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| Sunday, 19 September 2004 |
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Incumbent of New York Buddhist Temple felicitated today The New York Buddhist Temple is a proud symbol of the sincere dedication, unwavering determination and the dauntless effort of Rajakeeya Panditha Kurunegoda Piyatissa Nayaka Thera who arrived in America in 1981, and the gracious donations of the Sri Lankans living there.
This centre of Buddhist worship provides shelter and food to all priests and Sri Lankans visiting America, irrespective of religious or racial differences. The Shrine Room, the Library, Preaching and the Dinning halls are open to all and are reverberating throughout the day with the sound of Chanting of Pirith, Preaching of Sermons and the solemn discussions of Buddhist discourses. The knowledge imparted specially to the children, through the Damma School provides them the enlightenment needed to lead fulfilled lives. Alms will be offered to 50 Sri Lankan Buddhist priests living in America today at the New York Buddhist temple. A meeting of felicitation presided over by the Head of the London Buddhist Temple and the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain, will be held at the same premises at 4.00 p.m. Buddhist priests representing the Theravada, Mahayana, Wajrayana and other sects in New York and the Sri Lankan temples in America together with the laity, including members of the Dayaka Sabhas will participate. A felicitation volume and his biography together with the traditional Vijinipatha (fan) will be offered to Rev. Kurunegoda Piyatissa Nayaka Maha Thera on this occasion to honour him. The Ven. Rajakeeya Panditha Kurunegoda Piyatissa Nayaka Maha Thera completes 35 years of missionary service today.
Rev. Kurunegoda Piyatissa Thera had his birth at Bulugahalanda Walawwa in Kurunegoda, Kegalle on the 29th of December 1928. In 1941, on the 6th of November, under the tutelage of Thiyambarahene Sri Ratanapala Thera and Parambe Sri Revatha Thera, he entered the order. He received his higher ordination at the Sri Uposhatha Pushparama Simamalaka at Malwatta Chapter, Kandy. Completing his studies from Keselwatta Sri Jayawardena Pirivena, Denagamuwe Bodiguptha Pirivena and Vidyodaya Maha Pirivena, Maligakanda, he obtained his Degree from the University of Vidyodaya. Thereafter he engaged himself in the field of Education, and held posts of responsibility at Denagamuwa Bodigupta Pirivena, Gangarama Sri Gnaneswara Pirivena Colombo, Parakramabahu Central College Polgahawela, Maharagama Dharmayathanaya and Ananda College, Colombo, respectively. Having left to the United Kingdom in 1972 he rendered extensive missionary services to propagate the teachings of the Buddha, basing himself at the Oxford Buddhist Centre and the London Buddhist Viharaya. From thence he proceeded to the New York City in 1981 to continue his missionary work. Under his patronage and with the assistance of Sri Lankans residing there four Buddhist temples were built within a short time, namely; New York Buddhist Vihara, Staten Island Buddhist Vihara, New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and South Carolina Buddhist Vihara. He heads the New York Buddhist Vihara and under his leadership and the assistance of the seven monks residing there a rapid awakening on Buddhist meditation and the teachings of Buddha is taking place in the Empire State of New York. In this respect the New York Temple has become the centre seek by Sri Lankans and Americans to obtain solace to their religious thirst. |
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