Australian Sangha Association

A representative body for monks and nuns of all Buddhist traditions

2024 Statement on Waharakist, Buddha Born in Sri Lanka, andJethavanarama (Dharmayai Obai) Movements

—

by

Chairperson
in

First published August 14, 2024
Edited October 1, 2024
Published 13 October 2024

The ASA is the peak body which represents ordained Buddhist monks and nuns in
Australia.

In 2024, the question of whether followers of Meewanapalane Dhammalankara, the
late Waharaka Abhayarathanalankara, and Walasmulle Abhaya are eligible for ASA
membership was raised with the ASA committee. For convenience, we can term
these groups as the “Buddha Born in Sri Lanka” and “Waharakist” groups.
In the context of this discussion, with reference to the beliefs of these groups, the

  • ASA affirms the following:
    The ASA affirms Lumbini (Nepal) as the accepted birthplace of the Buddha, to
    the exclusion of the possibility that the Buddha was born in Sri Lanka.
  • The ASA affirms that the word “anicca” is derived from a+nicca (a+nitya), i.e.
    not permanent, to the exclusion of the incorrect derivation (an+iccha).

In April 2024, the ASA confirmed that neither the Waharakist or Buddha Born in Sri
Lanka groups are eligible for ASA membership (i.e., on the grounds of not being a
recognised tradition).

As of June 2024, ASA noted that another group, Jethavanarama (Dharmayai Obai),
appears to be working in connection with the Waharakist and Buddha Born in Sri
Lanka groups and should be treated in the same manner.

It was later clarified by the ASA (October 2024) that the connection referred to is that
this group is a publisher of Waharakist-type content, as per their Youtube, and is
involved in misrepresentations of Sri Lankan history, as per a pilgrimage advertised
to see the places graced by the arahants in Sri Lanka. It should not be implied that
this connection is institutional.

We note the following ASA actions:

  • Members of this group’s leadership are ineligible for ASA membership in every way and do not participate in or maintain close relationships with the ASA.
  • New membership applications from individuals with known public connections to this movement, whether doctrinal or interpersonal, will not be approved in any case.
  • Reports of involvement of existing ASA members in this movement will be referred to the committee for further membership related actions, including potential cancellation of membership.
  • Promotion of Waharakist, Buddha Born in Sri Lanka and Dharmayai Obai materials in ASA forums in any form, is banned. We thank our members that this has not been a problem to date and we would like to keep it this way.

The ASA remains committed to educating the public on Buddhist monks and nuns. The ASA is available for comment on this and other matters in relation to Buddhist monks and nuns/claimants of Buddhist monastic status in Australia.

Signed,
Thubten Chokyi
Chair,
Australian Sangha Association