- Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero
Infobox Person
name = Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero
caption =
birth_place = Iriyawetiya, Kiribathgoda,Sri Lanka
birth_date = 1961-07-01
occupation = Founder monk, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monetary
website = [http://www.buddhavision.com/founder.html www.buddhavision.com/founder.html]Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero (born 1 July 1961) is the founder of Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastry [ [http://www.buddhavision.com/founder.html About the Founder, Official English Website of Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery] ] .
piritual Biography
Gnanananda Thero was born in to the
Roman Catholic family, parented by Cristy Kabraal and Violet Perera. The circumstances that followed his birth were 'miraculous' [ [http://www.buddhavision.com/E%20book%20Library/Dhamma%20Books/The%20Spiritual%20Biography/A%20shady%20forest%20TREE%20net%20version.pdf Short Spiritual Biography of Bhikku Ñānānanda] (Buddha Vision); [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3n1zJdZPPg Video Clip depicting it] ] , as the whole family became Buddhists just 6 months after his birth, going to the extent of giving up their main source of income: 'animal husbandry for meat' (a livelihood advised against by the Buddha). Opportunity for Buddhist education was therefore available for him from the childhood.Ordained on March 26th, 1979 (i.e. at age 17) under Ven. Dambagasare Shri Sumedhankara Thero and Ven. Dikwelle Pannananda Thero at Seruwavila, he received traditional Buddhist academic education and entered the
University of Sri Jayewardenepura [ [http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/06/06/fea12.asp 'Only four people attended my first sermon' - An article from 'Daily News' News Paper] ] . Having understood the inability to achieve what he wanted in a university, he quit and started associating meditation centers and hermitages.Having practiced and preached Dhamma for years, he founded Mahamevnawa in 1999 under the guidance of Ven. Kotapola Amarakitti Thero, in Waduwava,
Polgahawela . Mahamevnawa is currently spreading steadily under his guidance (It has around 40 branch monasteries for meditation throughout Sri Lanka, and overseas:Canada [http://www.gautamabuddha.ca/] ,USA [http://www.gautamabuddhausa.org] ,Australia [http://www.gautamabuddha.org.au] ) andUK [http://sites.google.com/site/mahamevnawaukbranch/Home] .Teachings
He now teaches
Buddhism (Theravada), emphasizing the need of practicing it in pure form (i.e. as in the Suttas) and casting off what not advocated by the Buddha.cquote|Our Teacher, the Buddha has taught that birth as a human being is, indeed, a very rare achievement. Fortunately, we have now obtained that rare achievement. Yet, we have to remember that man's greatness does not lie either in his nationality, caste clan or any such feature. His greatness depends solely on his conduct. Man's experiencing of happiness and suffering, too, is related to his three modes of action namely, mental, verbal and physical action.
The Buddha devoted all his life to save man from dukkha - suffering. We are followers of the Buddha and our fervent hope is to see a world full of people who are freed from dukkha.
Mankind's wonderful treasure of wisdom is the Teaching of the Buddha. This doctrine illuminates our lives bringing happiness and joy. Go in search of this wonderful Dhamma yourself, lead your life accordingly, get rid of your suffering and join that fortunate band of people who experience the Supreme Bliss|300px|50px| A Message by Venerable Thero [ [http://www.mahamevna.org www.mahamevna.org] note: at the moment this URL gets redirected to its new website [http://www.gautamabuddha.org www.gautamabuddha.org] ; hence the source is not available online.]
Thousands of practicing Buddhists are associated with Mahamevnawa; and trying to follow the path the Buddha showed.
"Maha Sthupa Wandanawa" [ [http://www.gautamabuddha.org/ruwanvaliseya_picture_gallery.htm Ruwanvaliseya Picture Gallery (Sinhalese)] ] conducted on the 2nd February, 2008 at
Anuradhapura with participation of over 100000 disciples, bears evidence for the popularity his Damma program has achieved.Publications
The Most Ven Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero has written many books based on the Teachings of Buddha. The language associated in these publications is aimed on a single vision. That is to emphasize uncontaminated Buddhism that can be comprehended by anyone who reads it.
The Most Ven Thero has also commenced a culture in Sri Lanka (traditionally known as Damma Island – Island full of Buddha’s Teachings) to preach Buddha’s teaching in Sinhala (National Language in Sri Lanka) even though the Teachings are traditionally done in Pali language. Many disciples believe that they are now able to preach Buddha’s teachings with the right understanding.
It is remarkable that anyone who reads these publications will find themselves with a greater determination to follow through what Buddha sermonized as the Noble EightFold Path.
References
ee also
*
Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery External links
* [http://www.buddhavision.com/E%20book%20Library/Dhamma%20Books/The%20Spiritual%20Biography/A%20shady%20forest%20TREE%20net%20version.pdf Short Spiritual Biography of Bhikku Ñānānanda] (Buddha Vision)
* [http://www.buddhavision.com/founder_photo_album.html Founder's Photo Album (Buddha Vision)]Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
* [http://www.gautamabuddha.org Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery - Official Website]
* [http://www.buddhavision.com Buddha Vision - Official English Website]
** [http://www.buddhavision.com/ebook_collection.html E-Books Library]
** [http://www.buddhavision.com/video_library.html Video Library]
* [http://www.gautamabuddha.ca Mahamevnawa Canada - Official Website]
* [http://www.mahamevnausa.org Mahamevnawa USA - Official Website]
* [http://www.gautamabuddha.org.au Mahamevnawa Australia - Official Website]
* [http://www.mahamevna.org.uk Mahamevnawa UK - Official Website]* [http://www.mahamevnawa.blogspot.com/ Mahamevnawa Monastery - Events (unofficial blog)] | [http://www.mahamevnawa.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default Event Feed]
Dhamma Sermons/Articles by Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero
* [http://www.gautamabuddha.org/downloads_home.htm Download MP3, PDF of Dhamma Sermons (in Sinhalese)]
* [http://www.buddhavision.com/ebook_collection.html Dhamma Articles (in English)]
* [http://www.thisara.com/bhawana.htm Meditation/Bhawana - Thisara FM (Sinhalese, followed by English Interpretation)]Relevant Search Results
* [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mahamevna&search=Search Video - YouTube]
* [http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=mahamevna+OR+kiribathgoda+gnanananda Video - Google Videos]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4568954341065173979 Video (Budu Suwada) - Google Videos]Other
* [http://sundaytimes.lk/040502/plus/1.html 'Master of meditation' - An article from 'Sunday Times' News Paper]
* [http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/06/06/fea12.asp 'Only four people attended my first sermon' - An article from 'Daily News' News Paper]
* [http://buddhavision.googlepages.com/ Googlepage of BuddhaVision]
* [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/01/07/mag03.asp 'Writer in the making' - An article about a lay disciple from 'Sunday Observer' News Paper]
* [http://www.beyondthenet.net/newstuff/REAL_HS.HTM Revealing the heresies of Swarna and Presenting the Truth to the Intelligent]
** [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2002/07/14/new25.html 'Budusarana' seminar : 'Secret scheme against Buddhism' - an article from from 'Sunday Observer' News Paper]
** [http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items02/030902-2.html Lanka Web News: 'Beware of Swarna's Buddhism'] (by Ven.Henepola Gunaratana Thero )
* [http://milinda.org/Assets/PDF/UrumayakaUlpath/UU%20-%2024.pdf Sinhala Transcript of TV program: "Urumayaka Ulpath"]
* [http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items08/200508-1.html "Inauguration of the Mahamevnawa Bhavana Monastery of New Jersey, USA", LankaWeb News]
* [http://www.lankaeverything.com/vinews/business/20080523130619.php "Inauguration of the Mahamevnawa Bhavana Monastery of New Jersey, USA", lankaeverything.com]
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