Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita, founder-President of Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore and its sister organizations was born in the eastern state of Manipur in India. He was born on March 12, 1922, Phalguna Purnima day, in Imphal.
He was a bright student graduated from the Institute of Engineering Technology, Calcutta (Kolkata) in Automobile Engineering. He joined Government of India Defense Ordinance. The job took him to Malaysia, Singapore and various other places during the Second World War. He saw the destruction of life and property and misery that the war brought in the lives of people, which led him to turn towards spirituality. He resigned his job and left his home in search of truth and freedom. For some years he traveled through the length and breadth of India and studied Indian religions in various institutions.
In 1949 he took ordination as a Buddhist monk under the most Venerable Chandamani Mahathera, Abbot of Maha Parinibbana Vihara, Kushinara, U.P. He then studied Vinaya, Sutta, Abhidhamma and Pali in Sri Lanka and Burma and practiced meditation under the most eminent master like Mahasi Sayadaw. He was a member of the editorial board of the Chattha Sangayana - the Sixth Buddhist Synod held in Rangoon, which brought out a complete edition of the Pali canon.
Founded Maha Bodhi Society, Bengaluru, India.
Established the Holy Bodhi tree and shrine. This Bodhi tree is a sapling of the original
Holy Maha Bodhi Tree at Bodhagaya.
Founded Mahabodhi Maitri Mandala as sister organization, devoted to humanitarian service
in the field of medical and educational work. Under this organization services to the
poor students by giving them free education, hostel facilities are conducted. Many camps
for leprosy patients, eye donation for blind people, cancer patients services were
conducted. Medical centers, limbs donations, hospitals and being run.
Started monthly magazine SWAYAM SAHAYA which carried articles on
application of Dhamma in daily life situations and social welfare with spiritual basis.
Founded a model rural Hospital at Sakalavara, Anekal taluk for training medical personal
for rural service. Meditation was also taught in this hospital as a therapeutic
technique.
Started Mahabodhi Residential School for boys at Bengaluru.
Built the Mahabodhi Burns and
Casualty Centre at the Victoria Government Hospital, Bengaluru and Burns wards at
various district hospitals, such as Mysore, Hassan, Mandya, Tumkur etc.
Started Mahabodhi Residential School for boys at Bengaluru.
Mahabodhi Maitri Medical Mission, which run holistic medical center.
Established Mahabodhi Artificial Limb Centre
Established Arogya Foundation (India) and Arogya Hospital medical center dedicated to
total health with multidisciplinary, holistic approach.
Established Sevakshetra building
Started monthly Buddhist magazine DHAMMA
Established the Institute of Pali Studies and Buddhalogy in Mysore
Visited USA and taught Buddhism and Buddhist meditation in various educational
institutions. Established a Meditation Centre at Big Bear, California, USA.
Established the Mahabodhi Vishva Maitri Stupa. This is the first stupa built in India
after the lapse of about 800 years during which Buddhism declined.
Initiated TIPITAKA GRANTHAMALA PROJECT - to publish the entire Tipitaka in Kannada
language.
Taught at Fo Kuan Shan University in Taiwan
Built Mahabodhi Loka Shanti Buddha Vihara, Bengaluru - It is a replica of Mahabodhi
temple in Buddhagaya
Mahabodhi Community Centre- A hall used for community services and functions.
Deutsch Buddhistische Humanitaere Verienigung (DBHV), Germany - an organization which
runs regular meditation and dhamma study programs and supports the activities of the MBS
Mahabodhi School, and Mahabodhi Carla Students Home Mysore – A new building was built to
run a modern school based on moral education.
Established Mahabodhi Monastic Institute, Bengaluru - the monastic center with
facilities for intensive dhamma studies and practice. At present it has 120 monks under
training in Bengaluru and 200 in other centers of MMI.
Blessed the Mahabodhi Metta Foundation, Switzerland which supports the spiritual and
social welfare activities of MBS.
Mahabodhi Nalanda Hostel for Monks at Bengaluru - To accommodate 150 monks a beautiful
hostel building was built.
Maha Bodhi Society Branch in Arunachal Pradesh Mahabodhi School and Mahabodhi Hostel,
Diyun.
Mahabodhi Nalanda Hostel for Monks at Bengaluru - To accommodate 150 monks a beautiful
hostel building was built.
Mahabodhi Buddhist Center, Lindenfels, Germany was started to conduct dhamma study and
meditation teaching. Regular programs are conducted in this center
Mahabodhi Mettaloka Youth Center, Mysore – A hostel for boys who have completed high
school. At present there are 30 boys staying in this hostel and another 20 in different
colleges.
Mahabodhi Karuna Belgium - was started to conduct dhamma teaching programs and to
support educational activities of Mahabodhi.
Mahabodhi Metta Charitable Fund, USA - to support the humanitarian activities of
Mahabodhi
Mahabodhi Academy for Pali & Buddhist Studies (Correspondence Course), which conducted
two year Diploma in Buddhist Studies course. The Government of India granted funds for
this Academy building in memory of 2550 year of Lord Buddha’s Mahaparinibbana.
Mahabodhi Rita Girls Home, Diyun, Arunachal Pradesh - A new hostel for girls was
started. At present 175 poor girls live in this hostel who are provided with all the
needs free of cost by Mahabodhi.
Survey of Buddhist Communities in India - To understand the situation of the Buddhist
community in India.
Mahabodhi Maitri Mandala, Tawang Branch was started. The center runs an old age home,
girl's hostel, Boys hostel, Monastery, Stupa, social service activities
Establishment of Deomali Branch, Arunachal Branch
Establishment of Bhagavan Buddha University of Pali and Theravada Buddhism
Establishment of Satipatthana Bhavana Kutir for running meditation retreats for monks.
Establishment of Mahabodhi Karuna Medical Center
Passed away peacefully at the age of 92 leaving a legacy of Dhamma for his monastic and lay followers.