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12 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS
Bhante Gunaratana giving teachings at Bhavana Society
Rare things in
the World
By Venerable Dr H Gunaratana Maha Thera
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Bhante Gunaratana is an In 1985, Bhante G co-founded
is the founding abbot of the internationally recognized author the Bhavana Society and became
Bhavana Society. Born in rural Sri and meditation teacher. Prior to its abbot. He wanted to teach
Lanka, he has been a monk since coming to the United States, he meditation in an environment
age 12 and took full ordination spent five years doing missionary allowing for longer retreats
at age 20 in 1947. He came to the work with the Harijanas and intense practice free from
United States in 1968. “Bhante (Untouchables) of India and the trappings of a city vihara.
G” (as he is fondly called by his ten years in Malaysia. He has He continues to teach in the
students) has written a number of taught in a number of settings, direct, compassionate style that
books, including the now-classic including the Buddhist Vihara characterizes his books and
meditation manual Mindfulness of Washington D.C. where he articles. Bhante G conveys a well-
In Plain English and its served as president, the American rounded approach to Buddhist
companion Eight Mindful Steps University in Washington D.C. Dhamma, touching on all aspects
to Happiness. Bhante G regularly where he served as Buddhist of the Noble Eightfold Path. He
leads retreats on Vipassanā, chaplain and also earned a Ph.D. emphasizes Mettā bhavana (the
mindfulness, Mettā (loving- in philosophy, and at meditation cultivation of loving-friendliness)
friendliness), concentration, and centers worldwide. Bhante G has as a basis for sammā-samādhi, or
other topics both at the Bhavana a strong scholarly background right concentration. As a teacher,
Society. and lifelong commitment to he is known for his emphasis both
dhamma. on samadhi and on Mettā as part
of spiritual training.
