Living Legacy of The Buddha

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Born in Imphal, Manipur, graduated as an engineer in Kolkata, having participated in the Indian Freedom Movement, this extraordinary person joined the army and saw enough violence of the II World War. That led him to renounce everything and he went in search of peace and truth. At last through reading the holy Dhammapada, he came to the path of the Buddha and got ordained in Kushinagar under the most Venerable Chandamani Mahathera and came to be known as Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita.

A visionary and hard working Buddhist monk, he scarified his whole life in study, practice and teaching of the Buddha's words and putting that compassionate teachings into practice by establishing Maha Bodhi Society, Bengaluru in 1956. Since then he worked tirelessly in the field of spirituality, education, medical and social services and established meditation centers, hospitals and educational institutions in India and abroad. He had the distinction of being a member of the Editorial Board of the Sixth Buddhist Synod (Chattha Sangayana) in Yangon, which brought out a complete edition of the Buddhist scriptures in the original Pali language.

This is the centenary year of his birth and Mahabodhi organizations and his countless disciples are celebrating the Birth Centenary with meaningful activities as mark of paying respect to the great teacher Most Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita. We feel privileged to present this book as a part of this centenary celebrations series.

The Path of Enlightenment is the Legacy the Supremely enlightened One has bequeathed to all sentient beings. Since Enlightenment can be actualised here and now by treading on this Path by all, regardless of distinction, based on sex, culture and region, this Legacy is indeed living.

Buddhism flows out of the Enlightenment of the buddha. Therefore, its core consists of the Supermundane Insights constituting Enlightenment. This Transcendent Insight reflected in the pre- eminently practical approach known as the Middle Path. The Middle Path is both a Teaching (Pariyatti) and a Practice (Patipatti) otherwise called the Dhamma (Doctrine) and the Vinaya (Discipline), giving concrete shape to philosophy in daily life. Thus Buddha, the fount and embodiment of Enlightenment, Dhamma, His discovery, the Path to Enlightenment, and Sangha the Holy Order of Enlightenment Saints who exemplify the Teaching of Enlightenment, constitute the frame work into which is woven the fabric of the Living Legacy of the Blessed One, the Lord of Infinite Light and Boundless Compassion.

The history of Buddhism covering over two thousand five hundred years, has been like an exciting journey full of adventures, perils and accomplishments. During this ling spell, Buddhism has seen many ups and downs and witnessed many changed in its form. Yet, its content, the essential Message of Enlightenment, has remained the same and continue to the handed down uninterruptedly, through and illustrious Teacher-Disciple line of monks of the Buddha's Holy Order.