Preah Maha Ghosananda

Preah Maha Ghosananda, born Va Yav in Takéo Province, Cambodia, was a highly revered Cambodian Buddhist monk in the Theravada tradition. He is recognized as the Patriarch (Sangharaja) of Cambodian Buddhism, a role he held during the devastating Khmer Rouge period and the subsequent transition. His Pali monastic name, 'Mahāghosānanda', translates to 'great joyful proclaimer'.

Early Life and Education

Born around 1913 to a farming family, Va Yav displayed an early interest in religion, becoming a temple boy at eight and receiving novice ordination at fourteen. He pursued his studies in Pali scriptures, later completing higher education at monastic universities in Phnom Penh and Battambang. Sponsored by Chuon Nath, he traveled to India to earn a doctorate in Pali at Nalanda University. During his time in India, he studied under Nichidatsu Fujii, founder of the Nipponzan Myohoji sect and an associate of Mahatma Gandhi. In 1965, he dedicated eleven years to studying meditation under the renowned master Ajahn Dhammadaro at his forest hermitage in southern Thailand.

Khmer Rouge Era and Refugee Work

Returning to Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime, which sought to eradicate Buddhism, Ghosananda found himself amidst immense destruction and loss. Following the Vietnamese invasion in 1978, he began ministering to Cambodian refugees pouring into Thai border camps. He established modest temples, organized gatherings, and shared verses of peace and lovingkindness, such as from the Dhammapada. Ghosananda also raised funds to print and distribute 40,000 leaflets of the Metta Sutta. By 1979, when the Khmer Rouge fell, he was one of the few thousand surviving monks. He continued establishing temples for refugees in camps and abroad, notably in Canada and the United States.

Restoration and Peace Efforts

Preah Maha Ghosananda played a pivotal role in post-communist Cambodia, working to restore the nation and revive its Buddhist heritage. He served as a representative of the Cambodian nation-in-exile at the United Nations and co-founded the Inter-Religious Mission for Peace in Cambodia. In 1988, he was elected as sanghreach (sangharaja) by exiled monks, accepting the position provisionally. In 1989, he returned to Cambodia and later resided in Leverett, Massachusetts, USA.

The Dhammayietra Peace Marches

In 1992, Preah Maha Ghosananda initiated the Dhammayietra, a nationwide peace march or pilgrimage across Cambodia. These walks, often traversing minefields, aimed to foster reconciliation and hope. The initial walk in 1992, consisting of hundreds of monks, nuns, and lay Buddhists, grew significantly and garnered international media attention. The Dhammayietra became an annual event, with Ghosananda leading marches that sometimes stretched from the Thai border to Vietnam. For his dedication to non-violence and peace, he received numerous accolades, including the Rafto Prize and the Niwano Peace Prize, and was nominated multiple times for the Nobel Peace Prize. His book, "Step by Step," was published in 1992.

Legacy

Preah Maha Ghosananda, often called the "Gandhi of Cambodia," passed away on March 12, 2007, in Northampton, Massachusetts. His legacy endures through the continued peace walks in Cambodia and his influence as a leading figure in engaged Buddhism. He resided part-time at the Palelai Buddhist Temple and Monastery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and advised the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.