Friday, December 29, 2006 at 1:01am
Britain's leading Buddhist dies
Britain's leading Buddhist, Medagama Vajiragnana, who was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2005, has died at the age of 78.
For 20 years he represented the Buddhist faith at the annual Commonwealth Day Observance in Westminster Abbey. He represented the Buddhist community at royal functions, including the celebration of The Queen's Golden Jubilee and the 100th birthday celebrations of the Queen Mother, IANS reported Friday.
He was also invited by Prime Minister Tony Blair to attend an emergency meeting of religious leaders following the Sept 11 attacks in New York.
Based in Chiswick, London, Vajiragnana, a native of Sri Lanka, was ordained as a novice monk at 14 and received his higher ordination in Kandy in 1949 at 20. He received his initial monastic education at Hippola, before proceeding to the Pratiraja Pirivena in Agalawatte for two years of further studies, followed by nine years at the Vidyodaya Pirivena in Colombo.
According to sources in the Buddhist community, in 1955 he attained the degree of Pandit from the Oriental Studies Society. He then studied for two years at the Pirivena Teachers' Training College in Ratmalana, after which he was offered the post of principal at the Parama Dhamma Cetiya Pirivena in Ratmalana.
In 1961 he continued his education in India, completing a two-year diploma course at the Sanskrit University of Benares, and an MA in Sanskrit at the Jadavpur University of Calcutta. He returned to Sri Lanka to continue to teach at the Pirivena Teachers' Training College in Ratmalana.
In 1966 he came to Europe for the first time and was appointed as assistant head of the London Buddhist Vihara. In 1974 he became the religious director of the British Buddhist Association.
In 1980 he was invited to return to Sri Lanka as the principal of the Pirivena Teachers' Training College in Ratmalana, before returning to the UK as head of the London Buddhist Vihara.
In 1987 he was invited to become a founder member of the InterFaith Network for Great Britain. In addition to being a founding member, he served on the executive committee and was appointed co vice-chairman.
For 20 years he represented the Buddhist faith at the annual Commonwealth Day Observance in Westminster Abbey. He represented the Buddhist community at royal functions, including the celebration of The Queen's Golden Jubilee and the 100th birthday celebrations of the Queen Mother, IANS reported Friday.
He was also invited by Prime Minister Tony Blair to attend an emergency meeting of religious leaders following the Sept 11 attacks in New York.
Based in Chiswick, London, Vajiragnana, a native of Sri Lanka, was ordained as a novice monk at 14 and received his higher ordination in Kandy in 1949 at 20. He received his initial monastic education at Hippola, before proceeding to the Pratiraja Pirivena in Agalawatte for two years of further studies, followed by nine years at the Vidyodaya Pirivena in Colombo.
According to sources in the Buddhist community, in 1955 he attained the degree of Pandit from the Oriental Studies Society. He then studied for two years at the Pirivena Teachers' Training College in Ratmalana, after which he was offered the post of principal at the Parama Dhamma Cetiya Pirivena in Ratmalana.
In 1961 he continued his education in India, completing a two-year diploma course at the Sanskrit University of Benares, and an MA in Sanskrit at the Jadavpur University of Calcutta. He returned to Sri Lanka to continue to teach at the Pirivena Teachers' Training College in Ratmalana.
In 1966 he came to Europe for the first time and was appointed as assistant head of the London Buddhist Vihara. In 1974 he became the religious director of the British Buddhist Association.
In 1980 he was invited to return to Sri Lanka as the principal of the Pirivena Teachers' Training College in Ratmalana, before returning to the UK as head of the London Buddhist Vihara.
In 1987 he was invited to become a founder member of the InterFaith Network for Great Britain. In addition to being a founding member, he served on the executive committee and was appointed co vice-chairman.