New York Buddhist Vihara

About us

The Theravada Buddhist population of New York had, for a long time, experienced a pressing lack of a suitable place that could cater to their religious needs and serve them in the way of a Vihara. The need remained all but a dream until a few enthusiastic Buddhist monks inspired by Ven. Galboda Gnaissara Thero formed the American-Sri Lanka Buddhist Association with a view to launching a drive to make it a reality. Initially an interim Vihara opened in a small apartment in Flushing, New York in December 1980.

After the arrival in January 1981 of Ven. Kurunegoda Piyatissa Maha Thero, who was invited from the London Buddhist Vihara for the specific purpose of propagating Dhamma activities in New York, a Vihara was set up in another location in Flushing, Queens. It remained there until January 1986 when it was moved to 84-32 124th St., Kew Gardens. In July 2000 the Vihara moved to its present, permanent location at 214-22 Spencer Avenue, Parkside Hills, New York.

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Who We Are

(The founder of New York Budhist Vihara Foundation and the first President)
Ven. Piyatissa Maha Thero, was the founder and the former chief incumbent of New York Buddhist Vihara Foundation. He was born in 1928. He got ordained in 1941 and he received his higher ordination in 1950. After obtaining his Royal Pundit degree followed with a bachelor's and a master's degree, he served as a teacher at the Central College, Polgahawela and Ananda College, Colombo, Sri Lanka for several years before proceeding to the United Kingdom on Buddhist missionary work in 1972. He came to New York in 1981, being appointed as the President of the American-Sri Lanka Buddhist Association, Inc. In addition, He became the founder and President of New York Buddhist Council, President of Sri Lanka Sangha Council, Vice president of the World Sangha Council of North America, Executive Committee Member of the World Conference on Religion and Peace and a Faculty Member of the New School University in Manhattan, New York City. He has authored several books in Sinhala and in English. He passed away on October 11, 2019 at the age of ninety two years.

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Most Venerable Aluthgama Dhammajothi Thero is a Buddhist monk. He was born in Sri Lanka in March 1957 and 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. He received his higher ordination from Asgiriya Chapter in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
He got his primary religious education and disciplinary training in Denagamuwa Pirivena, a Buddhist religious school in Polgahawela, and his secondary religious education in Chandrasela Pirivena, Potuhera, Sri Lanka. He entered to the University of Colombo in1981 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. Further, he received a Diploma in Education in 1992. He has worked as a teacher and also as a High School principle in Sri Lanka for many years. In 1993, he was invited to New York Buddhist Viahara to serve as a resident monk. Since then, he has been doing many religious activities while giving leadership to many events of the New York Buddhist Vihara. At present, he is the chief incumbent priest of the New York Buddhist Vihara and President of New York Buddhist Vihara Foundation.

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Ordained in 1972, he received his higher ordination in 1980. After attending the Monastic Institute (pirivena) for higher Dhamma studies, he served as the chief Incumbent of Kadurugoda Purana Vihara in Sri Lanka. 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.

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Born in Akmeemana in Galle Sri Lanka, he was ordained in 1967 at the Vijayatungarama, Polgahawela He possesses a Bachelor's degree from Peradeniya University, Sri Lanka, and for fifteen years has served as a teacher . He arrived in New York in 1998.

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Ven. 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. Having received his primary and secondary education at Sri Dharmachandra Buddhist Institute (Pirivena), Kurunegala, Sri Lanka he entered the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2004. Ever since, he functioned as a teacher at the Sri Dheerananda Buddhist Institute Kurunegala, Sri Lanka until his departure to U.S. in late 2005.

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Ven. Wekandawala Thusitha was born in 1983. 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. He continued his Higher education at the Papiliyana Sunetra Mahadevi Collage. In 2003 after completing successfully the required proficiency he received his Higher Ordination under the guidance of Ven. Gammeddegoda Kusalagnana. He attended the Kelaniya University of Sri Lanka in 2004 and received a B.A. (hons.) in Buddhism and Pali Language in 2008. Rev. Wekandawala Thusitha left Nawa Polonnaru Galviharaya, Dehiwala in Sri Lanka for New York in 2008.

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