29 June 2024 12:00 am Views - 82
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (1832-1907) was a well-recognised American agriculturist, military officer, journalist and lawyer and well-known as the first prominent person of Western descent who embraced Buddhism
Pathfinder Foundation, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, held an event to commemorate the well-known pioneer of the Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka, the late Col. Henry Steel Olcott, on June 16, 2024. The event was held at the historic Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, where several eminent senior Buddhist clergy and special invitees representing Buddhist organisations, Dhamma schools, and leading Buddhist schools in Colombo participated. Julie Chung, Ambassador of the United States of America, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The event centred around the Keynote Address titled “Olcott’s Legacy in Sri Lanka: Celebrating Olcott’s Roots in Buddhist Revival”, delivered by Most Venerable Prof. Kotapitiye Rahula Anunayaka Thera.
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (1832-1907) was a well-recognised American agriculturist, military officer, journalist and lawyer and well-known as the first prominent person of Western descent who embraced Buddhism. Self-educated, his scholarship on Buddhism significantly contributed to the development of Buddhist studies in Sri Lanka. He founded many well-known schools nationwide, such as the Young Men’s Buddhist Association, and championed civil rights on the island. His leadership as president of the Theosophical Society helped the revival of Buddhism to new heights. He contributed to the creation of the Buddhist flag, now widely used to mark religious occasions. He successfully lobbied for recognition of Vesak Full Moon Poya Day (the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing) as a public holiday in colonial Sri Lanka.
The commemoration of Col. Henry Steel Olcott was the brainchild of the Founder of Pathfinder Foundation, Mr. Milinda Moragoda, who believed that the Sri Lankan Buddhist community should be reminded of the services rendered to the revival of Buddhism and Buddhist education in the country by an American. Recognising the importance of such an event and because Col. Olcott was an American citizen who contributed immensely to the Sri Lankan society, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo graciously supported this initiative. Pathfinder Foundation aims to use this occasion to commemorate the invaluable support rendered by Col. Olcott and to generate interest of the Sri Lankan public in the contributions made by Col. Olcott to Sri Lankan society.
Among those who participated in the event were the most venerable Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Maha Nayaka Thera, Ven. Prof. Kumburugamuwa Vajira Nayaka Thera, Prof. Ven. Walpola Piyananda Thera of the Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles, Ven. Prof. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkhitha Thera, Chancellor of Kelaniya University,Ven.Prof. Akuratiye Nanda Thera, Ven. Prof. Unuwathurabubule Mahinda Nayaka Thera, Ven. Neluwakande Gnanananda Thera, Mr. Milinda Moragoda, Founder of Pathfinder Foundation, Deshamanya Ajita de Zoysa, Chairman, Board of the Kalutara Bodhi Society, Mr. R. A. D. Sirisena, Secretary, Urumayaka Ulpatha, Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya Dayaka Sabawa and many others.