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Anuruddha was one of the five head disciples and a cousin of Gautama Buddha.

Early years[link]

Anuruddha was the son of Sukkhodana and brother to Mahanama. Since Sukkhodana was the brother of Suddhodana, king of the Sakyas in Kapilavastu, Anuruddha was cousin to Siddhartha, (Gautama Buddha). He was a kshatriya by birth, enabling him to be raised in wealth. Anuruddha returned to his home town two years after the enlightenment of Gautama Buddha, preaching his ideas to the Sakyan kingdom. Together with his 3 cousins Bhaddiyam, Ananda, and Devadatta and their barber Upali, to become ordained by the Buddha at the Anupiya Mango Grove.^[1]

Religious life[link]

Anuruddha acquired "divine vision" (dibba-cakkhu) and was ranked foremost among those who had the ability. Sariputta assigned the eight thoughts of a great man for Anuruddha to use as a meditation topic. Journeying into the Pacinavamsadaya in the Ceti country to practice, he was able to master seven, but could not learn the eighth, which Buddha taught him. Anuruddha developed insight and then realized arahantship.

Depiction[link]

Anuruddha is depicted in the Pali Canon as an affectionate and loyal bhikkhu, and stood near the Buddha in assembly. At one point, when the Buddha was disappointed with the arguments of the monks at Kosambi, he retreated to Pacinavamsadaya to stay with Anuruddha. In many texts, even when a large number of distinguished monks were present, Anuruddha is often the recipient of the Buddha's questions, and answers on behalf of the sangha

After the Buddha[link]

Anuruddha was present when the Buddha died at Kusinara. He was foremost in consoling the monks and admonishing their future course of action, reminding them of the Buddha's decree to follow the dharma. As the Buddha was reclining and going through the jhanas, Ananda said to Anuruddha: "The Exalted One has attained final Nibbana, Venerable Sir." Anuruddha, having divine vision, stated that the Buddha was absorbed in the state of "cessation," but had not yet died. Anuruddha was consulted by the Mallas of Kusinara regarding the Buddha's last obsequies.

Later, at the First Buddhist Council, he played a notable role and was entrusted with the custody of the Anguttara Nikaya. Anuruddha died at Veluvagama in the Vajji country, in the shade of a bamboo thicket. He was one hundred and fifteen years old at the time of his death.

Depictions in the Jataka[link]

Anuruddha is frequently depicted in the Jataka, which describes the previous reincarnations of Buddhist figures. In the time of Padumuttara Buddha time, he had been a wealthy householder. Hearing one of the monks declared best among possessors of the celestial eye, he desired a similar honor. He performed acts of merit, including holding a great feast of light in front of the Buddha's tomb. In Kassapa Buddha's era he had reincarnated and was born in Varanasi; one day he placed bowls filled with clarified butter around the Buddha's tomb and set them alight, circumscribed the tomb throughout the night, bearing on his head a lighted bowl.

He was reborn in an impoverished family in Varanasi and was named Annabhara. One day, while working for his master, the banker Sumana, he gave his meal to a Pacceka Buddha, Uparittha. The banker, having heard of Annabhara's pious deed, rewarded him by helping to establish a business for him. The king, impressed, gave him a site for a house, and when the ground beneath was excavated, yielded much buried treasure.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Anuruddha: Master of the Divine Eye by Hellmuth Hecker (translated from the German by Nyanaponika Thera)

Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero
Religion	Buddhism
School	Theravada
Sect	Amarapura Nikaya (for registration purposes)
Order	Sri Kalyaniwansa Nikaya
Personal
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Born	(1961-07-01) 1 July 1961 (age 50) Iriyawetiya, Kiribathgoda, Sri Lanka
Senior posting
Based in	Sri Lanka
Title	Vener
Religious career
Teacher	Ven. Dambagasare Shri Sumedhankara Thero and Ven. Dikwelle Pannananda Thero
Initiation	Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
Website	http://www.mahamevnawa.lk

Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero (born 1 July 1961) is the founder of Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery.^[1]

Spiritual Biography[link]

Gnanananda Thero was born to the Roman Catholic family, parented by Cristy Kabraal and Violet Perera. The circumstances that followed his birth were 'miraculous',^[2] as the whole family became Buddhists just 6 months after his birth, going so far as to give up their main source of income: 'animal husbandry for meat' (a livelihood advised against by the Buddha). Opportunity for Buddhist education was therefore available to him from childhood.

Ordained on March 26^th, 1979 (i.e. at age 17) under Ven. Dambagasare Shri Sumedhankara Thero and Ven. Dikwelle Pannananda Thero at Seruwavila, he received a traditional Buddhist academic education and entered the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.^[3] Having understood the inability to achieve what he wanted in a university, he quit and started visiting meditation centers and hermitages.

Having practiced and preached Dhamma for years, he founded Mahamevnawa in 1999 under the guidance of Ven. Kotapola Amarakitti Thero, in Waduwava, Polgahawela. Mahamevnawa is currently spreading steadily under his guidance (It has around 40 branch monasteries for meditation throughout Sri Lanka, and overseas: Canada [1], USA [2], Australia [3]), UK [4], and Germany [5].

Teachings[link]

He now teaches Buddhism (Theravada), emphasizing the need to practice it in pure form (i.e. as in the Suttas) and casting off what is not advocated by the Buddha.

Thousands of practicing Buddhists are associated with Mahamevnawa.

"Maha Sthupa Wandanawa" ^[5] conducted on the 2^nd February, 2008 at Anuradhapura with participation of over 100,000 disciples, and "Somawathi Stupa Vandanawa" ^[6] conducted on the 8^th May, 2010 at Somawathiya temple with participation of over 1,000,000 devotees, bear evidence for the popularity his Damma program has achieved.

Publications[link]

The Most Ven Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero has written many books based on the teachings of Buddha. These publications are aimed to emphasize uncontaminated Buddhism that can be comprehended by anyone who reads it.

The Most Ven Thero has also commenced a culture in Sri Lanka (traditionally known as Damma Island – Island full of Buddha’s Teachings) to preach Buddha’s teaching in the national language of Sinhala, even though the teachings are traditionally preached in the Pali language. Many disciples believe that they are now able to preach Buddha’s teachings with the right understanding

See also[link]

• Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
• List of Mahamevnawa branches

Namo Buddhaya

References[link]

External links[link]

• Short Spiritual Biography of Bhikku Ñānānanda (Buddha Vision)
• Founder's Photo Album (Buddha Vision)

Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery

• Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery – Official Website
• Mahamevnawa Canada – Official Website
• Mahamevnawa USA – Official Website
• Mahamevnawa Australia – Official Website
• Mahamevnawa UK – Official Website
• Mahamevnawa Europe – Official Website

Dhamma Sermons/Articles by Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero

• Download MP3, PDF of Dhamma Sermons (in Sinhalese)
• Dhamma Articles (in English)
• Meditation/Bhawana – Thisara FM (Sinhalese, followed by English Interpretation)
• Video Dhamma Sermons (Youtube Channel)

Other

• 'Master of meditation' – An article from 'Sunday Times' News Paper
• 'Only four people attended my first sermon' – An article from 'Daily News' News Paper
• Googlepage of BuddhaVision
• 'Writer in the making' – An article about a lay disciple from 'Sunday Observer' News Paper
• Revealing the heresies of Swarna and Presenting the Truth to the Intelligent
  • 'Budusarana' seminar : 'Secret scheme against Buddhism' – an article from 'Sunday Observer' News Paper
  • Lanka Web News: 'Beware of Swarna's Buddhism' (by Ven. Henepola Gunaratana Thero)
• Sinhala Transcript of TV program: "Urumayaka Ulpath"
• "Inauguration of the Mahamevnawa Bhavana Monastery of New Jersey, USA", LankaWeb News
• "Inauguration of the Mahamevnawa Bhavana Monastery of New Jersey, USA", lankaeverything.com