Sāmaṇera Jayantha is originally from New Jersey where he worked in Child Protective Services for almost a decade as an investigator, case manager, and lastly a foster/adoptive home recruiter, in addition to having a small photography business.

Jay was raised catholic but for all of his adult life he was a “student of all religions and a practitioner of none”. In his late 20s however he developed spiritually and found his way to Theravada through the teachings of Bhikkhu Bodhi and Ajahn Brahm. In 2008 at the age of 30 he took refuge and in 2010 The calling that would lead to a four year journey into homelessness began. He came to Bhavana in September of 2014 and received the going forth as a Sāmaṇera on October 31st 2015.