‘Buddhism in Spanish is here’: the Latino monks building a unique community

Venerable Sanathavihari is breaking down language and cultural barriers to welcome newcomers to an LA temple

When Venerable Sanathavihari was ordained as a Buddhist monk eight years ago, it was a lonely experience. As a young Mexican American who grew up Catholic in Los Angeles' Koreatown, he didn't know many other monks he could relate to.

But since then, he's helped build a flourishing Latino Buddhist community at Sarathchandra Buddhist Center in North Hollywood, a temple founded by Sri Lankan Americans. The temple now has two Latino monks and another in training - thought to be the most at any temple in LA - as well as a growing number of Latino laypeople who help sustain temple life.