The Community of Samaṇadīpa
Bhante Ñāṇamoli Thero
The General Guardian
He was born in Smederevo, Serbia, in 1983. He took anagārika precepts in UK in 2005, sāmaṇera ordination in 2006, and Upasampada in 2007. Ajahn Ñāṇamoli is the author of Meanings, Dhamma Within Reach, and The Only Way to Jhāna. He regularly provides teachings on the "Hillside Hermitage" YouTube channel. Previously he lived in various forest monasteries in Europe and Thailand, before spending over 8 years living remotely in the mountains of Sri Lanka. In 2021, he moved his Hermitage to a new and secluded location in Slovenia with the help of the Samaṇadīpa Sangha.
Bhante Kondañño Thero
senior incumbent at Vihara Pod Lasem
He was born in 1976 in Poland. In 2007 he took anagārika precepts in Chithurst Monastery, UK and a year later became samanera. In 2009 he was admitted into the bhikkhu sangha in the Upasampada ceremony in Amaravati Monastery with Luang Por Sumedho as his preceptor. His monastic time has been shared between living in monasteries and hermitages in Europe and Asia. Currently, he's residing in Vihara Pod Lasem Hermitage in Poland.
Bhante Ṭhāniyo Thero
He was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1981. He became a bhikkhu in 2010. Previously he lived in various forest monasteries in Europe, before spending over seven years living more secluded in the mountains of Sri Lanka.
Bhante Phāsuko Thero
Guestmonk
He was born in 1980 in The Netherlands. He became a bhikkhu in 2014, living in international branch monasteries of Wat Pah Pong. He has been living at Samaṇadīpa Hermitage since 2019.
Bhante Samacitto
He was born in the south of Germany, in 1995. His monastic life began in 2018 in Wat Pah Nanachat, Thailand. He was accepted into the community of bhikkhus (upasampadā) in Wat Nong Pah Pong on the 10th of January 2020 with Luang Por Liem Ṭhitadhammo as his preceptor. During his life as a junior monk he spent some time at different monasteries in Thailand, several years in England (Aruna Ratangiri) and one year in Germany (Muttodaya). He resides in Samaṇadīpa since the end of 2025.
Bhante Anīgha
He is from Panama, born in 2000. He took on sāmaṇera precepts in 2020 and bhikkhu ordination in 2021, in the Galduwa Forest Tradition of Sri Lanka. He has been living at Samaṇadīpa since late 2023.
Bhante Ñāṇadīpo
He was born in 1987 in London, UK. He took on sāmaṇera precepts in early October 2020 and bhikkhu ordination in July 2021 at Samaṇadīpa Hermitage.
Bhante Samiddhi
He was born in Delaware, USA, in 1999. He took on anagārika precepts in August 2023, samaṇera precepts in May 2024, and bhikkhu ordination in June 2025 at Samaṇadīpa Hermitage.
Bhante Bodhicitto
He was born in Noyon, France, in 1994. He took on samaṇera precepts in July 2024, and bhikkhu ordination in June 2025 at Samaṇadīpa Hermitage.
Bhante Tejanando
He was born in London, UK, in 1999. He took on sāmaṇera precepts in December 2024, and bhikkhu ordination in June 2025 at Samaṇadīpa Hermitage.
Sāmaṇera Jotiko
He was born in Poland in 1990. He took on sāmaṇera precepts in Vihara Pod Lasem, where he currently resides, in July 2025.
Anagārika Ishaan
He is from Australia, born in India in 1992. He took on anagārika precepts in June 2025 at Samaṇadīpa Hermitage.
Anagārika Gian Paolo
He was born in Italy in 1990. He took on anagārika precepts in October 2025 at Samaṇadīpa Hermitage. He currently resides at Vihara Pod Lasem (Poland).
Anagārikā Medhini
She was born in Ireland in 1995. She took on anagārika precepts in July 2022 at Samaṇadīpa Hermitage.
Anagārikā Dhīrā
She was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1985. She took on anagārika precepts in July 2024 at Hillside Hermitage.
Anagārikā Amāyā
She was born in Slovenia in 1983. She took on anagārika precepts in February 2026 at Samaṇadīpa Hermitage.
Administration
Hiriko - Primož Korelc
The FOunder and the legal representative
Hiriko was born in 1985 in Ljubljana. He was a Buddhist monk for 18 years, mostly abroad. In 2016, he founded the Samanadipa Monastery and served as its abbot until 2022, and now he works as a representative of the monastery. Hiriko is also known for his contribution to Buddhist literature. He was the chief editor of Path Press and the author of two biographical books: "The Hermit of Bundala" and "The Island Within," as well as a translator. In addition to his dedication to Buddhism, Hiriko actively engages in personal exploration and development. He is currently a psychotherapist, using Buddhist, existential, and logotherapy approach