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Bhante (the word Bhante means “Spiritual Friend”) is the embodiment of compassion and equanimity. Regardless of what situation one might observe him in, it goes without oversight that he maintains an unshakable calmness and serenity.
He is also an embodiment of the highest of spiritual concepts and has humbly made himself available, without tiring, to: teaching, assisting, inspiring and aiding others on a continual basis.
A humanitarian, Bhante has been helping others since he was a young lad. From a young age he helped his siblings and other poor children find places in temples while they attended school. He taught and encouraged them to earn a livelihood whereby they could give tuition to others. He later established an orphanage for girls in his homeland and continues to support it to date.
Just moments after the Tsunami of December 26, 2004 struck, Bhante and his temple, Dharma Vijya, went into immediate action to raise funds to help. Many came to Bhante’s side and organized a massive effort to raise money to rebuild a village. It almost seems an unrealistic feat - the rebuilding of a village, and its houses, by common people. Yet, this is exactly what Bhante and friends set out to do.
Stan Levinson and Dr. Jayasinghe were the first to make donations. Then Camille Celluci and the Hollywood Artists’ Alliance came forth using resources and contacts that they have and joined forces with Bhante and the Temple. Through Camille, Tess Cacciatore and her organization, The World Trust Foundation, came forth and helped. Meanwhile, members and friends of the Temple became involved donating and collecting funds and many other organizations contributed in the massive efforts.
Bhante’s publisher had been after him for quite some time to write a sequel to his best-selling book, “Saffron Days in L.A.” as it had been doing so well. Bhante had just gotten started with writing the sequel when the Tsunami struck. He never seemed to think twice about putting the book on the shelf while he turned his attention to the mammoth project of helping so many others. And this is exactly what he did. Thinking nothing of himself, he put his project down, conserving every possible minute to the task at hand.
(Bhante was able to write to book after the new houses were build and it is currently being published and will be available soon. It is titled “More Saffron Days in L.A.”) (This note was made September 8, 2007.)
As of February 26, 2006, $259,000.00 U.S. dollars had been raised and 37 new houses had been built. Three temples were also repaired and rebuilt and school supplies were given to affected children from these funds.
The above is an extreme example of kindness and compassion as it was an extreme and mammoth situation. In truth, Bhante demonstrates helpfulness every day to the many around him, and to them he is like a well-needed boat in the middle of the ocean where there is no land in sight.
Bhante was born in Sri Lanka in 1943. His actual birth date is September 29th, but his birth certificate says October 2nd as it took his father a few days to walk from his small village in Walpola to Galle in order to register his birth. His many Temple members and friends like to celebrate on both days.
At the age of 12, Bhante was ordained as a novice monk and given the name “Piyananda” which means “Pleasant Joy.” In 2005 he celebrated the 50th anniversary of this event, which took place on October 26, 1955.
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