Bhikkhu Ariyananda was born on October 6th 1985 in Bangalore, India. He had completed his graduation BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) & also did MBA (Masters Program in Business Administration) and worked with various MNCs (Multi National Corporations) like IBM, JP Morgan Chase, worked as a non direct employee for Google etc in his lay life, he Came in contact with Buddha Dhamma through a book “The Greatest Man who ever lived- The Supreme Buddha” around his teenage life and started Vipassana Practice in the tradition of Sayagyi U Bha Khin as taught by S.N Goenka in 2008.
In his Laylife, he was married briefly and went through the usual ride of married life before divorce around a year later
Bhikkhu Ariyananda ordained as a Novice Monk on December 7th 2022 under Venerable Bhikkhu Vannasiri of Mahashuddha Forest Monastery at Ambassa, Tripura, India and later took Higher Ordination/”Upasampada” on March 4th 2023 in the Ledi Sayadaw tradition also called “Ledi Nikaya” under the Most Venerable Sayadaw Kosala of Ledimu Meditation Center at Sanchaung, Yangon, Myanmar.
During the first year he has had the good fortune to go to Srilanka and visit stay & learn at Monasteries like Na Uyana Forest Monastery, Bhaddekavihari etc and also has had the good fortune to meet & learn from various teachers like Acharya Buddharakhitta, Ajahn Dtun, Ajahn Brahm, Bhante Vimalaramsi, Bhikkhu Bodhi in his Life and has done a One day course with S.N Goenkaji at Global Pagoda, Mumbai around 2008.
He was asked to become a Vipassana Teacher (Goenkaji) tradition in his Lay Life after his 45 day Meditation course, but after Step 1 training to become an AT (Assitant Teacher) he relinquished it to become a Monk, he currently also writes on his blog at times on ledimonk.wordpress.com, May All Beings be Happy & realise Nibbana!
Dear Kalyanamittas,
It’s a joy to inform you that on March 4th 2023 at 9:27am Myanmar time I have taken Upasampada (Higher/full Ordination) as a Monk in the “Ledi Nikhaya” (Ledi Sayadaw tradition) under Most Venerable Sayadaw Kosala who has around 40 vassas, is also the Abbott of Ledimu Meditation Center Monastery at Yangon, Myanmar.
I wish you all a very Happy “Magha Puja Day” which is celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month also known as “Sangha Day”, in the past (in the same third lunar month ) it is said that the auspicious meeting of 1,250 Arahant Bhikkhus took place headed by Mahamuni Gotama Buddha.
Lot of Gratitude to my preceptor Venerable Sayadaw Kosala & also the 7 Bhikkhu Sangha from “Ledi Nikhaya” especially among them Venerable Pamokkha Sayadaw whose presence, compassion & effort made my higher ordination possible.
I need to thank the efforts of all Beings who made this possible, whether visible or invisible through their mind, speech and body.
I want to thank specially Bhikkhu Vannasiri Bhante, Pamokkha Sayadaw & Sayama Gyi who very generously gave their time, energy, effort to make this happen.
On this joyful day I make a wish that may the Ledi Sayadaw tradition take root in the Land of my Birth in India, I envision a future a thriving forest Monastery in India where atleast 1,250 Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunis, Upasaks, Upasikas can practise Dhamma to attain Liberation from all Suffering. May it happen for the Happiness of many.
May all beings keep progressing in Dhamma and may we all attain Nibbana in this very life!
May All Beings be happy!
With Metta
Bhikkhu Ariyananda
Note : “Tradition” is just “Samutti Dhamma”…a “conventional reality”…Even though ultimately I guess everyone would agree that it’s the “Tradition of Buddha”, so my other wish is to make the “Sangha United” to break all barriers of even Mahayana, Theravada, Tibetan etc to bring all the traditions together and also even to break all the barriers of being a forest Monk, City Monk, Pariyatti Monk, Pattipatti Monk etc. Ultimately even the concept of religions, wherever “noble eightfold path” is present & practiced we can have a common ground, Buddhism can spread beautifully as an Education system. Some practitioners may have their hearts & practice inclined more towards a particular tradition & what an inspiration Ledi Sayadaw was to the world if not for the Most Venerable’s efforts of opening the gates to Nibbana for laypeople in modern times, How would the Dhamma have spread to the householders? So beautifully practised in the “Tradition of Sayagi U Bha Khin” as taught by S N Goenka ji throughout the world.
May the “Monastic tradition” of Ledi Sayadaw also spread throughout the World now 🙂
The Ledi Monk :) 