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4 EASTERN HORIZON | LEAD ARTICLE
WALKING
THE PATH OF
COMPASSION
By Venerable Dr E Indaratana Maha Thera
Venerable E. Indaratana Maha Ven. Indaratana Maha Thera Kung Kok Chye: You are born
Thera was born on February became the 6th Chief Monk and received your education,
10, 1954 in Sri Lanka. When of Mahindarama Buddhist including monastic ordination,
he was 12 years old, he went Temple, Penang. He was also ex in Sri Lanka. But at a young age
forth to leave the house-hold life Principal of the Mahindarama you left Sri Lanka to carry out
and ordained as a novice monk Sunday Pali School. He started religious activities in various
(sāmaṇera) in 1966. When he the Amata Medical & Diabetic countries overseas. Can you
tell us why you chose to pursue
was 21 years old, he went for his Center in 1996. Currently, a religious vocation overseas
higher Ordination (upasampadā) Venerable Indaratana is the Chief rather than in your native
on June 5, 1975. Ven. Indaratana Incumbent & Spiritual Advisor to country?
Maha Thera studied Buddhism the Pertubuhan Mahindarama
for five years at Gangaramaya Buddhist which is the Temple
Indaratana: Since at a very young
College in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Management Committee. Most age, I love to travel to different
of the new developments in the countries to learn the many types of
He first visited Mahindarama temple were started by Ven. languages and cultures. So when the
Buddhist Temple in 1977 on the Indaratana Maha Thera after he opportunity arose for me to travel
invitation of his teacher, the late became the Chief Monk in 1995. to Thailand, Malaysia and Australia
Ven. S.V. Sri Pandit P. Pemaratana
during my younger days, I grabbed
Nayaka Maha Thera (1915-1995) As Mahindarama Temple the opportunity immediately. It was
during the opening of the new celebrates its centenary in 2018, a good experience for me to learn
Gunaratana Memorial Library Benny Liow requested Kung so many different languages and
at the temple. Since then, Ven. Kok Chye, a long-time dharma understand the various cultures.
Indaratana visited Mahindarama practitioner, Buddhist leader, The Buddha said: ‘Carata Bhikkhave
Temple frequently at the request and dharma friend to interview Caratam Bahujana Vitaya Sukaya’
of his late teacher. Ven. Indaratana on his many - it simply means ‘Oh Bhikkhus, go
contributions to Buddhism in to different places, and spread the
When Ven. S.V. Sri Pandit P. Malaysia during the years he has lovely teachings’
Pemaratana Nayaka Maha been the chief monk of the temple.
Thera passed away in 1995, One of your teachers was the late
Ven P Pemaratana Maha Nayaka
Thera, whom you succeeded as
the chief monk of Mahindarama
Temple. Can you tell us what you
