Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera
Encyclopedia
Ven Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera (Sinhala:පුජ්ය බෝගොඩ සීලවිමල නාහිමි) is the incumbent Head Priest of the London Buddhist Vihara
and the current Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain
. He was appointed Chief Bhikkhu of the London Buddhist Vihara on 8 May 2008 following the demise of Ven Dr Medagama Vajiragnana Nayaka Thera. Ven Seelawimala Nayaka Thera hails from the Malwatte Chapter of the Siam Nikaya
in Sri Lanka
.
, Ven Seelawimala Nayaka Thera was the son of devout Buddhist parents. He entered the order at the age of 14 years under the tutorship of Ven Balalle Seelaratana Nayaka Thera (chief incumbent of Palagala Purana Vihara in Polgahawela
and the chief Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka of Dambadeni-Harispattuwa. In 1964, he entered the Heramitigala Shastralankara Pirivena, Pilimatalawa
for his primary education under the supervision of Ven Pilimatalawa Chandajothi Nayaka Thera.
in 1975. He had obtained an MA degree, studying under Professor Leslie Gunawardhana, on the subject: Influence of Hinduism
on Buddhism. While at University, Seelawimala Nayaka Thera joined the teaching profession. He taught in several schools including Hindagala Maha Vidyalaya and Dharmaraja College, Kandy
.
Having studied meditation
under the meditation master Godwin Samararatne, Ven Seelawimala Nayaka Thera further trained under Ven Dr Henepola Gunarathana Nayaka Thera at his Meditation Centre in West Virginia
.
Ven Seelawimala continues to engage in scholarly activities, engaging in international Buddhist conferences and contributing articles to Buddhist journals.
as a resident monk, on the invitation of Ven Dr Medagama Vajiragnana Nayaka Thera. Under the guidance and direction of Ven Dr Vajiragnana Nayaka Thera, and also Ven Professor Walpola Rahula
Nayaka Thera (who was a regular visitor to the London Buddhist Vihara), Ven Seelawimala Thera developed as a Dhammaduta and proficient Dhamma communicator. Ven Seelawimala Nayaka Thera. also began teaching meditation
in United Kingdom.
As well as serving as the Chief Bhikku of the London Buddhist Vihara, Ven Seelawimala Nayaka Thera serves as a trustee of the Inter-Faith Network UK , Director of the Heathrow
Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Board, the Buddhist Chaplain of the West Middlesex University Hospital and at the Ealing Hospital
. He is also the Chief of Sri Lankan Sangha Council in Britain, Buddhist representative at UK and Commonwealth Remembrance Day Ceremony and at the Commonwealth Day
Ceremony at Cenotaph
. Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera is the first Buddhist monk to be invited to a royal wedding in Britain.
London Buddhist Vihara
The London Buddhist Vihara is one of the main Theravada Buddhist temples in the United Kingdom. The Vihara was the first Sri Lankan Buddhist monastery to be established outside Asia....
and the current Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. He was appointed Chief Bhikkhu of the London Buddhist Vihara on 8 May 2008 following the demise of Ven Dr Medagama Vajiragnana Nayaka Thera. Ven Seelawimala Nayaka Thera hails from the Malwatte Chapter of the Siam Nikaya
Siam Nikaya
The Siam Nikaya is a monastic order within Sri Lanka, founded by Upali Thera and located predominantly around the city of Kandy. It is so named because it originated within Thailand...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Early days
Hailing from Bogoda, a village in the Kurunegala DistrictKurunegala District
Kurunegala is a district in North Western Province, Sri Lanka. Its area is 4,771 km²....
, Ven Seelawimala Nayaka Thera was the son of devout Buddhist parents. He entered the order at the age of 14 years under the tutorship of Ven Balalle Seelaratana Nayaka Thera (chief incumbent of Palagala Purana Vihara in Polgahawela
Polgahawela
Polgahawela is a town in north western Sri Lanka. The town is most notable for a major railway accident that occurred in 2005. Polgahawela is a small city that belongs to the North Western Province of Sri Lanka, and situated at a distance of 80 km north-east from the capital city of Colombo; 50 km...
and the chief Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka of Dambadeni-Harispattuwa. In 1964, he entered the Heramitigala Shastralankara Pirivena, Pilimatalawa
Pilimatalawa
Pilimathalawa is a small town in Kandy District, Sri Lanka 10 km away from Kandy, the district capital and 104 km away from Colombo. The meaning of "Thalawa" is the flat area in Sinhalese. "Pilima" means the statues. The real name may be or not created by those. The ancient village name...
for his primary education under the supervision of Ven Pilimatalawa Chandajothi Nayaka Thera.
Higher education
Ven Seelawimala Nayaka Thera graduated from the University of PeradeniyaUniversity of Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
in 1975. He had obtained an MA degree, studying under Professor Leslie Gunawardhana, on the subject: Influence of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
on Buddhism. While at University, Seelawimala Nayaka Thera joined the teaching profession. He taught in several schools including Hindagala Maha Vidyalaya and Dharmaraja College, Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
.
Having studied meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
under the meditation master Godwin Samararatne, Ven Seelawimala Nayaka Thera further trained under Ven Dr Henepola Gunarathana Nayaka Thera at his Meditation Centre in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
.
Ven Seelawimala continues to engage in scholarly activities, engaging in international Buddhist conferences and contributing articles to Buddhist journals.
London Buddhist Vihara
In 1992, Ven Seelawimala Nayaka Thera joined the London Buddhist ViharaLondon Buddhist Vihara
The London Buddhist Vihara is one of the main Theravada Buddhist temples in the United Kingdom. The Vihara was the first Sri Lankan Buddhist monastery to be established outside Asia....
as a resident monk, on the invitation of Ven Dr Medagama Vajiragnana Nayaka Thera. Under the guidance and direction of Ven Dr Vajiragnana Nayaka Thera, and also Ven Professor Walpola Rahula
Walpola Rahula
The venerable Prof Walpola Sri Rahula Maha Thera was a Buddhist monk, scholar and writer. He is considered to be one of the top Sri Lankan intellectuals of the 20th century. In 1964, he became the Professor of History and Religions at Northwestern University, thus becoming the first bhikkhu to...
Nayaka Thera (who was a regular visitor to the London Buddhist Vihara), Ven Seelawimala Thera developed as a Dhammaduta and proficient Dhamma communicator. Ven Seelawimala Nayaka Thera. also began teaching meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
in United Kingdom.
As well as serving as the Chief Bhikku of the London Buddhist Vihara, Ven Seelawimala Nayaka Thera serves as a trustee of the Inter-Faith Network UK , Director of the Heathrow
Heathrow, London
Heathrow was a small hamlet of Middlesex on the outskirts of London, that was demolished in 1944 for the construction of London Heathrow Airport...
Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Board, the Buddhist Chaplain of the West Middlesex University Hospital and at the Ealing Hospital
Ealing Hospital
Ealing Hospital, officially called Ealing Hospital NHS Trust, is a general NHS hospital in the Southall district of the London Borough of Ealing, Greater London, England....
. He is also the Chief of Sri Lankan Sangha Council in Britain, Buddhist representative at UK and Commonwealth Remembrance Day Ceremony and at the Commonwealth Day
Commonwealth Day
Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March, and marked by a multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey, normally attended by HM Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, with the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Commonwealth High...
Ceremony at Cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
. Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera is the first Buddhist monk to be invited to a royal wedding in Britain.