My name is Steven Bonta and I am a faculty member at Penn State-Altoona with a PhD in linguistics from Cornell University, specializing in the languages of South Asia, including Sinhala (the language of Sri Lanka). For more than a year, I have made regular visits to Sadaham Sevana Vihara near Breezewood, Pennsylvania, to study the Pali language with Bhante Indaratana. Bhante Indaratana has given unstintingly of his time and, more importantly, his immense erudition, in helping me to improve my knowledge of Pali, the classical language of Theravada Buddhism in which all the sayings of the Buddha were originally written. Together we have studied and translated portions of the Rasavahini, a marvelous collection of Buddhist tales compiled centuries ago by a Ceylonese monk, Vedeha, and never rendered into English. Bhante Indaratana is a bona fide scholar of the dauntingly difficult Pali language, enjoying mastery of a nuanced classical idiom that very few if any non-South Asian pundits could ever hope to achieve.

Bhante Indaratana is also a man of unimpeachable decency, the very epitome of modesty, charity, and self-denial that his beliefs enjoin, and the same could be said of his fellow monks. Against considerable odds, including geographical remoteness, cultural indifference, and challenges in raising funds for support, Bhante Indaratana has built and sustained a wonderful little sanctum of peace and contemplation. The Sadaham Sevana Vihara on the outside very much resembles a modest Pennsylvania farmhouse like the thousands of others in this part of the world. Inside, however, it is as well-appointed a Therevada Buddhist sanctuary as I have ever visited. With the exquisitely-laid out shrine and kitchen well-stocked with authentic Sri Lankan foodstuffs, the casual visitor might think himself in Sri Lanka itself.

One of the highlights of my visits to Sadaham Sevana has been the opportunity to eat the authentic Sri Lankan cuisine served up by Bhante Indaratana and his fellow monks. Sri Lankan food, rarely encountered in the United States, is spicier than Indian food but every bit as mouth-watering. The monks of Sadaham Sevana always provide generous amounts of water for Westerners like me, whose palates are less accustomed to Sri Lankan hot peppers!

Although they have never once demanded payment or recompense of any kind for their seemingly boundless hospitality, I have been as generous as possible in rendering assistance to Bhante Indaratana and his fellow monks for their service. During my association with these exemplary gentlemen, I have seen their vihara prosper. As word of what they have to offer – instruction in classical Buddhist language and scriptures, meditation techniques, and all things pertaining to Theravada religion and culture – continues to spread, I anticipate that Sadaham Sevana’s reputation will grow accordingly. I hope to continue my association with these men and with this establishment, which epitomizes the very best of what Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhism represents.