Ven. Henepola Thera was named as one of the three most influential Buddhist monks in the world – Wisdom Magazine

A special stamp was recently issued to honour Chief Sanghanayaka of North America Ven. Dr. Henepola Gunaratana Thera for his yeoman service to the Nation and Buddha Sasana. The event was held under the patronage of the Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena.

The biography of the Thera in honour of his decades-long service to popularise and spread Buddhism in Western countries and provide guidance on various meditation techniques which has brought him international acclaim was also launched at the event.

Minister Gunawardena presented the guests with the first-day cover and stamp to guests including the Maha Sangha at the event held at the NSBM Green University Auditorium

An anusasana sermon was also delivered by Athkandawaka Sadhdhaeewa Thera at the event to elaborate on the aim of the event.

The Thera recalled that Henepola Gunaratana Thera had left Sri Lanka behind in 1954 to commence his activities to spread the Dhamma by joining the Maha Bodhi Society under the guidance of Parawahera Wajiragnana Nayaka Thera,

“He travelled to Sanchi, Delhi and many other areas in India to disseminate the Dhamma. On an invitation, he then travels to Malaysia and spends over a decade there doing the same. Gunaratana Thera was then presented with the opportunity to carry on his work in North America under the guidance of Madihe Maha Nayaka Thera,” he said.

“Due to the dedication of the Maha Sangha including Gunaratnana Thera the Buddhists were able to build a place of their own in North America. Today there are over 60 Buddhist temples in America,” he noted.

The Thera recalled Gunaratnana Thera’s efforts in establishing the Torington Maha Vihara in Toronto and his efforts in disseminating the Dhamma in North America.

He also spoke of the higher studies pursued by Gunaratnana Thera and the special invitation he received from the US State Department to be one of the religious leaders chosen to welcome refugees from Vietnam at the time. The Thera noted that Gunaratana Thera was the first member of the clergy to receive a military honour from the US Air Force for the services rendered by him. “He was also the first Bhikku to obtain a doctorate in the US,” he added.

“He worked diligently to popularise the Washington Buddhist Temple. Both Sri Lankans and foreigners gathered around him as a result of this. He received many invitations from universities to deliver lectures on Buddhism,” the Thera noted.

“Many of those scholars from these universities later took part in the policy-making and legislative processes in their countries. The Thera’s message of Buddhism, therefore, became a topic of discussion in many of these institutions,” he said.

The Thera noted that Gunaratnana Thera’s first book on meditation was a collection of notes on the topic, and it was announced as the best book on meditation by the New York Times on April 22.

“Today only a few Bhikkus in both the Theravada and Mahayana traditions can be compared to Gunaratana Thera. Therefore five years ago he was named as one of the three most revered Bhikkus by the Wisdom magazine,” he said.

“Meanwhile in 2012, the National Geographic magazine named the West Virginia Aranya Senasana as one of 500 must-visit places of worship. Gunaratana Thera was also chosen to write the foreword for the book written to mark the 85th birthday of his holiness the Dalai Lama,” he noted.

“Honesty is key in everything he does. Though he is the Bhikku who has delivered the most lectures in universities abroad, unfortunately, he is yet to receive such an invitation from local universities. However he never cared for honours and accolades,” the Thera added.

He said due to Gunaratana Thera’s endeavours it is the duty of everyone to educate future generations about his yeoman service. The Thera also recalled Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena’s quick response in publishing the book on Henepola Gunaratana Thera in all newspapers published by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

“We first put forward a proposal to publish a stamp to honour the Thera in 2021. But the proposal was not considered until January this year. Having brought this to the attention of Minister Gunawardena all these efforts have now come to fruition. This was a national duty once neglected by the country,”the Thera opined.

He also revealed that all funds received from the sale of Gunaratana Thera’s books are directed to a fund in Sri Lanka. “The issuing of this stamp will inspire and guide future Bhikkus to plan their duties and service to the Buddha Sasana,” he said.

Chancellor of the Sabaragamuwa University Aggamaha Panditha Professor Ven. Kamburugamuwa Vajira Nayaka Thera:

“As a Bhikku who was born in Sri Lanka and honoured in many countries, expressing our gratitude to him through the issuing of a stamp is indeed a remarkable moment. We must thank the Ministry of Media and the Department of Postal Services,” he said.

The Thera opined that Henepola Gunaratana Thera is perhaps the most remarkable Bhikku involved in disseminating Buddhism in recent times. He recalled the years he studied together with Gunaratnana Thera and his visit to India.

“To be a successful ambassador of faith one must complete three requisites. One must first understand what one is preaching to the world. Then he must have a good language of knowledge and charisma as well. Gunaratana Thera had all of this in abundance,” he said.

“He was equipped with a good knowledge of Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit and English,” he noted. The Thera also recalled the time he spent in the US with Gunaratnana Thera. “There I understood the yeoman service rendered by him. Once I returned I informed Malwathu Maha Nayaka Thera Pallepola Gunaratana Thera about this. As a result of this it was decided Henepola Gunaratana Thera will be named the Chief Sanghanayaka of North America,” he said.

The Thera recalled how Gunaratana Thera visited Sri Lanka at the time and the manner in which many events were held to introduce him and his services to the country. “The issuing of a stamp to honour him I believe will ensure his services go down in history. I appreciate the efforts of everyone involved,” he added.

Most Ven. Aggamahapanditha Thrikunamale Ananda Mahanayaka Thera:.

“I believe the issuing of the stamp will set an example for the young Bhikkus of today. He must be bestowed with an honour far beyond the issuing of a stamp. The Thera’s exemplary and honourable character will help us fashion our lives.” he said.

He also noted that Gunaratnana Thera’s greatness became known the world over through meditation and he proposed meditation could ensure the betterment of our society. “The development of the Buddha Sasana can only be achieved by giving priority to the policies of the Buddha Sasana,” he opined.

As a Bhikku who sought no benefits through his work, the Thera said Gunaratana Thera’s work can serve as a guide to young Bhikkus on taking the correct path as ambassadors of faith.

The event was attended by the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Sangha Sabha Maha Nayaka Rev. Ittapana Dhammalankaara Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Bambalapitiya Sri Vajirarama Amarapura Sri Dharmarakshika Maha Nikaya Maha Nayakara Thrikunamale Ananda Thera, Prof. Kamburupitiye Vajira Thera, Kotapitiya Rahula Thera, Walamitiyawe Gnanaratha Thera, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe, Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, MP Sarath Weerasekara, Former Minister Wajira Abeywardane, Secretary to the Minister of Mass Media Anusha Palpita, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara and many others.