Canadian Engaged Buddhism Association (CEBA)

CEBA is a small group of dedicated volunteers seeking ways to apply the insights from meditation practice and Buddha’s teachings to help relieve suffering and injustice. Individual member’s efforts and initiatives locally have focused on relieving animals suffering and environmental causes, while globally, as an organization, have been supporting the “Metta Family” of projects (See "Our Projects" or visit  www.servelumbini.org) in Lumbini, Nepal since CEBA’s inception through fundraising, awareness events, volunteering and organizing meaningful travel such as our “Heavenly Himalayas Holidays”  to Nepal and Meditation Retreats at Alegria Dharma Center in Costa Rica.  

 CEBA's mission includes:
Advancing the practices of the Buddhist faith while promoting intra-Buddhist and inter-spiritual learning and dialogue in Canada and internationally. 
Improving animal welfare and living standards of people in Nepal through education of both children and adults, provision of medical clinics, construction of wells and sewage maintenance systems, reforestation projects and literacy programs.
Providing a Dharma Centre (Bodhi Institute) for the community, pilgrims and other travellers in Lumbini, Nepal (the birthplace of the Buddha and a World Heritage Site). 

  Bodhi Institute - 

 CEBA is nearing completion of its flagship Peace Education and Meditation Centre, the Bodhi Institute for Peace Education, located within the sacred landscape of the Lumbini World Heritage Site in Lumbini, Nepal — the birthplace of the Gautama Buddha.

The Bodhi Institute is envisioned as a vibrant centre for peace education, meditation, and intercultural dialogue. The Institute will host meditation retreats, conferences, training seminars, and a library for both local residents and international visitors, creating a space where ancient Buddhist wisdom can meet the needs of the modern world.

The Institute is also now home to Peace Grove Nunnery, locally known as Shantikunja Vihara. The nunnery grew out of a need to continue supporting the education and spiritual training of female graduates from the Metta Schools before the creation of the all-girls Karuna Girls’ College.

Today the community includes 22 resident nuns, with two currently studying abroad. In addition to being a place of monastic practice, the nunnery also serves as a welcoming refuge for local families and weary travellers. During full moon uposatha days and major Buddhist festivals, the grounds come alive with gatherings, teachings, and community celebrations.

In this way, the Bodhi Institute is becoming more than a building — it is a living centre of learning, practice, and compassionate service rooted in the birthplace of the Buddha.

Meaningful Travel

CEBA also organizes meaningful travel experiences that allow participants to deepen their understanding of Buddhist culture while directly supporting the communities connected with our projects.

Join us on a Heavenly Himalayas Holiday, a meaningful pilgrimage through Nepal, India, and Tibet  October–November 2026. 

where sacred sites, meditation, and heartfelt connection come together in a journey of learning, service, and joy.

Karuna Girls School -  

Karuna Girls College, located beside Peacegrove Nunnery in Nepal, was co-founded by Trevor Ironside of One Child’s Village, Venerable Metteyya, and Guruma Bodhi with a shared aspiration to support the education of girls while nurturing wisdom, community, and karuṇā—the Buddhist principle of compassion.

The project began simply with the Anatta Children’s Library, the first building on the site and the seed from which the school gradually grew. Special gratitude is offered to Cornelia Santschi, whose generosity made the library possible and who laid the first brick in the foundation.

Since opening in 2013, Karuna Girls College has continued to grow as a place of learning where young women can develop their education, confidence, and hopes for the future. Standing alongside Peacegrove Nunnery, the school reflects a shared commitment to women’s education and women’s spiritual leadership rooted in compassion, service, and the wellbeing of the wider community.

Metta School and Punnihawa School -  

At the age of 15, Venerable Metteyya, together with dedicated friends and supporters, began planting what he called “A Seed of Compassion” by helping establish Metta School in the Lumbini region of Nepal, the birthplace of the Buddha. From these humble beginnings, the initiative has grown to include Punnihawa School, a branch school serving nearby communities.

Together, the two schools now provide education from pre-kindergarten through Grade 9 to approximately 1,500 students. Rooted in the spirit of generosity and service, the schools also inspire many young volunteers to share the gift of education with children in the surrounding villages.

In a place known around the world as the birthplace of the Buddha, these schools help nurture the next generation through learning, compassion, and opportunity.

 Lumbini Crane Sanctuary -    

The Lumbini Crane Sanctuary is a wetland conservation initiative dedicated to protecting the habitat of the endangered Sarus Crane amid the rapid pace of development in the Lumbini region of Lumbini, Nepal.

In its early years, Venerable Metteyya, a passionate local advocate for nature and wildlife, took on the responsibility of caring for and protecting the sanctuary when its future was uncertain. During this formative period, the work was supported primarily by his Dharma mother, Guruma Bodhi, years before the Canadian Engaged Buddhism Association was formally established in 2010.

Over time, restoration efforts expanded. With support in recent years from the World Wide Fund for Nature and the International Crane Foundation, several new wetlands and walking trails have been created to strengthen and protect this fragile ecosystem.

The Sarus crane is not only one of the world’s tallest flying birds but also a revered symbol of devotion and fidelity in South Asian culture. Protecting their habitat in the sacred landscape of Lumbini helps preserve both biodiversity and the natural heritage of the birthplace of the Buddha.

Today the sanctuary has become a thriving refuge. The population of Sarus cranes has quadrupled, and a rich diversity of birds, fish, amphibians, mammals, and reptiles now flourish in the restored wetlands.

Earthquake and COVID-19 Relief

At times, natural disasters bring immense hardship to the communities of Nepal. In these moments, the Canadian Engaged Buddhism Association, working closely with our Metta family on the ground, has been able to mobilize quickly to support relief efforts where they are most needed.

Following the devastating 2015 Nepal earthquake, we helped support missions to relocate and rebuild the hermitage of more than 100 mountain nuns, while also providing food, medicine, and temporary shelter to marginalized communities in hard-hit and difficult-to-reach areas. During this time, a communications centre was also established to help relief agencies stay informed about where assistance was most urgently required.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal in 2021, when the country’s health system was severely overwhelmed, CEBA coordinated funds raised by our community to provide urgently needed supplies, including life-saving oxygen concentrator machines.

These efforts reflect the spirit of engaged compassion — responding to suffering with practical care, solidarity, and service when it is needed most.

From Friendship to Compassion in Action

The Canadian Engaged Buddhism Association grew out of a friendship rooted in shared values of compassion, service, and spiritual practice. As Venerable Metteyya and Guruma Bodhi began working together to support community projects in Lumbini, Nepal—the birthplace of the Buddha—it became clear that a wider circle of friends and practitioners wished to help.

In 2010, CEBA was formed to bring this community together in a spirit of service. The organisation was created to support animals, protect the environment, and assist those facing hardship, while also strengthening the practice of generosity among its members.

From the beginning, CEBA has been inspired by the belief that the teachings of the Buddha and the practice of meditation can deepen and sustain compassionate action in the world. Through practice, service, and community, members seek to cultivate wisdom and compassion while working to relieve suffering.

In many spiritual traditions, generosity is considered a foundational practice, and in Buddhism this is expressed through Dāna, the practice of giving. Dāna is not only about offering material support; it is also a path of inner transformation. Through generosity we nurture compassion, recognise the interdependence of all beings, and gradually loosen the grip of self-centredness.

In this way, the projects CEBA supports—from schools and monasteries to environmental protection and humanitarian relief—are expressions of this simple but powerful practice: generosity in action.

The Canadian Engaged Buddhism Association is supported by a small and dedicated community of practitioners who bring their skills, experience, and shared commitment to compassionate service.

Monk • Teacher • Humanitarian

Venerable Metteyya is the guiding teacher and inspiration of CEBA. A respected Buddhist monk from Lumbini, Nepal—the birthplace of the Buddha—he has devoted his life to compassionate action through education, environmental conservation, women’s empowerment, and Buddhist diplomacy.

Over more than 25 years he has helped establish initiatives including Metta Schools, Karuna Girls College, Peacegrove Nunnery, and the Bodhi Institute, supporting more than 1,500 students annually. He also co-founded CEBA and the Alegria Dharma Center, extending these efforts internationally.

From 2017–2023 he served as Vice Chairman of the Lumbini Development Trust, helping guide the development of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Buddha’s birthplace and advancing the international recognition of Kapilvastu (Tilaurakot).

Environmental Scientist • Buddhist Nun

Guruma Bodhi is an environmental scientist and Buddhist nun dedicated to protecting the natural world and reducing suffering for animals.

Her path has included training an elephant to paint to raise funds for habitat restoration, competing in triathlons, guiding mindful travel programs, and teaching environmental stewardship as a master composter and recycler. 

As the Dharma mother of Venerable Metteyya, she has worked alongside him in founding many initiatives including CEBA, Metta Schools, Karuna Girls College, Peacegrove Nunnery, the Bodhi Institute, the Lumbini Crane Sanctuary, and the Lumbini Animal Clinic.

Musician • Community Builder

Diane Scott brings a steady and mindful presence to CEBA’s leadership. Inspired by contemplative traditions, she supports the organisation’s mission through creativity and community building.

A musician and teacher, Diane leads folk drumming circles, sings in choirs, and performs devotional kirtan.

Eco-Sattva • Environmental Advocate

David Parker, known in the Dharma community as Abhayo, is CEBA’s resident Eco-Sattva warrior. A former engineering instructor, he has long been active in environmental protection, animal rights advocacy, and green politics.

Together with his wife Margaret, he co-founded Vegans and Vegetarians of Alberta and has been active with the Green Party of Canada.

Caregiver • Community Supporter

Lisa Kapty, known as Sumitra in the Dharma community, is a compassionate caregiver dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of those around her.

After visiting the Nepal projects, she remains deeply committed to the success of the nuns, students, and communities connected to CEBA’s work.

Psychologist • Organisational Anchor

Margaret Marean, a retired psychologist, helps keep CEBA organised and moving forward. She is passionate about family, health, environmental protection, and animal welfare, and has been active with Vegans and Vegetarians of Alberta and the Green Party.

Cultural Bridge • Environmental Scientist

Hira Moktan provides an important bridge to Nepali culture and community and has been integral to the success of CEBA’s work in Lumbini. He works professionally as an environmental hydrogeologist while raising three children with his family.

Volunteer • Community Spirit

Miguel Ferrero is a retired cartographer who has volunteered extensively in Lumbini. Known for his generosity—and his famous Spanish paella at CEBA events—Miguel brings warmth, dedication, and a spirit of service to the community.