About Us
Our Mission
Our primary goal is to serve as a center of inner peace for Buddhists and non-Buddhists throughout the Great Lakes area, offering opportunities to practice and learn the teachings of the Buddha.
Through a way of life grounded in mindfulness and loving-kindness, our activities promote individual inner peace, community harmony, and social solidarity. These activities include offering Buddhist teachings for children and adults, providing meditation guidance, organizing youth volunteer projects, and conducting religious ceremonies.
As interest in Theravāda Buddhist monastic life continues to grow in the United States, our future vision is to further develop the Vihara as a monastery that can support those who wish to pursue ordination and commit themselves to the monastic way of life.
This would create meaningful opportunities for sincere practitioners who aspire to enter the monastic order and dedicate their lives to the study, practice, and preservation of the Buddha’s teachings.
About Vihara
Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara is a Buddhist monastery in the Theravāda tradition. Established in 1997 and relocated to its current location in 2003, the Vihara offers a place for worship, meditation, reflection, and community gathering for practicing Buddhists.
Although the Vihara is modeled after a traditional Sri Lankan Buddhist temple and is served by monks trained and ordained in Sri Lanka, it warmly welcomes all who wish to learn about Buddhism, practice meditation, or take part in wholesome community activities.
Inside the Vihara, visitors will find the shrine room, which contains the Buddha statue and provides a quiet space for meditation, reflection, chanting, and traditional services offered by the monks. We kindly ask visitors to maintain silence in this area and to refrain from bringing food or drinks into the shrine room.
The Vihara also has a library with many Buddhist texts in both English and Sinhala. Visitors are welcome to read, study, and speak with the monks about Buddhism and meditation.
The monks’ living quarters are private and off-limits to visitors. The kitchen and gathering area in the basement are open to all, and refreshments may be available there during temple events and community gatherings.
GLBV BOARD OF TRUSTEES
2026
- Chief Incumbent: Rev. B. Muditha Thero
- President: Rev. Yatinuwara Sankichcha
- Vice President: Wimal Jayakody
- Secretary: Aman Taxali
- Treasurer: Adeesha Harage
- Board Members: Rev. G. Dhammavihara, Sunila Kandegedara, Udenika Wijesinghe, Vivek Chavan, Piyadarsha Amaratunga, Thushan Mihiranga, Prasad Weerasinghe
2025
- Chief Incumbent: Rev. B. Muditha Thero
- President: Rev. Yatinuwara Sankichcha
- Vice President: Chandrapala Liyanarachchi
- Secretary: Vanjula Thalagala
- Treasurer: Chilan Sethuge
- Board Members: Rev. G. Dhammavihara, Dhammika Welipitiya, Upul Attanayake, Lakshika Gamage, Thushan Mihiranga
2024
- Chief Incumbent: Rev. B. Muditha Thero
- President: Rev. Yatinuwara Sankichcha
- Vice President: Chandrapala Liyanarachchi
- Secretary: Amila Perera
- Treasurer: Chanaka Pathum
- Board Members: Rev. G. Dhammavihara, Steve Berg, Mohan Dakshina, Jeeva Witanachchi, Dhammika Welipitiya, Upul Attanayake
2022
- President: Bhante Yatinuwara Sankichcha
- Vice President: Wimal Jayakody
- Secretary: Dawn Lemon
- Treasurer: Sameera Perera
- Board Members: Rev. Derangala Kusalañāna, Anoma Shiranthi De Silva, Ajith Jayasinghe, Asela Wadumesthrige, Eranda Patabandi, Asiri Thennakoon
2021
- President: Bhante Yatinuwara Sankichcha
- Vice President: Parakrama Weerappuli
- Secretary: Anoma Shiranthi De Silva
- Treasurer: Sameera Perera
- Board Members: Rev. Derangala Kusalañāna, Dawn Lemon, Ajith Jayasinghe, Akalanka Pathirathna
2020
- President: Rev. Yatinuwara Sankichcha
- Vice President: Hapuwita Dissanayake
- Secretary: Jerel Jackson
- Treasurer: Buddhika Bandaranayake
- Board Members: Rev. Kahalle Janananda, Rev. Derangala Kusalagnana, Palitha Niyangoda, Jayantha Matharage, Parakrama Weerappuli, Shehan Haputhanthri, Tharanga Deshapriya, Pramod Nugaliyadda
2019
- President: Rev. Yatinuwara Sankichcha
- Vice President: Hapuwita Dissanayake
- Secretary: Jerel Jackson
- Treasurer: Tissa Gunaratne
- Board Members: Rev. Kahalle Janananda, Rev. Derangala Kusalagnana, Pujitha Gunaratne, Buddhika Bandaranayake, Palitha Niyangoda, Jayantha Matharage, Chaturanga Hewa
2018
- President: Rev. Yatinuwara Sankichcha
- Vice President: Lohitha Devasurendra
- Secretary: Steve Striker / Tissa Gunaratne
- Treasurer: Vijitha Kiridena
- Board Members: Rev. Kahalle Janananda, Rev. Derangala Kusalagnana, Pujitha Gunaratne, Chinthana Herath, Amanda Nugaliyadda, Eranda Wanigasekara
2012–2013
- President: Rev. Yatinuwara Sankichcha
- Vice President: Hapuwita Dissanayake
- Secretary: George Bachman
- Board Members: Chamara Abeysekera, Rev. Kahalle Janananda, Jeeva Withanachchi, Chandrapala Liyanarachchi, Sunil Jayawardana
2010–2011
- President: Rev. Sankichcha
- Vice President: Prasad Ramawickrama
- Secretary: Antonio Sieira
- Board Members: Saman Athukorala, Rev. Jinananda, Anoma Jayalath Arachchige, Sunila Kandegedara, Dhammika Wijesundera
2009–2010
- President: Rev. Sankichcha Yatinuwara
- Vice President: Ranjini Daraniyagala
- Secretary: Antonio Sieira
- Board Members: Sunila Kandegedara, Lakshman Caldera, Palitha Niyangoda, Rev. Pinikahane Maithree, Rev. Nugegalayaye Jinananda, Gunasinghe Punchihewa, Dhammika Weerasinghe
2008–2009
- President: Rev. Sankichcha Yatinuwara
- Vice President: Rohana Talagala
- Secretary: Ranjini Daraniyagala
- Board Members: Steven L. Berg, Jeeva Witanachchi, Lakshman Caldera, Rev. Pinikahane Maithree, Gunasinghe Punchihewa, Chanaka De Silva, Palitha Niyangoda
2007–2008
- President: Rev. B. Muditha
- Vice President: Wimal Jayakody
- Secretary: Somasiri Kannangara
- Board Members: Steven L. Berg, Namal Kumara, Rev. Y. Sankichcha, Rohana Talagala, Abhilash K. Pandya, Jeewa Withanachchi, Lakshman Caldera, Chanaka De Silva, Udesh Dahanayake
2006–2007
- President: Rev. B. Muditha
- Vice President: Prasad Ramawickrama
- Secretary: Mary Brodwell
- Board Members: Somasiri Kannangara, Namal Kumara, Rev. Y. Sankichcha, Wimal Jayakody, Ajith Karunarathna, Dona Rupasinghe
2005–2006
- President: Rev. B. Muditha
- Vice President: Prasad Ramawickrama
- Secretary: Juli Davidson
- Board Members: Pahan Godakimbura, Shripal Fernando, Rohitha Weerasinghe, Rev. Y. Sankichcha, Sarath Silva
2004–2005
- President: Rev. B. Muditha
- Vice President: Sunil Jayawardana
- Secretary: Gomika Udugamasooriya
- Board Members: Richard Smith, Chandrapala Liyanarachchi, Rohitha Weerasinghe, Rev. Y. Sankichcha, Upali Fonseka, Champa Dassanayaka, Sarath Silva
2003–2004
- President: Rev. B. Muditha
- Vice President: Vijitha Kiridena
- Secretary: Richard Smith
- Board Members: Gomika Udugamasooriya, Chandrapala Liyanarachchi, Rev. Y. Sankichcha, Champa Dassanayaka, Subhadra Deundara, Harsha Jayathilaka, Sunil Jayawardhana
2002–2003
- President: Rev. B. Muditha
- Vice President: H. R. Dissanayake
- Secretary: Andy Nancarrow
- Board Members: Lohitha Dewasurendra, Rev. Y. Sankichcha, Vijitha Kiridena, Subhadra Deundara, Gothamie Senevirathne, Mahinda Ranasinghe
2001–2002
- President: Rev. B. Muditha
- Vice President: Shripal Fernando
- Secretary: Chandratilaka Liyanarachchi
- Board Members: Jayantha Liyanage, Bhadrani Chelladurai, Lohitha Dewasurendra, Andy Nancarrow, Saman Jayantha, Rohana Jayatilleke, H. R. Dissanayake
2000–2001
- President: Rev. P. Sujatha
- Vice President: Chinthana Herath
- Secretary: Shripal Fernando
- Board Members: Jayantha Liyanage, Rev. P. Sathindriya, Kapila Kithsiri, Bartram Perera, Leela Jayawardhana, Chandratilaka Liyanarachchi
1999–2000
- President: Rev. P. Sujatha
- Vice President: Rajika Munasinghe
- Secretary: Don Sassanayaka
- Board Members: Rohitha Weerasinghe, Chinthana Herath, Kapila Kithsiri, Sarath Silva, K. Jayawardhana, Bartram Perera, Ajith Velihinda
1998–1999
- President: Rev. P. Sujatha
- Vice President: Harsha Jayathilaka
- Secretary: Don Sassanayaka
- Board Members: Sarath Silva, Rohitha Weerasinghe, Nalaka Edirisinghe, Wimal Jayakody, K. Jayawardhana, Srini Demel
1997–1998
- President: Rev. B. Muditha
- Vice President: Vijitha Kiridena
- Secretary: Bhadrani Chelladurai
- Board Members: Chandrapala Liyanarachchi, Nalaka Edirisinghe, Wimal Jayakody, K. Jayawardhana, Srini Demel
1997
- President: Rev. B. Muditha
- Vice President: Vijitha Kiridena
- Secretary: Bhadrani Chelladurai
- Board Members: Bandu Kodithuwakku, Chandrapala Liyanarachchi, Subhadra Deundara, Karunaratne Kaluarachchige, Prabhath Rajakaruna, Prabodha Wijetunga, Chinthana Herath
Resident Monks
GLBV Sangha is led by three resident teachers who have exposure to both Asian and Western cultures. They live in Michigan year round and, as English speaking Asians, teach Buddhism in terms readily understood by Westerners, in a way that can be applied to the particular difficulties of our daily lives. Please see of website for biographies of venerable monks.
Ven. Brahmanagama Muditha Nayaka Thero:
Venerable Brahmanagama Muditha Maha thera, now 66, was conferred with the title “Uthuru Americawe Pradhana Sanghanayaka”, the Chief Prelate of the Sangha Community of North America, since 2017 by the Kotte Sangha Sabha in Sri Lanka. He provided his spiritual services to North American Buddhist communities for nearly for 30 years.
Venerable Brahmanagama Muditha Thero is the founding abbot of the Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara. He is also the abbot of the Hilda Jayewardenaramaya Buddhist Monastery (HJMB), Ottawa since 2008. Venerable Thero is a distinguished scholar and a preacher in Theravada tradition. He is well-known as a skillful meditation instructor to many monks and lay people and has been serving in North America for nearly three decades. Bhante Muditha has been a pioneer in inaugurating many Theravada temples in both USA and Canada
Ven. Yatinuwara Sankichcha Thero:
Bhanthe Sankichcha was born in Kandy, Sri Lanka in 1976. He entered the monastic life at the age of 15 in 1991 at Sri Subodhārāma International Monks’ Training Institute in Kandy. In 1996 he received his higher ordination (upasampadā). The same year he moved to Australia where he lived for four years conducting numerous mindfulness programs. In 2001 he was invited to the Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara in Michigan, USA to continue his Dhamma services.
Bhanthe Sankichcha received his BA degree in Psychology from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He is currently enrolled in a master’s degree in counseling psychology at Oakland University in Michigan, USA. He also serves as the abbot of Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara.
He is engaged in many social and religious services both locally and internationally. As a meditation and a Dhamma teacher, Bhathe Sankichcha helps many people including young and adults providing with Buddhist spiritual counseling.
He has been invited to teach in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Canada, and USA.
Ven. Galaboda Dhammavihara Thero:
Rev. Galaboda Dhammavihara was born in may 1995 in Kandy district in Sri Lanka. He was ordained as a novice monk in October 2006 at Peradeniya Sri Subodarama Maha Vihara in Kandy. Receiving his higher ordination in 2015, Rev. Dhammavihara joined the Sri Gnanalankara International Bhikkhu training institute in Kandy for his monastic education and teaching, until he moved to Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara in October 10, 2022.
