Bhante Ariyananda Visiting Dhammagiri 02 to 04 April | Ajahn Medhino Visiting 31/03 to 07/04 | One Day Full Moon Retreats 03/04 & 05/04
- Dhammagiri
- Feb 28
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Venerable Angulgamuwa Ariyananda Mahāthera, the abbot of Na Uyana Aranya, the largest forest monastery in Sri Lanka, has kindly accepted our invitation to visit Dhammagiri from 2nd to 4th April.
He will be accompanied by Bhante Pāsādika Thera (abbot of Dhamsuwa Forest Monastery near Melbourne), Bhante Buddhavihārī Thera, and Bhante Jinaratana Thera.
All sessions will be conducted in English.
Thursday 02 April
with Ven Ariyananda Mahāthera
10:00 am
Preparation of food for Almsoffering
10:30 am
Almsoffering
Anumodanā & Blessing
Shared Meal
11:50 am
Dhamma-Talk, Q&A with Bhante Ariyananda
01.00 pm
End of Noon Program
07.00 pm Dhamma Hall Opens for Silent Meditation
07.30 pm Evening Chanting
08.00 pm Dhamma Talk by Bhante Ariyananda Mahāthera
09.00 pm
End of Evening Program
🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝
Good Friday 03 April
One Day Retreat Program with Bhante Ariyananda Mahāthera
08:00 am
Arrival of participants at Dhammahall
Silent Meditation
08.30 am
Morning Chanting
08.50 am
Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem
Observance of 8 or 5 precepts
Guided Meditation with Bhante Ariyananda
10:00 am
Preparation of food for Almsoffering
10:30 am
Almsoffering
Anumodanā & Blessing
Shared Meal
11:50 am
Dhamma-Talk, Q&A
01.00 pm Break / Walking Meditation
01:30 pm
Sutta Chanting
Silent Meditation
03:00 pm
Evening Chanting
Guided / Silent Meditation
Short Dhamma Reflection with Bhante Ariyananda
05.00 pm
End of program
The ceremony at 9.00 am is not just for those observing 8 precepts, as it includes the option of taking only 5 precepts
Please observe Noble Silence out of consideration for yogis meditating all day. In particular, the back verandah is reserved only for those wishing to observe Nobel Silence
It is possible to participate only for parts of the program, but please be seated in the Dhammahall at least 15 minutes before start of sessions.
🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝
Saturday 04 April
with Ven Ariyananda Mahāthera
10:00 am
Preparation of food for Almsoffering
10:30 am
Almsoffering
Anumodanā & Blessing
Shared Meal
11:50 am
Dhamma-Talk, Q&A with Bhante Ariyananda
01.00 pm
End of Program
Ven. Angulgamuwe Ariyananda Mahāthera is the abbot of Na Uyana Forest Monastery, the largest Forest Monastey in Sri Lanka, and the leading monastery of the Sri Kalyāṇi Samstava. Bhante has been a monk for 33 years. He has visited Dhammagiri once before in November/December 2010, giving special blessings to our newly arrived main Buddha statue. This visit was actually the first time Bhante Ariyananda gave formal teachings in English ourside of Sri Lanka.
Bhante Ariyananda and Ajahn Dhammasiha have known each other for 31 years. Bhante has been a true Kalyāna Mitta to Ajahn Dhammasiha during his arrival at Nissaraṇa Vana: preparing him for ordination, helping him with his visa, teaching him some Sinhala, and introducing him to his Upajjhāya, Most Venerable Kadawedduwe Jinavaṃsa Mahāthera.
Bhante Ariyananda will be accompanied by:
Bhante Ihalagokaralla Pāsādika Thera, the founding abbot of Dhamsuwa Forest Monastery near Melbourne. Bhante has Pāsādika has been a monk for 18 years, ordained in the Sri Kalāni Forest Tradition like Ajahn Dhammasīha. He had lived and worked in the Netherlands for a few years back in lay life.
Bhante Devanagala Buddhavihārī Thera, 20 vassa, also resident at Dhamsuwa and ordained in Sri Kalyani forest tradition.
Bhante Jinaratana Thera, a Canadian monk of 14 vassa, who has visited and lived at Dhammagiri repeatedly. He even spend the whole rains retreat in 2010 with us, when he was still a lay man.
Ajahn Medhino at Dhammagiri 31/03 to 07/04
Venerable Ajahn Medhino has been ordained as a bhikkhu for 33 years. Originally from the Netherlands, he ordained at Wat Pah Nanachat, but has lived the last 12 years in Sri Lanka, where he has established a hermitage in the Eastern part of Sri Lanka, at Udakiruwa Forest, located roughly between Bibile and Monaragala. Ajahn plans to develop the hermitage into a full fledged monastery that will be called Mahāvana Aranya Senasanaya / Wat Pa Mahavana.
Ajahn Medhino speaks fluent English, Sinhala and Thai (and Dutch, of course 😉).
He has kindly agreed to our invitation to visit Dhammagiri from 31 March to 07 April 2026 (exact details TBC), including leading a One Day Retreat on Easter Sunday 05 April.
Tuesday 31 March
Ajahn Medhino at Dhammagiri
10:00 am
Preparation of food for Almsoffering
10:30 am
Almsoffering
Anumodanā & Blessing
Shared Meal
11:50 am
Dhamma-Talk / Q&A with Ajahn Medhino
01.00 pm
End of Noon Program
Wednesday 01 April
Ajahn Medhino at Dhammagiri
10:00 am
Preparation of food for Almsoffering
10:30 am
Almsoffering
Anumodanā & Blessing
Shared Meal
11:50 am
Dhamma-Talk / Q&A with Ajahn Medhino
01.00 pm
End of Program
For the program from Thursday 2nd to Saturday 4th April, please refer to schedule of Venerable Ariyananada Mahāthera above.
Bhante Ariyananada will lead the teachings on these days
🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝
One Day Retreat Program with Ajahn Medhino
05 April Easter Sunday at Dhammagiri
08:30 am
Arrival of participants at Dhammahall
Silent Meditation
09:00 am
Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem
Observance of 8 or 5 precepts
Guided Meditation
10:00 am
Preparation of food for Almsoffering
10:30 am
Almsoffering
Anumodanā & Blessing
Shared Meal
11:50 am
Dhamma-Talk, Q&A with Ajahn Medhino
01.00 pm Break / Walking Meditation
01:30 pm
Sutta Chanting
Silent Meditation
03:00 pm
Evening Chanting
Guided / Silent Meditation
Short Dhamma Reflection with Ajahn Medhino
05.00 pm
End of program
The ceremony at 9.00 am is not just for those observing 8 precepts, as it includes the option of taking only 5 precepts
Please observe Noble Silence out of consideration for yogis meditating all day. In particular, the back verandah is reserved only for those wishing to observe Nobel Silence
It is possible to participate only for parts of the program, but please be seated in the Dhammahall at least 15 minutes before start of sessions.
🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝
"When, o monks, the Uposatha observance is complete in 8 factors,
it is of great fruit and great benefit, luminous and pervasive."
The Buddha in Anguttara Nikaya 8:41
Monday 06 April
Ajahn Medhino at Dhammagiri
10:00 am
Preparation of food for Almsoffering
10:30 am
Almsoffering
Anumodanā & Blessing
Shared Meal
11:50 am
Dhamma-Talk, Q&A with Ajahn Medhino
01.00 pm
End of Program
Tuesday 07 April
Dana at New Farm Park Rotunda
with Ajahn Medhino
10:00 am
Preparation of food for Almsoffering
10:30 am
Almsoffering
Anumodanā & Blessing
Shared Meal
Informal Meet Up with Monks in Rotunda after Meal
12:30 pm
End of Program Ajahn Medhino leaving for Airport,
Flight to Melbourne QF 627
Departure BNE 2.20 pm, Arrival MEL 4.50 pm
Please Note:
No monks at Dhammagiri, No Almsoffering on Tue 07 April!
We will publish any updates of our program with Ajahn Medhino as they become available closer to the date of his visit.
Ajahn Medhino with Visiting Monks and Lay Devotees at his Hermitage in Sri Lanka, Kaṭhina 2025
