The Santipada Buddhist Monastery
of New Zealand is dedicated to providing opportunities for monastics and laypeople to learn and practice the liberating teachings of the Buddha. Our tradition is Zen/Theravada, which is a balanced combination of Zen Buddhism with Theravada Tradition. We are open and respectful to all other traditions that embody the Central Doctrine of the Buddha: Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path.
Santipada is a fourfold sangha of monastics (Bikkhu and Bikkhuni) and lay persons (Upasaka and Upasika) committed to learning and practice the virtue, morality, and meditation to gain the Quality of the Buddha: “The Awakened One”.
Bhante (Ayya) Yasala is the abbot of the monastery who ordained as a Bhikkuni (Female Monk) in the Korean Zen tradition in 1984. After completion of four years study of the Buddhist Doctrine, she practiced Zen meditation during a four-year intensive silent retreat in a remote mountain area. Later, Bhante went to Myanmar and India to practice meditation and learn the Theravadan tradition. In 2003, she came to New Zealand to share her experiences on meditation and the wisdom of Buddhism. Bhante Yasala is in charge of the monastery as an Abbot and responsible to train the female novice monastics.
Bhante Anuttara was born in Korea in 1967. In his youth, he studied Sociology and Art and took part in movements for freedom and democracy. A serious accident that left him in a coma opened a new direction in his life, awakening a deep spiritual search.
His journey first led him to India, where he lived for seven years learning and practicing the Dhamma. Later, he spent ten years in Germany as both a calligraphy artist and a dedicated lay practitioner. In 2008, he ordained as a Zen monk in Korea, and two years later embraced the Theravāda tradition.
Since then, Bhante has worked for the revival of Buddhism in India and, since 2015, has been in New Zealand helping Santipada Monastery grow into a place of practice and community for the fourfold Sangha.