Venerable Medhankara

Venerable Galkulame Medhankara is the acting Abbot at the Samatha Vipassana Meditation Centre in Edmonton. Venerable Medhankara brings his training as a monk in Sri Lanka and his special ability to make friends, with people from all walks of life, to welcome everyone visiting the Centre.

He spent his childhood in the village of Galkulama, his birthplace, within the precincts of the town of Anamaduwa in Puttalam district, north western Sri Lanka. He was ordained in April 1985, at the age of 11 years, at the Keragala Pathmawathie Piriwena, of historical significance dating back to the Kotte Era. His primary monastic education was guided by the venerables Keragala Wimalaratana and Keragala Wimalananda. Full ordination took place in May 2003.

In 2001, he earned a B.A. degree in Pali, Buddhist civilization, and Sinhalese language. This was followed by an M.A. degree in Pali and Buddhist studies in 2002. Both degrees were conferred by the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. Having served as a school teacher for four years, venerable Medhankara spent a year at the Sri Saddhathissa International Buddhist Centre in Kingsbury, England, before arriving in Edmonton in June 2006.

In his role as acting Abbot, since August 2010, venerable Medhankara guides the Centre services: meditation programs, daily puja, chanting and sermons, funeral rites, the annual Vesak ceremonies and the Children's Dhamma School. In addition, he contributes Dhamma talks to the web broadcast Global Sinhala Dhamma Discussion Series (Dhamma Conference). Venerable Medhankara provides services in both Sinhalese and in English. Since his arrival in Edmonton, he has formed a network of connections with other Buddhist monasteries in Edmonton, which include Laotian, Cambodian, Tibetan and Vietnamese congregations. He spends his private time in meditation, reading and attending an English class at the University of Alberta, and spending time with a retired professor on the subject of psychology and emotional intelligence.

Where ever he goes, venerable Medhankara's enthusiastic advice to lay people is, "practice metta - loving kindness." True to his advice, his easygoing, gentle nature, patience and compassion are evident in his interactions with both first time and regular visitors who come to the Centre for spiritual nourishment.