UK – Founding of the Mahamevnawa International Meditation Center MIMC

Mahamevnawa International editation Centre (MIMC) is an organisation of Buddhist monasteries of Sri Lankan origin established to benefit the spiritual development. The main monastery is in Polgahawela.

The organisation was established in August 1999 and has grown from strength to strength ever since its inception. Sri Lanka is home to 44 branches of the organisation with approximately 500-resident community of monks. Overseas branches are in Canada (Toronto), USA (New Jersey, Los Angeles and Florida), UK (London), Germany (Frankfurt), Australia (Sydney and Melbourne) and India (Bodh Gaya).

The Founder and the Chief Buddhist Monk in charge of these monasteries is Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera, who is engaged in spreading Buddhism to both local and international communities, and in highlighting the aim and practice of Buddhism.

Founder of Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Ven. Gnanananda Thera, became ordained at the age of seventeen in 1979. He then practiced meditation, preached Buddhist teachings for many years, and successfully translated what was difficult to understand concepts into a simple and comprehensible state, so that the devotees could clearly understand. Ven. Gnanananda Thera has thus been interested in disseminating Buddhist teachings including meditation techniques as described by the Buddha Himself.

Ven Gnanananda Thera had a great passion to revive and re-establish the original teachings of the Buddha in an era where the application of the doctrine had declined and cultural aspects had taken over the true values of Buddhist teachings and meditation practices. Hence Ven. Gnanananda Thera was deeply inspired to take an initiative in order to re-establish the lost teachings and techniques of meditation, and teach it to the people in Sri Lanka and the rest of the world.

Mahamevnawa International Meditation Centre (MIMC) was registered as a charity in the UK in May, 2009. MIMC specialises in educating and disseminating the ORIGINAL teachings and meditation practices as preached by the Buddha. Most material and teachings available today in the name of Buddhism has been contaminated with traditions, rituals and beliefs that do not reflect the original teachings and meditation practices.

MIMC establishes itself as an organisation that specialises in disseminating the original teachings as taught by the Buddha. The notion of original teachings being taught at the centre has attracted masses of devotees who continue to join the centre and follow its programmes and activities. These devotees have supported the centre tremendously ever since while reaping the many benefits from the services offered.

Programmes conducted by MIMC include children’s programmes, youth programmes and special programmes during which the theory behind Buddhist teachings and meditation practices is taught. This is also in demand since it is imperative to the effective practice of meditation. The resident monks are highly knowledgeable in original Buddhist teachings and deliver the sermons effectively. These programmes are currently being delivered at various locations in the UK.

The growing awareness of MIMC and increase in generous donations have allowed MIMC to establish a permanent premises in Crays Hill, Billericay, Essex.