Buddhist Cultural Centre
Encyclopedia
Buddhist Cultural Centre (BCC) in Sri Lanka
was founded by Sri Lankan Kirama Wimalajothi Thero, after dedicated religious service in Malaysia, Singapore
and the US
for nearly 20 years. It was opened on January 2, 1992 under the patronage of Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda
, chief Sanghanayake of Malaysia and Singapore
. Buddhist Cultural Centre was established to fill the gap in reading materials for the use of the people of the area as well as in other countries.
Thero started a small place at Nadimala, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
, with a few lay devotees
. He went in search of some books on Buddhism
and Buddhist culture
and found that the books he was looking for were not available at any of the leading bookshops in Sri Lanka
. He thus started collecting books on Buddhism
and related subjects.
As Sinhalese Dhamma books were out of print
at that time, Wimalajothi Thero also opened a printing press
for that purpose in 1995. A mobile Buddhist bookshop was also launched that year, necessitated by the unavailability of Buddhist books in all areas including Colombo
and to increase knowledge in Buddhism
by promoting reading habits.
BCC has grown over the years and now it is the most prestigious Buddhist library in Sri Lanka
, as well as the world’s biggest Theravada
library.
i.e. Digha Nikaya
, Samyutta Nikaya
, Majjhima Nikaya
, Anguttara Nikaya
and Khuddaka Nikaya
has been translated into simple Sinhala and published by the BCC. Many other books written in English
were also translated into Sinhala and published.
The BCC reprinted the Pansiya Panas Jathaka Potha in two volumes with one volume in an abridged form. Many more books including Visuddhimagga
, Milinda Panha
, Puja
valiya, Saddharmalankaraya were also printed. After installing a new printing press the centre started printing new books, both in Sinhala and English
; well over 500 books on Buddha Dhamma, Buddhist Literature
, history, culture
, philosophy
, languages such as Pali
and Sanskrit by renowned scholars were printed there.
In 2004, a massive project of reprinting the entire Buddha Jayanthi Tripitaka books was undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs. 70m. It is expected to complete this task by May 2006.
, and all Ceylon Buddhist Congress Auditorium and in other townships such as Kandy
, Kurunegala
, Galle
, Matara
and Ratnapura
, the purpose being to popularize Buddhist books. The mobile bookshop was also organized along with these exhibitions.
.
was launched to cater to the children. The ‘Buddhism Graduated Course’ is a series of 8 books
dealing with Buddhism
. This is to fulfill some of the requirements of the pupils studying in English
and of those who want to study Buddhism
in English
.
The ‘Correspondence Course’ containing 12 booklets was started in 1996 to cater to non-Buddhists, both local and foreign, seeking a basic knowledge on Buddha Dharma
. The course is to be completed within 6 months after which a certificate is issued by the BCC.
centre was established at Dekanduwela, Horana
, in a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) land in 1993 by provision of the Director of BCC, Kirama Wimalajothi thero. The centre can accommodate 40 participants at a time, and in-house training on meditation
lasting from 2 days to 2 weeks are organized here.
Besides local participants including Bhikkhuni
s, over 2,000 foreigners have been trained by the Centre. Participants from Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Japan, and Russia, Thailand and Sweden and other countries have attended its sessions. A one-year training course in Tripitaka
Dhamma for Bhikkhuni
s and lay devotees is now being conducted at the Centre.
A temporary, two-week ordination program was launched in 2003, designed to give basic knowledge in Dhamma, meditation
and Social Work
. As the Centre could accommodate only 40 partcipants at a time, the course has been confined to men of the ages 18 to 40 and was conducted once every two months. The program gained popularity among the youth. After one year in this basic training, all participants were enrolled as members of the ‘Ariya Mittha Sansadaya’, the main objective being to propagate the Buddha Dhamma among schoolchildren. This activity is carried out in addition to the Sunday Dhamma School
.
Ten youths were ordained in March 1995 for the purpose of spreading the Buddha Dhamma abroad. Most of them are now following higher studies in their respective foreign countries.
for the use of visitors.
On January 1, 2008, Buddhist Cultural Center launched its online bookshop with worldwide shipping options.
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...
was founded by Sri Lankan Kirama Wimalajothi Thero, after dedicated religious service in Malaysia, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for nearly 20 years. It was opened on January 2, 1992 under the patronage of Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda
K. Sri Dhammananda
K. Sri Dhammananda was a Sri Lankan-born Buddhist monk and scholar.Born Martin Garmage in the village of Kirinde in Matara, Sri Lanka, Dhammananda spent most of his life and career in Malaysia. He was ordained as a novice monk at the age of 12 and was fully ordained in 1940...
, chief Sanghanayake of Malaysia and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Buddhist Cultural Centre was established to fill the gap in reading materials for the use of the people of the area as well as in other countries.
Thero started a small place at Nadimala, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Is a newly created city lying immediately south of Colombo, one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka. It is the result of certain key urban suburbs and communities combined for administrative purposes. The centres include Dehiwala and the beach resort of Mount Lavinia....
, with a few lay devotees
Layman
A layperson or layman is a person who is not an expert in a given field of knowledge. The term originally meant a member of the laity, i.e. a non-clergymen, but over the centuries shifted in definition....
. He went in search of some books on 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 Buddhist culture
Cultural elements of Buddhism
The cultural elements of Buddhism vary by region and include:*Buddhist festivals and observances**Vesak**Asalha Puja**Magha Puja**Vassa**Pavarana**Kathina**Uposatha*Buddhist views*Buddhist cuisine**Vegetarianism in Buddhism* Buddhist art...
and found that the books he was looking for were not available at any of the leading bookshops in Sri Lanka
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...
. He thus started collecting books on 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 related subjects.
Out of print
Out of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
at that time, Wimalajothi Thero also opened a printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
for that purpose in 1995. A mobile Buddhist bookshop was also launched that year, necessitated by the unavailability of Buddhist books in all areas including 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...
and to increase knowledge 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...
by promoting reading habits.
BCC has grown over the years and now it is the most prestigious Buddhist library in Sri Lanka
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...
, as well as the world’s biggest Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
library.
Translations
The entire Sutta PitakaSutta Pitaka
The Sutta Pitaka is the second of the three divisions of the Tipitaka or Pali Canon, the Pali collection of Buddhist writings, the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism...
i.e. Digha Nikaya
Digha Nikaya
The Digha Nikaya is a Buddhist scripture, the first 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...
, Samyutta 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...
, Majjhima Nikaya
Majjhima Nikaya
The Majjhima Nikaya is a Buddhist scripture, the second 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...
, Anguttara Nikaya
Anguttara Nikaya
The Anguttara Nikaya is a Buddhist scripture, the fourth of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that comprise the Pali Tipitaka of Theravada Buddhism...
and Khuddaka Nikaya
Khuddaka Nikaya
The Khuddaka Nikaya is the last of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that compose the Pali Tipitaka, the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism...
has been translated into simple Sinhala and published by the BCC. Many other books 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...
were also translated into Sinhala and published.
Reproductions
http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/button_link.pngThe BCC reprinted the Pansiya Panas Jathaka Potha in two volumes with one volume in an abridged form. Many more books including Visuddhimagga
Visuddhimagga
The Visuddhimagga , is the 'great treatise' on Theravada Buddhist doctrine written by Buddhaghosa approximately in 430 CE in Sri Lanka. A comprehensive manual condensing the theoretical and practical teaching of the Buddha, it is considered the most important Theravada text outside of the Tipitaka...
, Milinda Panha
Milinda Panha
The Milinda Panha is a Buddhist text which dates from approximately 100 BCE. It is included in the Burmese edition of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism as a book of the Khuddaka Nikaya, however, it does not appear in the Thai or Sri Lankan versions.It purports to record a dialogue in which the...
, Puja
Puja (Buddhism)
In Buddhism, puja are expressions of "honour, worship and devotional attention." Acts of puja include bowing, making offerings and chanting...
valiya, Saddharmalankaraya were also printed. After installing a new printing press the centre started printing new books, both in Sinhala and 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...
; well over 500 books on Buddha Dhamma, Buddhist Literature
Buddhist texts
Buddhist texts can be categorized in a number of ways. The Western terms "scripture" and "canonical" are applied to Buddhism in inconsistent ways by Western scholars: for example, one authority refers to "scriptures and other canonical texts", while another says that scriptures can be categorized...
, history, culture
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...
, philosophy
Buddhist philosophy
Buddhist philosophy deals extensively with problems in metaphysics, phenomenology, ethics, and epistemology.Some scholars assert that early Buddhist philosophy did not engage in ontological or metaphysical speculation, but was based instead on empirical evidence gained by the sense organs...
, languages such as Pali
Pali language
Pāli is a Middle Indo-Aryan language of the Indian subcontinent. It is best known as the language of many of the earliest extant Buddhist scriptures, as collected in the Pāi Canon or Tipitaka, and as the liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism.-Etymology of the name:The word Pali itself...
and Sanskrit by renowned scholars were printed there.
In 2004, a massive project of reprinting the entire Buddha Jayanthi Tripitaka books was undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs. 70m. It is expected to complete this task by May 2006.
Exhibitions
Exhibitions of Buddhist books have been held yearly since 1992 (and at times twice a year) in Colombo at the Public Library Auditorium, National Art GalleryNational gallery
The National Gallery is an art gallery on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom.National Gallery may also refer to:*Armenia: National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan*Australia:**National Gallery of Australia, Canberra...
, and all Ceylon Buddhist Congress Auditorium and in other townships such as Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
, Kurunegala
Kurunegala
Kurunegala , is the capital of the North Western Province, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka and the Kurunegala District. Kurunegala was also an ancient royal capital for 50 years, from the end of the 13th century to the start of the 13th century. The town itself is a busy commercial and a transport hub...
, Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
, Matara
Matara, Sri Lanka
Matara is a city on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, 160 km from Colombo. It is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka. It was deeply affected by the Asian tsunami in December 2004.-History:...
and Ratnapura
Ratnapura
- Floods :The town of Ratnapura is situated in the flooding plain of the river Kalu. The town experiences regular floods usually in the month of May. There is no large dam across the Kalu, so this leaves the city at the mercy of nature's forces every year. Several proposals have been made to reduce...
, the purpose being to popularize Buddhist books. The mobile bookshop was also organized along with these exhibitions.
Mobile Buddhism Bookshop
A mobile Buddhist bookshop was launched from 1995 through 2002 by the BCC. This was necessitated due to unavailability of Buddhist books in all areas including Colombo and to increase basic knowledge in Buddhism by promoting reading habits. It was a popular program.Children’s Section
There is a separate section for the use of the children in the BCC which has become quite popular: The BBC undertakes the collection and printing of books designed for the childrenChildren's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
.
Supplementary Education
A new program of writing books in EnglishEnglish 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...
was launched to cater to the children. The ‘Buddhism Graduated Course’ is a series of 8 books
Book series
A book series is a sequence of books having certain characteristics in common that are formally identified together as a group. Book series can be organized in different ways, such as written by the same author, or marketed as a group by their publisher....
dealing with 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...
. This is to fulfill some of the requirements of the pupils studying 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 of those who want to study 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 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...
.
The ‘Correspondence Course’ containing 12 booklets was started in 1996 to cater to non-Buddhists, both local and foreign, seeking a basic knowledge on Buddha Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
. The course is to be completed within 6 months after which a certificate is issued by the BCC.
Meditation Centre
A fully equipped meditationMeditation
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....
centre was established at Dekanduwela, Horana
Horana
Horana is a town in Kalutara District, in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It is on the road from Panadura to Ratnapura. It is located in 42 Km away from Colombo and 18 Km away from Panadura....
, in a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) land in 1993 by provision of the Director of BCC, Kirama Wimalajothi thero. The centre can accommodate 40 participants at a time, and in-house training on 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....
lasting from 2 days to 2 weeks are organized here.
Besides local participants including Bhikkhuni
Bhikkhuni
A bhikkhuni or bhikṣuṇī is a fully ordained female Buddhist monastic. Male monastics are called bhikkhus. Both bhikkhunis and bhikkhus live by the vinaya...
s, over 2,000 foreigners have been trained by the Centre. Participants from Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Japan, and Russia, Thailand and Sweden and other countries have attended its sessions. A one-year training course in Tripitaka
Tripiṭaka
' is a traditional term used by various Buddhist sects to describe their various canons of scriptures. As the name suggests, a traditionally contains three "baskets" of teachings: a , a and an .-The three categories:Tripitaka is the three main categories of texts that make up the...
Dhamma for Bhikkhuni
Bhikkhuni
A bhikkhuni or bhikṣuṇī is a fully ordained female Buddhist monastic. Male monastics are called bhikkhus. Both bhikkhunis and bhikkhus live by the vinaya...
s and lay devotees is now being conducted at the Centre.
A temporary, two-week ordination program was launched in 2003, designed to give basic knowledge in Dhamma, 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....
and Social Work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
. As the Centre could accommodate only 40 partcipants at a time, the course has been confined to men of the ages 18 to 40 and was conducted once every two months. The program gained popularity among the youth. After one year in this basic training, all participants were enrolled as members of the ‘Ariya Mittha Sansadaya’, the main objective being to propagate the Buddha Dhamma among schoolchildren. This activity is carried out in addition to the Sunday Dhamma School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
.
Ten youths were ordained in March 1995 for the purpose of spreading the Buddha Dhamma abroad. Most of them are now following higher studies in their respective foreign countries.
More Work on Spreading Dhamma
20,000 copies of ‘Buddhism in a Nutshell’ by Narada Maha Thero were distributed free of charge to quality hotels and tourist resorts in Sri LankaSri 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...
for the use of visitors.
On January 1, 2008, Buddhist Cultural Center launched its online bookshop with worldwide shipping options.