• Come And See. Ehi Passiko. An Introductory Theravada Buddhist Meditation Manual

• The Jhana. In Theravada Buddhist Meditation

• The Path Of Serenity And Insight. An Explanation Of The Buddhist Jhanas

• Mindfulness In Plain English

• Journey To Mindfulness: The Autobiography Of Bhante G.

• Eight Mindful Steps To Happiness : Walking The Buddha's Path

Pali scholar, meditation teacher, writer, missionary speaker.

Read Bhikkhu Gunaratana for clear and extensive references and explanation of the Jhanic approach to insight meditation based on the Pali Texts in plain English.


Born in 1927 in Henepola, Sri Lanka.

Ordained at 12 and at the age of 20 obtained his higher ordination in Kandy in 1947.

Study in Vidyalankara College in Kelaniya and Buddhist Missionary College of Mahabodhi Society in Colombo. Pursued his scholarly interests by earning a B.A., an M.A., and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from The American University.
 
He was sent to India for five years of missionary work for the Mahabodhi Society, serving the Harijana (untouchable) people in Sanchi, Delhi, and Bombay. Later he spent ten years as a missionary in Malaysia, serving as religious advisor to the Sasana Abhivurdhiwardhana Society, Buddhist Missionary Society and the Buddhist Youth Federation of Malaysia.

Went to the United States in 1968 to serve as General Secretary of the Buddhist Vihara Society of Washington, In 1980 he was appointed President of the Society. During his years at the Vihara, he has taught courses in Buddhism, conducted meditation retreats, and lectured widely throughout the United States and Canada.
 
He also taught courses on Buddhism at The American University, Georgetown University, Bucknell University, PA, and University of Maryland. Also, he has lectured at many universities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Bhante Gunaratana was the Buddhist chaplain at The American University, counseling students interested in Buddhism and Buddhist meditation. He is now president of the Bhavana Society and abbot of the monastery in West Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley, about 100 miles west of Washington, D.C.