One man’s vision and effort has led to bringing this invaluable universal teaching of Gotama, the Buddha, to Indian people in modern times. It was his compassion which led to founding of the Maha Bodhi Society in Bangalore and its sister organizations all over India to disseminate Lord Buddha’s original philosophy, psychology and ethical teachings enshrined in the sacred Tipitaka. This personality, the late Most Venerable Dr. Acharya Buddharakkhita, a meditation master, scholar of Pali language and Tipitaka, and educationist, had a vision for India. He throws light on the purpose of establishing this Buddhist center as follows:

This Center is going to be unique in the sense that it will not only be an intellectual center of learning but also a character-building institution by living a spiritually enriched life which mere intellectual knowledge cannot accomplish. We used to have such centers in the time of the Buddha and later in the times of Ashoka, Kanishka and Harshavardhana. But alas, being subject to the law of impermanence, these great centers have been lost to the detriment of the Indian civilization itself. Internal religious bigotry and external religious invasion brought about this historic disaster. But from the ruins of those institutions are growing new centers of learning, mediation retreats and Buddhist centers. Dhamma has its own intrinsic vitality and spiritual majesty that will benefit the Indian nation in the manner our history has never witnessed. India is coming up not only economically, politically and socially, but has a civilization and culture of nonviolence, moral purity and unity amidst diversity. These are basic qualities of Indian civilization which are so rich and profoundly powerful that India will gain its rightful place in the world community by its matured, prosperous and civilized way of life.

Wishing you all the great success in the study of Lord Buddha’s philosophy.