About Our Vihara

Samadhi Buddhist Vihara is the main Sri Lankan based Buddhist temple in the south island of New Zealand. Situated in 358 Maddisons Road, Rolleston Samadhi Buddhist Vihara extends its services to the other far away cities in the south island, such as Dunedin and Invercargill.

Samadhi Buddhist Vihara was established in may 2002 with the support of Sri Lankan and other Buddhist well-wishers in New Zealand to fulfill the religious and spiritual aspirations of the Buddhist community in the south island.Samadhi Buddhist Vihara follows Theravada Buddhist tradition and provides spiritual guidance to integrate Lord Buddha’s teachings into everyday life of the Buddhist community.

The Vihara has been the center for many spiritual and cultural activities of the Sri Lankan Buddhists living in the south island.

The community has been positively influenced through the association and participation of these activities. It has been a great pleasure to see the section of community who always had a close liaison with the temple, expanding their spiritual and cultural awareness as well as another section becoming interested in the teachings of Buddha.

This centre currently conducts many regular programmes including monthly Sil programmes, weekly Sri Lankan language and cultural school Dhamma School, weekly Dhamma discussions during the Vassana (rainy) season, meditation retreats as well as annual events such as celebration of Vesak, Katina robe ceremony and other religious and social activities.

The Dhamma library of the Vihara is being maintained in a high quality, providing knowledge to those who seek refuge of Lord Buddha’s teachings. The aim of Samadhi Buddhist Vihara is to provide a unique environment whereby the community can grow in unity and develop in physical, psychological and social dimensions with spiritual awareness and understanding according to the teachings of Lord Buddha.