Pathfinder Foundation and U.S. Embassy honour Col. Henry Steel Olcott’s legacy in Buddhist revival

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.