Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero

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Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero

Born	1962 Kiribathgoda, Sri Lanka
Occupation	Founder monk, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monetary
Website www.buddhavision.com/founder.html

Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero is the founder of Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastry ^[1].

1 Spiritual Biography
2 Teachings
- 2.1 References
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Spiritual Biography

Gnanananda Thero was born in 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 right after his birth, going to the extent of giving up their main source of income: 'animal husbandry for meat' (a livelihood advised against by the Buddha). Opportunity for Buddhist education was therefore available for him from the childhood.

Ordained on March 26^th, 1979 (i.e. at age 17), he received 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 associating meditation centers and hermitages.

Having practiced and preached Dhamma for years, he founded Mahamevnawa in 1999 under the guidance of 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] and Australia [3]).

[edit] Teachings

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

“

Our Teacher, the Buddha has taught that birth as a human being is, indeed, a very rare achievement. Fortunately, we have now obtained that rare achievement. Yet, we have to remember that man's greatness does not lie either in his nationality, caste clan or any such feature. His greatness depends solely on his conduct. Man's experiencing of happiness and suffering, too, is related to his three modes of action namely, mental, verbal and physical action.

The Buddha devoted all his life to save man from dukkha - suffering. We are followers of the Buddha and our fervent hope is to see a world full of people who are freed from dukkha.

Mankind's wonderful treasure of wisdom is the Teaching of the Buddha. This doctrine illuminates our lives bringing happiness and joy. Go in search of this wonderful Dhamma yourself, lead your life accordingly, get rid of your suffering and join that fortunate band of people who experience the Supreme Bliss

”

— A Message by Venerable Thero^[4]

Teaching Dhamma

Thousands of practicing Buddhists are associated with Mahamevnawa; and trying to follow the path the Buddha showed.

"Maha Sthupa Wandanawa" ^[5] conducted on the 2^nd February, 2008 at Anuradhapura with participation of over 100000 disciples, bears evidence for the popularity his Damma program has achieved.