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| ABOUT ANANDA BUDDHA VIHARA |
THE VIHARA:
To propagate Buddha Vachana, and to revive the Buddha Dharma, which flourished until a few centuries ago in Andhra Desa (present State of Andhra Pradesh), the Ananda Buddha Vihara Trust proposes to develop The Vihara as a comprehensive Buddhist Cultural and Charitable Institution.
About us:
The Vihara, which was a registered Society prior to February 1996, has been in existence since 1974 and maintained by the local Traditional Buddhists and others with Buddhist Cultural Awareness.
The Vihara was named after late Venerable Ananda Mitra Mahathera, Sangha Nayaka of all India Bhikku Sangha, under whose inspiration and guidance the Vihara has become the Epicenter of the Buddhist activity from the heart of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, bringing into its ambience other Buddhist centers in the State.
Venerable K. Sangha Rakshita Mahathera, who is none other than the disciple of Venerable Ananda Mitra Mahathera, has been most successfully carrying forward his Master`s legacy with the help of the traditional as well as with ever increasing number of devotees and members of the public from all over the State. Notable among them is, Mr. Chennuri Anjaneya Reddy, a staunch follower of Buddhism in letter and spirit. Mr. Reddy belongs to the Indian Police Service Cadre, now retired and heading the Tourism Department of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. He could mobilize the resources required to develop the infrastructure in addition to the help from the State and the Central Governments, thus giving a shape to the Vision of Venerable Ananda Mitra Mahathera and the aspirations of the Mentor of the Vihara, Venerable Sangha Rakshita
Mahathera.
Thus formed The Ananda Buddha Vihara Trust (ABVT), a registered Cultural and Charitable Institution, administered by eleven permanent and ten periodically elected Trustees, dedicated to the cause of reviving, preserving and propagating the Buddhist tradition and Culture among the people of all walks of life, in a non-sectarian and secular manner.
The first phase of this massive project, comprising the Buddha Shrine, a Museum of Buddhist art, a Library-veritable source of Buddhist literature, and a publication division has been completed with the benevolent contributions from philanthropic public as well as the Social and Cultural wings of the Central and State Governments.
The Vihara complex is located on three acres of visually dominant slopes of Mahendra Hills, Secunderabad, about 5 kms north of the Hussain Sagar Lake amidst which stands the worlds tallest monolith Buddha Statue mounted over the Rock of Gibraltar. The Buddhist Complex, in its entirety, is being planned to create a unique identity and a strong sense of place without projecting any undue or false monumentality. The building plans, though simple and utilitarian in nature, will have essential elements from traditional Buddhist architecture, while the Stupa is envisaged to be the dominant visual element. The Dhamma Hall, within the main Shrine, is inspired by the rock-hewn Chaityas of bygone era. On the whole, an effort is being made at the Ananda Buddha Vihara to achieve an overall ambience of serenity and simplicity.
Venerable K. Sangha Rakshitha Mahathera used his good offices to convince Ven. Bhikku Panya Tiloka and the Chittagong Buddhist Association in Yangoon about the Vihara Project, which made them pledge to make Buddha’s statue as per the specifications at free of cost.
His Holiness The Dalai Lama had consecrated the statue of Lord Buddha in Dhamma Desana Mudra and dedicated the Vihara to the Nation and Buddhist World, on the 6th of April 2003.
As we progress, a free dispensary, an orphanage and a Wisdom school up to the High school level are contemplated. The next phase of the cultural centre will include a Stupa – a dominant focal point where the Buddha’s Sarira Dhatu, the body Relic of Tathagatha, will be enshrined. A tranquil atmosphere will be created for meditation in the cellar of the Stupa. A Community activities block, a Sangharama for monk’s to reside and a dormitory for the students also will be added.
The Ananda Buddha Vihara Trust strives to make the Buddhist Cultural Centre a Seat of Buddhist Learning and for the practice of spiritual values like Morality (sila), Meditation (samadhi) and Wisdom (prajna) in a peaceful and congenial atmosphere. The Vihara located on the picturesque Mahendra Hills, Secunderabad, would be the abode of Buddhist activities disseminating Buddha Dharma for the emancipation of the people, from all walks of life.
Some of the disciples of Venerable K. Sangha Rakshita Mahathera were ordained here, in the old Temple. The first one to become a Buddhist Nun was a local Barua girl, Miss Chaya Rani Barua now known as Venerable Ru Hong got ordained into the Bhikkuni Sangha at Buddha Gaya in India and graduated from Fo Kuang Shan Monastry in Taiwan. Second of the local Barua families, one Miss Ranjana Barua now known as Venerable Shing Tu got ordained at Yuan Kuang Buddhist college, Chungli City, Taiwan and is now undergoing Bhikkuni training. Three local youth (Andhra Pradesh) were ordained into Bhikku Sangha by most Ven. Madihe Panya Siha Mahanayaka Thero, at Vajranyana Dharmayatana Bhikku Training Centre in Maharagama, Sri Lanka. They have already returned after their Monastic training and now serving the cause at the Vihara. They are: Venerables M. Vinaya Rakkhita Bhikku, S. Shasana Rakshita Bhikku and S. Dharma Kirti Bhikku.
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All (Mental) states have mind as
their forerunner, mind is their chief, and they are
mind-made. If one speaks or acts, with a defiled mind,
then suffering follows one even as the wheel follows the
hoof of the draught-ox
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