Most Venerable Bhante Walpola Piyananda's 80th Birthday Celebrating - Collected Essays

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As I approach the age of 80 years I find that I’ve collected
a wide assortment of friends and colleagues. My list of cherished
individuals is very long, and stretching back decades and reaching
around the world. Space does not allow me to print all the names, but
please know that my heart is filled with gratitude for you.
Firstly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my
parents and siblings for their kind and loving upbringing. Secondly, I
acknowledge the many teachers, who helped me acquire knowledge of
Dhamma, enriching my life experience.
Thanks to the continuous rotation of venerable monks who
have resided with me in my Los Angeles temple; vastly contributing
to the temple’s growth. I am grateful for our current resident monks:
Ven. Muruthamure Pannaloka, Ven. Bambarawane Kalyanawansa,
Ven. Dr. Gonadeniye Pannarathana, Ven. Kalabululande Dhammajothi,
Ven. Wanduradeniye Somissara, and Ven. Higgoda Sumangala. I am
grateful to Ven. Walpola Piyaratana, who expertly oversees my temple
in Sri Lanka and works hard developing it.
I am thankful to our temple administrator, Cintamani for her
dedication and hard work. My gratitude also goes to Stan Levinson for
his many years sagely advising the assortment of projects I have found
myself involved in over the years.
I would also like to thank my longtime spiritual friends in America:
Ven. Dr. Udagama Sumangala, Ven. Dr. Panila Ananda, Ven. Professor
Madawala Seelawimala, Ven. Siyabalagoda Ananda, Ven. Henbunne
Kondanna, Ven. Maitipe Wimalasara and Ven. Halwitigana Assaji.
My special thanks to the following people who helped create this
book: Tissa Karunasiri, Bhadraji Jayatilaka, Janith C. Aluthwatha,
Jayampathi Palipana, Moran Perera, Rakhitha Perera, Buddhika
Sanjeewa, Lakshitha Karunarathna, Tilakaratne Lokubanda.
I might not have survived in the United States without the help
of these fine people: Dr. Gamani Jayasinghe, Dr. S.K.P. Gunawardana,
Ron Bogan and Ms. Prapai Boonyindee. Thank you from the bottom
of my heart.
My thanks to the following supporters: Ven. Dr. Thich Vien
Ly, Ven. Bhikkhuni Zusai, Ven. Bhikkhuni Gunasari, Ven. Bhikkhuni
Dr. Elizabeth, and Ven. Bhikkhuni Susila.
Thanks also to Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara’s members,
and the children and parents of the Sunday school for inspiration and
encouragement.
My friend Stephen Long suggested this group of selected
essays and articles that I wrote over the years to celebrate this milestone
birthday. I am grateful to him for suggesting and curating this collection.
May all of these spiritual friends, my kalyanamittas, enjoy the
blessings of the Triple Gem.
May they all be well and happy.
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Buddhist Influence & Development in North America
The Buddha told his monks, “O Bhikkhus, go and wander forth
for the gain of the many, for the welfare of the many, in compassion for
the world. Proclaim, O Bhikkhus, the Teaching glorious, preach a life
of holiness, perfect and pure.” As members of the Buddhist Sangha we
have taken this directive very seriously.
The history of Buddhism in the New World is very interesting,
and its study is full of many surprises – the first one being the discovery
of America, which has long been accredited to Christopher Columbus.
According to some scholars, it was actually Chinese Buddhist monks
who discovered America during their missionary tour in 1421 – 71
years before Columbus made his fateful voyage in 1492.
Another interesting fact is that Thomas Jefferson’s co-drafter
of the US Constitution Thomas Paine, from England, was a student
of Buddhism. This may be why the constitution has the liberal,
humanitarian slant that it has.
Henry Brooks Adams, the grandson of America’s fourth
president, John Quincy Adams, was a poet and also a Buddhist. One of
his little-known accomplishments is that he translated the Sutta Nipata
into the English language.
Robert G. Ingersoll (1833-1899), was the attorney general
of the State of Illinois. He studied Buddhism and appreciated the
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