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By Senaka Weeraratna ( Hony. Secretary, German Dharmaduta Society) 

The Berlin Buddhist Vihara (called Das Buddhistisches Haus in German) is now the most striking symbol of interaction between the German and Sri Lankan cultures and a source of pride and inspiration for people of both countries. It is the key centre in the dissemination, learning and practice of Theravada Buddhism in Germany and other continental European countries. It also provides a venue in the heart of Europe for Meetings of Buddhist groups drawn from both within and outside Germany.

Germany has a distinguished record in Sri Lanka particularly in the literary field. The spheres of Pali and Buddhist studies have been greatly enriched by the research and writings of German scholars. Wilhelm Geiger ( 1856 - 1953) was a pioneer of Sinhalese philology. He made a monumental contribution to a better understanding of our history by translating the ' Mahavamsa,' written in Pali into English. Geiger also translated into German the first two volumes of the ' Samyutta Nikaya ' ( between 1925 -1930 ) and edited from 1921 -1926 the scholarly German periodical ' Zeitschrift fur Buddhismus '.

Buddhism in Germany

Two 19th Century German philosophers may well be credited for initially stimulating Germans to study Buddhism. The renown German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788 - 1860) through his voluminous work ' World as Will and Idea ' published in 1818 wrote favourably in lucid German prose about Buddhism, and his notion of ' the will ' appears close to the Buddhist concept of ' tanha ' (or ' craving '). The apocalyptic writer Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) author of 'Thus Spoke Zaruthustra' followed him. Nietzsche coined the famous dictum ' God is dead '. He too spoke sympathetically of Buddhism in his writings.

They were followed by a number of other German writers such as Karl Eugen Neumann, Oldenburg, Karl Seidenstucker, Georg Grimm, Ven. Nyanatiloka Mahathera and Ven Nyanaponika. It has been in the German language that outstanding writers have made next to the English large contributions to the spread of Buddhism in the West. The German mind so well adapted for pains taking, high quality research probed deeply into the texts of the ancient Pali - Canon producing translations of exemplary clarity.

Prominent among these writers was Dr. Paul Dahlke (1865 1928), a German physician. Dr. Dahlke had visited Sri Lanka eight times and studied Pali Buddhism. He wrote Buddhist books, translated Buddhist texts, and published Buddhist Journals. He met Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayake Thera and other leading Bhikkhus. Upon his return from the East, Dahlke founded a Buddhist House (Das Buddhistische Haus) in Frohnau, Berlin on a beautifully situated plot of land - 6 acres in extent, in 1924.

The German Dharmaduta Society

The German Dharmaduta Society was founded by Asoka Weeraratna, on 21st September, 1952.

The idea of forming a Society to propagate Buddhism in Germany and other western countries dawned on Asoka Weeraratna, a young businessman dealing in jewellery and Swiss wrist - watches, while he was on his first business visit to Germany in 1951. Asoka Weeraratna became aware of the growing hunger in Germany, which was slowly recovering from total devastation in the Second World War, for an alternative moral and spiritual philosophy, that placed a very high emphasis on peace and non-violence.

On his return from West Germany and convinced of the potential for growth of Buddhism in that country, Weeraratna established the Lanka Dhammaduta Society on the 21st of September, 1952, which was later re-named the German Dharmaduta Society. Ven. Nyanatiloka Mahathera, the well known German Scholar Monk was the first Patron of the Society.

In 1953, Asoka Weeraratna, who was by this time the Honorary Secretary of the Society, in his second visit to Germany, made a survey of Buddhist activities in that country and published his investigations in a Report entitled ' Buddhism in Germany '.

The Society in 1954 launched a Million Rupee Fund under the patronage of Mr. Dudley Senanayake, the former Prime Minister, to collect funds for the permanent establishment of the Buddha Sasana in Germany, as Arahant Mahinda had done it in Sri Lanka.

With growing public support the Society soon won the recognition and encouragement of the State and the ' Million Rupee Fund ' was declared an Approved Charity by the Government. Among the many benefactors who contributed to this Fund, particular mention must be made of Dr. Walther Schmits, a German Buddhist, who left a valuable legacy of DM 550, 000, to the Society.

In 1955 the Government granted to the Society an acre of vacant crown land in Bullers Road, Colombo on a 99 year old lease. In August 1956, Hon. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Prime Minister, declared open at a ceremonial public meeting, amidst a large gathering, the newly built Headquarters and Training Centre of the Society at 417, Bullers Road ( Bauddhaloka Mawatha ), Colombo 7 consisting of a two-storeyed dormitory of 14 rooms, an Assembly Hall, Office and Library, built at a cost of Rs. 125,000.

Eight prominent Buddhist monks led by the German monk Ven. Nyanatiloka Maha Thera and including Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya, Ven. Galle Anuruddha, Ven. Akuretiye Amarawansa, Ven. Nyanaponika ( German ), Ven. Kudawella Vanghesa and Ven Vappo ( German ) were attached to the Centre. These monks offered their services to train German Buddhists and others in the study of Buddhist Philosophy. Mr. Friedrich Moller, a teacher from Hamburg, who was the first German recruit of the Society arrived in the Island in 1953. He completed his period of training and received ordination under the name of Bhikkhu Nyanawimala.

Death of Ven. Nyanatiloka Maha Thera

Ven. Nyanatiloka Maha Thera who lived in the Monks' Quarters of the German Dharmaduta Society premises where he was looked after with great solicitude, passed away peacefully on the 28th of May 1957, about three months after his 79th birthday. The Government of Sri Lanka granted an Official State Funeral in tribute to a great monk and an eminent exponent of the Dhamma particularly to the Western world. The cremation took place on June 2, 1957 at the Independence Square, Colombo amidst vast crowds that had gathered for the occasion. The then Prime Minister of Ceylon, Hon. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike delivered the funeral oration.

The ashes were interred at the Island Hermitage, Dodanduwa near the late Maha Thera's hut.

A Monument that was later erected at the Island Hermitage carries the famous stanza of Ven. Assaji who had introduced Ven. Sariputta to the Dhamma. This stanza is engraved in four languages, namely, Pali, Sinhala, German and English. It reads as follows:.

" Of things that proceed from a cause, Their cause the Thatagata proclaimed And also their cessation Thus taught the Great Sage "

In a tribute to the late Ven. Nyanatiloka, a well -known German Buddhist, Guido Auster said that :

:" a gratifying result of this great man's activity was the bridge of friendship he has helped to build between the people of Sri Lanka and his home country, Germany. "

First Buddhist Mission to Germany

The Society sponsored the first Buddhist Mission to Germany, which left the Colombo Harbour by ship ' SS Orantes ' on June 15th, 1957. The three monks in this historic mission comprised Ven. Soma, Ven. Kheminda and Ven. Vinitha. They were all recruited from the Vajiraramaya Temple, Bambalapitiya.

The purchase of Das Buddhistische Haus

One of the most significant achievements of the Society was the purchase in 1957 of Das Buddhistische Haus built by Dr. Paul Dahlke. This Buddhist Haus was considered the Center of German Buddhism during Dr. Dahlke's time. It was converted into a Buddhist Vihara, by the Society by providing residential facilities to Buddhist Dharmaduta monks drawn mainly from Sri Lanka.

Since 1957 there has been a stream of Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka and other countries, taking up residence in the Berlin Buddhist Vihara. Of these dedicated monks, special mention must be made of Ven. Athurugiriye Nyanawimala Mahathera who served as the Viharadhipathi of the Berlin Vihara for a period of 15 years (1966 1981). These monks teach the Buddha Dharma and give instruction on meditation to Germans and people of other nationalities seeking a philosophy that places an emphasis on self- reliance, non violence and loving kindness to all living beings.

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi who visited the Berlin Vihara most recently ( in May 2002 ) and was impressed with the self sacrificing work of the resident monks and lay volunteers has said in a Message of Goodwill to the GDS that is commemorating its 50th anniversary ( 1952 - 2002 ) that:

" The interest in Theravada Buddhism, as the oldest historical form of Buddhism, continues to grow in the West, and thus the (Berlin) Vihara has ahead of it enormous scope for development. As a student and friend of the late German monk, Ven. Nyanaponika Maha Thera, I have a special concern to see Theravada Buddhism send down strong roots in Germany ". 

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