Sri Lanka’s Minister of Buddhism, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, visited the West Virginia Bhavana Society to pay tribute to Venerable Aggamaha Pandita Henepola Gunarathana Thero, the Chief Sangha Leader of North America, Chief Incumbent of the temple, and a leading international authority on Sati meditation.
Venerable Henepola Gunarathana Thero is set to turn 99 years old in December this year. The visit was facilitated by Venerable Atkadawaka Saddhajeewa Thero, Co-President of the Meditation Society.
During the visit, the Minister and the Ambassador also toured the newly opened museum at the temple premises, named after Venerable Henepola Gunarathana Thero. The museum showcases his lifelong journey and highlights his significant contribution to spreading the Buddha’s teachings and mindfulness meditation across the world, particularly in the United States.
Venerable Henepola Gunarathana Thero has authored numerous books on meditation and mindfulness, with his most notable work being Mindfulness in Plain English. The book has sold more than 10 million copies in the United States alone, and a recent survey by The New York Times identified it as the world’s leading book on Buddhist meditation.
Two signed copies of Mindfulness in Plain English were presented to the Minister and the Ambassador by Venerable Henepola Gunarathana Thero during the visit.
