History
Buddhism is spreading on the world through clear understanding of followers. People are not
converted or forced to follow it. They follow it after understanding. If one follows and
practices it, one can eliminate suffering and attain full liberation. The Buddha also
followed and practiced the same way and attained enlightenment about 2550 years ago.
At that time there was one Buddhist who was the Buddha himself. But afterwards he
preached his
understanding to the five laymen. Then it spread many places in India. Under the
principle of
spreading the Dhamma without violence (Dhammawijaya), followed by Emperor Dhammasoka,
many
messengers were sent to nine countries in the world. One of them named Arahath Maha
Mahinda
Thero, the son of the Emperor Dhammasoka was sent to Sri Lanka in 247AD.
After Buddhism was established in Sri Lanka in 19th century, it started spreading to
Europe,
America, Australia and etc. Some monks from Sri Lankan, Myanmar, Tibet and Thailand,
contributed
their part of spreading the Dhamma in these continents.
In 19th century, in Africa especially in Tanzania, Sri Lankan people established Buddhist
temple
after they came to work in Dar es Salaam around 1920. This is the oldest Buddhist temple
in
Africa. They were about 400-450 people. First Buddhist person came to Tanzania is Mr H.
G.Gunapala with Ven Lokanatha thero in 1920. he is the person established this temple in
Tanznaia.
They worked together and formed “Singhalese Buddhist Association” and then bought a piece
of land
from the government of Tanzania. then brought a seedling of Bodhi tree (this was the
tree under
which the Buddha attained full enlightenment) from Sri Lanka and planted it in 1920.It
has grown
up now covering about quarter acre.
The Buddhist Association hall was built in 1927. In those days Tanzania was still under
the
British protectorate. The association was then registered under the societies in 1945.
Not only the Sri Lankan Buddhists who supported the building and maintenance of the
Association
hall, but also the Sri Lankan Muslims, Christians, and Hindus who worked in Tanganyika
that time
gave their support.
In the past, the association was called the “Sinhalese Buddhist Association”. But it did
not
include the Thai, Burmese, Chinese, African and other Buddhists hence it was then
changed and
named as “Buddhist Association” so that all Buddhists and others could come and practice
together. This happened on 09th July 1968. Since then it is open to the public to come
and do
their practice. Even former president Mwalimu Julius K Nyerere also offered Dana (food)
for
monks in the temple.
There was no any Buddhist monk in Tanzania or in Zanzibar until early 1960s. In 1962,
Venerable
Palane Narada Thero was the first Buddhist monk to go to Zanzibar for a short visit. In
fact, he
was the first Buddhist monk to come to Africa. From Zanzibar he then visited this temple
as
well. After the Zanzibar Revolution in 1964, all the Buddhists in Zanzibar moved to
mainland
(Tanzania). Since the establishment of this temple there was no resident monk until 1983.
Bodhi Tree
The old building was completed in year 1927. It has two rooms, sitting room and kitchen. In those
days the country was called Tanganyika which was a British protectorate. She got her
independence from the British on 09th December 1961. In 1964 Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to
become Tanzania. Sri Lankan community used this hall for their social meetings; religious
services and other activities.
In Buddhism we have three most respectable and sacred things. The first one is
Pagoda/Chetiya/Dagaba, second is Bodhi tree and third is Buddha’s statue/shrine room. The
Buddhist community in Tanzania discussed on what should be firstly be done in order to make this
place more sacred. Then they decided to bring a seedling of Bodhi tree from Sri Lanka. In 1920
AD it was taken from Anuradhapura City of in Sri Lanka by late Mr Gunapala and brought and
planted to Dar Es Salaam Tanzania. The mother tree was brought to Sri Lanka by nun Arahath
Sanghamitta therie from India. That is the one branch of main Bodhi tree where Gautama Buddha
attained full Enlightenment. The tree is now big in such away it covers almost a quarter of an
acre. It is now (2008) 88 years old. Since then it never bear seedlings until 2002 when the
seeds germinated to seedlings. Some of these seedlings were planted in other parts of Tanzania
like Butiyama (former President Nyerere’s home), Morogoro and Botanical garden, where other
seedlings were planted in other African countries like Kenya, Malawi, Botswana and South Africa.
Until 1956, the devotees used the old association hall as a shrine room. After a while they
started collecting donations for building a shrine room, a pagoda and The Buddha statue. It was
a grand and expensive project for that community. In the same year of 1956, they succeeded to
build a pagoda and a shrine.
The process of building multipurpose hall began in 1984 when Venerable Devalegama Dhammasena and
Venerable Badigama chandaloka laid the foundation stone. They finished the first 1984 which was
the residents for the monks. In 1996 Venerable Ratwita wimalajothi started building the main
hall. It was completed by Rev Dr Ilukpitiye pannasekara – The chief monk for the African
continent in year 2000. Many donations came from Nan hua Chinese Buddhist temple, which is in
Bronkhorstspruit South Africa, under master Hui Lee. He donated more than 20,000 US Dollars and
building materials. The length and the width of the hall is 100 x 45 feet respectively. It is
now used for meditation classes, Yoga classes, meetings and other activities.
Since then until 1983 there was no resident monk. All religious functions and other activities
were arranged by devotees themselves. In 1982 committee members decided to find a monk. They
then wrote to chairman of (WFB) World Fellowship of Buddhists –Dhammaduta committee.
The first resident monk to come to Tanzania was Ven Puhulwelle Vipassi thero. He was from
Gangarama temple in Colombo. The arrangement of taking him from Sri Lanka to Tanzania were made
by ven Galaboda Ghanissara thero and Mr. Albert Edirisinghe .They came with him to Tanzania.
This was a very historical moment of Buddhism in Africa and particularly in Tanzania. He stayed
here for a year and went to Brazil in North America.
The Second monk who came to Tanzania was Ven Witarandeniye kassapa . He also came from Gangarama
temple in Colombo .He succeeded to build the wall around the temple and he is now in Birmingham
London. In that time the first president of Tanzania, Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere’s elder son Andrew
Nyerere came to the temple to learn Buddhism Then he went to Sri Lanka for further practice for
nearly one and half years.1985 ven kassapa went to Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Up to now
he is working there. He has started many projects for helping the needy people. He established
International Buddhist Relief Organization (IBRO) doing many relief and charity activities
around the world.
03rd Ven Pidiwille Piyatissa
After a while venerable Piyadassi also came to Tanzania. He stayed in Tanzania for nearly two
years.
04th Ven Devalegama Dhammasena
He also came from Sri Lanka as fourth resident monk. He traveled to Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, and
some other African countries to do religious services
He started to build new resident for monks and finished before going back to Sri Lanka. He went
back to Sri Lanka in 1987. He is now the chief incumbent of Tissamaharama ancient temple in Sri
Lanka. Once he went to Botswana to inaugurate the sacred pagoda.
05th Ven Badigama chandaloka
He came hear and stayed for nearly one year and went back to Sri Lanka. He is now in Sri Lanka.
06th Ven Kanumuldeniye Dhammasoka
He was the Chief Incumbent monk of The New Polonnaru Rock temple in Dehiwala Sri Lanka. After
receiving invitation from Tanzania Buddhist association, in 1993 came and stayed here for a
while. During his stay he also visited Zambia, Botswana and other countries. He went back to Sri
Lanka in1994. He made all the arrangements for Chief monk Rev I Pannasekara to come to Tanzania.
07th Ven Thailand Channawanno
Few Thai people who live around the Buddhist temple decide to find a Thai monk for a while. After
discussing with committee members they brought a monk from Thailand. He stayed here few months
and went to Sri Lanka.
08th Ven Kahanda Amarabuddhi
While he was here, he managed to visit other countries. Once he went to Botswana and laid down a
foundation stone for the pagoda of the Botswana Buddhist temple. Now he has his own temple in
USA.
09th Ven Rathvita wimalajothi
He came in 1994. The arrangement for him to come to Tanzania was made by World Fellowship of
Buddhists. He stayed In Tanzania up to 1999.while he was in Tanzania he started to sending
Tanzanian students to African Buddhist seminary in South Africa.
10th Ven Vilachchiye Vijithananda
The arrangements for him to come to Tanzania were made by Venerable Wimalajothi. He stayed few
months here and went to teach at the African Buddhist seminary in South Africa. After few months
then he went back to Sri Lanka now he is living in America.
11th Ven kahalle chandrajothi
He came to Tanzania during Venerable Wimalajothi’s time. He was brought here to assist the
resident monk with other duties. He stayed for nearly two years and went back to Sri Lanka.
Currently he is living in Sri Lanka.
12th Rev Dr ILukpitiye Pannasekara
Chief Monk for the African continent and the twelfth resident monk to Tanzania. Currently he is
residing at the centre and is working hard to establish Buddhism in Africa.
13th Ven Madagampola Pannaseeha
He was a teacher in Sri Lanka and came to Tanzania after all necessary arrangements were made by
Rev .I. Pannasekara in 2003. he went back to Sri Lanka 2006.
14th Ven Iriyagolle Pannaransi
He came to Tanzania 2008. From that year he is continue helping Buddhist community and other
people in Tanzania. Also last years he travelled to Kenya and Thailand to attend some religious
ceremonies.
The monk who ever lives in Dar es Salaam Tanzania has numerous responsibilities to do. He has to
travel to other neighboring countries like Kenya, Malawi, Botswana, Zambia, South
Africa,swaziland, lesotho,Zanzibar etc. to perform various religious ceremonies, because there
are no any resident Buddhist monks up to now. Tanzania Buddhist center is used as the Buddhist
center for the whole African continent.
Ven Palane Narada
He was the first Buddhist monk to the African continent born in Sri Lanka . After learning
Buddhism, he started traveling to many countries to propagate it. In 1962 he came to Zanzibar
for a short visit. At that time there had a Buddhist association office in Zanzibar. It was at
Don Millan’s house. Don Millan was a merchant and jeweler in Zanzibar. From There Ven Narada
gave a short visit to the temple.
Ven Galaboda Ghanissara
He is a well known monk in Sri Lanka. He is living in the Gangarama Buddhist temple in Colombo
Sri Lanka. He was supported by WFB – Dhammaduta committee to send monks to Tanzania Buddhist
temple. He also came with the first monk and stayed here few days and went back to Sri Lanka.
But after a while he came again while Ven Devalegama Dhammasena and Ven Badigama Chandaloka were
here. He came and ordained one Zambian young man named Edvin Nawa who became a Buddhist monk.
After few days he went to Sri Lanka and India. So far do not know where he is.
Ven Piyananda
He is a friend of Ven Wimalajothi. He just came to Visit Tanzania and went back to Japan.
Ven Hui Lee
He is the founder and first Director of Nan Hua Chinese Buddhist temple in South Africa. He is
traveling to many African countries one of which is Tanzania. He came here in 1998. When he saw
this oldest center decided to help, develop and protect it. He donated more than USD $20,000 to
develop the center.
Ven Hui Guan
He is a Chinese monk who came to Tanzania for student recruitment. He was the dean of students at
the African Buddhist Seminary in South Africa.
Ven Hui Fang
He is a Chinese monk living at Nan Hua Buddhist temple, Bronkhorstspruit in South Africa. He came
recruit Tanzanian students to enroll at African Buddhist Seminary. He came with Mr Harold Lemke
who is now called Ven Ben Kong who has returned to United States of America. Ven. Hui Fang is
now the abbot of Nan Hua Temple and director of African Buddhist African.
Ven Anuruddha
He was traveling through Africa and made a short visit to this temple
Ven Buddha Dathu (a Vietnamese monk)
Ven Pannasekara met Ven Vietnam in Thailand in the year 2000 while attending a WFB meeting in
Thailand, he, Ven. Buddhadathu, wanted to pay a visit to Africa. After inviting him, he came to
the temple and stayed for nearly a month and went back to Singapore.
Ven Ananda( a Indian monk)
This was the assistant monk to Ven Buddhadathu at that time. Both of them came to this temple at
the same time.
Ven Walpola Piyanada
He is a Sri Lankan monk currently living in Geneva Switzerland. He traveled with Buddha’s relic
which was offered to the United Nations from Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand. While doing this, he
then received invitation from Rev I Pannasekara to come to Tanzania and in August 2003 he
managed to come. He stayed for three days he went back to Switzerland.
Ven .T.Y.Lama Shresta Gangshen Tulku Rinposhe
He is a very famous Tibetan monk living in Italy. He has many branches in other countries. He
came to Tanzania with Buddha’s relics on 02.08.2003. After two days he left.
* Ven ILukpitiye Pangnaloka Thero
* Ven Iriyagolle Pangnananda Thero
* Ven Rambodagalle Dhammananda Thero
* Ven Bangladesh Avijith Thero
* Ven Ambilipitiye Sasanodhaya Thero
Services
In this center we have a nursery school for African children. It is a special project helping
African community. No any religious based teachings in the nursery syllabus. The medium language
is English. The age for the kids is from two and half years to six years old.
We give library services to others on demand. Any body can get books for reading in order to
develop their knowledge.
From time to time resident monks go to Secondary schools and universities to give talks about
Buddhism.
From 1996 up to now, we have been sending Tanzanian students who have completed advanced level
(matric) education to African Buddhist seminary, which is under the Nan Hua temple in South
Africa, to learn Buddhism for three years. A total of nearly 150 young Tanzanian matriculants
have been sent to South Africa to study Chinese Buddhism over the past six years. Those who
passed the examination well could go to Taiwan for more few years in Buddhist studies. It is
their decisions whether to become monks or not without any obligation from the seminary.
Future Plans
1. Africans still do not know much about Buddhism. More practical activities have to be done for
them to understand about this new philosophy. Much have to be done for them irrespective of
their color or tribes. Because of that we have to improve our social services.
2. We have to add more and valuable books in the library and improve other facilities.
3. Every Sunday there is meditation class. Nearly 15-20 students attend. We can improve it to
get more students.
4. We have a nursery school for local children. We can add more facilities and if possible we
can provide free education to these children which will be of a great help since primary
education is now free.
5. Every day many people die from HIV and Aids. We can arrange some counseling programs at the
temple premises to decrease the misery.
6. No free medicine and free health services. We can arrange any kind of service to help needy
people
7. In rural areas there are no good facilities like drinking water, houses, food, clothes,
schools and other important things.
8. In 1927 we had about 400 Buddhist devotees around the temple. But as time went on they
decreased and now we have very few people. It is very difficult to run the temple without help
from outside. We have to help the resident monk to maintain the temple.
9. There are fifty four (54) countries in Africa but temples are only in Tanzania, Botswana,
Kenya and South Africa. In South Africa there are Chinese temples. We have to try to establish
temples in each and every countries and make local monks every where. Without local monks
Buddhism will not go through Africa. Arahath Maha Mahinda thero’s action should be taken as an
example. He came to Sri Lanka and made local monks.
10.We have established an orphanage in Tanzania for street children regardless of their religions
or tribes.
New Monks Resident
New monks resident built and donated by Mr Thangavelu Nallavan Valli on 06.08.2016
Minister of Tourism development, Christian religious affairs and lands of Sri
Lanka Hon John A.E. Amaratunga opened the remarkable plague and Mr Thangavelu
Nallavan Valli is standing with him.
The Chief monk for the African Continenet Rev Dr ILukpitiye Pannasekara
Thero hand over a Buddha's statue to the Mr Thangavelu Nallavan Valli
(who built and donated new monks resident) as the token of appreciation
of his grate gift to the Buddha Sasana .
