Abbott President
Deputy Abbott & Joint Secretary
Joint Secretary & Principle of Sunday School
The late Ven. Dr. H. Ratanasara Nayaka Maha Thera (Patron/Director)
Ven. Dr. Walpola Piyananda Nayaka Maha Thera (Abbot & President)
The late Ven. Pandith L. Sumedhananda Nayaka Maha Thera
Ven. Dr. Pannila Ananda Maha Thera (Secretary)
Ven. Madawala Seelawimala Maha Thera
The late Sidney Attygalla,
Victor Austin, M.D.
Himasiri De Silva, M.D.
Keerthi De Silva, M.D.
Roland Dharmasooriya, M.D.
Gamini Jayasinghe, M.D.
Asoka Jayasinghe, M.D.
T. Jeyaranjan, M.D.
Nalin Nanayakkara, M.D.
Amare Weerakkody
Stanley Wijesekara, M.D.
Ven. Dr. Walpola Piyananda Nayaka Maha Thera (Abbot & President)
Ven. Madawala Seelawimala Maha Thera
Ven. Bambarawane Kalyanawansa Thera (Secretary)
Ven. Kalabululande Dhammajothi Thera (Secretary)
Ven. Dr. Pitakotte Seelaratana Thera
Ananda Amarawansa
Mallika Attygalla, M.D.
Victor Austin, M.D.
Victor Coronado, M.D.
Himasiri De Silva, M.D.
Keerthi De Silva, M.D.
Chandra Dissanayake, M.D.
Geethika Gunapala
Cyril Gunaratne
Jaliya Gunawardana
Kirula Hettigoda
Gamini Jayasinghe, M.D.
Asoka Jayasinghe, M.D.
T. Jeyaranjan, M.D.
Ana Kadin
Tissa Karunasiri
Stan Levinson
Devan Nanayakkara
Nalin Nanayakkara, M.D.
Anurudha Perera
Sanji M. Perera
Shyamalie Perera
Indrani Rajapaksa
Sunil Semasinghe
Niranjala Tillakaratne, Ph.D.
Ranjith Bandara Udagedara
Bimsara Vitanachchi
Amare Weerakkody
Ramani Weerasinghe
Indralal Wickramarachchi
Stanley Wijesekara, M.D.
Nalini Wijesinghe
Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara was founded on April 20, 1980. The main support for the Vihara came from a group of Sri Lankan Buddhists. Since its inception, the Vihara has been maintained by Sri Lankan, other Asian and Western Buddhists, plus non-Buddhist friends of diverse national and cultural backgrounds. Local American and Asian communities continue to support the Vihara. Venerable monks from Sri Lanka conduct the day-to-day activities and render guidance for those seeking the services of the Vihara.
Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara promotes the Theravada tradition of Buddhism found primarily in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. The Theravada tradition is the oldest and most authentic version of the Buddha's teachings now surviving. It preserves intact the original doctrines and practices taught by the Buddha 2600 years ago.
The Vihara conducts public lectures to impart basic knowledge of the Buddha teachings embodied in the Tripitaka texts. These texts are widely referred to as the "Pali Canon" because they are in Pali, an ancient Indian language that was spoken by the Buddha. Weekly evening classes are held at the Vihara for study and discussion of fundamental theory and practice of Theravada Buddhism. These classes are open to those who seek either an overview or an in-depth knowledge of Buddhism. Current schedules are available at the Vihara.
On Tuesdays and Fridays, 7 to 8 p.m., instruction in meditation is given to beginners as well as those more experienced. Meditation is followed by a Dhamma talk based upon the teachings of the Buddha. From time to time, weekend intensive retreats are organized. On the first Sunday of each month, a one-day retreat is held form 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. People of any tradition or background are invited to attend. Traditionally meditation was a tool used for spiritual development, but today it is also utilized to help people attain better health, insight and creativity. There are many different styles of meditation that have developed in specific cultural environments. The Buddha gave his followers many different suggestions to help them cultivate their mind in order to achieve the ultimate goal of Nubbana. Three such instructions are: Mindfulness of breathing (Anapanasti), Insight (Vipassana) and Loving Kindness Meditation.
Dharma Vijaya has a program whereby lay people can be initiated with titles reflecting their level of commitment to learning and practicing Buddhism. The first level is Upasika; the second is Dhammacari; and the third is Bodhicari, which is the equivalent of a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist minister.
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In Southeast Asia the bhikkhuni order had died out in ancient times, and Ven, Piyananda has been working very hard to get it re-established. As early as 1919 he tried to arrange for some Sri Lankan Dasasitmata to train for full ordination. Finally in 1986 an ordination of a samaneri (novice nun) was held at Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihata. For the first time after eleven hundred years, 10 Theravada bhikkhunis were ordained in Saranath, India in 1996 by Sri Lankan monks who were joined by Korean monks and nuns. The ordination was organized by the General Secretary of the Maha Bodlhi Society, the late Ven. Mapalagama Wipulasara Matra Thera and Ven. Walpola Piyananda Maha Thera. Since then, Dharma Vijaya has held ordinations of both samaneris (novices) and bhikkhunis here in Los Angeles.
