Bhante K. Sri Dhammaratana Maha Thera
Chief Incumbent
Bhante Dhammaratana is the Chief Prelate (Sangha Nayake) of Sri Lankan Buddhist temples in Scandinavia. He was ordained as a monk at the age of 13 and arrived in Sweden in 1989. In 1995, he became the Chief Incumbent of the Vihara in Sweden, a position he holds to this day. He is a highly knowledgeable individual, holding a BA Honours degree in Buddhism from the University of Kelaniya and an MA degree from the University of Jayawardenapura in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, he has educational diplomas in oriental language studies such as Pali, Sanskrit, and Sinhalese. He also possesses extensive administrative experience, having served as a Co-coordinating Officer for Pirivena and Religious Education in the central province of Sri Lanka.
Monks
Bhante K. Sri Dhammaratana Maha Thero
Bhante U Sobhana Thero
Bhante Dhammakkanda Thero
Our Vision and Mission
Vision
Our aim is to provide a sanctuary and guidance to learn and practice Dhamma – Vinaya (teachings of
the Buddha) for everybody interested in Buddhism and Buddhist Philosophy in Sweden and
Scandinavia.
Mission
Our mission is to facilitate and support everybody interested in Buddhism to find the meaning and
happiness of the life through understanding of dhamma (teachings of the buddha), so that one could
further investigate and get an insight in to the “Four Noble Truths” through the practice of “The
Eight-Fold Path” as it was taught and explained by the Gauthama Buddha.
History of Vihara
Stockholm Buddhist Vihara is a Buddhist temple of Theravada tradition. It was established in 1985 by the Sri Lanka-Sweden Buddhist Association in conjunction with the arrival of the first resident Venerable Monk to Stockholm. It is the first ever Buddhist temple that was formed in Scandinavia and the members are mostly of Sri Lankan origin.
The Sri Lanka-Sweden Buddhist Association came into being in 1983 as a result of the untiring effort and dedication by a few ardent Buddhist devotees who gathered in Stockholm during the winter of 1982 to discuss the possibility of forming an Association. Their courage and determination resulted in establishing a temporary organisation named, the Sri Lanka-Sweden Buddhist Association which became permanent after the General Meeting held in March, 1983 at the SIDA Auditorium in Stockholm.
Once the Stockholm Buddhist Vihara was established in 1985 it moved to several temporary places through the years until the monks and the devotees succeeded in acquiring a permanent building for the Vihara in Jakobsberg in 1995.
What we can offer!
Our Programs and events are free and open to members as well as anybody interested in Buddhism
and Buddhist Philosophy. Our effort is to provide and maintain a suitable premises where everybody
can find peace and serene environment that is conducive to the teachings and practice of the Buddha
(Dhamma - Vinaya). We encourage, facilitate and support individuals who wish to study, practice,
and follow the teachings of Buddha, by themselves to get an insight in to the truth according to
Buddhist perspective.
Find your inner peace!
Find your inner peace through knowledge of Dhamma and Practice, investigate and analyze
yourself, step by step you will get an insight in to the Truth!