About Buddha Meditation Center of Greater Washington DC
A Community Rooted in Mindfulness, Compassion, and Wisdom
At the Buddha Meditation Center of Greater Washington DC, also known as the Mahamevnawa Meditation Center, we are a welcoming, non-religious community committed to helping individuals cultivate inner peace, clarity, and compassion through the timeless teachings of the Buddha.
Our center is rooted in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, yet open to people from all backgrounds, beliefs, and experience levels. Whether you’re just beginning your meditation journey or deepening a long-time practice, you’ll find supportive guidance, a peaceful environment, and a genuine community of like-minded individuals.
Our Mission
We strive to make the Buddha’s teachings practical and accessible—fostering a space where anyone can explore the path of mindfulness, insight, and personal growth.
What We Offer
Led by fully ordained resident monks, our center hosts a variety of programs designed to support both beginners and experienced meditators:
Guided meditation classes (in-person & online)
Day-long and weekend retreats
Weekly Dhamma talks and sermons
Daily chanting, blessings, and alms-giving opportunities
Community outreach and interfaith meditation sessions
All teachings are presented in clear, modern language—making the Buddha’s wisdom approachable and applicable to daily life.
Our Founder
Most Venerable Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero is the founder of the Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastic Order. He was born in Sri Lanka in 1961.
After a traditional Sri Lankan monastic education, while studying for the Sinhala Honours Degree at Sri Jayawardhanapura University, he had an unexpected opportunity to read the Buddha’s discourses in the Pāli Canon. Because of this, he abandoned temple life and began to frequent forest monasteries and hermitages, offering his life to the Dhamma with a deep desire to practice it.
How We Began
Mahamevnawa Worldwide
Founded in 1999 by Most Venerable Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery has grown from a forest retreat in Polgahawela, Sri Lanka, into one of the world’s most active Theravāda Buddhist organisations. Today, over 100 monasteries across 13 countries — from Sri Lanka’s seven provinces to North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific — offer free Dhamma programs, guided meditation, and a welcoming community to practitioners of all backgrounds. Every centre is led by fully ordained monks in the Mahāvihāra tradition, following the authentic teachings of the Pāli Canon.
A Place to Start, a Space to Deepen
Whether you’re just beginning or looking to deepen your practice, our welcoming and non-religious community offers the guidance and support to help you find clarity, peace, and purpose.