Description
The most Ven Aggamahapandita Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero, at ninety nine years is the oldest Buddhist Prelate in Sri Lanka Ordained at the age of fourteen, he very soon became a recognized teacher and expositor of the Buddhist doctrine in Theravada as well as Mahayana Schools He is well known among the scholarly community in the world for his mastery of the doc- trine as well as knowledge in Pali, San- skrit and several other languages. He is much sought after by them in unravelling controversial and difficult points in the doctrine. He has written a large number of books on Buddhism, well used for reference.
Early in his life as a Bhikkhu, the Mahanayake Thero taught Bud- dhism, Pali and Sanskrit in a leading Buddhist school in Colombo, The seminary or Bhikkhu training school established by him later, over half a century ago in his native town in Sri Lanka is flourishing as a shining. example of his capabilities. He served as the Chairman of the Depart- ment of Buddhist Philosophy and as the Dean of the Faculty on Oriental Studies and finally as the Vice Chancellor of the Vidyodaya University of Sri Lanka. He retired from this position in 1965 and has spent his save mainly in writing, travelling all over the world, lecturing and guiding schol ars in Buddhism.
He is also a well known teacher of Buddhsit medikam Iniques both Samatha (Tranquility Meditation) and Vipassana Meditation). The Mahanayake Thero is a renowned practitione tation and does not neglect the practice even for a day. It is amesemple for others to see him a his age, busy with meditation, writing, discussi and explaining the Dhamma with scholars who visit him daily from all oor the world, throughout the day.
The crowning points of his life as a Buddhist prelate were when he was appointed the Supreme Head of the Amarapura sect, Advisor and translator of the Three Pitaka Translation Committe of the Government of Sri Lanka and when he led a delegation of monks representing Sri Lanka to participate in the celebrated Sixth Buddhist Council (Sanghayana) held in Burma (Myaman) in 1953 and was appointed the Chairman of the Council for some of its sessions.
The present volume of essays originated as lectures and were taped and later edited by the author and covers a wide range from special qualities of the Buddha to Abhidhamma (Buddhist Psychology)
