Ven. Gunaratana Nāyaka Thero on his previous teaching tour to Nalanda Centre, Sri Serdang.

Malaysian devotees and Nalandians would like to extend our warmest greetings to Venerable Sri Pandita Henepola Gunaratana Nāyaka Māha Thero and wish him the best of health and fulfillment on his 90th birthday, today!

Ven. Gunaratana is often affectionately addressed by his students as ‘Bhante G’.  He was a resident bhikkhu at the Brickfields Buddhist Temple (also known as the ‘Buddhist Māha Vihāra’ today) in Kuala Lumpur from 1958 to 1968, assisting the late Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Nāyaka Thero in propagating the Dhamma in Malaysia.

Two of Ven. Gunaratana’s latest books; ‘Bhante G’ is a prolific writer who is clear and precise in his presentations, and plain-speaking in style.

Ven. Gunaratana is the author of many popular Buddhist books, including ‘The Path of Serenity and Insight’, ‘Mindfulness in Plain English’, and the seminal ‘Jhanas in Theravada Buddhist Meditation’.  Ven. Gunaratana currently resides at the Bhāvanā Society in West Virginia, U.S.A., where he serves as Founder-President and Abbot.

Ven. Gunaratana (centre) was the keynote speaker at Nalanda Institute’s third WACANA Conference in December 2009.  Flanking him were Ven. Ajahn Jayasaro (left) and Ven. Dhammavuddho.

Nalandians are honoured to be associated with Ven. Gunaratana and privileged to have received his teachings and guidance since Nalanda’s establishment in 2003.  We have benefited tremendously from his wise teachings and benevolent guidance. We extend our warmest felicitations to Bhante.  May Bhante live long and in the best of health always!