Brief Biography of Heroic Monk His Holiness Samdech Dr. Maha Ghosananda

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Source: Temple News

Heroic monk His Holiness Samdech Dr. Maha Ghosananda, age 94, the Supreme Patriarch of Cambodian Buddhism, the Gandhi and Gem of Cambodia, the international figure, the non-violent monk and Khmer intellect, established many Khmer Buddhist temples in the late 1970s - 1990s in the Khmer refugee camps along Cambodia-Thailand borders, North America, Australia, and the Cambodia.

His Holiness is one of the architects in ending the Cambodian conflict, the 1991 Paris Peace Accord, strong advocate for human rights respect, and peace, not just in Cambodia, but throughout the world.

Let all of us make a tribute to H.H. Samdech Dr. Maha Ghosananda for all his staunch support for a peaceful, non-violent, democratic, human rights respect, and free Cambodia and the world.

Let His words be heard throughout the globe.

His Holiness Samdech Maha Ghosananda goes home

Respected Venerables,

Compatriots, Press
Ladies & Gentlemen,

Templenews TV is honored to inform you and the community members that the Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks-United States at Wat Triratanaram is organizing a Buddhist ceremony to pay special tribute to His Holiness Samdech Maha Ghosananda on his way back home at International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center in Pelham.

The Body of His Holiness Samdech Maha Ghosananda is currently lies in state in Wat Triratanaram. He passed away on March 12, 2007 in Massachusetts, United States of America. His brief biography can be found on our website.

Schedules:
Friday July 3, BE2553, AD2009

4:00PM - 10:00PM Pay homage to the triple gems, taking 5 precepts, paritta, ordain new novices (monks), extraordinary dharma talk to honor H.H. Samdech Maha Ghosananda by the visiting Maha Thera Parapanno Nhem Kimteng, who is currently pursuing a doctorate in Buddhism in India. The Maha Thera Parapanno Nhem Kimteng worked closely to assist H.H. Maha Ghosananda with Dhammayatra (Peace Walk) in Kampuchea. He translated the renowned English book, "Step By Step," written by H.H. Samdech Maha Ghosananda into our national language.

Saturday July 4, BE2553, AD2009

7:00AM - 1:00PM Pay homage to the triple gems, taking 5 precepts, pay homage to H.H. Samdech Maha Ghosananda, the Buddhist monks go for alms 'round (rice offerings), remarks and other information pronounce.

1:15PM The Casket of H.H. Samdech Maha Ghosananda departs for the International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center, 114 Buffam Road, Pelham, Massachusetts.

2:00PM - 8:00PM Assembly of Buddhist monks and devotees, welcome H.H. Samdech Maha Ghosananda to His final resting place and the procession of delegates to the Center. Place the Casket of His Holiness on a special built stone

Pay homage to the triple gems, paritta, blessing, remarks and bid farewell to His Holiness Samdech Maha Ghosananda to conclude the ceremony.

For the above information, the Buddhist monks would like to extend their cordial invitations to the Buddhist monks, you, Buddhist devotees, who are devoted and love His Holiness Samdech Maha Ghosananda for His high achievements for Kampuchea, Buddhism, and the Khmer refugees, request your honor presence and if you or you know anyone that has interest to be ordained as monks or nuns in order to collectively honor the spirit of His Holiness, please contact the Maha Thera Dhammathero Sao Khon at Wat Triratanaram at your earliest convenience.

Thank you in advance.

Templenews

Honorable Monk Remember for Peace Efforts

By Nuch Sarita, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
10 March 2009

As the two-year funeral ceremony for revered monk Maha Ghosananda approaches, he is being remembered worldwide for his contributions to peace during Cambodia’s time of war.

Venerable monk Nhem Kim Teng, head of Prey Thlork pagaoda, in Svay Rieng province, who is currently doing his doctoral studies in Buddhism at Delhi University in India, recalled Maha Ghosanda’s book, “Step by Step.”

“Maha Ghosananda said we must make one step at a time,” Nhem Kim Teng said in a recent interview.

“The book is divided into two main parts,” he said. “The first part focuses on compassion and sympathy, and the second part focuses on wisdom, utilizing the wisdom each person has. He explained that compassion and wisdom can be compared to two feet, left foot and right foot. If we have only one foot, we can’t move forward properly and might be dangerous.”

A celebration will be held for Maha Ghosananda in an official second-year funeral ceremony at Trai Ratanaram, in North Chelmsford, Mass., March 12 through March 15.

Maha Ghosananda “prayed for all human beings to have wisdom within compassion, metaphorically speaking head in heart, or precious stone inside the lotus,” Nhem Kim Teng said.

“He wrote an article, ‘Peace bridge building,’ in which he suggested that all conflicting factions sit together and negotiate in a friendly manner to quest for peace, because peace cannot be made when we are distant,” Nhem Kim Teng said. “The most important characteristics of peacemakers are to disregard personal interests, the interests of one’s own parties, but to be concerned about the interests of human beings, of society as a whole, and to be honest.

“He said though we have four faces, we must have only one heart. During the Angkorian period, Prom Bayon was built with four faces with only heart. He called for four Cambodian conflicting factions in 1993 to have one heart, a Khmer heart.”

“He was a peaceful individual,” Nhem Kim Teng said. “He always advised everyone who went to see him to do everything in a peaceful manner. Use both wisdom and compassion. A peaceful manner is more powerful than violence.”

Maha Banditho Rithipol, secretary-general of the Maha Ghosananda International Peace Foundation, said the honored monk “had an invaluable mission to promote Buddhism and peace for Cambodia.”

“He sponsored many Cambodian Buddhism monks from refugee camps in Thailand go to the United States to help promote Buddhism,” Maha Banditho Rithipol said, “and he helped build many Buddhist temples in the United States in the 1980s.

“In international circles, he was the first Cambodian monk who was internationally recognized as an active individual, contributing to peace-building in the world as well as in Cambodia,” Maha Banditho Rithipol said. “In 1983 he met with Pope John Paul II in Rome for the first time to discuss a religious basis for the world and Cambodian peace-building.

“In 1987, he led Buddhist monks to the United Nations to discuss a way to quest for peace. In 1988, he went to Jakarta, Indonesia, to meet with King Norodom Sihanouk and four other Khmer factions to discuss the peace process.

“In addition, he worked with the Dalai Lama of Tibet for the sake of peace-building in the world, in Cambodia and in Tibet. He used the concepts of truthfulness, forbearance and gratitude to educate Khmer leaders and political elites and Khmer Mass in Dhammayatras,” Matha Bauditho Rithipol said. “I myself participated in his Dhammayatra [peace walks] three times in Cambodia, in 1993, 1997 and 1998. He was an honorable and peaceful individual. I have never seen as great an individual as honorable Maha Ghosananda.”

Maha Ghosananda's 2nd year funeral rite

Maha Ghosananda

Monk Honored in Second-Year Funeral Rite

By Nuch Sarita, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
09 March 2009

Click here to listen to the audio program in Khmer (Part 1)
Click here to listen to the audio program in Khmer (Part 2)

Click here to listen to the audio program in Khmer (Part 3)

During the dark period of civil war, a Cambodian monk led a campaign for peace in his nation. For years, the venerable Maha Ghosananda contributed to the cause of peace, and he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize four times. He died on March 12, 2007, and his passing will be marked in an upcoming second anniversary.

Monks and laymen alike will honor the life of Maha Ghosananda across the United States, with an official second-year funeral ceremony to be held at Trai Ratanaram, a community center for Cambodian monks in North Chelmsford, Mass., March 12 through March 15.

“They changed a new robe for him, and bought a new golden coffin to permanently store his body,” said venerable monk Sao Khon, chairman of the Ratanaram pagoda. Laypeople are busy in their communities preparing to honor him, he said.

In years past, Sao Khon said, he traveled with Maha Ghosananda to the World Peace Council, for the cause of peace in Israel, Palestine, the West Bank, Saudi Arabia and other countries. At the UN, they distributed a book advocating peace.

“The honorable Ghosananda was a Cambodian hero monk when our Cambodia was at war,” Sao Khon said. “Using Buddhist dharma, he brought Khmer suffering the world’s attention.”

Maha Ghosananda was born in a very poor family in Daun Keo village, Takeo province, in 1929. He entered the monkhood in 1943 and was one of supreme patriarch Chuon Nath’s students and a member of delegation led by supreme patriarch Chuon Nath to participate in the 6th International Buddhist Monk Congress to celebrate the 2, 500th anniversary of Lord Buddha's Parinibanna, in 1956 in Rangoon, Burma’s capital.

He studied at Nalanda University in India and received a doctorate in philosophy in Buddhism in 1969. In 1980, he established an inter-religious organization called Mission for Peace. In 1981 he led the Khmer community to build Buddhist pagodas in Cambodia, the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. He led 16 Dhamayatras, walks for peace, in Cambodia, advocating nonviolence within society and human rights.

His fellow monks remember him well.

Venerable monk Treung Ky Chantha, a representative of the Kampuchea Krom monks in the US, told VOA Khmer Maha Ghosananda had preached “truthfulness, forbearance and gratitude” in his efforts to bring peace to Cambodia.

“He always paid attention to helping Cambodian society, within and outside the country,” Treung Ky Chantha said. “He devoted his whole life to his nation and religion. In particular, he always led Dhamayatra [peace marches] in Cambodia, as well as in other places in the world to pray for peace, happiness and prosperity. Although he passed away, his name and reputation are still alive to be a good role model for all Cambodian people.”

Maha Ghosananda contributed to social development through Buddhism. He led the first Dhamayatra in the northern part of Cambodia in 1992, as UNTAC helped prepare the first democratic election in Cambodian history.

Venerable monk Nhem Kim Teng, abbot of Prey Thlork pagaoda, in Svay Rieng province, is currently doing his doctoral studies in Buddhism at Delhi University in India.

“Honorable Maha Ghosananda participated in Dhamayatras in India, Thailand, Sri Lanka and other countries at war,” Nhem Kim Teng said. “He was recognized throughout the world as a person dedicated to the quest of peace not only in Cambodia, but across the world. People knew his name as a Cambodian hero monk who actively advocated peace through Buddhism.”

Venerable monk Chhuon Chhoeun, of Damnak pagoda, Siem Reap province, said that in 1993 and 1998 Maha Ghosananda led Dhamayatra from his pagoda, with 2,000 Buddhist novices, monks, and nuns throughout Siem Reap town.

“The Dhamayatra led by honorable Maha Ghosananda from Damnak pagoda in 1993 was not in the fighting areas because conflicting factions in our country were already united,” he said. “Before, his Dhamayatra went to fighting areas, such as Samlot, where the Khmer Rouge were positioned.”

Men Maya, a Buddhist follower at Dhamikaram pagoda in Rhode Island, met with Maha Ghosananda in 1983. She, like many others, was devoted to him, seeing him again in 2006 and staying with him until the end.

“I served him for five months and a half until his last day,” she said.

Fearless in devotion to peace

Sunday, April 1, 2007
By Karen Lee Ziner
Journal Staff Writer
The Providence Journal (Rhode Island, USA)

Chhim Sarun, of Warwick, center, attends a memorial ceremony for Buddhist monk Samdech Preah Maha Ghosananda at the Cranston Cambodian Temple.
The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

CRANSTON — Until he died this month, Buddhist monk Samdech Preah Maha Ghosananda left footprints of peace wherever he traveled, and invited others to join him. He led annual Dhammayietra peace walks across Cambodia’s killing fields. He led children on meditation walks in Providence’s poorer sections.

Yesterday, mourners said blessings for the humble monk, who two decades ago settled in a Providence West End tenement, where he helped found the Rhode Island Cambodian refugee community’s first Buddhist temple.

From there, Ghosananda continued a peace mission that led to his receiving the 1998 Niwano Peace Prize in Japan, the 1982 Rafto human-rights award in Norway, and six nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize for the Dhammayietra walks — pilgrimages of truth — that continue in Cambodia to this day. He was considered a Supreme Patriarch of Cambodian Buddhism.

“If there is such a thing as heaven and enlightenment, I have no doubt that he is there now,” said Pich Chhoeun, a spokesman for the Cranston Cambodian Temple (Wat Tha Dhamagosnaram), on Plainfield Pike, where yesterday’s ceremony was held.

“I can’t think of a leader who spoke so little and taught so much. He was a very simple man who had so much impact on this world,” said Chhoeun.

Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline and Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts honored Ghosananda before the ceremony, and Cicilline declared yesterday “Maha Ghosananda Day” in Providence. State Sen. Juan Pichardo, D-Providence; Allen. W. Fung, former Cranston mayoral candidate; Rhode Island Corrections Director A.T. Wall, and former Attorney General James E. O’Neil also attended.

Born in 1924 in Takeo Province in Cambodia, Ghosananda (meaning “Great Joyful Proclaimer”), was one of only an estimated 2,000 monks — out of 62,000 — who survived the Khmer Rouge holocaust in the 1970s.

In that era of the killing fields, the Khmer Rouge slaughtered, starved or tortured to death several million Cambodians. They also sacked Buddhist temples or turned them into pigpens, and forced monks to marry or worked them to death.

At yesterday’s ceremony, nearly 100 people chanted in unison, bowing toward a framed picture decorated with lights, of Ghosananda, and a photo collage that included his meetings with world religious leaders.

Candles and incense burned on an altar set with Buddhas — some larger than life-size and decorated with gold-spangled robes. Next to the altar, cellophane-wrapped gift baskets contained a monk’s bare necessities: sugar, tea, toothbrushes and condensed milk.

Afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, Ghosananda died in Amherst, Mass., on March 12. Yesterday his body was displayed in a glass coffin in Lowell, Mass., one of the largest Cambodian communities in the country. Other memorial services are planned worldwide, according to local Cambodian leaders.

Sarin Rath, president of the Cranston Cambodian Temple, first met Ghosananda in 1982 at the original Cambodian Buddhist Society of Rhode Island, on Hanover Street in Providence.

“His face never showed anything angry. He smiled all the time,” Rath said. “He told the people [have] peace all the time.”

According to Chhoeun, when Ghosananda was asked why he led his annual peace walk in Khmer Rouge strongholds, where heavy fighting continued, Ghosananda would say, “That is where peace is most needed.”

kziner@projo.com