About the Irish Sangha Trust

VISION AND MISSION

The Irish Sangha Trust is a registered charity (CHY No. 20123), established in 2011 to support and foster teaching and meditation in the Theravadan Buddhist tradition in Ireland. The Irish Sangha Trust is non-profit Buddhist organization, entirely dependent on the generosity of the public for voluntary donations.

We host regular meditation workshops and retreats led by renowned Buddhist teachers from different parts of the world. We also hold regular meditation sittings called "Friends on the Path", where you can practice with like-minded spiritual friends and share your meditation and Dhamma practice experience within our community.

Support can be vital in establishing an effective and consistent practice, especially in the early stages. Meditating on a regular basis can help you to lead a more productive, meaningful and satisfying life. The wisdom and peace of mind that develops through practice can bring happiness that eclipses all others.

For more information, please contact us at info@irishsanghatrust.ie

Our Teachers

Ven U Dhammajiva

Venerable Uda Eriyagama Dhammajiva has practised as a meditation master for over a decade and is meditation teacher and Abbot of Meetirigala Nissarana Vanaya, a monastery in the strict forest tradition in Sri Lanka. He trained under Ven. Matara Sri Gnanarama Mahathera (Sri Lanka) and Sayadaw U. Panditabhivamsa (Burma). The internationally famous Buddhist nun Ayya Khema received her Samatha training from Ven. Nanarama at the Nissarana Vanaya monsatery. The current incumbent Chief meditation teacher Venerable Uda-Iriyagama Dhammajeewa Thera has travelled extensively to Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Singapore, Burma, United States, Germany and Canada and has taught in English and Sinhala, the practical path to Nibbana, for those seeking to achieve an end in this very life to the apparently endless, inescapable, and intrinsic suffering, that we daily endure and call life. He has taught at centres related to Ven. Bhikku Bodhi, Ven. Ajahn Brahmavanso and Ven. Henapola Gunaratna. His sermons are available at this site. Under his guidance a residential meditation centre with modern amenities was constructed adjacent to the monastery with facilities for 50 laymen and laywomen to practice Samatha and Vipassana meditation in accordance with the Theravada tradition. The programs are free but have to be booked early and the details of programs and the booking procedure is available at this web site. 

Ven. Ajahn Ariyasilo :

Ajahn Ariyasilo was born in England and migrated to Australia in 1974. He became interested in Buddhism in 1975 and lived at Wat Buddha Dhamma in 1980 for few years. From there, he moved to Perth to help with the construction of Bodhinyana Monastery and took higher ordination under Ajahn Jagaro in 1986, making him the first to be ordained at Bodhinyana Monastery. He went to stay in New Zealand for three and half years with Ajahn Viradhammo before he took up residence at Amaravati Monastery in England under Ajahn Sumedho. He has mostly been influenced by Ajahn Sumedho's teachings at Amaravati monastery in UK. He stayed there till 2005 with a short visit to Australia in the late 1990s. He has also spent short periods at various other small monasteries.

Ven. Ajahn Dhammanando:

Ajahn Dhammanando grew up in Carshalton, Surrey, a fairly typical suburb of South London. He attended Mitcham Grammar school and went on to study English and History at Keele University in Staffordshire at a time when the curriculum there was broad and multi-disciplinary. He was aware of certain deep questions, barely articulated, on the inside, however he did not pursue a spiritual quest to find answers as the religions which he encountered in the UK appeared to him only marginally relevant. It was after graduation on going to Thailand as a volunteer teacher for VSO that he found some initial signposts, although at that time he had almost no understanding of Buddhism. In 1985 he took a year off work in order to spend time as an Anagārika in Amaravati and Chithurst monasteries. Four and a half years ensued during which he studied for an MA at Essex University, among other things. The realisation gradually dawned that Going Forth was what he really needed to do and that his more worldly interests were of lesser importance. In 1991 he returned to Amaravati to re-ordain as an Anagārika.

In July 1993 he took Upasampada with Luang Por Sumedho at Chithurst and trained initially with Ajahn Sucitto as his Acariya. Between 1997 and 2004 he went on to train in Switzerland, then Italy, followed by a return to Amaravati and then to Chithurst again before going overseas to Australia and New Zealand, spending time in different monasteries in Australia before living two years at Bodhinyanarama in Wellington.

He returned to the UK in May 2007 to be nearer his parents and, ever since then, he has been resident at Amaravati but has also made occasional trips abroad to teach in France, Slovenia and Hungary. Currently he makes regular teaching visits to a local prison in Bovingdon and assists in receiving school groups at the monastery.

Ven. Bhante Punnaratana:

Bhante Punnaratana comes from Sri Lanka and has lived in Germany since 1996. Bhante came from a nine-member family of farmers. At age 11 he was, at his own request, brought to the temple by his parents, to become a monk. There he became a student of Venerable Maha Thera Rathmale Gunaratana, where he was educated for three years and received Dharma instruction. At 14 he was ordained as a novice. He attended various training schools in Sri Lanka. The most important teacher in his career was the Venerable Maha Thera Gunaratana. During this time  Bhante started a widespread humanitarian organization to help children in Sri Lanka. He raised the money to expand the temple, taught and trained the children in Buddhist practice and urged them to perform social tasks. At the same time he began to study for a BA (Bachelor of Arts) at the University of Kelaniya. Then he took a teaching position at the Jayamaga Pirivena in Hingurakgoda. He continued his studies and graduated with an MA (Master of Arts)
 
Bhante currently trains monks and nuns at the pagoda in Pali, and at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. He also worked as a lecturer in Sinhala. He has taught Buddhist philosophy and religion in the context of the Buddhist University.

Ven Amaranatho

Venerable Amaranatho was born in England and brought up in the Jewish faith, but in his late teens had severe doubts about the faith and left all religion behind to work within the computer industry. After time spent travelling the world and learning about meditation he took the decision to become a monk in 2000 and resided and trained at Amaravati Monastery near Hemel Hempstead for eleven years. He know lives as a alms mendicant/

He leads residential family, young people and creative retreats for adults at the retreat center at Amaravati (www.family.amaravati.org ), in Ireland, Malaysia, Bali, Australia. These events are based on co-exploration, creativity, fun and a willingness to honestly look at oneself. The main emphasis is on a contemplative or reflective attitude towards understanding who we are. This is based on accepting or welcoming the way life is and allowing our natural wisdom to arise. He recently started to run Jewish Buddhist meditation retreats in London, Gardening retreats at ( www.oakcroft.org.uk ) and mens retreats.

Amaranatho has also trained in Source Process Breathwork, where the breath is used for healing life-limiting decisions made since we took our first inhalation (http://binnieadansby.com/and http://www.fatherstobe.org/). He is also deeply influenced by Ken Wilber's integral approach and shadow work.His teachings are based on accepting and welcoming the way life is and allowing our natural wisdom to arise.

You can find more information about his practice and influence here

Sr. Ajahn Metta:

Ajahn Metta was born 1953 in Germany and has been a Siladhara (nun) in the Theravada tradition for 18 years. She lives at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in England, which is part of the Thai Forest Sangha of Ajahn Chah. She is one of the senior nuns leading the nuns community and has been teaching in Europe and the US for several years.

 

Sr. Yasavati Sayalay:

Sister Yasavati Sayalay was ordained in Pa Auk Tawya Meditation Center, Myanmar in 2004, under the 3rd Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, U Acinna, as ten precepts nun. Sis. Yasavati is currently based in Germany and will remain in Europe for the next two years, learning and sharing the Dhamma.

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