Saranaloka Foundation

In the Beginning

Saranaloka Foundation is a nonprofit stewardship organization that was started in 2005 by a group of lay practitioners for the purpose of bringing Theravada Buddhist nuns of the Forest Tradition from Chithurst and Amaravati monasteries in England to the United States to teach, and to establish a training monastery for nuns in the United States.

By 2009, Saranaloka Foundation had opened Aloka Vihara in San Francisco, a monastic residence for a small group of nuns who had previously lived in England. In 2014, Aloka Vihara moved to the Sierra Foothills close to the town of Placerville and developed into Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery.

Today

In January 2023 Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery closed at the Placerville location, read more. The Saranaloka Foundation and its board members and advisors continue to support its two spiritual directors Ayya Anandabodhi and Ayya Santacitta in all manner as before, including the Four Requisites. Currently Ayya Santacitta is developing the Aloka Earth Room in San Rafael and Ayya Anandabodhi will begin her upcoming sabbatical in June of this year.

We invite you to join us in offering the resources needed to support and provide for the daily needs of the Nuns’ Community.

Please visit the Donate page to find out how you can contribute.