are able to offer Dhane to the monks, These devotees are on the Path of morality, concentration and wisdom and it is the association of the Asapuwa monks that have supported the development of these qualities.

“Upasthana Committee” Mahamevnawa Monastery 1175 Kennedy Road Markham, ON L6C 1P2 Canada Tel: