Our home in Sri Lanka

The majority of monasteries and monastics in Mahamevnawa are located in Sri Lanka. As a Buddhist country still filled with forests and jungles, Sri Lanka allows monks to live in seclusion near laypeople who provide the necessities of food, clothing, shelter, and medicine.

The monastic centers are diverse, some close to cities, some deep in the forest. Some are large, and some are small. Every six months, the monks gather at the main monastery in Polgahawela and are assigned a new monastery to live in.

We have over sixty monasteries in Sri Lanka.

Headquarters in Polgahawela.

Our main monastery is outside the town of Polgahawela. This is where monks’ training begins. The monastic quarters are geographically separated from the public areas, creating a peaceful environment for meditation.

Continuing a Heritage of Spiritual Art.

Even a brief look at the Mahamevnawa monasteries in Sri Lanka reveals deep ties to the long heritage of spiritual art in Buddhism. Being surrounded by images that represent the profound goals of the Buddha’s path helps remind the viewer of the reality of the Buddha’s enlightenment.

Spiritual Community.

Fulfilling the Buddha’s wish that all of his disciples—monks, nuns, lay men, and lay women—be able to proclaim the pure Dhamma, we provide the opportunity for everyone to come together to learn the Dhamma.

Monuments of Faith.

To protect the sacred bone and hair relics entrusted to our monasteries, we have built many stupas that serve as focal points for reflection on the qualities of the Buddha’s enlightenment.