Bhikkhu Bodhi
Bhikkhu Bodhi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Title | President of the Buddhist Association of the United States, Founder of Buddhist Global Relief, President of the Buddhist Publication Society |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Jeffrey Block December 10, 1944 Brooklyn, New York City, United States |
| Education | Brooklyn College Claremont Graduate University |
| Occupation | scholar-monk |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| School | Theravada |
| Senior posting | |
| Teacher | Ven. Ananda Maitreya |
| Based in | Chuang Yen Monastery Buddhist Publication Society Sangha Council of Bodhi Monastery |
| Predecessor | Ven. Nyanaponika Thera (BPS editor and president) |
| Successor | Mr. Kariyavasam (BPS editor),[1] P.D. Premasiri (BPS president) Buddhist Publication Society |
| Part of a series on |
| Buddhism |
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Bhikkhu Bodhi (born December 10, 1944) (菩提比丘; Pútí bǐqiū) born Jeffrey Block, is an American Theravada Buddhist monk ordained in Sri Lanka. He teaches in the New York and New Jersey area. He was appointed the second president of the Buddhist Publication Society and has edited and authored many publications grounded in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. Also, he has translated and commentated on a number of Pali texts, using a Theravada Buddhist lens[2]. Additionally, he is the current president of the Buddhist Association of America, and is the founder of the organization Buddhist Global Relief[3].
Early life
[edit]Block was born in 1944 in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents. He grew up in Borough Park, where he attended elementary school P.S. 160[4] and graduated from New Utrecht High School.[5] Following high school, he worked as a door to door salesman selling paintbrushes for a year[6].In 1966, he obtained a B.A. in philosophy from Brooklyn College, where he first encountered Buddhism in books at the bookstore[6]. In 1972, he obtained a PhD in philosophy from Claremont Graduate University[7][8].
Career
[edit]In early 1967, while still a graduate student, he met and moved in with a monk named Thich Gic Duc[9]. During May of 1967, Bodhi was ordained as a sāmaṇera (novice) in the Vietnamese Mahayana order [10], a decision that caused him little inner turmoil[9][11]. During 1971 and 1972, following his graduation, he lived at a meditation center in Los Angeles, here he was introduced to a group of Theravada monks from Sri Lanka[9]. This inspired him to travel to Sri Lanka, where, under Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero, [12] he received sāmaṇera ordination in the Theravada Order and, in 1973, received full ordination (upasampadā) as a Theravāda bhikkhu or monk.[13]Following this, Bhikkhu Bodhi became particularly interested with the scholarly, textual side of monastic life, as opposed to becoming a more pastoral or meditative monk, and studied many Pali texts under Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero.[14]
In 1984, succeeding co-founder Nyanaponika Thera,[15] Bodhi was appointed English-language editor of the Buddhist Publication Society (BPS, Sri Lanka). He became its president in 1988.[1][16][17] In 2002, he retired from the society's editorship while still remaining president.[1][18][17]
In 2000, at the United Nations' first official Vesak celebration, Bodhi gave the keynote address.[19] In 2002, after retiring as editor of BPS,[18] Bodhi returned to the United States. After living at Bodhi Monastery (Lafayette Township, New Jersey),[20] he now lives and teaches at Chuang Yen Monastery (Carmel, New York), and as of May 2013 he has been the president of the Buddhist Association of the United States.[16][21] In 2019 he took part in the UN Vesak celebration again, giving a speech that included a call to action for climate change[22].
Additionally Bhikkhu Bodhi founded the organization Buddhist Global Relief in 2007. This was inspired by an essay he had had just written called “A Challenge to Buddhists" in the Buddhist magazine Buddhadharma.[3] This is an organization funds projects to fight hunger and empower women across the world. [3]
Personal life
[edit]After returning to the United States, Bodhi became a vegetarian.[23]
Selected publications
[edit]- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (1989). The Discourse on the Fruit of Recluseship (The Samaññaphala Sutta and Its Commentaries). Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 978-955-24-0045-2.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu; Bhikkhu, Ñāṇamoli (1995). The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-072-0.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (1998). Great Discourse on Causation: Mahanidana Sutta and Its Commentaries. Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 978-955-24-0117-6.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu; Thera, Nyanaponika (2000). Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: An Anthology of Suttas from the Anguttara Nikaya. Altamira Press. ISBN 978-0-7425-0405-9.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2000). The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A New Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-331-8.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2000). The Buddha and His Message: Past, Present & Future (United Nations Vesak Day Lecture). Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 978-955-24-0346-0.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2000). A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma: The Abhidhammattha Sangaha of Ācariya Anuruddha. Pariyatti. ISBN 978-1-928706-02-1.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2001). The Buddha and His Dhamma. Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 978-955-24-0201-2.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2005). In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-491-9.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2006). The Noble Eightfold Path: Way to the End of Suffering (3rd ed.). Pariyatti. ISBN 978-1-928706-07-6.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2007). The Discourse on the All-Embracing Net of Views: The Brahmajala Sutta Commentarial Exegesis (2nd ed.). Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 978-955-24-0052-0.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2007). "A Challenge to Buddhists". Lion’s Roar. https://www.lionsroar.com/a-challenge-to-buddhists/
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2009). The Revival of Bhikkhuni Ordination in the Theravada Tradition. Inward Path. ISBN 978-983-3512-63-8
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2012). The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Anguttara Nikaya. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-1-61429-040-7.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2016). The Buddha's Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-1-61429-355-2.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2016). The Discourse on the Root of Existence: The Mulapariyaya Sutta and its Commentaries (3rd ed.). Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 978-955-24-0064-3.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2017). The Suttanipata: An Ancient Collection of the Buddha's Discourses and Its Canonical Commentaries. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-1-61429-429-0.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2017). Investigating the Dhamma: A Collection of Papers. Pariyatti. ISBN 978-1-68172-068-5.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2017). Dhamma Reflections: Collected Essays of Bhikkhu Bodhi. Pariyatti. ISBN 978-1-68172-032-6.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2020). Reading the Buddha's Discourses in Pali: A Practical Guide to the Language of the Ancient Buddhist Canon. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-1-61429-700-0.
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2023), Noble Truths, Noble Path: The Heart Essence of the Buddha's Original Teachings. Wisdom Publications.
Wheel Publications (BPS)
[edit]- Nourishing the Roots and Other Essays on Buddhist Ethics (WH259/260)
- Transcendental Dependent Arising (WH277/278)
- Going for Refuge; Taking the Precepts (WH282/284)
- Dana: The Practice of Giving (WH367/369)
- Maha Kaccana: Master of Doctrinal Exposition (WH405/406)
- Facing the Future: Four essays on the social relevance of Buddhism (WH438/440)
Bodhi Leaf Publications (BPS)
[edit]- Taste of Freedom (BL71)
- The Living Message of the Dhammapada (BL129)
- Discourses of the Ancient Nuns (BL143)
- The Good, the Beautiful, and the True (BL154)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "About BPS". Buddhist Publication Society. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- ^ Jones, Dhivan Thomas (November 1, 2009). "New light on the twelve Nidānas". Contemporary Buddhism. 10 (2): 241–259. doi:10.1080/14639940903239793. ISSN 1463-9947.
- ^ a b c "Buddhist Global relief".
- ^ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6U8-GTX5Puw , time 6:53.
- ^ "BC Alumni Spotlight- Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi: The American Buddhist Who Addressed the UN – The Brooklyn College Vanguard". Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ a b "BC Alumni Spotlight- Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi: The American Buddhist Who Addressed the UN – The Brooklyn College Vanguard". Retrieved November 4, 2025.
- ^ "Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi". Bodhi Monastery. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- ^ "Climbing to the Top of the Mountain". The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Archived from the original on April 17, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- ^ a b c "BC Alumni Spotlight- Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi: The American Buddhist Who Addressed the UN – The Brooklyn College Vanguard". Retrieved November 4, 2025.
- ^ "Climbing to the Top of the Mountain". The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Archived from the original on April 17, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- ^ ""I've Been to the Mountain Top" (1968)", African American Studies Center, Oxford University Press, September 30, 2009, ISBN 978-0-19-530173-1, retrieved November 10, 2025
- ^ In Bodhi, Connected Discourses (2000), p. 5, Bodhi dedicates the tome to "the memory of my teacher Venerable Abhidhajamaharatthaguru Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera (1896–1998) and to the memories of my chief kalyanamittas in my life as a Buddhist monk, Venerable Nyanaponika Mahathera (1901–1994) and Venerable Piyadassi Maha Thera (1914–1998)".
- ^ "Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi". Bodhi Monastery. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- ^ "Bhikkhu Bodhi Interview". www.budsas.org. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ In Bodhi, Connected Discourses (2000), p. 5, Bodhi dedicates the tome to "the memory of my teacher Venerable Abhidhajamaharatthaguru Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera (1896–1998) and to the memories of my chief kalyanamittas in my life as a Buddhist monk, Venerable Nyanaponika Mahathera (1901–1994) and Venerable Piyadassi Maha Thera (1914–1998)".
- ^ a b "Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi". Bodhi Monastery. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- ^ a b "BPS "Newsletter" (1st Mailing 2008, No. 59)" (PDF).
Note: The author [Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, related to the article "The Buddhist Publication Society of Kandy: A Brief Account of Its Contributions to Buddhist Literature," pp. 4–7] served as the editor of the BPS from 1984 until 2002 and has remained its president since 1988.
- ^ a b "Climbing to the Top of the Mountain". The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Archived from the original on April 17, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- ^ "Lecture on Vesak Day by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi". Buddhanet. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- ^ McLeod, Melvin, ed. The Best Buddhist Writing 2008, p. 333. Shambhala Publications, 2008. ISBN 978-1-59030-615-4. Accessed May 10, 2017. "Bhikkhu Bodhi, an American Buddhist monk, was ordained in Sri Lanka in 1972.... He currently lives at Bodhi Monastery in Lafayette, New Jersey."
- ^ "BAUS President Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, 2013 -". Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ^ Bodhi, Bhikkhu (May 12, 2025). "Vesak and Climate Crisis at the UN • Bhikkhu Bodhi". One Earth Sangha. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
- ^ "Pariyatti Presents... An interview with Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi". Pariyatti. 2022. Archived from the original on February 5, 2025.
After I came back to the United States now I have become complete vegetarian, almost vegan, not completely.
External links
[edit]- Profile at Bodhi Monastery
- Plemeniti Osmostruki Put, 2011 (Serbian)
- 1944 births
- 21st-century American monks
- 21st-century Buddhist monks
- 21st-century American Buddhists
- Living people
- Buddhism and Judaism
- Buddhist translators
- Converts to Buddhism from Judaism
- Pali–English translators
- Theravada Buddhism writers
- American male non-fiction writers
- Theravada Buddhist monks
- American Theravada Buddhists
- American Buddhist monks
- American scholars of Buddhism
- Brooklyn College alumni
- Claremont Graduate University alumni
- Writers from Brooklyn
- People from Lafayette Township, New Jersey
- People from Borough Park, Brooklyn