Journey to Inner Peace
Discover the profound spiritual journey of Tharaka and the sacred mission behind Om Shambhala ashram. From wandering ascetic to spiritual guide, experience the transformation that awaits in Anuradhapura.
“Following divine guidance, I am here to impart the light of Dhamma to all those who seek a more meaningful, serene life. I look forward to taking you on a journey through the magic of Om Shambhala.”
— Tharaka, Spiritual Guide
15+ Years Journey
Ascetic life across mountains and forests seeking spiritual truth
Ancient Wisdom
Vajrayana Buddhist teachings from Himalayan lamas
Sacred Mission
Sharing the light of Dhamma with all seekers
Peaceful Sanctuary
Tranquil ashram in the heart of sacred Anuradhapura
About Tharaka
Namaste! I'm Tharaka, a local-born yoga and Buddhist meditation teacher. After living an ascetic life for more than 15 years, traveling from mountain to mountain and between forests like a wandering yogi, I have now realized that there is no higher calling than sharing what I have learned with others.
Following divine guidance, I am here to impart the light of Dhamma to all those who seek a more meaningful, serene life. I look forward to taking you on a journey through the magic of Om Shambhala.
“Following divine guidance, I am here to share the light of Dhamma with all those who seek a more peaceful and meaningful life.”
Spiritual Biography
Kumudu Tharaka Surasinghe
Before beginning to teach yoga and meditation, I spent many years as a Sannyasi, travelling throughout the forests of Sri Lanka and in the mountains of the Himalayas in India, following a deeply spiritual path that led me from my family origins of Theravada Buddhism along a wider pathway of both the yogic world and Hinduism through to a close association and study of the Dharma practices of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism, with a free and open spirit of embracing all forms of spiritual growth.
Kirtan is sacred chanting and has a great outcome when a yogi who is also a musician facilitates this. This empowers the individuals involved and raises the vibrations of the collective participants and has the power to heal our existence from the gross level; our body, to the subtlest level, our soul.
I Teach
A comprehensive range of spiritual practices combining ancient wisdom with healing arts
Yoga Practices
Classical Hatha Yoga
Yin Yoga
Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Yogic breathwork for therapy
Healing Arts
Chakra Dijana Kriya healing
Tibetan sound healing therapy (Expelling toxic energies through sound vibration)
Yoga Nidra, relaxation therapy (Relaxing the body and mind to create a state of rest and peace)
Meditation & Music
Tibetan Buddhist Meditation with particular emphasis on the Medicine Buddha and Tara Buddha
Kirtan (Musical chanting) - sacred chanting with great healing power
Classical guitar and ambient modern music
Musical Journey
My musical abilities as a classical guitarist and singer, reflects also in my love of ambient modern music. Over the years I have engaged in many Vipassana and Buddhist retreats in both Sri Lanka and India.
Spiritual Journey & Training
Key milestones in my spiritual education and practice development
Babaji's Kriya Yoga Ashram
Volunteered in building Babaji's Kriya Yoga Ashram in Kataragama, Sri Lanka. Initiated into first and second Babaji Kriya Yoga practices by Archarya Satyananda (German yogi) and Marshall Govinda (American yogi).
Indian Spiritual Journey
Took retreat at Shankaracharya ashram and attended the Indian Kumbha Mela, deepening understanding of yoga's origins in India.
Dharamsala Retreat
Spent time on retreat at the Tushida Monastery in Dharamsala. Received the oral transmission from the Dalai Lama of the mantra 'Om Mani Padme Hum', which is included in kirtans.
Yoga Teacher Training
Completed 200 hour yoga teacher training at Rukshan Yoga in Mirissa. Since then, assisted in teacher trainings, chakra healing, kirtan and other programmes.
Isha Foundation
Spent retreat time at Sadhguru's Isha Foundation in Coimbatore. Initiated into inner engineering/Shambavi Mahamudra Kriya, Lap of the master and Bhawa spanda programs.
Professional Teaching Experience
Since I qualified as a yoga teacher, I have worked at:
Mama Shanti Yoga Retreat Centre, Ella
Polwatha Eco Lodges, Kandy
Rukgala Yoga Retreat Centre, Kandy
Sri Sarawi Resort, Mirissa
Prana Lodge, Colombo
Adhitya Ayuvedic Wellness Centre, Anuradhapura (2021-2025)
Recent Spiritual Journeys
Transformative experiences that have deepened my spiritual practice and expanded my understanding of ancient wisdom
Holy Mount Kailash Pilgrimage (2024)
Mount Kailash is a sacred mountain located in Tibet, China, at an elevation of 6,638 meters (21,778 ft). Considered the "Navel of the Earth," it is a major pilgrimage site for followers of four religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and the Bon religion.
Holy Mount Kailash Pilgrimage (2024)
In 2024, I made the pilgrimage to holy Mount Kailash in Tibet and witnessed a powerful inner transformation. This sacred journey to one of the most revered sites in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Bon traditions allowed me to deepen my spiritual practice in profound ways.
POTALA PALACE. Lasha (Tibet)
Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Retreat in Tibet (2024)
Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Retreat in Tibet (2024)
In 2024, I was able to participate in a meditation retreat under the guidance of Tibetan lamas in an ancient monastery in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. This immersive experience allowed me to learn authentic meditation techniques directly from masters of the tradition.
Lam rim retreat (kopan tibetan tantrik bhudist monastery) Kathmandu nepal 2024 November
Lam Rim Tibetan Buddhist Retreat (2024)
I took the Lam Rim Tibetan Buddhist retreat in Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu. Lam Rim, meaning "stages of the path," is a comprehensive step-by-step approach to Buddhist practice that guides practitioners from basic concepts to complete enlightenment.
Wajrasathwa 3 months tantric bhudist retreat Kopang monastery 2025 Kathmandu nepal
Wajrasathwa Tantric Buddhist Retreat (2025)
In 2025, I completed a 90-day intense Wajrasathwa Tibetan tantric Buddhist retreat in Kopan Monastery in Nepal. This profound practice focuses on purification and transformation, and is one of the most powerful practices in Tibetan Buddhism for clearing negative karma and obscurations.
Tibetan Prostration Purification Practice (2022)
Tibetan Prostration Purification Practice (2022)
In 2022, I completed the sacred 100,000 Tibetan prostration purification practice in Bodhgaya, India. This demanding physical and spiritual discipline is one of the Four Preliminary Practices (Ngöndro) in Tibetan Buddhism, designed to purify negative karma and prepare the practitioner for higher tantric practices.
Isha Foundation Initiations with Sadhguru (2019)
In 2019, I spent retreat time at Sadhguru's Isha Foundation in Coimbatore, India, where I received three powerful initiations that have profoundly transformed my spiritual practice and teaching methodology.
Inner Engineering (Shambavi Mahamudra Kriya)
A transformative yogic practice for inner balance and clarity.
Lap of the Master with Sadhguru
Immersive experience in the presence of Sadhguru, deepening spiritual connection.
Bhava Spanda
A powerful initiation to awaken and expand the energies of devotion and bliss.
"These initiations at Isha Foundation provided me with profound yogic technologies and meditation techniques that balance and harmonize one's energies, leading to higher levels of perception and consciousness. The practices I received from Sadhguru have become integral components of my teaching methodology at Om Shambhala."
Om Shambhala Ashram
Om Shambhala Ashram
I currently run my own Ashram, Om Shambhala in Anuradhapura. This is a yoga, meditation and retreat center where I apply all the wisdom and practices I've gathered throughout my spiritual journey to create a transformative space for seekers from around the world.
Experience the Journey
Join me at Om Shambhala to experience the transformative power of these ancient practices, where music, meditation, and healing arts come together in sacred harmony.
The Journey to Om Shambhala
Discover the profound spiritual journey that led to the creation of Om Shambhala, where ancient wisdom meets modern seekers in the sacred land of Anuradhapura.
The Wandering Yogi
For more than 15 years, Tharaka lived as an ascetic, traveling from mountain to mountain and between forests like a wandering yogi. During this transformative period, he immersed himself in the ancient practices of yoga and Buddhist meditation, learning from the wisdom of the Himalayan lamas in the Vajrayana tradition of Buddhism.
“Following divine guidance, I realized there is no higher calling than sharing what I have learned with others.”
Sacred Location
Om Shambhala is nestled within a tranquil, beautifully tended garden in the vicinity of ancient Anuradhapura. This sacred city, whose majestic Buddhist stupas imbue the spirits of a civilization that ruled over Sri Lanka for more than 1,200 years, provides the perfect backdrop for spiritual practice. The temple complex is home to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree, cut from the historical tree at Bodh Gaya in India where the Buddha attained enlightenment.
The Vision
After years of spiritual seeking and learning, Tharaka established Om Shambhala to create a sanctuary where seekers could experience the transformative power of ancient wisdom. The ashram serves as a bridge between the profound teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism and modern spiritual seekers, offering a space for yoga, meditation, and musical expression in the heart of Sri Lanka's most sacred region.
“I am here to impart the light of Dhamma to all those who seek a more meaningful, serene life.”
Sacred Timeline
The key moments in our spiritual journey from wandering ascetic to established ashram
Spiritual Awakening
Tharaka begins his ascetic journey, leaving conventional life to seek spiritual truth in the mountains and forests of Sri Lanka and beyond.
Himalayan Learning
Years spent under the tutelage of Himalayan lamas, deepening understanding of Vajrayana Buddhist practices and meditation techniques.
Divine Calling
Receiving divine guidance to share the light of Dhamma, Tharaka begins planning to establish a spiritual sanctuary for seekers.
Om Shambhala Opens
The ashram opens its doors in Anuradhapura, welcoming its first guests for peaceful practice in the sacred garden sanctuary.
Continuing Journey
Om Shambhala continues to grow as a spiritual haven, offering transformative experiences through yoga, meditation, and sacred music.
Begin Your Own Journey
Experience the transformative power of ancient wisdom at Om Shambhala. Join us for yoga, meditation, and spiritual awakening in the sacred heart of Anuradhapura.