{"id":104139,"date":"2020-07-01T17:01:26","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T00:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=104139"},"modified":"2020-07-01T17:01:26","modified_gmt":"2020-07-02T00:01:26","slug":"today-july-02-2020-21st-death-anniversary-of-asoka-weeraratna-ven-mitirigala-dhammanissanti-thera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2020\/07\/01\/today-july-02-2020-21st-death-anniversary-of-asoka-weeraratna-ven-mitirigala-dhammanissanti-thera\/","title":{"rendered":"Today July 02, 2020 – 21st Death Anniversary of Asoka Weeraratna ( Ven. Mitirigala Dhammanissanti Thera)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Senaka Weeraratna<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Asoka Weeraratna\u2019s contribution to the spread of Buddhism in\nGermany<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(A Foreword to a Booklet published in year 2000 entitled \u2018 The\nNecessity for Promoting Buddhism in Europe\u2019 by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi being the\nKeynote Address delivered at a Public Seminar held on July 2, 2000 at the\nMahaweli Centre Auditorium in Colombo to commemorate the first death\nanniversary of Ven. Mitirigala Dhammanissanti Thero ( formerly known as Asoka\nWeeraratna))<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asoka Weeraratna on his visits to\nEurope nearly half a century ago discovered a void and deep disillusionment\namong Western people with their traditional religious beliefs, and a longing\nfor an alternate and more meaningful spiritual path. He saw an immense\npotential for Buddhism in Europe, particularly in Germany, and was convinced\nthat the prevailing conditions in that country in the aftermath of a terrible\nmassacre in World War Two, were ideally suited to receiving the gentle doctrine\nof the Buddha via a Buddhist Mission from Sri Lanka. Asoka Weeraratna\u2019s overall\naim was to establish the Buddha Sasana in Germany as Arahant Mahinda had done\nit in Sri Lanka over 2,300 years ago.  Asoka\u2019s energetic work upon his\nreturn to Sri Lanka, led to the founding of the German Dharmaduta Society, the\nestablishment of the Berlin Buddhist Vihara and thereafter the regular dispatch\nof Dhammadutas, to reside in the Vihara and spread the Dhamma in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, a part of Asoka\u2019s vision\nhas been realized. Buddhism is now very much a part of the Western scene. A\nsizeable number of people in several parts of Europe have understood the\nBuddha\u2019s Message and embraced it. A Western monastic Sangha born out of\nEuropean soil now exists. Yet a lot remains to be done in terms of promoting\nBuddhism as a spiritual path to weather life\u2019s troubles, in the unreached areas\nof Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>(Founder, German Dharmaduta Society  \u2013 1952 Berlin\nBuddhist Vihara \u2013  1957 Mitirigala Nissaranavanaya Hermitage  \u2013 \n1967 ) <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ever since the revered German\nmonk Ven. Nyanatiloka Maha Thero began residing at the Island Hermitage in\nDodanduwa in 1911, Sri Lanka has had the good fortune of attracting a dedicated\nband of Western Buddhists to our shores. The names of Nyanatiloka, Nyanaponika,\nNyanasatta, Nyanamoli, Anagarika Sugatananda ( Francis Story ), Vappo among\nothers, illumine the Buddhist landscape with their excellent exposition of the\nDhamma and great literary contributions. They brought fresh perspectives and\nproduced a wealth of translations of Buddhist texts from Pali into several\nother languages. These scholarly endeavours have played a substantial role in\nstimulating Western interest in Buddhism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi belongs to\nthis line of illustrious Western monks. As the President and Editor of the\nBuddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Bhikkhu Bodhi carries the mantle once\nborne by his erstwhile guru the late Ven. Nyanaponika Maha Thero, with steadfastness\nand dedication. The Internet provides a glimpse into the wide range of Bhikkhu\nBodhi\u2019s literary output. He was singularly honoured recently for his\noutstanding services to the dissemination of Buddhism, by being invited to be\nthe Principal speaker at the United Nations, New York this year on the occasion\nof the declaration of Vesak as a day of International Religious\nSignificance.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bhikkhu Bodhi\u2019s keynote address\non the topic ” The Necessity for Promoting Buddhism in Europe \u2018 delivered\nat a Public Seminar held on July 2, 2000 at the Mahaweli Centre Auditorium in\nColombo, to commemorate the first death anniversary of Ven. Mitirigala\nDhammanisanthi Thero  ( formerly Asoka Weeraratna ), was exhaustive and\nmeticulous. It has re-kindled interest in a subject that had first captured the\nspirit and imagination of the Buddhist public in Sri Lanka about 45 years ago.\nHis in-depth research and analysis of the subject matter provides a sound\nframework in planning Dhammaduta missions in the future. There have been\nnumerous requests for copies of his written paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are pleased to publish Bhikkhu\nBodhi\u2019s paper for the benefit of the larger public.  We trust that the\ncontents of this paper would generate an informed public discussion and lead to\na better understanding of the work, infra structure and the challenges faced by\nDhammadutas in Europe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The noted British historian\nArnold Toynbee once wrote that of all the historical changes in the West, the\nmost important change \u201d and the one whose effects have been least understood\n\u201d\u2026\u201d is the meeting of Buddhism in the Occident. In a similar vein the British\nphilosopher Bertrand Russel reflected at the end of World War Two that \u201d If we\nare to feel at home in the world, we will have to admit Asia to equality in our\nthoughts, not only politically but culturally. What changes this will bring, I\ndo not know. But I am convinced that they will be profound and of the greatest\nimportance .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The German Dharmaduta Society\ntakes immense satisfaction in being a vehicle for transmitting Asia\u2019s best gift\ni.e. the Dhamma, to the West, while not being unmindful of the wider\nimplications of this exercise in the creation of a balanced, peaceful and\nharmonious world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Senaka Weeraratna<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hony. Secretary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

German Dharmaduta Society<\/p>\n\n\n\n

August 19, 2000       <\/p>\n\n\n\n

See also<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Maha Thero delivers sermon at Asoka Weeraratna Birth Centenary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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