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  • Comment: Encyclopedic articles should be neutral, and referenced. "Venerable", "renowned", "Most Revered", "like a shine pole star", "impeccable", "profound" etc are all just puff. KylieTastic (talk) 08:38, 13 September 2024 (UTC)
  • Comment: Unsourced puff piece KylieTastic (talk) 08:35, 13 September 2024 (UTC)


Nandapala Mahathera
Personal
Born10 May 1952
Rangamati
ReligionBuddhism
NationalityBangladesh
Parents
  • Khagendra Lal Chakma (father)
  • Kusum Lata Chakma (mother)
Organization
TempleDighinala Bana Vihara
Founder ofInternational Sadhananandapala Banavihara Foundation
Senior posting
Ordination15 May 1973 (2517 B.E)
Websitewww.nandapalamahathera.com

Venerable Nandapala Mahathera (born Subendu Bikash Chakma on May 10, 1952, in Rangamati, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh) is a Theravāda Buddhist monk and Meditation Teacher. He is the founder of the Sadhananandapala Banavihara Foundation and a key figure in the revival of Buddhism in Bangladesh and India. Venerable Nandapala Mahathera continued the spiritual legacy of His Eminence Bana Bhante and has been instrumental in spreading the teachings of the Buddha Sasana across Southeast Asia. Widely respected for his simple yet profound teachings, Venerable Nandapala has dedicated his life to the practice and dissemination of the Buddha's teachings, particularly focusing on meditation and ethical conduct. His teachings have attracted a vast following across Bangladesh and India, where he has played a vital role in promoting and preserving the Buddha Sasana.

Venerable Nandapala is known for his direct and practical approach to meditation, emphasizing balanced living and ethical conduct. His teachings have inspired both monastics and laypeople alike, forming a large community of followers across Bangladesh and India. His monasteries and meditation centers continue to attract students who study and practice the Dhamma under his guidance.

Early Life and Monastic Journey

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Venerable Nandapala was born in the Chakma tribal community, known for maintaining its cultural identity and ancestral traditions. His early life was shaped by the displacement caused by the construction of the Kaptai Dam in 1957, which submerged large parts of his homeland. As a young boy, he was deeply influenced by the Dhamma talks of His Eminence Bana Bhante, which ignited his desire to pursue monastic life.

At the age of 18, on November 14, 1970, Nandapala took novice ordination at the Tintila Bana Vihara in Rangamati, under the preceptorship of Bana Bhante. Despite the challenges of the Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971, he continued his studies, displaying exceptional skill in learning Pāli and the Dhamma. He later traveled to Myanmar for higher Buddhist studies, eventually receiving full ordination and becoming a prominent disciple of Bana Bhante.

Higher Buddhist Studies

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In 1972, Nandapala Samanera traveled to Burma (Myanmar) for higher Buddhist studies, focusing on the Abhidhamma and Pali scriptures. He was ordained as a Bhikkhu (fully ordained monk) in Arakan, Myanmar, before returning to Bangladesh to continue his studies and practice under the guidance of his teacher, Bana Bhante.

Establishment of Rajbana Vihara

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In 1976, following the request of the Chakma royal family, Bana Bhante moved to Rangamati, where Rajbana Vihara was established under his leadership. Venerable Nandapala Mahathera oversaw the construction of this monastery, which became a significant center for Buddhist practice in the region.

Meditation at Jamachug Mountain

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In the early 1980s, Venerable Nandapala Mahathera sought deeper spiritual insight and began a prolonged period of meditation on Jamachug Mountain, an isolated and dangerous area known for its wilderness and ghost stories. Undeterred, he established a meditation retreat there, spending 17 years in solitary meditation and ascetic practice, following the austere Forest Tradition of Theravāda Buddhism.

Legacy and International Work

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Following the wishes of His Eminence Bana Bhante, Venerable Nandapala Mahathera undertook extensive Dhammaduta (Buddhist missionary) activities, traveling to India in 1999 to revive Buddhism in Indian States of Bihar, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh. His teachings and meditation practices resulted in the establishment of several monasteries in these regions. In subsequent years, he also traveled to Vietnam and Nepal to spread the Dhamma.

Venerable Nandapala Mahathera's influence extends beyond Bangladesh, with invitations to teach Dhamma and meditation in countries like India, Vietnam, and Nepal. His work has contributed to the re-establishment of Buddhist values in these regions, earning him respect from dignitaries and laypeople alike.

Today, the Sadhananandapala Banavihara Foundation and its sister organizations continue to thrive under his leadership, promoting Buddhist education and meditation. His Bodhi Rasmi School provides holistic education, instilling moral and spiritual values in young students, ensuring that the legacy of Dhamma continues for future generations.

Venerable Nandapala Mahathera's teachings continue to influence Buddhist communities in Bangladesh, India, and globally. His focus on mindfulness, ethical living, and compassion have garnered him a reputation as one of the leading voices in contemporary Theravada Buddhism. He has made significant contributions to the revival of Buddhism in regions where it had declined, and his efforts continue to foster spiritual growth and social well-being among his followers .

Social and Educational Contributions

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Venerable Nandapala Mahathera has been instrumental in bringing about positive social changes, particularly by promoting education, morality, and ethical practices. He established the Bodhi Rasmi School to provide quality education combined with character-building moral teachings. The school focuses on holistic education, integrating intellectual, moral, and cultural development to nurture compassionate and wise individuals.

His Moral and Ethics Training Program aims to instill virtues such as cleanliness, discipline, and respectfulness in youth, shaping them into responsible and ethical adults. Through his teachings and initiatives, Venerable Nandapala Mahathera continues to have a lasting impact on both the spiritual and social fabric of the communities he serves.

References

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  • Chakma, Pratap. The Life and Teachings of Venerable Nandapala Mahastabir. Sudakshina Chakma, 2009.
  • Arunachal Times. "12th Maha Kathina Civara Dana Celebration." Arunachal Times, 24 October 2016. https://www.arunachaltimes.in/archives/oct16%2024.html.
  • International Sadhananandapala Banavihara Foundation. "Biography of Nandapala Mahathera."
  • International Association of Theravāda Buddhist Universities. "Buddhist Spiritual Leader of Bangladesh Bana Bhante Passes Away."