BIODATA
Venerable Achariya Bhikkhu Karuna Shastri
Maha Bodhi Vihar
Dibrugarh – 786 001
Assam, India
Name:
Venerable Achariya Bhikkhu Karuna Shastri
Date of Birth:
26th August 1949
Nationality:
Indian
Year of Initiation (Novice):
1956
Place of Initiation:
Buddhist Temple, Shillong, Meghalaya
Year of Ordination:
1969
Name of the School were studied:
Don Bosco School, Buddha Vidya Niketan M.E. School (Shillong) and Railway High School, Dibrugarh, Assam, Calcutta Metropolitan High School.
Name of the College where studied:
Digboi College, Assam, Shillong College, Meghalaya & Surendra Nath College, Calcutta
Qualification:
Matriculation from Calcutta University in 1965, Appeared in B.Com in Calcutta University. Achariya, Vinay Upadhi, Sutra and Abhidhamma Shastri Degree in Pali, and studied Buddhism in Wat Benchamabopitr and Wat Chulalankaran University at Bangkok, Thailand.
Permanent Address:
Maha Bodhi Vihar, Jyoti Nagar,
Dibrugarh – 786 001, Dibrugarh District, Assam, India.
Telephone (0091) 0373-2301245, Tele/Fax (0091) 0373-2300014
Fax (0091( 0373-2323300
Email: - karuna35@sancharriot.in.ibm.dib@yahoo.com
Accomplishment:
Buddhist Philosophy and Literature
Knowledge in Languages in theory and practice:
Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, English, Pali, and the Regional Languages
Countries Visited:
Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, United Kingdom, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Penang, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, China, Korea, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, U.S.A, etc.
Award and Honor:
In Recognition to the Propagation of Buddhism and social services, several Medals, Decorations and Certificates, titles conferred by several International and Indian Institutions, Organisations and Governments.
Responses to Invitations:
Invited to attend – Conferences and Meetings. Delivered Lectures and presented Papers in several Countries of Asia, Europe, Australia, Russia and U.S.A. like Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Germany, U.K., China, Sri Lanka, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, U.S.A etc several times.
Different roles at Home and abroad:
Member, General Body of the Advisory Board, the Millennium World Peace Summit (Convened at the United Nations) Indian Sub – Continent. Director of Assam Minorities Development & Finance Corporation Limited, Member of Expert Committee for the Development of Buddhist / Tibetan Organisations. (Ministry of H.R.D) Railway Recruitment Board (Indian Rly), Member, Advisory Committee of Telecom. National Integration Committee, Humanitarian Standing Committee of World Fellowship of Buddhists, Bangkok, Examiner of Assam Sanskrit Board, Editor of Magazine ‘KARUNA’ (English), Chief Patron of “Mission Darpan”. Write-up several articles, booklets on Buddhist Religions and social problems in nature. Toured throughout the country and arranged several Buddhist Seminars, Conferences etc. participated, delivered, presented papers in workshops, discussion in several Asian, National and Regional meet of other Religions also together with Buddhist social, cultural activities.
Career Built:
I became a Bhikkhu in Thailand and completed the courses of the religion. Thereafter I toured over several Asian countries and the necessity of formulating development in oriental programs dawned on me. I returned to India, dedicated my life to social services. I began my work for the spread of Buddhist culture by way of establishing International Buddhist Mission that was expanded step by step with the munificent contribution by generous persons and Organisations. In the wake of carrying out development oriented works in many places of India. I organised the First Eastern Buddhist Conference in IBM, Miao, A.P. graced by a galaxy of many leading religious panditas, Bhikkhus, and Scholars at home and abroad. This enterprise was followed by my services extended to the poor, the ill and the down trodden from 1977 by way of founding and orphanage, a school, a charitable dispensary and a vocational training centre. Since 1982 I have been marching forward with social services and built up a magnificent complex housing the above mentioned departments. Besides these I reformed Assam Bhikkhu Sangha Samity of which I am the Senior Vice-President. I have also attended different conferences in the response to the invitations extended by many Organisations. The Government of India has also recognised my sincere services and appointed me to the honorary post in the Railway Recruitment Board and Expert committee for the Development of the Buddhists / Tibetan organisations, Assam Govt. has also recognised me and appointed me to the post of Director of Assam minorities Development and Finance Corporation Ltd and and United Nations recognised me as a member of the General Body of the Advisory Board, The Millennium World Peace Summit – Indian Sub – Continent to represent the Buddhist Community. I am up and doing to promote the standard of this community through cultural activities that find expression in mass meetings, cultural shows, that help propagate the religion to ensure the consolidation of peace, amity, and tranquility. I also extend help to the developmental work like the reconstruction of roads, opening of libraries. I also donate fund to the school students and collegiates in their inability to meet the expenses of their education . The poor are given free rations, every week to the limit as permitted by the stock. Needy people are granted money for treatment on the merit of the case. I also grant the money for constructions of the Buddhist Temples and Libraries, etc.
Social Services
Collected Buddha Images form Thailand and Myanmar and distributed them to the different Temples. Collected Chivaras from Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka and distributed to the needy Bhikkus and collected books, cassettes and other booklets from Taiwan and other countries and distributed to different libraries.
Recognition Accorded
The World Fellowship of Buddhists, Bangkok, Thailand and Buddha’s Light International Association Assam Chapter and World Buddhist Sangha Council, Taiwan, R.O.C recognised the mission as a Regional Centre.
Honorary Posts Held
General Secretary, International Brotherhood Mission (Regional Centre of World Fellowship of Buddhists, Thailand) and BLIA- Asian Chapter; Vice President: World Buddhist Cultural Foundation; Chairman of Eastern Buddhist Conference Committee; President of Dalit Sena, Assam State; Vice-President of All Assam Bhikkhu Sangha Samity; Member of World Buddhist Sangha Council, Life Member of Bengal Buddhist Association. (Calcutta), Pandu Buddhist Association (Ghy.), Shillong Buddhist Associaton (Meghalaya), Jaggajyoti Buddhist Vihar Sabha (New Delhi), Maheshtala Buddhist Association (West Bengal) Buddha Dharmankur Sabha (West Bengal) and Indian Buddhists (Andhra Pradesh) and International Meditation Centre, Bodh Gaya, Maha Bodhi Society of India, Kolkata, Patron, D.D Ashram, Siliguri, Buddhist Welfare Society of Assam. World Buddhist Sangha Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Special Honour
One of the participants in the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and spiritual Leaders and one of those who were the signatories in the pledge for World Peace, Opening at the United Nations, New York, U.S.A My name has been suggested for selection as a candidate for the Niwano Peace Prize as per the proposal tabled by the World Fellowship of Buddhists, Bangkok.
The Government of Assam has been pleased to recommend my name to the Government of India for Rajib Gandhi Manab Sewa Award.
My name has been proposed for the membership in the National Commission for minorities, Government of India by forty renowned Buddhist religious and spiritual Organisations of India.
The World Fellowship of Buddhists has nominated me and Venerable Shuddhananda Mahathera of Bangladesh to send Peace Mission to Vietnam for the purpose of the consolidation of peace. The Indian Government sent a Good will delegation consisting of a band of Buddhist Monks including myself to Thailand with the relics of the Buddha on the occasion of the celebration of the the Golden Jubilee of His Majesty the King of Thailand. In response to the most cordial invitation His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama paid His auspicious visit on 17-12-2003 and laid foundation stone of a World Peace Pagoda, Norodom Sihanouk Old-Age Home and IGNOU and delivered his laudable speech.
Founder and Achievements
International Brotherhood Mission, W.F.B Regional Centre, BLIA-Assam Chapter, World Buddhist Sangha Council and Buddhist Sangha Assembly. Maha Bodhi Vihar, Ayya Khema Meditation Centre, Maha Bodhi Hall, Maha Bodhi Sangharama, Ananda Mitra Library, Publication Division, Jinaratan Buddhist Missionary Destitute Home, Dr. B.R Ambedkar Scs/Sts Residential Junior High School, Kripasaran Pali Institute, Gordon Fox Juvenile Home, Dr. B.M Barua Vocational Training Centre, Susma Computer Education Centre, Niwano Free Medical Centre (Alopathy & Homoeo), IBM Institute of Culture and Guest House, Dr. F.J Glen Weekly Dharma, Drawing and Music School, Visuddhananda Bhikkhu-sraman Training Centre, Dharmadhar Sangharam, Atish Dipankar Institute of Culture, Shilanankar Guest House, Goodricke Aathalaya, “Karuna” the Journal of the International Brotherhood Mission, Humanitarial Services, World Peace Pagoda, Norodom Sihanouk Old-Age Home and IGNOU.
Member
Institutional Ethical Committee (Human)
Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh and Minority Development Board, Assam.