"No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path."
The Monastery
Sadhanarama Bana Vihara
Our Mission
To serve the mankind better and contribute our share to build a free, peaceful and happy world through Spiritual (Dhamma), Education, Cultural,
Sanitation, Women Empowerment and Rural Development.
Our History
​Arunachal Pradesh, the Land of the rising Sun, a serene land tucked into the North Eastern tip of India with its borders touching China, Bhutan and Myanmar, Arunachal Pradesh has been endowed with a natural landscape, untamed rivers, thundering peaks and wild forests is awe inspiring and majestic.
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In the Land of the rising sun, Sadhanarama Bana Vihara is located in Diyun circle, a small township on rise in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh with branch centers in Chongkham under Namsai district, Bijoypur under Bordumsa Circle, Ratnapur under Kharsang Circle, Dharmapur and Deban under Miao Circle.
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Diyun, which is mostly inhabited by Chakma Community, a Theravada Buddhist Community which takes great pride in its rich cultural heritage and pure traditional Buddhist culture. The Chakmas are the largest Buddhist Community in India. Since time immemorial, the Chakmas are followers of Theravada Buddhism, claiming to have originated from Sakya race in which Gautama Buddha was born.
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Sadhanarama Bana Vihara is a Buddhist Monastery in the pure Theravada traditions with emphasis on the study and practice of Morality and mediation. It was established in 2005 by the Most Venerable Nandapal Mahathera and follows the great lineage of the late Most Revered Venerable Sadhanananda Mahathera, popularly and lovingly known as Bana Bhante.
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The name ‘Bana Vihara’ which means forest monastery originated from a well-known and Revered Monk known as Bana Bhante ‘the forest monk’, the name that shines the crest of Buddhism today. Having practised Dhutanga (Austerity practice) and insight meditation through a span of 12 years out in the densely forest of Dhanpata and in different forest monasteries later, the Most Revered Venerable Bana Bhante is like a shining pole star in the Dhamma horizon having contributed in abundance to the preservation and revival of Buddhism.
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Life at Sadhanarama Bana Vihara around the Sangha, a Community of Monks and Lay Community. The Community of Monks follow the Dhamma full time and teach the Dhamma to the lay Community, which in turn supports the Community of Monks by providing the Four Requisites of a Monk - Food, Robes, Residence and Medicines. Lay person, who wish to develop their practice participate in the programs and activities at the Monastery.
​When we turn the pages of the history of the Sadhanarama Bana Vihara, we learn that since its inception it has brought many social, economic and cultural changes in the society. Before the establishment, people were afflicted with the dreaded disease of Alcohols, gambling, fighting, raring of animals in the name of gods to bring good fortunes, blind beliefs, rites and rituals. Taking of alcoholic drinks, drugs and gambling made the people poor. With the comprehensive and continuous gift of dhamma, people abandoned those dreaded disease afflicting the society and there was drastic change in the Socio-economic, spiritual and cultural development.
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The Community of Monks at Sadhanarama Bana Vihara are encourged to practice the Dhamma in Monastery as well as in Forest. We provides Monastics Training with a solid foundation and train them in the practical affairs of Buddhism and giving them a conception of Sangha management. Emphasis is placed on strict observance of precepts so that they will be able to propagate the Dhamma. The Monks staying in Monastery run the Dhamma programs and other humanitarian activities of the Foundation. After helping in the Monastery, if the Monks wants to refine their mind, they go to forest for Meditation.
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The Monks living in Forest live a life of simplicity, austerity with diligent effort to refine their minds. They go door-to-door for alms food in the villages. The Monks never knew where their next meal would come from, or whether they would get any food at all. The Forest Tradition revival is an attempt to reach back to past centuries before modern era and revitalize the ancient standards of Buddhist practice that were missing in contemporary monastic life.In this way, our Monks function dual roles dedicating their life to the welfare and happiness of many and developing the mind.
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Sadhanarama Bana Vihara’s objective is to instill, strengthen, moral and spiritual values in individuals, society and the world to promote a society of wisdom, compassion and gratitude.
