# Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery

The Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery (MBM) is an organisation of Buddhist monasteries of Sri Lankan origin established under the teachings of Gautama Buddha. Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery Network (MBM) is one of the largest Theravada Buddhist Organizations in the world. Its main monastery is in Polgahawela, Sri Lanka.
The MBM maintains nearly 130 branches in all over the world; over 80 branches in Sri Lanka and operates nearly 40 branches overseas in Canada, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Dubai, South Korea, India, Italy, Japan, Germany, and many others. MBM also maintained over 10 Branches of Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery (Headquarters in Dambadeniya, Muthugala Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery). The Mahamevnawa is home to over 1000 Buddhist monks & over 100 Buddhist Nuns.
The founder and chief Buddhist monk in charge of these monasteries is Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero, who is engaged in spreading Buddhism to both local and international communities, and in highlighting the aim of Buddhism: putting an end to Dukkha (suffering) or attaining Nibbana.

## Mahamevnawa Anagarika Monastery

Mahamevnawa monastery for Buddhist Nuns is called Mahamevnawa Anagarika Monastery. Currently, there are more than ten Anagarika Monasteries of Mahamevnawa. About 100 Buddhists Nuns reside and practice Dhamma there.

## Branches of Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery Network
### Sri Lankan branches

Below is a list of local branches.
North Western Province
* Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery headquarters, Polgahawela
* Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Anamaduwa
* Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Ibbagamuwa
* Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Uyandana
* Mahamevnawa Tisarana Sarana Samadhi Buddhist Monastery, Giribawa
* Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Tambakanda
* Pothuhera, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Polpitigama, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Bowatta, Sri Angulimala Maha Stupa Temple
* Maho, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Maspotha, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Dambadeniya, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
Western Province
* Malambe, Mahamevnawa Amawathura Monastery
* Kaduwela, Mahamevnawa Bodhinnana Meditation Monastery-Headquarters of Shraddha Media Network
* Avissavella, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Kochchikade, Mahamevnawa Thisarana Meditation Monastery(Mahamevnawa Buddha Gaya Maha Vihara)
* Kotte, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery (Colombo Dhamma Freinds Buddhist Temple)
* Gampaha, Nedungamuwa Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Bulathsinhala, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Serupita, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Hunumulla, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Horana, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Nittambuwa, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Mavaramandiya, Siri Gautama Buddhist Temple (under the chief incumbent of Polpitimukalane Pangnnasiri Thero)
* Dompe, Palugama, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Bombuwala, Mahamevnawa Gilan Bikkshu Hospital
Southern Province
* Matara, Mahamevnawa Maha Vihara]]
* Galle, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery
* Elpitiya, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monaster(Sri Rahula Maha Stupa Temple)
* Walasmulla, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Suriyawewa, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Hininduma, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Tissamaharamaya, Pannegamuwa, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery
* Beliaatta, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
Central Province
* Kandy, Kundasale, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Madawala Ulpatha in Matale, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Rathota, Mahamevnawa Sariputta Forest Monastery
* Nuwara Eliya, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Moragahakanda, Mahamevnawa Sri Mahasena Forest Monastery
* Laggala, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Pundaluoya, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
Uva Province
* Kataragama, Mahamevnawa Amasisila Meditation Monastery
* Bandarawela, Ella, Sri Satbudhu Maha Se Vihara (Bandarawela Mahamevnawa Bodhigiri Mountain Forest Monastery)
* Bibila, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Buttala, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery
* Mahiyanganaya, Mahamevnawa Sri Maha Sumana Meditation Monastery
* Mariarawa, Mahamevnawa Daharakina-Kanda Forest Monastery
* Mullegama, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Monaragala, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Welimada, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Siyambalanduawa, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
North Central Province
* Anuradhapura, Mahamevnawa Dhammachetiya Buddhist Monastery
* Mihintale, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery
* Galnewa, Sri Ananda Maha Se Vihara
* Polonnaruwa, Mahamevnawa Meditation Hermitage
* Habarana, Mahamevnawa Sri Bodhiraja Forest Monastery
* Kebitigollawa, Mahamevnawa Bhathiyagiri Forest Monastery (Bhatiyagiri Rajamaha Vihara)
* Kahatagasdigiliya, Mahamevnawa Dhammagiri Forest Monastery
* Galennbindunuwewa Mahamevnawa Sadaham Senasuna Monastery
Sabaragamuwa Province
* Eratna, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* Kahawatta, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery
* Balangoda, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery
* Siripagama, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery
* Pinnawala, Mahamevnawa Amadahara Meditation Monastery
* Kukulegama, Mahamevnawa Forest Monastery
Eastern Province
* Ampara, Mahamevnawa Sri Saddhatissa Meditation Monastery
* Kantale, Mahamevnawa Dhammagiri Meditation Monastery
* Seruwila Wilgamwehera Somavathi Raja Maha Vihara ( Sēruwila Wilgamwehera Rajamahā Vihāra)
* Padiyathalawa Mahamevnawa Sadaham Mandiraya - Buddhist Meditation Hall

### International branches

Below is a list of overseas branches.
Canada
* Toronto, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Canada
* Winnipeg, Mahamewnawa Meditation Monastery, Canada
* Saskatoon, Mahamewnawa Meditation Monastery, Canada
* Edmonton, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Canada
* Vancouver, Mahamewnawa Meditation Monastery, Canada
* Acton, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Canada
United States of America
* Washington DC, Mahamevnawa Bhavana Monastery, USA
* New Jersey, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, USA
* California, Mahamewnawa Meditation Monastery, USA
* Florida, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, USA
* New York, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, USA
* Texas, Mahamewnawa Meditation Monastery, USA
* Atlanta, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, USA
Australia and New Zealand
* Adelaide, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Australia
* Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery in Melbourne, Australia
* Mahamevnawa Meditation Hermitage in West Melbourne, Australia
* Melbourne, Mahamevnawa Jetawana Meditation Monastery, Australia
* Perth, Mahamewnawa Meditation Monastery, Australia
* Sydney, Mahamewnawa Meditation Monastery, Australia
* Brisbane, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Australia
* Auckland, Mahamevnawa Meditation Hermitage, New Zealand
Europe
* Basildon, Essex, United Kingdom
* Liverpool / Warrington, United Kingdom
* Stanmore, London, Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, United Kingdom
* Kilshanchoe, Kildare, Ireland
* Paris, France
* Offenbach, Frankurt-am-Main, Germany
* Rozzano, Milan, Italy
* Amsterdam / Utrecht, Netherlands
* Nicosia, Cyprus
* Limassol, Cyprus
Asian region
* Mahamevnawa Buddhgayan Ashram, Bodhgaya, India
* Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery,Nagpur,India
* Ansan, Mahamewnawa Meditation Monastery, South Korea
* Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery in Daegu, South Korea
* Gimhae, Mahamewnawa Meditation Monastery, South Korea
* Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Japan
* Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Dubai

### Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Meditation Monastery branches

Below is a list of Anagarika Asapu branches.
Local branches
* Dambadeniya, Muthugala, Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery (Headquarters of Mahamevnawa Anagarika Monasteries)
* Udupila, Siri Yashodhara Maha Stupa Temple(Udupila, Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery)
* Colombo Buddhist Nuns Monastery
* Warakapola, Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery
* Kimbulapitiya, Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery
* Hakmana, Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery
* Anuradhapura, Mahamevnawa Swarnamali Anagarika Nuns Monastery
* Chilaw, Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery
* Mawatagama, Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery
* Kadugannawa, Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery
* Kuliyapitaiya, Mahamevnawa Anagarika Nuns Monastery
Overseas branches
* Mahamevnawa Buddhist Nuns Monastery, Melbourne,Australia
* Mahamevnawa Buddhist Nuns Monastery, Toronto ,Canada

### Mahamevnawa Buddhist College branches

With the blessings of Venerable Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero, Mahamevnawa Buddhist College was started as a semi-government private school with the aim of giving a good child to the country and the world, amidst the advice and guidance of the Maha Sangha. Mahamevnawa Buddhist College is the first Buddhist school to be established in Sri Lanka after independence.
* Delgoda, Demalagama Mahamevnawa Buddhist College
* Sandalankawa Mahamevnawa Buddhist College
* Welimada Mahamevnawa Buddhist College

## Practicing Dhamma

Mahamevnawa claims to promote the teaching, discussion, and practice of Dhamma in its unaltered form, and that the first step the towards cessation of suffering is knowing the Buddha's teachings. Mahamevnawa also facilitates the practice of meditation for improving concentration and wisdom through cultivating mindfulness (Sati) as a component of the path to Nibbāna. A key point that Mahmevnawa highlights is that the Dhamma not only says that life is suffering, but shows a proven path to the cessation of suffering. Mahamevnawa has been criticized because none of its monks have completed the required Pariven education in Sri Lanka. The founder has bypassed that established tradition to rapidly expand the monk capacity in the monastery.

## Spreading Dhamma

Both lay and clergy associated with Mahamevnawa adhere to this. The way of preaching and teaching Dhamma adopted by the clergy at Mahamevnawa is what Buddha advocated.
Mahamevnawa makes available recorded sermons and Dhamma texts, based on the original teachings of Buddha, that reveal the truth in life and emphasize the urge of cession of suffering. Most of these publications are in Sinhalese, due to the initial Sri Lankan context, but English translations are also available.
To widen its Dhamma Service, Mahamevnawa monastery started a Buddhist television channel named Shraddha TV in 2012. Later Mahamevnawa started a radio channel named Shraddha Radio too.