History of Thondrarama Brahma Vihara Part II

History of Thondrarama Brahma Vihara Part II

They found a Buddhist monk Reverend Godakalana Gunaratana. Rev. Gunaratana was born in Seri Lanka, attained the Buddhist monastic life in 1964. He studied in the Buddhist College in Seri Lanka until 1970, then went to Hong Kong and obtained a high ordination. He conducted religious services and practised Buddhism in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Seri Lanka until 1979.

In 1979, Rev. Gunaratana went to China for further studies in Eastern philosophy, theology and Buddhism and attended the Nanking University. In 1981, Rev. Gunaratana came to the United States and preached Buddhism in Colleges and Universities and various religious and non-religious organizations. Rev. Gunaratana has written and published many articles on religion and Buddhism.

Rev. Gunaratana temporarily offered weekly Sunday services with prayers and sermons during the service hours to the faithful as well as to the general public in English and Chinese. Rev. Gunaratana taught Sunday school for the youth also. Again, the board of directors were looking for a long term or permanent new spiritual leader for a while. Finally they found Mt. Tant Kyi Sayadaw when Sayadaw first came to the United States on April 3rd, 1988.

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