The Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita is no more. Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita, founded the Maha Bodhi Society in Bangalore in 1956. He became monk on the Buddha Poornima Day of 1949 at Kusinagar under the illustrious monk Venerable Candamani Mahathera.. In 1956 he came down to Bangalore to start the Maha Bodhi Society and since then he is engaged in spiritual and humanitarian activities. He is a prolific writer and a compassionate Dhamma teacher Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita, founder-President of Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore and its branches and sister organizations in Mysore, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, He was a member of the editorial board of the Chattha Sangayana - 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. His compassion prompted him to undertake many projects to alleviate suffering of 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 MAHABODHI MONASTIC INSTITUTE, BANGALORE, In 2006 at the age of 85 he established MAHABODHI ACADEMY FOR PALI & BUDDHIST STUDIES, which conducts Diploma courses in Buddhist Studies to spread the teachings of the Buddha. Life & achievements Titles received - Conferred "ACHARYA" title by Udarata Amarapura Nikaya, Sri Lanka in 1951. Honored with the title ABHIDHAJA AGGAMAHASADDHAMMA JOTIKA by the Government of Myanmar in 2009 1956 Founded Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore. Established the Holy Bodhi tree and shrine. This Bodhi tree is a sapling of the original Holy Mahabodhi Tree of Buddhagaya. 1959 Founded Mahabodhi Maitri Mandala, devoted to humanitarian service in the filed of medical and educational work. .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 Mahabodhi 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 Residential School for boys at Bangalore. 1969 Founded Buddha Vachana Trust, a publishing wing of the Maha Bodhi Society started publishing books.1971 Founded Mahabodhi Maitri Medical Mission, which started holistic medical center.1971 Established Mahabodhi Artificial Limb Centre.1972 Established Arogya Foundation (India) and Arogya Hospital- medical center dedicated to total health with multidisciplinary, holistic approach..1972 Started monthly Buddhist magazine DHAMMA.1980-2000 he Visited USA and taught Buddhism and Buddhist meditation in various educational institutions. Established a Meditation Centre at Big Bear, California, USA. Founded Buddhayoga Meditation Center.in 1984 Established the Mahabodhi Vishva Maitri Stupa. This is the first stupa built in India after lapse of about 800 years during which Buddhism declined with holy relic of the Buddha.in 1984 Initiated TIPITAKA GRANTHAMALA PROJECT - to publish the entire Tipitaka in Kannada language with publication of Digha Nikaya. The project was supported by the Government of Karnataka.in1986 Establishment of branch of Maha Bodhi Society in Ladakh with following activities: Mahabodhi International Meditation Center, Ladakh Mahabodhi Residential School and Hostels, Ladakh Mahabodhi Old Age Home, Ladakh Mahabodhi Nunnery, Ladakh Mahabodhi Karuna Charitable Hospital, Ladakh 1994 Mahabodhi Loka Shanti Buddha Vihara, Bangalore - It is a replica of Mahabodhi temple in Buddhagaya and it is serving as the place of meditation, worship, Sunday discourses, Pali and Abhidhamma classes. in2001 Established Mahabodhi Monastic Institute, Bangalore - A monastic center with facilities for intensive Dhamma studies and practice. At present it has 100 monks under training. In 2003 Mahabodhi Mettaloka Youth Center, Mysore - A hostel for boys who have completed high school. At present there are 50 boys staying in this hostel and another 15 students studying in different places under its program.2008 Mahabodhi Dhammaduta Vihara - Foundation was laid for this Vihara which will be a Center for Moral and Spiritual Education at Alur, Bangalore. The construction work has started.in 2009 Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita was honored with the title ABHIDHAJA AGGAMAHASADDHAMMA JOTIKA by the Government of Myanmar.in 2010 With the help of grants from the Government of Karnataka he initiated the Tipitaka Translation into Kannada again to publish 13 volumes this year.

• published: 24 Sep 2013
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