Our center is blessed to have so many wonderful and experienced teachers – some who are here regularly and some who visit on occasion to share their perspective – all dedicated to passing on the Dharma.
These are some of the smiling faces that you may see leading retreats, classes and events around Aryaloka:
Amala
Amala has been studying and practicing meditation and Buddhism since the early 1970s. She has been practicing with the Triratna (formerly FWBO) Community since 1991 and was ordained in 2000. Amala is currently the Chair of the Spiritual Vitality Council and leads a variety of retreats and classes. Amala is a Sanskrit name means “Pure” or “Stainless.” The word is found in the Heart Sutra. As a name it refers to ethical purity and also to the stainless open dimension of emptiness.
Amala lives near the coast in Maine. She has two young adult children, her favorite people on the planet!
Candradasa
Danakamala
Danakamala’s name means “Lotus of generosity.” He lives in Portsmouth and has been involved with Aryaloka for the last 20 years. Danakamala was ordained in July 2008 in California. Since his ordination he has been working with other Order members in creating opportunities for the study of the Dharma and the practice of meditation.
Dayalocana
Dayalocana was given her name when she was ordained in 1995. It means “Eyes of compassion or mercy.” She wishes to develop eyes of wisdom along with compassion. Since 1989 Dayalocana has been traveling an hour from her home several times a week to study and practice with the wonderful sangha at Aryaloka.
Dharmasuri
Dharmasuri was ordained in 2006 on a six-week ordination retreat in Dunkeld, Scotland. She lives and works in Portland, Maine, with part of the winter months away in Georgia. She is the current chairperson for Nagaloka. Her love of the Dharma is noted in her name, Dharmasuri, which means “Heroine that embodies the path to Enlightenment.”
Gunopeta
Gunopeta lives in Lubec, Maine, where for the past 14 plus years he has led a weekly meditation and study group. He was ordained at Aryaloka in 1997. Gunopeta’s name can be translated as “Having good (or meritorious) qualities.” Although in recent years he has been unable to spend much time at Aryaloka, it has always felt like his “sangha home” and he often finds himself, in his imagination, sitting in the shrine room under the dome or walking among the pines beside the stream.
Kiranada
Kiranada means “She who radiates the light of the Bodhicitta moon.” She was introduced to Buddhism more than 25 years ago in an earlier life in Kyoto, Japan. Kiranada is an artist, lecturer, curator and author,specializing in Japanese batik – Rozome with strong interest in the connections between creativity and meditation.
Lilasiddhi
Lilasiddhi’s Sanskrit name translates as “spiritual and mundane accomplishments through play.” To her, it means she takes her practice and commitment very seriously, but herself lightly, she hopes. After decades of searching for a spiritual home, she is thrilled to have finally found her tribe in the Triratna Buddhist Order and at Aryaloka. “May all beings be happy and peaceful! Lilasiddhi teaches introductory classes as wells as Noble Silence Retreats.
Narottama
From his first retreat at Aryaloka in 1993 to his ordination in Spain in 2007 to the present day, Buddhism has guided Narottama’s personal transformation way beyond anything he might have thought possible. For Narottama, the Dharma, coupled with ever deepening communication with friends in the Triratna Buddhist Community, provides a positive framework for his spiritual growth. This has given rise to a deeper and richer trust and confidence in the Buddha, himself and his friendships. The Buddha, his teachings, and the compassionate sangha have allowed this farmer-at-heart from Maine to be grateful for each moment in which, with mindfulness, we strive on.
Rijupatha
Rijupatha became an instant Buddhist when he first arrived at Aryaloka in 2004 and saw the magic of the Dharma. He was ordained in September of 2014 and given his name, which means “He who walks the upright path.”
Rijupatha is an artist and graphic & web designer, and works with Aryaloka, Free Buddhist Audio, The Buddhist Centre Online, and with the international Order Office team, among others. He is involved with organizing the Young Sangha movement in New England and creates the layout for the Vajra Bell. Rijupatha is also the proud Poppa of two fabulous girls – Cheyenne and Willow.
Saricitta
Saricitta has been a part of the Aryaloka Buddhist community since 1991. She became a mitra in 1995 and was ordained in 2008. Her name means “She who has the heart/mind of a waterfall, with compassion flowing to all beings.” Saricitta has a special fondness for and devotion to Kuan Yin.
Professionally, Saricitta is a trained psychotherapist, but has spent the past eight years as a full time mother. She lives in Stratham with her husband, John, and her delightful young daughters, Samara and Annika.
Shrijnana
Shrijnana began practicing meditation and Buddhism after her first visit to Aryaloka in 1987. Her name means “she who has radiant wisdom,” and was given to her by Dhammadinna at her ordination in Italy in 2001. After having taught middle and high school science for over a decade, Shrijnana now works as the Executive Director of Aryaloka, where she coordinates the program of classes and retreats, and occasionally teaches Mitra Study and yoga. Shrijnana lives in Newmarket with her two young children, Maia and Malkias.
Singhatara
Singhatara’s name means “a protector who is like a lion, speaking the truth with clarity & authority.” She is a native of Portsmouth, N.H. and was ordained in Spain in 2012. She lives close to Aryaloka. In the early 90’s she shared her home as a women’s community having been a mitra for five years. After a leave of absence from Aryaloka, she returned and requested ordination. Singhatara is a former breeder, trainer, and event rider of European Warm Blood Horses, with advanced degrees in human psychology. She also works as a fiduciary in judicial services, chef for retreats, and dog breeder.
Sravaniya
Sravaniya was ordained in 2003, having first encountered meditation and the FWBO (later the Triratna Buddhist Community) in the UK in 1978. His name, inspired by an episode in the biography of Milarepa, means “Delightful to listen to” or “Worthy of being heard.” Sravaniya works as a professional orchestral conductor and violinist.
Suddhayu
Suddhayu developed an interest in Eastern philosophy and meditation as a teenager. In 1992 he attended his first meditation retreat at Aryaloka Buddhist Retreat Center in Newmarket, NH. Soon after, he moved in to the residential community there, where he lived for the next eight years. During this time, he also lived in England for six months where he worked for a Buddhist Right Livelihood project, and attended a four month retreat in the mountains of Spain where he was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order. In the new century, Suddhayu married Lona Kovacs and began work as the greenhouse manager for a local plant wholesaler. In 2008, he helped expand that business by cultivating the surrounding fields to grow vegetables, thus founding Touching Earth Farm, a CSA responsible for providing fresh vegetables to over seventy households. He is currently co-chair at the Portsmouth Buddhist Center.
Sunada
Sunada was ordained in 2004 and given her name, which means “beautiful, excellent sound”. It’s a reflection not only of her love of music, but also of spreading the beautiful teachings of the dharma. Sunada lives in the Boston area, where she teaches classes in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and coaches individual clients in living more mindful, purposeful lives (www.mindfulpurpose.com).
Surakshita
Surakshita ran onto Aryaloka in 1988 and found his Buddhist home. In 1998 he was ordained by Subhuti. His name means “Well protected by the Buddha.” Surakshita is married to Susan and has two sons who are married to beautiful women and four grandchildren who are the best! Susan and he are retired and thoroughly enjoying it.
Vidhuma
Vidhuma’s name is a Pali expression that translates into “No impurities” or “No obscurations.” Historically it was an epithet sometimes used to describe the Buddha’s dedicated followers. He was ordained in 1997, after first coming into contact with Aryaloka eight years earlier. Vidhuma lives one hour west of Aryaloka.
Vihanasari
Vihanasari has been a Buddhist since the year 2000 and was ordained in July, 2008. Her name means “The thrush that sings at dawn to announce the light of the Dharma (the Buddha’s teachings) coming into the world.”
Vihanasari is the former part-time administrator of the Aryaloka Buddhist Center and currently does some teaching at the center. She also serves on a number kulas (committees) including curriculum, teaching, generosity/engaged Buddhism, sangha care, outreach and bookstore as well as being a member of the administrative team. She loves living on the New Hampshire seacoast.
Viriyalila
Viriyalila, whose name means “playful, spontaneous, creative energy in pursuit of the Good,” has been been meditating and practicing Buddhism since 1994. Ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order in 2005, she has a passion for collaborative organizational teamwork and has served on a variety of councils at local, national and international levels including Aryaloka and Portsmouth Buddhist Centers, she helped form the North American Triratna Assembly, and served as movement representative on the Triratna International Council. She has a passion for the arts, communication, and Dharma study along with her livelihood as an Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist
