Bhikkhu Bodhi
Bhikkhu Bodhi, born Jeffrey Block, is an American Theravada monk, author, and Buddhist commentator. He is recognized for his extensive work in translating and editing Buddhist texts, particularly from the Pali Canon, and for his leadership roles in Buddhist organizations. Bodhi is also the founder of Buddhist Global Relief, an organization dedicated to combating hunger and supporting women's empowerment.
Key Facts
- ›Born Jeffrey Block in Brooklyn, New York, in 1944.
- ›Ordained as a novice in the Vietnamese Mahayana order in 1967, later receiving full Theravada ordination in Sri Lanka in 1973.
- ›Served as the English-language editor and later president of the Buddhist Publication Society (BPS) in Sri Lanka.
- ›Founded the organization Buddhist Global Relief in 2007.
- ›Currently lives and teaches at Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, New York.
- ›Authored numerous books and translations of important Buddhist suttas.
Important Relationships
- Buddhist Publication Society
- Buddhist Global Relief
- Buddhist Association of the United States
- Chuang Yen Monastery
- Bodhi Monastery
- the Discourse On the Fruit of Recluseship
- the Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya
- Great Discourse On Causation: Mahanidana Sutta and Its Commentaries
- Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: An Anthology of Suttas From the Anguttara Nikaya
- the Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A New Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya
- In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses From the Pali Canon
- the Noble Eightfold Path: Way To the End of Suffering
- the Discourse On the All-Embracing Net of Views: the Brahmajala Sutta Commentarial Exegesis
- Reading the Buddha's Discourses In Pali: A Practical Guide To the Language of the Ancient Buddhist Canon
- Noble Truths, Noble Path: the Heart Essence of the Buddha's Original Teachings
- Sri Lanka
- New York
- New Jersey
- Bodhi Monastery, Lafayette Township, New Jersey
- Chuang Yen Monastery, Carmel, New York
Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero, Nyanaponika Thera, Thich Gic Duc
English, Pali
SāMaṇEra Ordination, Bhikkhu Ordination
About Bhikkhu Bodhi
Bhikkhu Bodhi, born Jeffrey Block on December 10, 1944, is a prominent American Theravada Buddhist monk, author, and commentator. He is widely recognized for his significant contributions to the translation and interpretation of ancient Buddhist scriptures, particularly those from the Pali Canon, making them accessible to a global audience.
Life and Historical Context
Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents, Block's early life included academic pursuits, earning a B.A. in philosophy from Brooklyn College in 1966 and a PhD in philosophy from Claremont Graduate University in 1972. His spiritual journey led him to Buddhist ordination, first as a novice in the Vietnamese Mahayana order in 1967. He later embraced the Theravada tradition, receiving full ordination (upasampadā) as a bhikkhu in Sri Lanka in 1973 under the guidance of Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero. He became particularly interested in the scholarly study of Pali texts.
Major Contributions
Bhikkhu Bodhi served as the English-language editor for the Buddhist Publication Society (BPS) in Sri Lanka starting in 1984, eventually becoming its president in 1988. He is credited with overseeing the publication of numerous influential Buddhist texts. In 2007, he founded Buddhist Global Relief, an organization dedicated to combating hunger and empowering women through various projects worldwide. He has also been a keynote speaker at United Nations Vesak celebrations, addressing contemporary issues from a Buddhist perspective.
Notable Works and Teaching
His extensive body of work includes acclaimed translations such as "The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha" and "The Connected Discourses of the Buddha." Bhikkhu Bodhi has authored numerous books and essays on Buddhist philosophy, ethics, and practice, including "In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon" and "The Noble Eightfold Path." Since returning to the United States, he has taught and resided at various monasteries, including Bodhi Monastery and currently at Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, New York. He has also been active in promoting the revival of bhikkhuni (nun) ordination within the Theravada tradition.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bhikkhu Bodhi?
Bhikkhu Bodhi, born Jeffrey Block, is an American Theravada Buddhist monk, author, and commentator. He is known for his scholarly work on Buddhist texts, especially from the Pali Canon, and for his leadership in Buddhist organizations.
What is the Buddhist Publication Society?
The Buddhist Publication Society (BPS) is an organization based in Sri Lanka that publishes Buddhist literature. Bhikkhu Bodhi served as its English-language editor and later its president, significantly contributing to its output.
What is Buddhist Global Relief?
Buddhist Global Relief is an organization founded by Bhikkhu Bodhi in 2007. Its mission is to fund projects aimed at fighting hunger and empowering women worldwide, inspired by his essay 'A Challenge to Buddhists'.
What kind of Buddhist texts does Bhikkhu Bodhi work with?
Bhikkhu Bodhi is particularly known for his work with the Pali Canon, the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. He has translated and commented on many important suttas.
Where does Bhikkhu Bodhi teach?
After returning to the U.S. in 2002, Bhikkhu Bodhi lived at Bodhi Monastery in New Jersey and currently resides and teaches at Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, New York.
Related Buddhists
Ajahn Sucitto
Ajahn Sucitto is a British-born Theravada Buddhist monk, ordained in Thailand in 1976. He served as the abbot of Cittaviveka, Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, from 1992 to 2014 and is known for his teaching, editing, and writing, particularly on meditation and Buddhist practice. He played a significant role in establishing monastic communities in the UK and developing protocols for nuns' training.
Bhikkhu Anālayo
Bhikkhu Anālayo is a contemporary Buddhist monk, scholar, and meditation teacher, born in Germany in 1962. He is renowned for his extensive comparative studies of early Buddhist texts preserved across various traditions, contributing significantly to the understanding of early Buddhist thought and practice. His work often focuses on meditation, historical developments, and textual analysis, making him a key figure in modern Buddhist scholarship.
Ayya Sudhamma Bhikkhuni
Ayya Sudhamma Bhikkhuni is an American-born Buddhist nun and the abbess of Charlotte Buddhist Vihara. She is recognized as the first American woman to receive bhikkhuni ordination in Sri Lanka's Theravada tradition. Her significant contributions include co-founding the North American Bhikkhuni Association and being honored as an "Outstanding Woman in Buddhism" at the United Nations.