Resident Monks
Ven. Soorakkulame Pemaratana
Ven. S. Pemaratana was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1986 and received higher ordination in 1997. His monastic training was under the tutelage of the most Ven. Attangane Sasanaratana Maha Thero at Sripathi Pirivena, Diyakalamulla, Kuliyapitiya, Sri Lanka. He holds a bachelor’s degree with first class honors in Buddhist Studies from the University of Peradeniya and a master's degree in philosophy from the National University of Singapore.
He has lectured at the University of Peradeniya and the Buddhist and Pali College of Singapore. He conducts regular lectures and workshops in Buddhist teachings and meditation.
The Transcultural Society for Clinical Meditation in Japan gave him the 2008 Haruki Award for his research paper on Meditation and Cognitive Behavior Therapy. He is currently the resident teacher and acting abbot of the Pittsburgh Buddhist Center.
Ven. Akurugoda Punna - Visiting Monk
Bhante Punna is a Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka. He was ordained at the age of 10 under a well respected Buddhist master and a renown Pali scholar, Most Venerable Kodagoda Gnanaloka Maha Thero. Bhante holds a bachelor’s degree with first class honors in Buddhist Studies from the University of Peradeniya. He has served in Buddhist monastery in Brisbane, Australia, Buddhist Mission in Singapore. Currently, he is the resident teacher in Blue Lotus Insight Meditation Center in Las Vegas