Venerable Chandananda

Arriving this Summer at the Samatha-Vipassana Meditation Centre, a young monk from Sri Lanka, Venerable Matthumangala Chandananda, is currently fulfilling an invitation from the Alberta Buddhist Vihara Association. Ven Chandananda accompanied by Acting Abbot Venerable Medhankara are spending the rains retreat (Vassana) at the Centre.

Venerable Chandananda was ordained as a Buddhist monk at the age of 31 by his teacher Kirioruwe Dhammananda at the Pokunuwita Sri Vinayalankaramaya in Horana, Kalutara District, Sri Lanka. In his lay life, prior to becoming a monk, he received training as a marine engineer. In this capacity he travelled the world in a commercial ship and even visited Montreal, but his deep interest in meditation drew him back to Sri Lanka and eventually to his decision to become a Buddhist monk. Since then, he graduated with a BA and MA degree in Buddhist philosophy, Pali and Buddhist culture from the Buddhist and Pali University in Sri Lanka. He is by nature reflective, and has great interest in meditation and exploration of Buddha’s teachings. Ven. Chandananda is proficient in both languages, and delivers sermons in English and Sinhala.

His desire to serve the laity has motivated him to obtain a diploma in Psychology and Counseling, which have enabled a deeper understanding of human problems and spiritual solutions. Along with his Dhamma teacher, Venerable Kukulpane Sudassi in Sri Lanka, he has engaged in a number of projects promoting humanity and confidence through the application of blessings based on chanting pirith suttas and performing satya-kriya to ward off calamities and a myriad of human sufferings.