Born in Canada, Ven. Sona's background as a layperson is in classical guitar performance. His encounter with Buddhist wisdom as a young man initiated a spiritual journey that led him to become a lay hermit for several years. He subsequently ordained as a Theravada monk under Ven. Gunaratana, at the Bhavana Society in West Virginia, where his first years of training took place. Ven. Sona further trained for over three years at monasteries following Ajahn Chah in northeast Thailand, especially Wat Pah Nanachat. Upon his return to Canada in 1994 he helped found Birken Forest Monastery near Pemberton, BC. As its spiritual guide, Ajahn ("teacher") Sona has led the monastery through each stage of its growth. He established Birken (or, Sītavana, 'cool forest') in its final location south of Kamloops BC in 2001.

Ven. Sona has ample experience leading meditation retreats and lecturing on Buddhist meditation and practice, both in Canada and abroad. His teachings combine tried-and-true Buddhist wisdom with modern commonsense.

Ven. Bhikkhu Pavaro

Ven. Pavaro began his monastic training at Birken in 2001. He arrived at the beginning of the construction phase of the monastery from a career as an academic in Calgary, with chainsaws and 2x6s replacing lecture preparation. Over this time he has continued to deepen his understanding of the Dhamma and monastic life. Ven. Pavaro received his full ordination in November 2003, with Ajahn Pasanno, co-abbot of Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, as preceptor (upajjhaya), and Ajahn Sona as his teacher (acariya).

My interest in Buddhism began in 1996 with Goldstein & Kornfield's 'Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight Meditation'. I gravitated to Theravada via Religious Studies courses on Buddhism in university. I went on my first of several ten-day 'Goenka retreats' in 2000. It was then that I knew I had to become a monk so my life could centre around meditation. Before ordaining, I worked mainly as a Systems Administrator for various software corporations. My formal education is a four-year B.Sc of Computational Science from the University of Saskatchewan.

Ven. Bhikkhu Dhammavaro

Ven. Dhammavaro was born in Calgary, Alberta on June 16, 1983. After several years of unfocused studying at university followed by a profitable period in business, Ven. Dhammavaro's spiritual aspirations became the focus of his life and he left for an extended stay in Thailand. Not knowing what he was really looking for, he wound up at Ajahn Buddhadassa's monastery, Wat Suan Mokkh in the South of Thailand. After the monthly 10-day meditation retreat at the monastery, he knew he had found what he was unconsciously searching for. Wanting to train in his native Canada, Ven. Dhammavaro joined the Birken community in late 2006, receiving his full ordination in October 2008 with Ajahn Pasanno as preceptor. 

Ven. Bhikkhu Suvaco