A Teacher
Anagarika Dharmapala
The homeless wanderer who carried Buddhism out of Ceylon and announced it to the modern West.
The transmission
Anagarika Dharmapala (born Don David Hewavitarne) was a Sri Lankan Buddhist revivalist and writer who took the midway ‘anagarika’ status between monk and layperson.
He represented Buddhism at the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, where the 29-year-old became a sensation and conducted the first Vesak and Three Refuges ceremonies in the United States. He founded the Maha Bodhi Society in 1891 and led the campaign to restore the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya to Buddhist control.
He was arguably the first modern Buddhist to preach the Dhamma across Asia, North America, and Europe.
What they gave
First global Buddhist missionary: Arguably the first modern Buddhist to preach the Dhamma across Asia, North America, and Europe.
- Parliament of Religions: Became a sensation at the 1893 Chicago World’s Parliament, conducting the first Vesak and Three Refuges ceremonies in the United States.
- Maha Bodhi Society: Founded the society in 1891 as a vehicle for Buddhist revival.
- Bodh Gaya campaign: Led the effort to restore the Mahabodhi Temple to Buddhist control.
The line they stand in
Taught by / Influenced by: The Theosophists Henry Steel Olcott and Helena Blavatsky, before he broke toward an explicitly Sinhalese Buddhist revival.
- Taught / Influenced: B.R. Ambedkar and the wider current of modern Buddhist revival in India and the West.
Revelations they taught
Essential Works
- Return to Righteousness (collected writings and speeches)1965
- Address at the World's Parliament of Religions1893