Mahapajapati Monastery

Specialties

We are a Buddhist Women’s Monastery located just off Pipes Canyon Road. Please call to arrange a visit or send an e-​mail. Phone 760−369−0460.

History

Established in 2008.

The land and the building were donated to Mahapajapati Foundation to create a place for women who have dedicated their lives to living as Buddhist nuns in the Theravada tradition. Lay women and men are welcome to come and meditate with us and study the discourses of the Buddha.

Meet the Manager

Ayya Gunasari W.

Manager

Ayya Gunasari is the abbess of Mahapajapati Monastery. She was born and raised in Burma and came to live in the U.S. with her husband in 1962. She raised five children and was a anesthesiologist. After retiring from her medical career she wanted to become a bhikkhuni (fully ordained Buddhist nun). She received ordination in Sri Lanka in 2003.