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Gangodawila Soma Thero | |
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ගංගොඩවිල සෝම හිමි | |
Title | Chief incumbent of Buddhist Temple Victoria (Australia) |
Personal | |
Born | Gangodawila, Sri Lanka | 24 April 1948
Died | 12 December 2003 55) Saint Petersburg, Russia | (aged
Religion | Buddhism |
Nationality | Sinhalese |
Denomination | Theravada |
School | Amarapura Nikaya Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte |
Alma mater |
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Teachers |
Gangodawila Soma Thero (24 April 1948 – 12 December 2003) was a bhikkhu (Buddhist monk) from Sri Lanka. Following tradition, he used the name of his birthplace, Gangodawila, in front of his name; thero is a term for an elder monk. Soma thero followed the example set by his teachers, Madihe Pannaseeha Thero and Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thero and was both a learned monk and a social reformer. The cause of his death remains in dispute.
Before his return to Sri Lanka, the knowledge and the practice of the Dhamma had dwindled within Sri Lankan society. The practice had been diminishing for centuries following the rule of King Rajasinghe I. The great Buddhist revival programs had been rejuvenating the practice since the Kandyan kingdom into the mid-20th century. But following civil unrest, political instability, and war during the last 3 decades of the 20th century, the practice was again becoming forgotten. During that crucial time, Soma thero started propagating the Dhamma, creating a new enthusiasm among the people. [1] [2]
He worked to teach Sri Lankan people the importance of diligence. He spoke of the importance of relinquishing sleepiness or "Thina-middha" and paying attention when listening to the Dhamma. He also spoke on the importance of observing the Five Precepts. He emphasized letting go of false views and beliefs, such as worshipping deities over the Buddha. [3]
He also gave worldly advice, such as the importance of learning the English language.
Soma thero was a proponent of vegetarianism and he spoke against killing animals for meat.
Gangodawila Soma Thera of the Vajiraramaya Maharagama died in St. Petersburg, Russia on 12 December 2003, at age 56. He was in Russia to accept an honorary doctorate conferred by the Russian Government. He was rushed to a hospital in St Petersburg after a heart attack. He underwent two emergency operations.
The circumstances of his death aroused suspicion. Some accused certain political parties of Sri Lanka whilst others accused born again Christians. A Special Presidential Commission was appointed to investigate this tragedy by President of Sri Lanka. [4] [5]
Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero was a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk who was one of the most distinguished scholars and expositors of Theravada Buddhism in the twentieth century. He was highly respected by Sri Lankan Buddhists, who believed that he had achieved a higher level of spiritual development. Sri Lankan Buddhists also considered Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero as a Bodhisattva, who will attain Buddhahood in a future life.
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Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera was a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, who was one of the pioneers of Sri Lankan Buddhist revivalist movement in the 19th century. He did a great service to improve the Buddhist Education in the country and was the founder of Vidyodaya Pirivena, Maligakanda in 1873, which was granted the university status later in 1959 by the Government of Sri Lanka. A veteran author and a fiery orator, he was a major figure in the Panadurawadaya, a religious debate held between Christian missionaries and Buddhist monks in 1873 at Panadura, Sri Lanka. He was well versed in Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit, English, Buddhism, history, arithmetic, and archaeology and was one of the primary sources of information on Buddhism for the success of the Panadura debate.
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Palane Vajiragnana Thero was a Sri Lankan (Sinhala) scholar Buddhist monk, who founded the Siri Vajiraramaya temple in Bambalapitiya, Sri Lanka. He was also the Maha Nayaka (head) of Amarapura Sri Dharmarakshita sect for 37 years from August 5, 1918 until his death in 1955.
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