Theravadan Websites
Readings in Theravada Buddhism: This is a fairly large and complex website, containing hundreds of books, articles, sutta translations, and much more.
The Samatha Trust was founded in 1973. Its principal aim is to keep alive the Buddha’s teaching through providing opportunities for people to learn and practise Samatha, a traditional form of Buddhist meditation based of mindfulness of breathing. In actual fact, the form of meditation practiced is Samatha-Vipassana, developing Samatha (calm), as a basis for Vipassana (insight). This site provides information about local Samatha mediation groups throughout the United Kingdom, and also events run by the Trust.
A Buddhist page by Binh Anson. There are about 400 articles on Theravada Buddhism in English and also Vietnamese articles. This site is hosted by BuddhaNet.
The Bhavana Society Web is the site for information about our Forest Monastery and Retreat Center. You’ll also find Dhamma articles by our teacher Bhante Rahula and our abbot, Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, author of Mindfulness in Plain English and The Path of Serenity and Insight. BSW will be growing to include a wide variety of Buddha Dhamma from the Theravada Perspective.
Bodhinyanarama is a monastic residence of the Theravada tradition of Buddhism 29 kms from Wellington, New Zealand. It has its origins in the Thai Forest Tradition and is associated with the many branch monasteries of the highly revered and respected meditation master Ajahn Chah. This Web Site contains information on what is going on at Bodhinyanarama.
The London Buddhist Vihara is a leading centre for Theravada Buddhism. Formed in 1926 by Anagarika Dharmapala, the Vihara was the first Buddhist monastery to be established outside the continent of Asia. It has continued its missionary activities with resident bhikkhus (monks) from Sri Lanka throughout this period, with the exception of the 1940s due to World War II. The Vihara moved to Chiswick during 1964 when the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust of Sri Lanka purchased the freehold property at Heathfield Gardens. In 1994 the Vihara moved to new spacious premises in The Avenue, Chiswick.
A Buddhist community in the tradition of Ajahn Chah, Ajahn Sumedho and Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro are co-abbots of the Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, north of San Francisco, in Redwood Valley (Mendocino County), California. Abhayagiri is a monastery in the Theravadin forest tradition.
Amaravati is a monastery in the Theravada tradition of Buddhism and a centre of teaching and practice. Its heart is a resident community of monks and nuns, whose life of meditation and work is open for visitors to share, as a living example of the Buddhist path.
Dhammaduta: The Theravada Bhikkhu Sangha.
The purpose of this web-page is to document the continuing drama, as Bhikkhus of the Theravada lineage continue this mission of bringing the Dhamma to new lands. Although the efforts of the bhikkhunis (and in this day, the mae-chis, siladharas, anagarinis, etc.) as well as the laity are recognised in the spread of Buddhism, this site focuses on the Bhikkhu Sangha as it represents the most visible flag-bearer of Theravada Buddhism.
Located in Wiltshire, UK, the Aukana Trust runs a meditation centre (the House of Inner Tranquillity) and two monasteries. They also publish several books on Buddhism.
The Buddhist Publication Society (BPS), founded in Sri Lanka in 1958, is dedicated to making known the teaching of the Buddha. BPS publications represent the standpoint of Theravada Buddhism, the oldest living Buddhist tradition of which the Pali Canon gives the most authentic account of what the historical Buddha himself actually taught. In a span of nearly five decades the BPS has become a major Buddhist publisher with hundreds of titles and a field of distribution extending to ninety countries.
This was the seat of Buddhist Education in the 19th century (under British rule) in Sri Lanka . It is the birth place of two National Universities, namely Vidyodaya (Sri Jayawardhanapura) and Vidyalankara (Kelaniya). The founder of Parama Dhamma Cetiya Pirivena was Ven. Walane Sri Siddhartha Maha Thera (1811-1868). This Pirivena (school for novice monks) was established in 1841. It was started with a small humble Kuti (hut). Little by little this Institute gained faith and fame from this country and abroad. It is because of its well organized system of oriental and occidental education that it became popular as a center of learning. Today it is a well recognized International Buddhist Educational centre for monks in Sri Lanka. The Meditation Institute which is in the same premises is well known locally and internationally. The institution is currently directed by Ven. Dr. Mapalagama Wipulasara Maha Thera.
Culasunnatta Sutta – The Quintessence of Buddhism or Seven Steps to Nirvana. The Sutta (121). An excerpt from ‘A Treasury of the Buddha’s Words’, translated by Ven. Nyanamoli, Thera.
The entire Pali Tipitaka as well as other Buddhist texts have been put on CD-ROM by the Mahidol University in Thailand and its the BUDSIR project.
The Centre for Buddhist Studies at the University of Bristol was created in 1993 within the Department of Theology and Religious Studies as the first Centre for Buddhist Studies in the UK. At undergraduate level the Centre’s staff contribute to the undergraduate BA programme in Theology and Religious Studies; at graduate level they offer a taught MA in Buddhist Studies and supervision of research leading to MPhil and MLitt/PhD.
The Insight Meditation Society was founded in 1975 as a nonprofit organization to provide a place for the intensive practice of insight meditation. IMS operates a retreat center set on 80 wooded acres in the quiet country of central Massachusetts. It provides a secluded environment for intensive meditation practice.
New York Insight is a non-residential meditation center that provides insight meditation retreats, courses, workshops and other programs to people in the New York City area. Beginning and experienced meditators are welcome. NYI is a not-for-profit organization.
Mid America Dharma offers insight meditation to the central region of the USA. The web site offers information on: local meditation groups in the area between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountain ranges; Mid America Dharma retreats and retreats of most other insight meditation groups throughout the USA; and links to other insight meditation sites throughout the world.
A Centre for Meditation, Enquiry and Compassion. Gaia House offers Insight Meditation (known as Vipassana in the Buddhist tradition) and Zen Retreats throughout the year. The Centre provides comprehensive Dharma teachings and spiritual practices to realize wisdom and compassion in daily life. The Centre is not tied to any religion. The teachings explore depths of awareness and the discovery of an enlightened life.
Dedicated to an in-depth study of the Satipatthana and Anapanasati Suttas in the Theravada tradition. Also hosts the North Jersey Mindfulness Community Web site.
Insight Meditation (Christopher Titmuss)
Dharma teachings and insight meditation practices, known as Vipassana in the Buddhist Tradition, have a single purpose. They point to an enlightened life. To explore these teachings, participation in an insight meditation retreat is strongly recommended or direct instruction from an insight meditation teacher. May the teachings, meditations, reflections and information contained prove beneficial to all visitors. These teachings are not intended to represent any religious tradition or retreat centre.
The Seattle Insight Meditation Society (SIMS) is a non-profit organization devoted to offering the Buddha’s teachings on insight and awareness to all those who seek them. SIMS offers classes in insight meditation and retreats.
The home page of the North American organization which offers courses in Vipassana Meditation in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Kin as taught by S.N.Goenka and his assistant teachers. There are numerous Centers in India and Southern Asia; six Centers in North America; seven Centers in Europe; seven Centers in Australia/New Zealand; and one Center in Japan. Each Center maintains its own schedule of regular ten day Vipassana courses.
There are five International Meditation Centres in the Sayagyi U Ba Khin Tradition: in England, in the U.S.A., in Austria and two in Australia. Ten day retreats where anapana and vipassana meditation are taught are held at all of these Centres regularly. They are direct offspring of the International Meditation Centre of Yangon, Myanmar, which was founded by Sayagyi U Ba Khin. The five Centres in the West are guided by Mother Sayamagyi, Sayagyi U Ba Khin’s closest disciple. She has practised and taught meditation for more than fifty years, carrying on the tradition since Sayagyi U Ba Khin’s demise in 1971.
The Forest Sangha is a world-wide Buddhist community in the Thai Forest tradition of Ajahn Chah. The newsletter contains news, views, articles, transcribed talks,poems, tutorials, contact addresses, forthcoming events, retreat schedules,etc.
In this section, short extracts of Dhamma books of Luang Por Chah’s teaching and some complete books of teachings from Luang Luang Por Sumedho and other teachers will be posted. Luang Por Chah’s teachings will come from various sources; extracts from books, Dhamma talks and interviews.
Wat Pah Santidhamma or The Forest Hermitage is a small, peaceful Buddhist monastery after the style of the forest monasteries of N.E. Thailand but set in the heart of England. Apart from its function as a Buddhist monastery and a focus for Buddhist teaching, practice and traditional observances, The Forest Hermitage is also the headquarters of ANGULIMALA, the Buddhist Prison Chaplaincy Organisation.
The web site is devoted to the resources and activities of the Staten Island Buddhist Vihara situated in New York City, NY, USA. The site contains information useful tol Buddhists of all ages. There is a special section for Buddhist children. There is a chat room in the site for Dhamma discussions. It contains extracts from the Theravada Doctrine and several essays on the Buddha Dhamma.
Suan Mokkh is a forest monastery along the coast of Southern Thailand, 600 km from Bangkok. It was founded in 1932 by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu and grew to become the most innovative and progressive Buddhist teaching center in Thailand. Although Buddhadasa Bhikkhu has passed away, much of his work continues. This WWW site is a continuation of that work, one of many virtual Suan Mokkhs. As the true Suan Mokkh can only be found within the nature of the silent mind, any attempt to speak of it is virtual, whether in talks, books, or cyberspace.
Is a comprehensive presentation of Theravada Buddhism. Explore BEYOND THE NET to find the answers to the following which will lead you to inward peace, security and wisdom. Why Meditate ? Mind is the architect of the Universe. We are not prisoners of our past. Is your suffering the will of an Almighty God ? Suffering can be totally overcome-the great affirmation of the Buddha. The way to liberation from the bondages of suffering. Is Nibbana, the Supreme Bliss, a reality? Human destiny after death.You may submit questions to us by e-mail for further clarifications on theTeachings of the Buddha.
The Buddhism Depot website contains a Discussion Forum, chat room, mailing list, largest collection of Dhammapada translations on Internet, Buddhist humor, a Buddhist art gallery, outline of the tripitaka, an online bookstore, and is home of the Meditating Buddhists. In addition, it has a Dhammapada Quote of the Moment for frequent visitors. Many Buddhists gather together at the site to chat and discuss Buddhist topics.
Sasanarakkha means “Guardian of the Sasana”. A Buddhist sanctuary located in Malaysia for the training of Theravada Buddhist monks in theory and practice of the Dhamma-vinaya. Dedicated to evolving a modern Theravada Buddhist identity guided by the scriptural tradition.
Sae Taw Win II Dhamma Center was temporaily established by Dr. Thynn Thynn a Burmese born Dhamma teacher in Sebastopol, nothern California in March, 1997. A Samatha-Vipassana Center in the lineage of the late Ven. Shwe Baw Gyun Sayadaw of Burma, it was founded on the principles of metta (non-violence), dana (charity), sila (keeping the precepts), bhavana (cultivation of the mind towards enlightenment.) Sae Taw Win II Dhamma Foundation was founded in inorder to establish a permanent Dhamma Center cum residential Dhamma community.
Nibbanam.com (Sri Lankan)
This is a Buddhist website specialising in Theravada/Pali resources. Articles on vipassana and samatha meditation (Sri Lankan style) as well as an in-depth references and presentation of Ven. Nyananandas “Nibbana Sermons” make it a very interesting read. In addition there are several other Buddhist inspired websites which can be accessed from Nibbanam.com (i.e. a digital scrolling Pirit book and online Metta meditation service etc.).
Nibbana.com (Burmese)
This Theravada Buddhism Site, started in May 1998, is being managed by Dr. Maung. M. Lwin and family, from London, who receive guidance and spiritual input from many Myanmar Monks from the U.K, U.S.A, South Africa and Myanmar (Burma). Our main aim is to re-publish the teachings and views of the eminent Sayadaws (Abbots) from Burma (Myanmar) and the Pali translations and special articles written by other distinguished monks and lay authors on Theravada Buddhism as well as cultural aspects of the Myanmar Buddhists in the wonderful ‘Land of Pagodas’.
Books and articles about Theravada Buddhism. The theory and practice of Satipatthana Vipassana (insight meditation) according to the Pali Tipitaka.
A Resource Center for students of Vipassana Meditation. This web site has been created with the purpose of providing reference material and information on the core teachings of The Buddha and specifically on the Vipassana Meditation Technique as taught in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin under the guidance of his chief disciple, S. N. Goenka. The objective is to provide an insight into the practical aspect of The Buddha’s teaching.
The Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC is vipassana meditation group approximately in the tradition of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, Massacheusetts, USA. Tara Brach is the founding and guiding Dhamma teacher. Over 100 meditators attend the weekly sitting / class. Meditation retreats of one, three, or seven days are held regularly in the Washington, DC area.
Fundamental Buddhism Explained. Buddhist Instruction. Explanation of Buddhism based on the Pali Canon recognized by Buddhist scholars as the oldest record of what the Buddha taught. The Essence of the Buddha’s Teachings. Interactive Buddhist Instruction.
The aim of this website is to make more widely available the writings of the late Ven. Ñánavíra Thera which, though of extraordinary quality and depth, do not – for different reasons – attract any of the established Buddhist publishers. It is presented as a dhammadána (gift of Dhamma) and with a deep sense of gratitude by individuals whose lives were significantly affected by an encounter with these writings, in the hope that others, too, might appreciate the right-view guidance which is offered therein.
Web site of The Dhammapada (Path of Truth), translated with notes by Ñarada Thera. Foreword by Bhikkhu Kassapa. Introduction by Dr E. J. Thomas.
The aim of this website is to provide an Introduction to Theravada Buddhism and make available particularly the teachings of Ven P.A. Payutto, universally acknowledged as Thailand’s foremost Buddhist scholar (including a comprehensive work called “Buddhist Economics: A Middle Way for the marketplace”), and Ven Ajahn Sumedho, the foremost Western disciple of the late Ajahn Chah.
Located in an avocado orchard on a hill surrounded by the mountains and chaparral of northern San Diego county, Metta Forest Monastery offers the opportunity for lay people to come and stay for individual retreats of long or short duration. It also offers the opportunity for men to ordain in the Theravada lineage and train in the practices of the Thai Forest Tradition. Metta was founded in 1990 by Phra Ajaan Suwat Suvaco, a student of Phra Ajaan Munn Bhuridatto. The current abbot – Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Geoffrey DeGraff) – grew up in rural New York and Virginia, and was later ordained as a monk in Thailand in 1976. He trained for ten years under Ajaan Fuang Jotiko, a member of the Forest Tradition, until the latter’s death in 1986. After returning to the States to help set up Metta in 1991, he was made abbot of the monastery in 1993 and was formally made a preceptor in 1995.
Vipassana.com offers resources and support to meditators in the Theravada tradition. Several hundred people have participated in the free 10 week Online Meditation Course since it began in 1997. Led by Andrew Quernmore, a London-based meditation teacher, the course introduces both samatha and vipassana techniques and is currently available in English and Russian (Spanish and French translations are in progress). The site also offers access to modern texts and a full- text search facility on major suttas from the Pali canon.
Wat Suthat Thep Wararamworavihara is one of Thailand’s six most important temples, located in the heart of Rattanakosin Island, which was the center of old Bangkok. Phra Sakayamuni is the principal Buddha Statue of the temple. This Buddha Statue is placed over the heart of the city in correspondence with Tamrab Mahapichaisongkram and the meaning of Pang Marn Vichai Style, that is the victory over the demon. This meaning is the main meaning of Ayothaya city: “The city that never loses against anyone”. More than 200 years have passed by and the truth of this has come about according to Somdej Phrabuddha Yod Fah Chulalok, the first great king of the Chakkri Dynasty, who established Bangkok.
Wat Carolina Buddhajakra Vanaram, is a Theravadin monastary and meditation center located in coastal North Carolina. The Abbot is Tan Ajahn Phrakru Buddhamonpricha, Secretary-General of the Dhammayut Order, USA. Lay practisioners represent varied cultures and compliment each other in dhamma practise. The Buddhist Holy Days are observed at the Wat, with large attendance at special ceremonies and festivals. A meditation group meets every Sunday.
Located in Thailand, on the island of Koh Phangan, the International Meditation Center attracts people from all over the world interested in studying and practicing the methods, techniques and tools of mental development taught by Rosemary and Steve Weissman, the resident teachers since 1988. They feel that through an overall and balanced mental development practice, we may be able to gain Insight into our own nature and the laws of Nature; developing deep Compassion and Understanding of the origins of difficulties and stress, and how to end them.
This site introduces readers to a branch monastery of Wat Nong Pah Pong and Wat Pah Nanachat. The abbot, Ajahn Munindo leads this small monastic training community which also provides guest accommodation for lay visitors.
Eightfold-l is a discussion list on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path of Buddhism. This list is to be used as a sort of “study group” for beginners and advanced students alike.
Writings in Thai and English focused on the Tripitaka. There is also an on-line study group where all are welcome. (groups.yahoo.com/group/DSList) Webmaster: Amara Chayabongse: postmaster@dhammastudy.com
Buddhaviharas is a non-sectarian Buddhist mailing list providing daily inspirational messages relating to the four immeasurables (or Brahmaviharas) of lovingkindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. Featured quotations in the past have included the Dalai Lama, Sharon Salzberg, Pema Chodron, Ayya Khema, Jack Kornfield. Discussion of any of the immeasurables is welcome! In addition, anyone is welcome to submit quotations relating to these topics at any time.
This site features html books by the late Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma, Bhikkhu Pesala, an English monk who is owner of the site, Ledi Sayadaw and Sayadaw U Janaka.
This website seeks to introduce Buddhism, and to help find the answers to life as well as the afterlife. Applying the teachings of Buddhism to daily life are also explained here in practical everyday terms. We will also look into some basic concepts of Buddhism, and the links throughout the site provide further information for those wishing to find out more. There are answers to interesting questions on Buddhism and modern science, kamma and rebirth, creation myths and many more. Also included in this website is a section on the daily practice of Buddhism. There are also lots of e-books, talks on MP3 and video clips in our Downloads section. And we have booklets, CDs, car decals, stickers and cards which you can request in our Free Stuff section.
This website aims at making Early Buddhist Texts accessible in the original languages (mainly Pali and Sanskritised Prakrit); providing accurate and readable translations of the same; and a scholarly study of the texts, especially in regard to their compiliation, grammer and prosody. The website also includes other facilities such as Audio Readings and Maps of Ancient Buddhist India.
Godwin was one of the best known meditation teachers in Sri Lanka in recent times. This website has been developed to make Godwin’s teachings available to a wider audience. It includes audio recordings, transcriptions, photographs, and a database of Godwin’s teachings.
Saddhamma Foundation – USA
Saddhamma Foundation was formed to support the Venerable Sayadaw U Pandita 1989. We provide resources about Satipatthana (mindfulness) and Vipassana (insight) meditation and meditation retreats. We have extensive information for those who wish to travel to and practice meditation at the Panditarama Forest Center in Burma.
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