Ananda Maitreya
Encyclopedia
Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero ( ) (August 23, 1896 – July 18, 1998) was a Sri Lanka
n scholar monk and a personality of Theravada
Buddhism
in the twentieth century. He is regarded as one of the most respected Sri Lankan Buddhist monks, who has achieved spiritual development to a very high level through meditation
. Ananda Maitreya Thero lived a modest life and did a great service for the propagation of Buddhism in the world. Sri Lankan Buddhists widely considered him as a Bodhisattva
.
, to the family of N. A. Mathises Appuhamy (Maddumahamy) and B. Heenmanike. His birth name was Punchi Mahattaya aka William. Because Punchi Mahattaya's mother died when he was 14 days older, he was brought up by his father's brother and his wife.
Punchi Mahattaya had his primary education at Kumara Vidyalaya, Balangoda
.
At the age of 15 he had decided to enter the order of Buddhist monks
and was ordained as a Samanera
at the temple Sri Nandaramaya, Udumulla, Balangoda on March 2, 1922. He was ordained under the guidance of Ven. Daamahana Dhammananda Thero and Deniyaye Seelananda Thero was his primary teacher (Upaadhyaayanwahanse). Balangdoda Ananda Maitreya Thero received his Upasampada
on July 14, 1916 at Olu Gantota Udakukhepa Seema, Balangoda.
Thero continued his studies after becoming a monk and later became a scholar in Buddhism
and languages. Thero entered Ananda College
, Colombo
in 1919 and became a teacher of the same school in 1922. Unusually for a Theravada
teacher, he publicly studied some other traditions, such as Mahayana Buddhism, mantra
and esoteric yoga
. This is understandable when one realizes that he was a theosophist as well as a Buddhist. He was a self learner in most of his areas of studies.
Ananda Maitreya Thero was the first Dharmarcharya (teacher of Buddhism) at Nalanda College Colombo, when it was first established in 1925. It was Venerable Thero who named it 'Nalanda' and chose Apadana Sobhini Panna meaning wisdom beautifies character as Nalanda College's motto
, which is still being used. Later he became the professor of Mahayana Buddhism at Vidyodaya University, Sri Lanka. He was appointed to the post of Dean
, Faculty of Buddhist Studies in 1963. On October 1, 1966, he was appointed to the post of Vice Chancellor at the same university.
Ananda Maithreya Thero's first overseas Dhamma journey was to Kerala
, India
in 1926. He opened the Sri Dhammananda Pirivena, Colombo in 1930 .
On January 18, 1954, Thero was appointed to the post of Sangha Nayaka of Sabaragamu-Saddhammawansa Nikaya and in the same year he participated in the Sixth Buddhist council
held in Myanmar
. On September 2, 1969, Ananda Maitreya Thero was appointed as the President of Amarapura
Sangha
Sabha
of Sri Lanka.
Ananda Maitreya Thero was famous for his achievements in Buddhist meditation
. He was known to have practiced both Samatha
meditation and Vipassana meditation to a great extent and was considered to be having a highly developed mind through his meditation
. Many Buddhists have experienced his powerful spiritual blessings in many more ways than one. His teachings and life have been an inspiration to many aspiring monks and lay followers.
Venerable Ananda Maitreya Thero along with Venerable Narada Thero
and Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha Thero
was and still is one of the foremostly revered and respected Buddhist monks of the twentieth century in Sri Lanka. His work and sacrifices with Anagarika Dharmapala
was one of the steering forces of the upholding of Buddhism in Sri Lanka at one stage. Thero also traveled to many countries in the world for the propagation of Buddhism. Most Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero died at 11.40 p.m. on July 18, 1998 at the age of 101.
" (Great Chief Scholar) to honour his unprecedented service at the Sixth Buddhist council
. To honor his unique service to the Buddha Śāsana
, Myanmar also conferred him the highest Sangha
title, "Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru" (Most Eminent Great Spiritual Teacher), which is equivalent to Sangharaja
in 1997. Ananda Maithreya Thero received the "Thripitaka Vaagishwaracharya Pravachana Visharada Raajakeeya Panditha" honours degree from the Government of Sri Lanka. In addition to that , Nayaka Thero
has received two honorary titles, "Saahithyasuuri" from Vidyodaya University and "Saahithya Chakrawarthi" from Vidyalankara University
.
The humbleness of Maha Nayaka Thero's character is clearly shown, when he publicly stated that he had no liking whatsoever for titles and awards, but that he was rather accepting it to satisfy the presenter. He quoted Lord Buddha
in his speech saying "I often remind myself of My Great Buddha's preaching in the Sanyuktha nikaya
of the Abhidhamma Pitaka
of the worthlessness and futileness of the craving for awards, titles and commanding positions".
s (scripture), vinaya
(monastic discipline), on abhidhamma (metaphysics), and on Pali
and Sanskrit
grammar. His book, Sakyasimhavadanaya hevat Buddha Charita (The Life of the Buddha), is considered as a textbook. Most of his books are written in English
and Sinhala languages.
Meditation on breathing, Easy steps to English, Life of the Buddha, Bhavana Deepaniya, Sambodhi Prarthana, A Hand Book of Spoken English, Dhamsabhava, Sathara Paramarthaya, Buddha Dharmaya, Vidharshana Bhavanava, Meditation Sur La Respiration, Maithree Bhavanava, Anaphana Sathi Bhavanava, Shamatha Bhavanava and Udanaya are some examples for Ananda Maitreya Thero's written work.
The book Dhammpada is published internationally.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n scholar monk and a personality of Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
in the twentieth century. He is regarded as one of the most respected Sri Lankan Buddhist monks, who has achieved spiritual development to a very high level through meditation
Buddhist meditation
Buddhist meditation refers to the meditative practices associated with the religion and philosophy of Buddhism.Core meditation techniques have been preserved in ancient Buddhist texts and have proliferated and diversified through teacher-student transmissions. Buddhists pursue meditation as part of...
. Ananda Maitreya Thero lived a modest life and did a great service for the propagation of Buddhism in the world. Sri Lankan Buddhists widely considered him as a Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened existence or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment ." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and...
.
Biography
Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero was born on August 23, 1896 in Kirindigala, BalangodaBalangoda
Balangoda is a town in Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. Its 143 km away from Colombo and 43 km away from Ratnapura. It is the one of biggest towns of the Ratnapura District which is one of the two districts belonging to Sabaragamuwa Province . According to the 2001 census Balangoda has a...
, to the family of N. A. Mathises Appuhamy (Maddumahamy) and B. Heenmanike. His birth name was Punchi Mahattaya aka William. Because Punchi Mahattaya's mother died when he was 14 days older, he was brought up by his father's brother and his wife.
Punchi Mahattaya had his primary education at Kumara Vidyalaya, Balangoda
Balangoda
Balangoda is a town in Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. Its 143 km away from Colombo and 43 km away from Ratnapura. It is the one of biggest towns of the Ratnapura District which is one of the two districts belonging to Sabaragamuwa Province . According to the 2001 census Balangoda has a...
.
At the age of 15 he had decided to enter the order of Buddhist monks
Bhikkhu
A Bhikkhu or Bhikṣu is an ordained male Buddhist monastic. A female monastic is called a Bhikkhuni Nepali: ). The life of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis is governed by a set of rules called the patimokkha within the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline...
and was ordained as a Samanera
Samanera
A samanera ) may be translated as novice monk in a Buddhist context. The literal meaning is 'small samana', that is, small renunciate where 'small' has the meaning of boy or girl. In the Vinaya monastic discipline, a man under the age of 20 cannot ordain as a bhikkhu, but can ordain as a samanera...
at the temple Sri Nandaramaya, Udumulla, Balangoda on March 2, 1922. He was ordained under the guidance of Ven. Daamahana Dhammananda Thero and Deniyaye Seelananda Thero was his primary teacher (Upaadhyaayanwahanse). Balangdoda Ananda Maitreya Thero received his Upasampada
Upasampada
Upasampadā literally means "approaching or nearing the ascetic tradition." In more common parlance it specifically refers to the rite of ordination by which one undertakes the Buddhist monastic life....
on July 14, 1916 at Olu Gantota Udakukhepa Seema, Balangoda.
Thero continued his studies after becoming a monk and later became a scholar in Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and languages. Thero entered Ananda College
Ananda College
Ananda College , Colombo which is considered as the leading National school in Sri Lanka, was established on November 1, 1886, by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott...
, Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
in 1919 and became a teacher of the same school in 1922. Unusually for a Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
teacher, he publicly studied some other traditions, such as Mahayana Buddhism, mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
and esoteric yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
. This is understandable when one realizes that he was a theosophist as well as a Buddhist. He was a self learner in most of his areas of studies.
Ananda Maitreya Thero was the first Dharmarcharya (teacher of Buddhism) at Nalanda College Colombo, when it was first established in 1925. It was Venerable Thero who named it 'Nalanda' and chose Apadana Sobhini Panna meaning wisdom beautifies character as Nalanda College's motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
, which is still being used. Later he became the professor of Mahayana Buddhism at Vidyodaya University, Sri Lanka. He was appointed to the post of Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
, Faculty of Buddhist Studies in 1963. On October 1, 1966, he was appointed to the post of Vice Chancellor at the same university.
Ananda Maithreya Thero's first overseas Dhamma journey was to Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1926. He opened the Sri Dhammananda Pirivena, Colombo in 1930 .
On January 18, 1954, Thero was appointed to the post of Sangha Nayaka of Sabaragamu-Saddhammawansa Nikaya and in the same year he participated in the Sixth Buddhist council
Sixth Buddhist council
The Sixth Buddhist Council was a general council of Theravada Buddhism, held in a specially built cave and pagoda complex at Kaba Aye Pagoda in Yangon, Burma. The council was attended by 2,500 monastics from eight Theravada Buddhist countries...
held in Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. On September 2, 1969, Ananda Maitreya Thero was appointed as the President of Amarapura
Amarapura Nikaya
The Amarapura Nikaya is a Sri Lankan monastic fraternity founded in 1800. It is named after the city of Amarapura, Myanmar , the former capital of the Burmese kingdom...
Sangha
Sangha
Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose...
Sabha
Sabha
Sabha is one of the districts of Libya. It is located near the center of the country, in the Fezzan region. The capital is the city of Sabha, with a population of 130,000....
of Sri Lanka.
Ananda Maitreya Thero was famous for his achievements in Buddhist meditation
Buddhist meditation
Buddhist meditation refers to the meditative practices associated with the religion and philosophy of Buddhism.Core meditation techniques have been preserved in ancient Buddhist texts and have proliferated and diversified through teacher-student transmissions. Buddhists pursue meditation as part of...
. He was known to have practiced both Samatha
Samatha
Samatha , śamatha "calm abiding," comprises a suite, type or style of Buddhist meditation or concentration practices designed to enhance sustained voluntary attention, and culminates in an attention that can be sustained effortlessly for hours on end...
meditation and Vipassana meditation to a great extent and was considered to be having a highly developed mind through his meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
. Many Buddhists have experienced his powerful spiritual blessings in many more ways than one. His teachings and life have been an inspiration to many aspiring monks and lay followers.
Venerable Ananda Maitreya Thero along with Venerable Narada Thero
Narada Maha Thera
The Venerable Narada Maha Thera, born Sumanapala Perera was a Theravadan Buddhist monk and translator, the Superior of Vajirarama Temple in Colombo. He was a popular figure in his native country, Sri Lanka, and beyond....
and Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha Thero
Madihe Pannaseeha thero
Madihe Pannaseeha Thero was an eminent Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, who was the head of Amarapura sect from July 13, 1969 until his death on September 9, 2003.-Early life:...
was and still is one of the foremostly revered and respected Buddhist monks of the twentieth century in Sri Lanka. His work and sacrifices with Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala was a leading figure of Buddhism in the twentieth century. He was one of the founding contributors of Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalism and Protestant Buddhism...
was one of the steering forces of the upholding of Buddhism in Sri Lanka at one stage. Thero also traveled to many countries in the world for the propagation of Buddhism. Most Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero died at 11.40 p.m. on July 18, 1998 at the age of 101.
Degrees and titles
In 1955, the Government of Myanmar (then Burma) conferred him the title "Agga Maha PanditaAgga Maha Pandita
Agga Maha Pandita is an honorific title used in Theravada Buddhism in reference to Buddhists, usually monks, who are considered to be unusually wise, noble, and enlightened.- Usage :...
" (Great Chief Scholar) to honour his unprecedented service at the Sixth Buddhist council
Sixth Buddhist council
The Sixth Buddhist Council was a general council of Theravada Buddhism, held in a specially built cave and pagoda complex at Kaba Aye Pagoda in Yangon, Burma. The council was attended by 2,500 monastics from eight Theravada Buddhist countries...
. To honor his unique service to the Buddha Śāsana
Sasana
Śāsana , is a term used by Buddhists and Shaivites to refer to their religion or non-religion. It has a range of possible translations, including teaching, practice, doctrine and Buddha Śãsana, which means "the teaching of the Buddha"...
, Myanmar also conferred him the highest Sangha
Sangha
Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose...
title, "Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru" (Most Eminent Great Spiritual Teacher), which is equivalent to Sangharaja
Sangharaja
Sangharaja is the title given in many Theravada Buddhist countries to a senior monk who is the titular head either of a monastic fraternity , or of the Sangha throughout the country...
in 1997. Ananda Maithreya Thero received the "Thripitaka Vaagishwaracharya Pravachana Visharada Raajakeeya Panditha" honours degree from the Government of Sri Lanka. In addition to that , Nayaka Thero
Thero
Thero is an honorific term for fully ordained Buddhist monks in the Buddhist monastic order. The term Theri is used fully ordained Buddhist nuns. The terms are derived from Pāli language and translate as 'elder and venerable'. These terms are used at the end of a monk or nun's other names...
has received two honorary titles, "Saahithyasuuri" from Vidyodaya University and "Saahithya Chakrawarthi" from Vidyalankara University
University of Kelaniya
The University of Kelaniya is a state university of Sri Lanka. Situated just outside the municipal limits of Colombo, in the ancient and historic city of Kelaniya, the University has two major campuses, seven locations, six faculties and four institutions....
.
The humbleness of Maha Nayaka Thero's character is clearly shown, when he publicly stated that he had no liking whatsoever for titles and awards, but that he was rather accepting it to satisfy the presenter. He quoted Lord Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
in his speech saying "I often remind myself of My Great Buddha's preaching in the Sanyuktha nikaya
Samyutta Nikaya
The Samyutta Nikaya is a Buddhist scripture, the third of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that compose the Pali Tipitaka of Theravada Buddhism. Because of the abbreviated way parts of the text are written, the total number of suttas is...
of the Abhidhamma Pitaka
Abhidhamma Pitaka
The Abhidhamma Pitaka is the last of the three pitakas constituting the Pali Canon, the scriptures of Theravāda Buddhism....
of the worthlessness and futileness of the craving for awards, titles and commanding positions".
Survey of writings
Ananda Maitreya Thero wrote nearly fifty books on sutraSutra
Sūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
s (scripture), vinaya
Vinaya
The Vinaya is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist monastic community, or sangha, based in the canonical texts called Vinaya Pitaka. The teachings of the Buddha, or Buddhadharma can be divided into two broad categories: 'Dharma' or doctrine, and 'Vinaya', or discipline...
(monastic discipline), on abhidhamma (metaphysics), and on Pali
Páli
- External links :* *...
and Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
grammar. His book, Sakyasimhavadanaya hevat Buddha Charita (The Life of the Buddha), is considered as a textbook. Most of his books are written in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Sinhala languages.
Meditation on breathing, Easy steps to English, Life of the Buddha, Bhavana Deepaniya, Sambodhi Prarthana, A Hand Book of Spoken English, Dhamsabhava, Sathara Paramarthaya, Buddha Dharmaya, Vidharshana Bhavanava, Meditation Sur La Respiration, Maithree Bhavanava, Anaphana Sathi Bhavanava, Shamatha Bhavanava and Udanaya are some examples for Ananda Maitreya Thero's written work.
The book Dhammpada is published internationally.
- The Dhammapada: The Path of Truth: Softcover, Wisdom Pubns, ISBN 0-932156-04-5
Further reading
- Dhammalankara, Iththapane. Budu Bawa Pathana Balangoda Ananda Maithreya Maha Naahimi (බුදු බව පතන බලන්ගොඩ ආනන්ද මෛත්රෙය මහනාහිමි), Sri Devi Printers (Pvt) Ltd (1992), ISBN 955-95328-1-2