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  • Bhante Subodha

    Founder and President

  • Michael Plant

    Vice President

  • Hui Yun Chen

    Secretary

    • Marco Bianchi

    My name is Marco Bianchi. When I became a father, I felt an immense responsibility settle on my shoulders. I quickly realized that my impulsive nature would not serve me well in this new role. One particularly stressful day, searching for clarity and peace of mind, I decided to try meditation. I typed “Buddhist temple near me” into Google—and found one with a name that felt deeply inspiring.

    With some hesitation, I drove there, not knowing what to expect. I timidly rang the bell, and to my surprise, a smiling monk answered the door. He welcomed me with warmth, offered me a seat and a cup of tea, and we had a gentle conversation. That monk was Bhante Subhoda. He invited me to join one of his meditation classes.

    That first visit marked the beginning of a meaningful journey. Today, I’m honored to serve as the treasurer of this organization, supporting the very community that helped me begin to transform my life.

  • Marco Bianchi

    Treasure

    • Marco Bianchi

    My name is Marco Bianchi. When I became a father, I felt an immense responsibility settle on my shoulders. I quickly realized that my impulsive nature would not serve me well in this new role. One particularly stressful day, searching for clarity and peace of mind, I decided to try meditation. I typed “Buddhist temple near me” into Google—and found one with a name that felt deeply inspiring.

    With some hesitation, I drove there, not knowing what to expect. I timidly rang the bell, and to my surprise, a smiling monk answered the door. He welcomed me with warmth, offered me a seat and a cup of tea, and we had a gentle conversation. That monk was Bhante Subhoda. He invited me to join one of his meditation classes.

    That first visit marked the beginning of a meaningful journey. Today, I’m honored to serve as the treasurer of this organization, supporting the very community that helped me begin to transform my life.

Board of Directors

THE TEAM

Meet Our Team

Behind the Vimutti Dhamma Community is a dedicated team of individuals committed to spreading the Dhamma and serving the community with compassion, wisdom, and integrity. Each member plays a vital role in organizing events, supporting spiritual growth, and ensuring the smooth functioning of our activities. United by a shared vision of peace and liberation, our team works mindfully to create a welcoming space for all who seek the path of Dhamma.

Bhante Subodha

My name is Bhante Subodha. I was born in Sri Lanka. I grew up in a big family; I have five siblings. When I was a child, I went to the temple with my family for ceremonies, full moon day retreats and to attend Sunday school. When I was nine or ten years old, I felt so peaceful in the temple and I understood that was my place. I decided then that I wanted to be a monk. I communicated this intention to my family, but my family didn’t agree. They expected me to get married and have a family.

During my elementary school years, one of my teachers was a Buddhist monk. He had a big influence on me. He was a very good teacher and a kind man and this reinforced my idea of becoming a monk. When I was 17 I decided that I couldn’t wait any longer to become a monk so I told my parents that I will stop going to school until I was allowed to study to become a monk, at that point my family agreed. I met my master, Bhante Sorata and I started my training at the Mulagandha Kuti Maha Viharaya in Welisara, Sri Lanka and I was ordained on the day of the Kathina Ceremony in 1990. I received my full ordination in 1993.

I studied languages, primarily Sanskrit and Pali at the Kelaniya university of Sri Lanka, and I graduated in 2001. From 2002 I worked in Vidyaravinda Maha Piriwena as a High school teacher. Subsequently from 2006 I worked as a vice principal until 2008 and as a principal until to 2013 in the Vidyaloka Piriwena.

I always felt very lucky because I had so many wonderful teachers and I was exposed to the Dhamma and I wanted to give back. I wanted to come to the United States and share the Dhamma. One day I met Bhante Dhammadipa, who was, at the time, the Abbot of the Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, NY and Temple of Enlightenment in the Bronx, who invited me to United States. I was appointed as prior to the Temple of Enlightenment in the Bronx. I am currently guiding for meditation and teaching Dhamma in the Bronx in Westchester county and online.

Contact Us

There are many ways to get involved with Vimutti Dhamma Community, from volunteering and donating to attending our events and spreading the word. Join our community today to make a difference.

Have a question or a suggestion? We're always here to help. Contact us today and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.