Founded 1958
About the Monastery
The Meaning of Our Name
Our name is drawn from three words: Brahma, the noble or exalted; Vihara, a way of life; and Arama, a dwelling place. Together they mean “a noble place of dwelling” — and they point to the Brahmavihara of the Pali Canon, the four boundless states of Loving-Kindness (Metta), Compassion (Karuna), Appreciative Joy (Mudita), and Equanimity (Upekkha).
A Journey of Faith
Our story begins with a journey taken on someone else’s behalf. In 1956 the Balinese spiritual teacher Ida Ketut Jelantik was invited to a Vesak gathering at Watugong in Semarang, Java. Unable to travel, he sent his nephew, Ida Bagus Giri, in his place. The young man who returned to Bali had found his life’s direction.
By 1958 he was leading a small circle of practitioners in meditation beside the hot springs at Banjar, on borrowed land. He would later ordain as a bhikkhu in Bangkok, taking the name Girirakkhito — “guardian of the mountain”. As the community outgrew that first site and the crowds around the springs made stillness difficult, he sought higher, quieter ground.
In 1969 he acquired land in the hills at Banjar Tegeha. Construction began in November 1970, and on 21 May 1971 the monastery opened at the place it still stands today. An earthquake damaged the complex in 1976; it was patiently rebuilt. Today Brahmavihara Arama is the largest Buddhist monastery in Bali — a Theravada sanctuary within an island of some twenty thousand Hindu temples, and a living community rather than a monument.
1958
Founding Year
Our Founder
Bhikkhu Girirakkhito Mahathera
Born Ida Bagus Giri · 12 January 1927 – 5 January 1997
Born into a Brahmin family in Banjar, Buleleng — the very district where this monastery now stands — Ida Bagus Giri came to the robe by a long road. He married and raised five children, traded coffee and cars across Bali, Java and Sumatra, and in 1946 founded a music and theatre troupe that performed for the provincial information bureau for over a decade.
He was ordained as a bhikkhu in Bangkok on 15 November 1966 and given the name Girirakkhito, “guardian of the mountain”. He went on to serve as chairman of Walubi, Indonesia’s Buddhist council, from 1982 until his death, and as a vice-president of the World Buddhist Sangha Council. He is remembered across Indonesia as a pioneer of the country’s Buddhist revival — and, by many, for the Vesak hymns he composed, which are still sung today.
A Timeline
1958
A circle of practitioners begins meditating together beside the Banjar hot springs, on borrowed land.
1966
Ida Bagus Giri is ordained a bhikkhu in Bangkok and receives the name Girirakkhito.
1969
Land is acquired in the hills at Banjar Tegeha, seeking quieter ground.
1970
Construction of the present monastery begins in November.
1971
The monastery opens for worship and practice on 21 May.
1976
An earthquake damages the complex; rebuilding follows.
1999
The miniature Borobudur is built at the highest point of the grounds, honouring the founder.
Architectural Grandeur
Set on a hillside above Banjar Tegeha, the grounds rise through three terraced courtyards — an ascent that mirrors the path toward awakening, and opens onto views of the northern sea and mountains.
The Mini Borobudur
Built in 1999 in tribute to our founder, a scale evocation of Java's great monument, used for circumambulation and meditation.
Hindu-Buddhist Harmony
Balinese stonework and motifs drawn from the island’s Hindu heritage sit alongside Buddhist symbolism throughout the complex — an inheritance of the Siwa-Buddhist syncretism long present in Bali.
Our Mission
Our Mission
To provide a sacred space for Vipassana meditation and the study of Dharma, fostering peace for all sentient beings.
Open to All
The monastery welcomes practitioners of every background. Retreats have long been taught in English as well as Indonesian, and visitors of all faiths are received.
Stewardship
Brahmavihara Arama is cared for by Yayasan Giri Rakito Mahetara, the foundation named for our founder, which continues the work he began.
Plan Your Visit
We welcome visitors of all faiths to experience the peace of our monastery. To maintain the meditative atmosphere, we ask that you follow our simple guidelines.
Opening Hours
Daily: 06:00 AM – 06:00 PM
Location
Banjar, Buleleng, North Bali
Visitor Rules
- Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered).
- Sarongs are available for loan at the entrance.
- Maintain silence in meditation areas.
- Photography is permitted, but please be respectful.