By Shelton A. Gunaratne

The Minnesota Buddhist Vihara in Minneapolis will hold a memorial service on New YearƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Day (Saturday, 1 Jan. 2011) to celebrate the contributions of the late Venerable Mapalagama Wipulasara Maha Thera to both the Buddhist community and to Sri Lanka.

Venerable Witiyala Seewalie, abbot and president of the Minnesota Buddhist Vihara, said he is organizing this memorial service. Venerable Seewalie is a former principal of the Parama Dhamma Cetiya Pirivena in Ratmalana.

Venerable Seewalie said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Venerable Wipulasara Maha Thera served as an exemplary director for the pirivena monastic education. He was kind and open hearted. He had a character that could not be shaken by the vicissitudes of life.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

Venerable Wipulasara was a monk, an artist, a sculptor and a social reformer blended into one. He exhibited his creative works in the former USSR and China in the early 1960s.

Venerable Wipulasara was ordained at the age of 14, and he was elevated to higher ordination six years later. In January 1960, he became the chief incumbent of Parama Dhamma Cetiya Pirivena, an international Buddhist school for specialized training in Buddhism, Pali, Sanskrit, and English for aspiring monks. He was a director of Parama Dhamma Institute, which trained monks for international missionary service. He was also a director of Ratmalana Bhikkhu TeachersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Training College.

Venerable Wipulasara was instrumental in forming the Sri Lanka Buddhist Congress in 1964. He served as the secretary of the Congress until he was elected its president in 1972. He was also secretary-general of World Buddhist Sangha Congress and general secretary of the Maha Bodhi Society of India.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ One of his notable acts as a social reformer was the role he played in the ordination of 10 Sri Lankan women as bhikkhunis in 1996 in Saranath.

He formed the Jatika Kala Peramuna (National Arts Front) with the support of leading artists Hendry Dharmasena and M. D. P. Jayawardhene.

In 1972, Venerable Wipulasara had the distinct honor of designing the national emblem of Sri Lanka. He established his credentials as a talented sculptor when he created a unique Buddha statue in meditative postureƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚an elegant image that stands out for its grace and simplicity.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This sculpture is very popular in North America.

Many Buddhist temples display his sculpture of Buddha statue as the main statue in their shrine rooms.

In 1984, the government of Sri Lanka awarded him the title of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-KalasooriƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in recognition of his contributions to the arts.

Now, let me provide a summary of basic facts about Venerable Wipulasara for easy reference:

Name at birth: Ganewattage Wijedasa

Birth: 3 March 1925

Death: 29 Oct. 2000

Birthplace: Mapalagama, Galle District

Parents: Siyadoris Ganewatte and Leelawathi Gunasekera

Date of ordination: 26 Aug. 1940 Ordained by the Venerable Walane Satthisssara Maha Thera

Date of Full Ordination: 1946

Primary education: Mapalagama Parana Thanayamgoda Govt. School

Tertiary education: Vidyodaya Pirivena