Updated 28 April 2024
Spiritual Advisors Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya and Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) (BGKT) is very fortunate to have as its founder Spiritual Advisors two senior Theravada Buddhist Bhikkhus [Monks] Venerable Dr Balangoda Ananda Maitreya and Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. BGKT will always remember them with gratitude for their inspiration and indefatigable efforts to develop Theravada Buddhism in the West.
BGKT was founded in September 1991. Venerable Dr Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Aggamaha Pandita Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru DLitt DLitt (one of the world’s most senior Theravada Buddhist Bhikkhus [Monks]), and Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Maha Thera (an internationally respected meditation master and author who has been resident in the USA for many years) agreed to become BGKT’s spiritual advisors.
Jacquetta Gomes’s memories of Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya and Bhante Henepola Gunaratana are included in “Recalling TCH, the Society and Summer Schools Past: Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili (Jacquetta Gomes) remembers speakers at the Buddhist Society’s Summer Schools”, The Middle Way: Journal of The Buddhist Society [London], 89(4) (February 2015) pages 289-296. https://www.thebuddhistsociety.org/
https://www.thebuddhistsociety.org/page/the-middle-way-2
https://thebuddhistsociety.org/MW.90.Anniversary.pdf
Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Aggamaha Pandita Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru DLitt DLitt (23 August 1896 – 18 July 1998)
Venerable Ananda Maitreya was ordained as a novice Bhikkhu [Monk] on 2 March 1911 in Sri Lanka. His upasampada [higher ordination] was conducted on 14 July 1916. He was Mahanayaka [Head] of the Amarapura Nikaya of the Sangha [community of Buddhist Monks] in Sri Lanka, and had been a participant at the historic sixth Sangayama [Buddhist Council], held in Burma in 1954-56. That Council was held to coincide with Buddha Jayanthi, the 2500th anniversary of the passing away of the Buddha. Members of the Sangha from the five Theravada Buddhist countries of South-East Asia [Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia] attended this Council. The purpose of these Councils is to rehearse [Sangayama means rehearsal] and compare their respective copies of the Tipitaka [The Pali Canon], the teachings of the Buddha, in order to ensure that purity and accuracy has been maintained over the years. The previous five Councils had all been held under royal patronage in India and Sri Lanka. An important Council was convened in the 3rd century BC by Emperor Asoka of India after his conversion to Buddhism, when he found that incorrect teachings were being taught and practised by the Sangha [community of Buddhist Monks]. That Council saw the expulsion of many unsuitable Bhikkhus [Monks].
The Burmese government wished the Sixth Council to produce an authorized version of the Tipitaka [The Pali Canon]. Venerable Ananda Maitreya was the Sri Lankan representative on the final editing committee. He had also served as chairman of the Council for a few weeks during its third session in 1956. The Burmese government subsequently conferred upon him the honorific title of Agga Mahapandita [Chief Great Scholar]. After his 100th birthday he was invited to Burma where he received their highest religious title, Abhidhaja Maharatthagura [His Eminence, the Great Spiritual Teacher of the Nation].
Venerable Ananda Maitreya frequently stayed at the LBV London Buddhist Vihara. He was popular with everyone, and valued for his long and deep experience of being a member of the Sangha [community of Buddhist Monks]. Most of the questions he was asked he answered in relation to his many years of being a Bhikkhu [Monk].
The 87 year old Venerable Ananda Maitreya and Anagarika Munindra were guest speakers at the Buddhist Society [London]’s Summer School in 1982. Despite his great age Venerable Ananda Maitreya stood to give a talk on “The Three-Factored Path”. This talk appeared in the February 1983 issue of The Middle Way: Journal of The Buddhist Society [London]. When Jacquetta Gomes attended the 1982 Buddhist Society Summer School, she already knew Venerable Ananda Maitreya from the LBV London Buddhist Vihara. At the Summer School she went to his room to take something he needed, and waited outside the open door while he was talking to Venerable Sumedho and Venerable Amaro on the subject of the monastic life. From where she was standing, she could overhear the conversation, and it was interesting to hear Venerable Amaro asking the elderly Venerable Ananda Maitreya questions based on the latter’s decades-long experience of being a Bhikkhu [Monk], a Buddhist elder and leader. Venerable Ananda Maitreya eventually asked her to come in and present the required item.
Venerable Ananda Maitreya was already well known to the Forest Sangha at Cittaviveka Chithurst Monastery in Sussex England. In 1981 he stayed at Chithurst Monastery and convened the assembly which authorized Venerable Sumedho to be a Preceptor and conduct Bhikkhu Ordinations. For this purpose, Venerable Ananda Maitreya conducted the ceremony to establish a Sima (bounded area of consecrated ground) for which he had the necessary qualifications according to the Vinaya rules. Ordinations have to be conducted on a Sima. The Chithurst Sangha [community of Buddhist Monks] named the new Sima the “Ananda Maitreya Sima”.
Wedding
Venerable Ananda gave a talk at Jacquetta Gomes’s wedding and performed the wedding blessings. His talk is in his book, Buddhism – Lectures and Essays, under the title ‘Family Life (A talk given at Chiswick Vihara [LBV London Buddhist Vihara] at an English Buddhist girl’s wedding….
Dhamma Teachers Certificate
Weblinkhttps://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/dhamma-teachers-certificate-requirements-and-ceremonies/
Venerable Ananda Maitreya authorised Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes to teach in 1983.
Panca Sila (Five Precepts)
Weblinkhttps://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/panca-sila-the-five-precepts/
Venerable Ananda Maitreya gave Upasaka Sudharma (a member of BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada)) his Buddhist name and Panca Sila (Five Precepts) at a Buddhist Monastery in London on 9 March 1994.
Bodhicari Precepts
Weblinkhttps://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/bodhicari-precepts/
Venerable Ananda Maitreya conducted the ceremony in which Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes was given the Bodhicari Precepts in 1994. This was the first time the Bodhicari Precepts were given outside the USA.
Introducing Buddhism
Introducing Buddhism by Venerable Dr Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Aggamaha Pandita DLitt DLitt (1896-1998) and Jacquetta Gomes Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili. Introducing Buddhism was originally published by The Buddhist Society London in 1988, to accompany The Buddhist Society’s Introducing Buddhism Course, on which Jacquetta Gomes was one of the teachers. Introducing Buddhism has subsequently been published by Buddhist organisations in England, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the USA.
Introducing Buddhism is available on several websites including Access to Insight, TBE Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia and Google Books. Introducing Buddhism was launched by the BCC Buddhist Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka with 24 other books under the patronage of Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda Chief Sangha Nayaka of Malaysia and Singapore, in December 1997.
Bibliography Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya
Books
The Dhammapada: The Path of Truth. Translated by Venerable Dr. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera. Berkeley, California (USA): Parallax Press, 1995. (ISBN 0-938077-87-2)
https://www.parallax.org/product/the-dhammapada/
https://www.librarything.com/work/14593024
Buddhism: Lectures and Essays. Venerable Dr Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Aggamaha Pandita DLitt DLitt. Sri Lanka, Colombo, Samayawardhana, 1993. (ISBN 955-570-038-9)
Chapter 7 Family Life (A talk given at Chiswick Vihara [LBV London Buddhist Vihara] at an English Buddhist girl’s wedding…
https://www.librarything.com/work/3137078
Balangoda Ananda Maitreya, Venerable, and Jayasili (Jacquetta Gomes). Introducing Buddhism. 2007. (Taipei Taiwan, The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation) (Book code EN074) (This includes the booklet: Requirements and Ceremonies for the Five Precepts (Panca Sila), The Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth (Ajivatthamaka Sila), Dhamma Teachers Certificate, issued by the Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Ketumati Buddhist Vihara at Wesak 2006)
Available at https://www-old.budaedu.org/en/
https://www-old.budaedu.org/book-img/CoverL/EN074.jpg
http://ftp.budaedu.org/ebooks/pdf/EN074.pdf
https://archive.org/details/introducingbuddh03vene/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/introducing-buddhism-bgkt-ven-balangodanandamaitreya-jayasili-jacquettagomes
https://archive.org/details/introducing-buddhism-bgkt-ven-balangodanandamaitreya-jayasili-jacquettagomes/page/n1/mode/2up
Available at https://books.google.com/
Websites
Quang Duc Monastery Fawkner (near Melbourne) Victoria Australia
https://quangduc.com/p52204/homepage
2021 20 August Author Jacquetta Gomes Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili
https://quangduc.com/author/post/13069/1/jacquetta-gomes-bodhicarini-upasika-jayasili
2021 20 August 125th Anniversary of Birth of Venerable Dr Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Aggamaha Pandita Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru DLitt DLitt (23rd August 1896 – 18th July 1998) by Jacquetta Gomes Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili
https://quangduc.com/a71517/125th-anniversary-of-birth-of-venerable-dr-balangoda-ananda-maitreya-mahanayaka-thera-aggamaha-pandita-abhidhaja-maharatthaguru-
2020 22 June Buddhism: (Lectures and Essays on Buddhism) by Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero, Published by Samayawardena Colombo Sri Lanka. (1993) (ISBN 955-570-038-9).
https://quangduc.com/p52208a68742/buddhism-lectures-and-essays
2020 22 June Chapter 7 Family Life (A talk given at Chiswick Vihara [LBV London Buddhist Vihara] at an English Buddhist girl’s wedding…)
https://quangduc.com/p52208a68822/family-life
https://quangduc.com/a68822/family-life
2021 24 November BDG Buddhist Door Global, “Marking the 125th Birth Anniversary of Ven. Ananda Maitreya in England”, by Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes
https://www.buddhistdoor.net/features/marking-the-125th-birth-anniversary-of-ven-ananda-maitreya-in-england/
“A Tribute to Two Monks”, by Bhikkhu Bodhi. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 16 June 2011.
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/bps-essay_40.html
“Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya: A Personal Appreciation”, by Bhikkhu Bodhi. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 5 June 2010.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/bam.html .
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Maha Thera (1927-)
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana was born in Sri Lanka in 1927. He became a Novice Monk at the age of 12 and received full ordination in 1947 at the age of 20. He moved to the USA in 1968. He is Founding Abbot of the Bhavana Society (which he co-founded in 1985) in West Virginia USA. In 1996 he was awarded the title Chief Sangha Nayaka [Head Theravada Bhikkhu [Buddhist Monk]] of North America. He has led meditation retreats, and taught Buddhism in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia. He is an internationally respected meditation master and author.
He has visited BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Keswick Buddhist Group (Theravada) and taught a 1995 meditation retreat for these groups in Cumbria England.
Teachings in BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada)’s Open Meetings are based on Mindfulness in Plain English, Loving-Kindness in Plain English, Start Here, Start Now: A Short Guide to Mindfulness Meditation and the In Plain English series by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana published by Wisdom Experience.
Panca Sila (Five Precepts)
Weblinkhttps://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/panca-sila-the-five-precepts/
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana gave Upasika Canda (a member of BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada)) her Buddhist name and Panca Sila (Five Precepts) at a retreat in for BGKT and Keswick Buddhist Group (Theravada) in Cumbria England on 14 April 1995.
The Eight Lifetime Precepts (an expansion of Ajivatthama Sila Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth)
Weblinkhttps://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/eight-lifetime-precepts/
The Eight Lifetime Precepts are an expansion of Ajivatthamaka Sila (Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth). The first seven Precepts are the same but the eighth Precept is an amalgamation of the eighth Precept of Ajivatthamaka Sila and the fifth Precept of Panca Sila (The Five Precepts): I undertake the training rule to abstain from wrong livelihood and from intoxicating drinks and drugs causing heedlessness.
Bhavana Vandana: Devotions for Meditation explains The Eight Lifetime Precepts on page x of the Introduction and in Part One Refuges and Precepts on pages 6-9.
“Eight Lifetime Precepts
The second selection in the book provides an opportunity for lay devotees to take the Eight Lifetime Precepts. These include the five basic precepts plus three other precepts relating to right speech. In addition to abstain from false speech, one who takes the Eight Lifetime Precepts promises to abstain from malicious speech, from harsh speech, and from useless speech. The basic precept to refrain from intoxicants is expanded to include right livelihood, aligning the way we earn our living with the principles of Dhamma. These precepts mirror the right action, right speech, and right livelihood sections of the Noble Eightfold Path.”
Buddhist Suttas for Recitation: A Companion for Walking the Buddha’s Path explains The Eight Lifetime Precepts on page xxvii of the Introduction and in Part One Refuges and Precepts on pages 8-11.
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana described the development of the Eight Lifetime Precepts in his 2001 book Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Path of the Buddha in Step 4 Skillful Action: Higher Precepts for Laypeople on pages 125-126. The Eight Lifetime Precepts were first offered at the Bhavana Society in 1998 for the 10th anniversary of the Bhavana Society.
Upasika Panna (a member of BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada)) received her Buddhist name and the Eight Lifetime Precepts from Bhante Henepola Gunaratana at Gaia House in Devon England on 6 June 2007.
Bibliography Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Books
Bhavana Vandana: Devotions for Meditation. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. 2008. (Revised edition). (High View West Virginia USA Bhavana Society).
Bhavana Vandana is available on the Internet Archive website
https://archive.org/details/BhavanaVandanaDevotionsForMeditation
https://ia801605.us.archive.org/18/items/BhavanaVandanaDevotionsForMeditation/VandanaDeskV19.pdf
https://archive.org/
Websites
Wisdom Experience
Bhante Gunaratana
https://wisdomexperience.org/content-author/bhante-gunaratana/
Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English, Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Wisdom Publications USA, 2009. (ISBN 9780861715299)
Chapter 4 Wishing the Best for Yourself and Others
https://wisdomexperience.org/product/beyond-mindfulness-plain-english/
Buddhist Suttas for Recitation: A Companion for Walking the Buddha’s Path. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. 2019. (Boston USA Wisdom Publications). (ISBN 978-161429-489-4).
https://wisdomexperience.org/product/buddhist-suttas-for-recitation/
Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: walking the Path of The Buddha. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. 2001. (Boston USA Wisdom Publications). (ISBN 978-086171-176-5)
https://wisdomexperience.org/product/eight-mindful-steps-happiness/
https://wisdomexperience.org/bhante-g/
https://wisdomexperience.org/
Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness is available on the Internet Archive website
https://archive.org/details/eightmindfulstep0000guna_c9p3/page/n291/mode/2up
https://archive.org
Journey to Mindfulness: The Autobiography of Bhante G. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. 2003. (Boston USA Wisdom Publications). (ISBN 978-161429-442-9)
https://wisdomexperience.org/product/journey-mindfulness-0/
Loving-Kindness in Plain English: The Practice of Metta, Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Wisdom Publications USA, 2017. (ISBN 9781614292494)
https://wisdomexperience.org/product/loving-kindness-plain-english/
Mindfulness in Plain English, Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Wisdom Publications USA, 20th anniversary edition, 2011. (ISBN 9780861719068)
https://wisdomexperience.org/product/mindfulness-plain-english/