Venerable Bhante Kusala

​

Bhante Kusala is a Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka. Born in 1987, he entered the monastic life at the age of 16 in 2004 at Sri Gangagiri Vihara in south Sri Lanka. He did his undergraduate and graduate studies in the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka majoring in Pali language. In 2012-13, he moved to Italy and studied cognitive science and engaged in mindfulness-based research works at the University of Trento.

​

He came to Harvard University and pursued a Master of Divinity degree. After his graduation, he became a resident chaplain at Brigham and Women’s hospital and Dana Faber Cancer Institute. He has lectured in University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy, Asgiriya monastic training school in Pali and Buddhism classes.

 

He spent two summers at the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center in Missouri and traveled in Sri Lanka and Indonesia with Bhante Vimalaramsi, and venerable Sister Khema as their translator. Since 2011, he also has been serving as the translator for Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Brahmali, Bhikkhu Analayo. He has offered his teachings in Moscow, Europe, Canada, USA, Indonesia, and many other places.

​

Bhante Kusala helps children, youth, and adults with their spiritual counseling needs. Since 2018, he lives at the Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara in Michigan sharing dhamma to the wider great lakes community and volunteering in hospitals in the area as a spiritual care provider. He recently finished teaching a course in Pāli at MABA (Mid-America Buddhist Association) in Missouri. He is also working on his 3rd year of PhD in Pāli based in Sri Jayawardenapura University of Sri Lanka.

​

He co-founded and is currently the resident monk with Bhante Samitha at the Peace House in Cambridge, Mass. leading various study and meditation classes. 

​

On occaision he will lead courses at the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center in Missouri each year.