The Founder


Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita , founder-President of Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore was born in a Bengali brahmin family in the then eastern state of Manipur in India. He was born on March 12, 1922, a full moon day, in Imphal.

He was a bright student graduated from the institute of Engineering Technology, Calcutta in Automobile Engineering. He joined Govt. of India Defense Ordinance. The job took him to various places during the Second World War. He saw the destruction of life and property and misery that the war brought in the lives of people, which led him to turn towards spirituality. He resigned his job and left his home in search of truth and freedom. For some years he traveled through the length and breadth India and studied Indian religions in various institutions.

In 1948 he took ordination as a Buddhist monk under the most Venerable Chandamani Mahathera, Abbot of Maha Parinibbana Vihara, Kushinara, U.P. He undertook extensive Buddhist studies both in India and Nepal the same year.

He studied Pali and Buddhism in Sri Lanka and practised meditation under the renowned meditation master Ven. Mahasi Sayadwaw in Burma. He was a member of the editorial board of the sixth Buddhist Synod held in Rangoon, which brought out a complete edition of the Pali canon.

He has taught Buddhology at the Nalanda pali Postgraduate Institute, Bihar. In order to spread the teachings of the Buddha in his own quite way he resigned the job and started Mahabodhi Society, Bangalore on the piece of land offered by the niece of Ven. Anagarika Dhammapala, Maha Upasika Mrs. B. Moonasinghe, which she had received from the Maharaja of Mysore for the purpose of building a Buddhist center in Bangalore.

Thus the Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore was founded in 1956. Since then he has been active in giving weekly discourses on Buddhism, writing articles and books, giving talks over all India Radio creating awareness among the people of Karnataka and India about Buddhism. He extended his activities to other countries of the world to disseminate the noble teachings of the Buddha.

His compassion prompted him to undertake many projects to alleviate suffering of the people, like building medical centers, Monastic institutes, Residential schools in different parts of India for displaced and poor children.

In 2001 seeing the urgent need of training good monks in India, he started another historic movement by opening MAHABODHI MONASTIC INSTITUTE, BANGALORE, on the auspicious day of 2545th Buddha Jayanti Celebrations. Today the institute has the strength of 150 monks from different parts of India who are getting monastic training.

Now he is 85 and he has established MAHA BODHI ACADEMY FOR PALI & BUDDHIST STUDIES, which conducts Diploma courses in Buddhist Studies to spread the teachings of the Buddha as widely as possible. It is the first of its kind in the whole of India. This is the result of his deep research and experience in the revival of Buddha Dhamma.

His Life & achievements in Brief

EARLY LIFE

Born on March 12, 1922, Full moon day, in Imphal, Manipur State, India
Graduated from the institute of Engineering Technology, Calcutta in Automobile Engineering
Joined Govt. of India Defense Ordinance during the Second World War.

MONASTIC TRAINING

Ordained as Buddhist monk, 1948 under Most Venerable Chandamani Mahathera, Abbot of Maha Parinibbana Vihara, Kusinara, U.P.
Undertook Buddhist Studies in India and Nepal 1948.

BUDDHIST STUDIES IN CEYLON, 1948-51

Teachers
Venerable Nyanatiloka Maha Thera (Pali and Sutta Acharya),
Venerable Widurupola Piyatissa Maha Nayaka thera (Vinaya Acharya)
Venerable Rerukane Chandavimala Maha Nayaka thera (Abhiddhamma Acharya)

Conferred "ACHARYA" title by Udarata Amarapura Nikaya, 1951.

BUDDHIST STUDIES IN BURMA, 1951-54

Teachers
Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw (Vipassana meditation Acharya)
Venerable U.Narada, Mula Patthana Sayadaw (Abhidhamma Psychology, Patthana System).
Venerable Yamaka Sayadaw (Abhidhamma Acharya)

POSITIONS HELD

1952-54 - Joined the Chatthasangayana Editorial Board of the Union Buddha Sasana Council, Government of Burma.

Helped to edit Tipitaka (Pali Scriptures) Published by the Government of Burma as part of the Sixth Buddhist Synod.

1954-56 - Teaching Staff for Nalanda Pali Postgraduate Institute. Subjects taught: Pali language and literature, Buddhist Psychology and Philosophy.

1956 Founded Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore, India.
Established the Holy Bodhi tree shrine. This Bodhi tree is a sapling of the original Bodhagaya Holy Maha Bodhi Tree.

Buddhist preacher, undertook extensive humanitarian service programs, established the Academy of Pali and Buddhist Studies and an International Meditation Centre. The MBS has branches in Mysore Leh, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

1959 - Founded Mahabodhi Maitri Mandala, devoted to humanitarian service in the filed of medical and educational work. M.M. now has branches in Mysore and leh Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

1962 - Started monthly magazine SWAYAM SAHAYA

1964 - Founded a model rural Hospital at Sakalavara, Anekal taluk for training medical personal for rural service. Meditation was also taught in this hospital as a therapeutic technique.

1966 - Built the Mahabohi Burns and Casualty Centre at the Victoria Government Hospital, Bangalore and Burns wards at various district hospitals, such as Mysore, Hassan, Mandya, Tumkur etc.

1968 - Started Mahabodhi Gurukula Hostels and Residential Schools for boys at Bangalore and Mysore.

1969 - Established the Buddha Vachana Trust, a publishing section. Established Tripitaka Printing Press.

1971 - Established Mahabodhi Maitri Medical Mission. Established Mahabodhi Artificial Limb Centre.

1972 - Established Arogya Foundation (India) and Arogya Hospital medical center dedicated to total health with multidisciplinary, holistic approach.
Established Sevakshetra building.
Started monthly Buddhist magazine DHAMMA

1976 - Established the Institute of Pali Studies and Buddhalogy in Mysore.

1980-2000 - Stayed in USA and taught Buddhism and Buddhist meditation in various educational institutions. Established a Meditation Centre at Big Bear, California, USA.

1984 - Established the Maha Visva Maitri Stupa. This is the first stupa built in India after the lapse of about 800 years during which Buddhism declined.
Initiated TIPITAKA GRANTHAMALA PROJECT - to publish the entire Tipitaka in kannada language.

1990 - Taught at Fo Kuan Shan University in Taiwan.

1994 - Established Mahabodhi Loka Shanti Buddha Vihara.

1995 - Established Mahabodhi Community Centre.

1996 - Established World Peace Buddha Temple and Meditation Retreat.

2001 - Established Mahabodhi Monastic Institute, Bangalore

2006 - Established Mahabodhi Academy for Pali & Buddhist Studies (Correspondence Course), which conducts DBS course (Diploma in Buddhist Studies).

At Present he is residing at Mahabodhi Monastic Institute, Bangalore spending time in solitary meditation, teaching monks and writing dhamma books.