Bhante Assaji

Bhante Assaji became an ordained monk in 2002 at the age of 10 in Sri Lanka. He is now an esteemed monastic at Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple in Woodstock, IL.

Prior to his arrival in the United States in 2018, he was a teacher in his monastery in Sri Lanka. While he was teaching, he gained an enormous amount of knowledge and a passion for guiding and providing resources to his students. He studied Sanskrit and Pali (the ancient language of the Buddha) more than 20 years ago and has taught classes on Sanskrit specifically. In 2014 he obtained his master’s degree in Pali and Sanskrit. The origin of the language has great significance, and he enjoys sharing his skills with those who are interested.

At TBY, Bhante Assaji leads special events, including workshops on Sanskrit. He is a great resource for those who are interested in expanding their meditation practice. He is devoted to teaching the Dhamma and promotes loving-kindness in his meditations.

In his free time, he enjoys being outdoors and exploring our community. He is also a talented graphic designer and is currently in school for his degree.