Resident Monks

Venerable Koppakande Sumanajothi

Venerable Koppakande Sumanajothi became a monk at Adam's Peak (Sripada) in Sri Lanka, under the kind guidance of Venerable Koppakande Sumanatisaa Maha Thera. His higher ordination took place at Malwathu Maha Vihara, Kandy, Sri Lanka in 1986.

He received his primary education at Sri Medhankara Pirivena, Urubokka, Matara. His higher education was at Vidyaratha College where he received a Royal Pandit degree, a B.A. degree at Sri Jayawardenapura University, an M.A. degree from Kelaniya University and a Diploma in Education from Colombo University of Sri Lanka. In America, Ven. Sumanajothi earned an A.A. degree at West Los Angeles College and an M.A. at Hshi Lai University in Los Angeles, California. Ven. Sumanajothi taught Buddhist Philosophy, Pali, Sanskrit and Sinhalese languages at Vidyaratna College for six years.

He came to the United States at the invitation of Most Venerable Dr. Walpola Piyananda Nayaka Maha Thera of Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles, California. Ven. Piyananda tutored him for almost eight years on the American culture and environment. He generously provided Ven. Sumanajothi with all his needs, as well as his education. With the blessings of Ven. Piyananda, Ven. Sumanajhoti left Los Angeles to establish this temple in Cincinnati.

Ven. Sumanajothi serves as Chief Abbot of the Ohio Buddhist Vihara.

The Venerable Daiun Iba

The Venerable Daiun Iba, of Osaka, Japan is the Most Venerable Chief Monk of the Ohio Buddhist Vihara. He earned a B.S. degree in mathematics at Tohoku University, Japan in 1972. Ven. Iba came to the United States for graduate work, studying business management in the Japan-America Institute of Management Science (JAIMS) in Hawaii.  After a successful career in business, Ven. Iba became a Buddhist monk in 1991.  He studied and practiced Buddhist teachings under numerous well-reputed Buddhist masters in Japan. He studied Kokuzo-Gumonji-Hou meditation in Mt Kouya-san Shinbessho Buddhist monastery and Tairyuji monastery.

Ven.  Daiun Iba has a close, friendly relationship with Sri Lanka as well as with Sri Lankan monks. He often visits Sri Lanka for social and religious programs. With the help of his father and friends, he initiated the “Daiun Buddhist Education Fund” in 2000, in order to assist young Sri Lankan Buddhist monks with their studies. In appreciation for his invaluable service to Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Ven. Iba was awarded the honorary title “Sakya Putra Sangha Sobhana Keerti Sri” by Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya in 2003.