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24 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

Venerable Rahula was born in Mexico, was a
former musician-composer, who moved to Asia
in 2001 when he began the practice and study
of the Buddha’s teachings. He was ordained
in Myanmar under Venerable Sayadaw Dr.
Nandamālābhivaṃsa, and since 2004 has received
meditation guidance from Sayadaw U Tejaniya
and studied Sutta and Abhidhamma with Sayadaw
Dr. Ukkamsacara. In 2019, he completed a course
on Buddhist scriptures from Harvard University.
Bhante continued his monastic training at SBS Horizons,
in Malaysia for two years under the guidance
of Venerable Ariyadhammika while offering Planting the
some talks, retreats and activities for the local
community. He leads retreats and Dhamma tours
across North and South America, along with weekly Dhamma Tree in
online courses using Spanish, Portuguese and
English for the past 8 years, followed by students Latin America
from over 15 countries. He is currently building
the Mexican Buddhist Forest Center (Paññābhūmi ByVenerable Bhante Rahula
Monastery) to share the Buddha’s teachings
in Latin America. Recognizing the immense Benny: How did you first get in touch with Buddhism,
challenges and lack of tools in the region, Bhante, and what aspects of it attracted you the most?
with inner cultivation as his priority, supports
programs in palliative care centers, universities, Rahula: Born very curious, I began asking questions
youth education and freedom from addictions, early and this led me to try various religions. Raised
a pressing issue that affects the lives of many. Catholic (left quietly at age 12), I encountered Hinduism
Embracing service as an expression of generosity, at 19, spent 8 years doing Native American ceremonies,
Bhante walks shoulder to shoulder with the and through music —my lay profession— traveled
community, sharing the Dhamma’s blessings while widely, also connecting with Sufism and Islam in
taking care and nurturing the path to liberation. New York and India. Everywhere, I asked the same
He has very kindly agreed to an interview with existential questions but they were partially answered,
with teachers eventually saying: “After this, you just
Benny Liow for Easterh Horizon. The following is
have to believe.” As someone who loves science, the
the interview.
mind couldn’t feel satisfied —it wanted to understand.