Venerable Bhante Saccānanda

Ven. Dr. Saccānanda Mahāthera is a respected meditation teacher and scholar with more than two decades of dedicated practice. He guides retreats and students across the United States, including at the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center in Missouri and at his own Brahma Vihāra Meditation Center in New York. His approach—Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation (TWIM)—draws directly from the earliest Buddhist discourses, emphasizing the Brahmavihāras of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity as a living path to awakening. He is widely appreciated for his warm presence, spontaneous teaching style, and light-hearted humor, which make the Dhamma accessible and uplifting for people of all backgrounds.

Ven. Dr. Saccānanda Mahāthera is known for his warm presence, spontaneous and insightful teaching style, humor, and light-heartedness. He is widely respected by students and peers for making the Dhamma accessible, joyful, and transformative.

Education

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), New York Theological Seminary, New York, USA
Dissertation: Brahma Vihāra Leads to Nibbāna (Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity as the Path to Highest Peace)
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Buddhist Studies, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Bangkok, Thailand
Thesis (in English): The Analytical Study of the Origin and the Development of Buddhism in Cox’s Bāzār, Bangladesh
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Buddhist Studies, International Theravāda Buddhist Missionary University (ITBMU), Yangon, Myanmar, with honors
Diploma in Buddhist Studies, International Theravāda Buddhist Missionary University, Yangon, Myanmar
Intermediate of Science (I.Sc.), Noapara Degree College, Bangladesh

Teaching & Leadership

Founder and Abbot, Brahma Vihāra Meditation Center (BVMC), Westbury, Long Island, New York (2017–present)
- Established a meditation center for children, families, and lay practitioners.
- Conducts weekly teachings, daylong workshops, and residential retreats.
- Provides training in meditation based on early Buddhist texts.
Teacher, Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center (DSMC), Annapolis, Missouri
- Guides retreats in Tranquil-Insight Meditation (TWIM).
- Collaborates with Bhante Vimalaramsi in teaching Brahmavihāra practices.
Abbot, Bangladesh Buddhist Vihāra of New York, New York (2008–2014)
- Oversaw Sangha administration and community services.
- Organized cultural and religious activities for the Bangladeshi Buddhist community in the U.S.

Research Interests & Practice

Over 21 years of meditation practice, including:
- 14 years of intensive Vipassanā practice in Myanmar and Thailand.
- Training under Bhante Vimalaramsi (DSMC), emphasizing the Brahmavihāras.
Developed and teaches Tranquil-Insight Meditation (TWIM), a system grounded in the Majjhima Nikāya and Saṃyutta Nikāya.
Research and teaching focus:
- Early Buddhist meditation methods.
- Application of the Brahmavihāras as a complete path to awakening.
- Integration of meditation into daily life for children, families, and communities.

Publications

Brahma Vihāra Leads to Nibbāna (Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity Leads to Highest Peace)
The Analytical Study of Buddhism in Cox’s Bāzār, Bangladesh
The Daily Life of a Buddhist

Personal Teaching Style

Ven. Dr. Saccānanda Mahāthera is known for his warm presence, spontaneous and insightful teaching style, humor, and light-heartedness. He is widely respected by students and peers for making the Dhamma accessible, joyful, and transformative.

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Weekend and week long meditation retreat a available at the Brahma Vihāra Meditation Center, Westbury, Long Island, New York

Alongside retreats, he also teaches children and families, ensuring that future generations can carry meditation into daily life with clarity, ease, and joy.

Brahma Vihāra Leads to Nibbanā

Brahma Vihāra Leads to Nibbanā: Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity Leads to the Highest Peace
Paperback – August 11, 2023
Ven. Dr. Saccānanda Mahāthera (Author)

As a Buddhist monk of the Brahma Vihāra Meditation Center, I am concerned that members of the Buddhist faith do not practice the four immeasurable states (Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity) meditation techniques that help them find peace within. Members who do not practice these meditation techniques will suffer needless unease in their daily lives.

This demonstration project will introduce these meditation techniques to the parents and their children through Buddhist Sunday School in hopes that these families will be examples to the whole community.

Availalable on Amazon Books HERE

Temporary Ordination (left video)

Since 2023 Bhante has been a preceptor for to temporarly ordain monks (Sāmaṇera) to live as a monk or Buddhist nun while on a 14 day meditation retreat. In this video, Bhante Saccananda leads the monks on a alms round, People at the offer ceremonial rice and then then the mid day meal in a line outside Dining Hall —May 4th, 2023 Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center,

Attainment from Jhana (right video)

Guest teacher Bhante Saccananda provides greater understandig to Buddhas Discourse in MN 52, Bhante explains how to attain nibbana while in any jhana.

Bhante trained by Bhante Vimalaramsi for many years. He is the abbot of the Brahma Vihara Meditation Center in New York where he teaches TWIM, — July 2022

The Brahma Vihāra Meditation Center is dedicated to providing spiritual services and programs to all who seek them. We rely solely on the generosity of our supporters to keep our doors open and to continue offering our services to the community.

As a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, all donations made to The Brahma Vihāra Meditation Center are tax-deductible. Your support, no matter the amount. Your contribution will go a long way in ensuring that the Center can continue providing a spiritual home for everyone.

Your financial contributions help us sustain our center, which provides meditation classes, study groups, and other programs. These programs are important in promoting spiritual growth and enlightenment, and we want to continue offering them to the community.

We encourage you to become a monthly sustainer, as regular monthly donations are crucial to our center’s sustainability. You don’t have to make a large commitment; even a modest amount coming from your heart can make a big difference.

Please look into your heart and see what you can give, according to your ability. Any level of contribution is appreciated, and your donations will serve as the candles that we need to continue shining a light on the spiritual path.

Thank you for your support and generosity. Together, we can continue to provide a spiritual home for all who seek it.