Chittaviveka Buddhist Monastery in Sri Lanka

The Goals and Main Activities of the Monastery

The name "Chittaviveka" translates as "Rest of the Mind" or "Liberation of the Mind." This reflects the monastery’s primary goal—to create conditions for the practice of meditation and the study of the Dhamma, helping practitioners attain inner peace and freedom from suffering

Since its founding, Chittaviveka Monastery has been actively developing and fulfilling several important missions:

1. Dhamma Study and Practice 

The monastery provides an opportunity for both monks and laypeople to study the Dhamma and practice meditation under the guidance of a Russian-speaking Sinhalese monk. This is especially valuable for Theravāda Buddhists living in countries where Buddhism is not the dominant religion. At the same time, the monastery remains open to people of different linguistic backgrounds. In addition to teachings in Russian, Dhamma talks and instructional sessions are also conducted in Sinhala and English. This creates an inclusive environment for communication and shared practice, benefiting both local residents and international Buddhist practitioners.

2. Support for Russian-Speaking Buddhists

The monastery provides an environment where Russian-speaking Buddhists can study the Dhamma and practice meditation without language barriers. This has attracted practitioners from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, and other post-Soviet countries. In addition, the monastery also welcomes Buddhists from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, Portugal, Switzerland, China, and other countries, creating an international community of dedicated practitioners.

3. Translation, Writing, and Publishing of Buddhist Texts 

The monastery is actively engaged in translating and publishing Buddhist literature in Russian and English, including canonical commentaries and other important texts. 

Additionally, the monastery is developing its website and a mobile application for Android, helping to spread the Dhamma among both Russian-speaking and international readers.

Notably, a Russian translation of the Visuddhimagga has already been published, along with a collection of sermons by the abbot in both Russian and English. All of this material is offered as a gift of the Dhamma and is distributed free of charge.

4. Organization of Meditation Retreats 

Every year, 10-day meditation retreats are held in January and February, offering participants an opportunity for deep practice. In addition to these annual retreats, smaller retreats are occasionally organized for lay practitioners, as well as special programs designed specifically for monks.

5. Weekly Sessions for Local Residents

Every Saturday, the monastery holds Bhavana (meditation) sessions for local residents, fostering spiritual development and strengthening the connection with the local community.

6. Spreading the Dhamma Internationally

The monastery actively promotes the teachings of the Buddha beyond Sri Lanka, conducting online lectures, webinars, and Uposatha day sessions. Additionally, articles dedicated to the study of the Dhamma are regularly published on various online platforms and social media, making Buddhist wisdom accessible to a wider audience.

History and Future Plans

The history of Chittaviveka Monastery began with a simple yet significant act of generosity. Mr. Koore donated one acre of land near Victoria Reservoir to Venerable Bandarawela Gnanasiri. In 2018, he, in turn, offered this land to Bhante Rakwane Gnanaseeha, who accepted the gift and made this place his refuge.

At that time, the land had only a single small house. Bhante Nyanasiha lived there in solitude, going for pindapata (alms round), dedicating his time to practice and study. Over time, his students—both laypeople and monks—began visiting the monastery, seeking to deepen their understanding of the Buddha’s teachings.

It was here that Bhante Gnanaseeha conceived the idea of creating a unique space—a monastery where Russian-speaking Buddhists could study the Dhamma, practice meditation, and, if they wished, ordain as monks, regardless of their knowledge of other languages. Thus, Chittaviveka Monastery became a place that unites Buddhist practitioners seeking spiritual growth in their native linguistic environment.

In recent years, the monastery has expanded significantly, thanks to the support of the honorable Sri Lankan army and the generosity of Russian-speaking donors. Their contributions have played a crucial role in constructing new buildings, improving infrastructure, and creating a space for spiritual practice that is accessible to both monks and lay practitioners. In the beginning, the monastery had only one old house, but now it has monks' kutis (huts), meditation paths, an open meditation hall, and a dining hall (Dana Sala). Currently, 12 monks reside in the monastery, 9 of whom are Russian-speaking.

In the near future, the plan is to divide the monastery into monastic and lay zones with a dormitory for lay practitioners. The first step is to complete the second and third floors above the Dana Sala, where it is planned to create space for up to 20 wooden tent-like bungalows.

Example of bungalow houses

These cozy mini-bungalows will be equipped with all the necessary amenities: a bed, a wardrobe, a table, and a chair. Thanks to this, the monastery will be able to hold retreats on its own territory and accommodate more practitioners. In addition, it will become possible to organize multi-day Buddhist practice retreats for local residents. At the moment, due to the lack of such infrastructure, the monastery has to rent spaces in other retreat centers, which limits the possibility of holding retreats more than once a year.

To provide a clear visualization, a layout plan for placing these bungalows on the roof of the Dana Sala is being developed. This will help convey the project's vision to all interested parties and potential benefactors.

Chittaviveka Monastery continues to grow and develop, striving to create favorable conditions for everyone who wishes to immerse themselves in the Buddha’s teachings and deepen their practice in an atmosphere of peace and seclusion. The monastery warmly invites all those who wish to contribute to its development to join this meaningful endeavor. 

The next important stage in the monastery’s development is the completion of the second floor above the Dana Sala (dining hall) and the arrangement of small residential spaces for practitioners. This will allow the monastery to accommodate more people wishing to study the Dhamma, including both foreign Buddhist followers and Sri Lankan residents, as well as to hold more retreats. At present, we do not have enough space and are forced to rent facilities in other centers, which limits our opportunities. Your support for this project will be a significant contribution to the preservation and development of the country's Buddhist traditions.

In the Buddhist tradition, giving (dāna) is an important practice that brings great merit. Supporting the monastery is not just assistance in construction but also a contribution to the spread of the Buddha’s teachings. Your help will allow us to create conditions for those seeking the path to liberation from suffering.

Chittaviveka Monastery gratefully welcomes any form of support, whether it be the donation of building materials, voluntary labor, or simply kind words. Thanks to your generosity, the monastery will continue to grow and serve future generations. May your support become a noble contribution to the preservation of the Dhamma, one that will be remembered and valued both in the history of Sri Lanka and beyond. Together, we can make the monastery a place where the Dhamma thrives and brings benefit to many people. Donation details can be found in the "Donations" section on the monastery’s website.

Thank you for your attention and support. May your kindness bring you happiness and peace!

The gift of the Dhamma surpasses all gifts,
The taste of the Dhamma surpasses all tastes,
The delight in the Dhamma surpasses all delights,
The destruction of craving conquers all suffering.

Tanhavagga: Craving (Dhp 354)

March 10, 2025

Dear friends, we have wonderful news!

After a more thorough market analysis, it turned out that the prices for tuk-tuks are artificially inflated and comparable to the prices of used cars.
Therefore, a decision has been made to purchase a used car instead of a tuk-tuk, as it will be a more practical solution for the Sangha. It will allow for more comfortable travel, which is especially important for long trips, such as to Colombo. The monks also need to travel there from time to time. For example, yesterday, Bhante Nyanasiha and Bhante Vangisa made a round trip to Colombo. Additionally, a car offers greater capacity.

Another great piece of news—one of the donors has expressed readiness to cover the remaining amount needed to purchase a car worth up to 4 million rupees (≈ 1.2 million rupees, ≈ $13,530)!

Thus, the full amount for the vehicle for Cittaviveka has been raised and sent to Sri Lanka today. The total collected was $11,500.
The purchase of the car is planned within the next couple of days, so the fundraising is now closed.

More than 110 people contributed to the fundraiser!

We will keep you updated and will inform you once the car has been purchased.

We share all the merits of this generous offering to the Sangha with all living beings. May the power of this merit bring health, happiness, peace, and safety to all donors and those who rejoice in this act, and may they swiftly attain Nibbana!

February 27, 2025

🛺 Tuk-Tuk for Chittaviveka Monastery 🛺

Dear Friends,

The Chittaviveka Monastery is currently in dire need of tuk-tuk for various trips: shopping, medical treatment, visa issues, and more.

✅ Having our own tuk-tuk will significantly reduce taxi expenses, allowing the saved funds to be allocated to other important monastery needs. Part of these savings will go toward compensating a kappiya (a lay assistant) who will serve as the driver and help with daily monastery tasks, giving the monks more time for Dhamma practice.

💰 The cost of a tuk-tuk is approximately 800,000 LKR (235,000 RUB, $2,700). If we manage to raise more, the additional funds will be used for other monastery needs.

🙏 To contribute to this offering for the Sangha, you can make a donation with the note "Tuk-Tuk Donation" using one of the following methods:

• Sberbank, Tinkoff: +7 909 941-77-94 (Vasily U)
• Crypto Wallet (USDT TRC20): TBeb75Zga3ygCau7Ana7Moxw9L2hD9w64p (Please after transfer notify @upvas)
• PayPal: paypal.me/upvas
• Bank Transfer to Sri Lanka:
  Name: Chittaviveka
  Account number: 1085 6100 6603
  Bank: Sampath Bank
  Branch: Digana

A list of all donations received can be viewed at this link (updated manually, so there may be some delay).

February 27, 2025

This morning’s pindapata was a special one. After two weeks of intense heat, nature finally received the long-awaited rain, which continued into this morning. Despite the rain, following the ancient tradition, we set out for pindapata.

Returning to the monastery in our soaked robes, we were pleasantly surprised to meet four young visitors from a nearby village. These boys, as it turned out, had been observing our daily alms rounds for quite some time. Believing that the monastery housed only two monks, they had been gathering the courage to visit us for a while. And today, seeing us in the rain, they finally decided not only to come to the monastery but also to offer dana.

In the warm atmosphere of the monastery, bhante Animitta gave them a special Dhamma talk (Dhamma desana), revealing the deep meaning and significance of making offerings to the Bhikkhu Sangha. He explained how such actions generate wholesome merit and help sustain the continuity of the Buddhist teachings.

Seeing the joyful faces of the boys as they listened to the Dhamma, we were once again convinced of the wisdom of this ancient tradition, which naturally connects the Sangha and laypeople, creating favorable conditions for the spread of the Buddha’s teachings. It not only supports the monks but also provides an opportunity for laypeople to encounter the Dhamma, perform wholesome deeds, and begin their journey toward Liberation.

January 23, 2025

Dear Friends,
On February 2nd this year, a meditation retreat in Russian will take place in Sri Lanka under the guidance of meditation teacher Bhante Gnanaseeha, whom many of you are already familiar with.

Participation in the retreat is completely free of charge.

Thanks to the generous support of sponsors, several such retreats have been successfully held in previous years. However, this year, the organizational costs are not yet fully covered, and we all have the opportunity to support the realization of this wonderful event.

A retreat center will be rented, and daily meals will be provided. The budget for approximately 30 participants is around $1,500.

If you would like to contribute to covering the expenses of this retreat, you can do so in any of the following ways (please specify "Retreat Donation" in the payment description):
• Сбербанк или Тинькофф: +7 909 941 77 94 (Василий У.)
• PayPal: paypal.me/upvas
• Cryptocurrency (USDT TRC20): TBeb75Zga3ygCau7Ana7Moxw9L2hD9w64p (after transfering please contact to @upvas via telegram)
• Sri Lankan bank account:
Name: MR J M W C S K Jayasekara
Account number: 108552794975
Bank: Sampath Bank PLC
Branch code: 085

A list of all donations is available at this link (updated manually, so there may be some delay).

4 января 2025

Friends, we have created an official group and chat for the Chittaviveka Monastery.
Group: t.me/chittaviveka
Chat: https://t.me/chittaviveka_chat

The group will contain posts directly related to the life of the monastery: news, fundraising, new materials, etc. These posts can be commented on and discussed in the chat.
All posts from the group are automatically duplicated in the chat: you can either write comments to them in the group (and this will appear in the chat), or write messages directly in the chat.
This structure is the official mechanics of the telegram.
With this division, there will be a clearer structuring of information and it will be easier not to lose important announcements, while maintaining the ability to communicate in normal chat mode.

November 10, 2024

Dear friends, we are delighted to announce that the book by the Venerable Gnanaseeha Rakwane Thera, "Bhāvanā — The Art of The Mind", has been published! It is available on our website in the "Books" section in PDF and EPUB formats, in both Russian and English, as a gift of Dhamma.
We invite you to rejoice with us!

3 октября 2024

Друзья, готовится к выходу книга бханте Ракване Ньянасихи тхеро, настоятеля монастыря Читтавивека на Шри-Ланке.
Эта книга — сборник его публичных лекций и личных бесед о Дхамме. В ней читатель найдёт углублённое изложение буддийской практики випассаны, в том числе объяснение значений некоторых палийских терминов, таких как anicca, sankhāra, kāma, saḷāyatana, aṭṭhārasa dhātuyo, yoniso manasikāra и других.
Книга призвана помочь читателю углубить своё понимание, а также вдохновить на практику и дальнейшее изучение Слова Будды.
Этот труд — дар Дхаммы и будет распространяться бесплатно.

Работа над книгой велась почти полтора года и сейчас макеты книги переданы в типографию на Шри-Ланке. Первый тираж будет состоять из 500 русскоязычных экземпляров и 200 англоязычных. Также в ближайшее время время будет опубликован электронный вариант книги на обоих языках.

Цена тиража составляет 450000 lkr (примерно 1500 usd). Вы можете поучаствовать в сборе:
— Сбербанк или Тинькофф по номеру: +7 (909) 941-77-94 (Василий У.)
— PayPal: https://paypal.me/upvas

Если в результате сбора сумма будет превышать обозначенную для тиража, то мы направим оставшиеся средства в качестве даны на строительство данасалы в монастыре Читтавивека.

Книги можно будет получить в монастыре Читтавивека и в книжном магазине Buddhist Publication Society в Канди.

Позже планируется платное издание в каком либо Российском издательстве, для массового распостранения на коммерческой основе.

August 26, 2024

Friends, a book by Venerable Bhante Gnanaseeha Rakwane Thera, dedicated to Buddhist practice, is in preparation for publication.

September 26, 2023

Dear friends! Today, 2 acres of land (8093 sq. meters), which we all contributed to acquiring, have been presented to Chittaviveka Monastery. The full amount required was paid to the previous owner, and all necessary documents have been signed. This land now belongs to the Sangha!

The first payment of 4.1 million rupees was made on June 19, and today we paid the remaining 3.9 million, as well as taxes and legal fees (an additional 700,000 rupees). The total cost of the land was approximately 8 million rupees ($24,571).

This has been a wonderful donation involving over 150 people from around the world.

We share the merit of this donation with all living beings!
May these merits help us to quickly attain Nibbāna!
May the power of the merits we have accumulated support the development and flourishing of the monastery, and may it always have all the conditions necessary for the successful practice of Dhamma!

Photos and videos

May 26, 2023

Recently, a 2-acre plot of land adjacent to the monastery was put up for sale. The price for one acre is 4,000,000 rupees ($13,230 or 1,060,000 rubles at the current exchange rate). This presents a great opportunity for expanding the monastery. However, since this land is situated in a scenic location with views of Victoria Reservoir, there is a concern that it might be sold for the construction of a hotel or other recreational facilities, which could disrupt the serene tranquility of the area. We, the lay supporters of the monastery, plan to purchase and present this land to the Sangha.

Update: The purchase and donation have been completed.

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