Anagarika Munindra

Anagarika Shri Munindra (1914-October 14, 2003), also affectionately called Munindraji, was a Bengali vipassana meditation teacher,who taught many notable teachers including Joseph Goldstein, Surya Das, and Dipa Ma. Anagarika simply means a practicingBuddhist who is a lay attendantof a monk.Munindra was born in Chittagong, Bangladesh, to the Barua family, descendents of the original Buddhists of India forced east by the eleventh-century Muslim invasion.He was the head monk of Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya after teaching many yearsin Burma, where, for some time, he was a close disciple of Mahasi Sayadaw. Hewas an active member of the Maha Bodhi Society whose purpose was the resuscitation Buddhism in India and of restoring the ancient Buddhist shrines. Admired for his gentleness, wisdom, and insatiable curiosity, he had a deep knowledge of the Pali canon which he made accessible to Westerners. He was also known to bevery openminded and relaxed in the way he taught. He would encourage his students to study with otherteachers, and investigate other traditions.

Below is a portion of a letter of appreciation he wrote to Ba Khin after attending a 10-day retreatwith S. N. Goenka in India, where Munindra reminisces about his life in Burma:

Quotation|During my long sojourn of about 9 years in Burma from 1957 to 1966 for study and practice ofBuddha-Dhamma I had the privilege to study whole Tripitaka together with all their commentariesunder the competent and expert teachers; I practiced meditation there under the auspices of notedteachers with most sincerity, earnestness, and profound devotion. I have derived rich benefit of it. Ithas changed my whole outlook and character. In late years during my stay in Burma I took advantageof visiting, studying and practising different aspects of Satipatthana—meditation in almost all themain Kammatthana centres in Rangoon, such as Mingun, Sonlum, Ledi Yeitha, Hanthawady, Nanasagietc., and I have been greatly profitted by all these practices and studies that gave me more knowledgeon different aspects and approaches. Though India is my Birth Place (Janma-Bhumi) Burma is myDharm Bhumi—where Dharma was born in me. Everyone everywhere there was so kind to me, sohospitable and so generous—this I cannot forget. I always bear these happy and sweet memories inme with deep gratitude and respect and give my all good wishes and metta for the welfare, happinessand progress of the people of Burma daily.
Anagarika Munindra|The Maha Bodhi, April 1972, pp. 91

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrYjIkEMlOU Video of Munindra visiting California]
* [http://www.beliefnet.com/story/6/story_638_1.html Thoughts about Munindra from a book edited by Sharon Salzberg]
* [http://pariyatti.com/downloads/treasures/Maha_Bodhi_Journal_1972-04.pdf Contains the full letter written to Ba Khin]