History of Vishwa Shanti Vihara: Under the active leadership of H.H. Late Ven. Bhikshu Jnanapurnik Mahasthavira, the Seventh Sanghanayaka of Nepal, Vishwa Shanti Vihara, was founded and established on Oct. 5, 1984 in a piece of land with a new small monastery generously donated by a devotee, Miss Chaitya Maya Shakya, for the noble purpose of strengthening Theravada Buddhist Education and Meditation practices and also as a center for Buddhist studies and research. Through the generous donations of Malaysian and Singaporean devotees, it was renovated to its present form on Oct 25, 1997, especially to house a World Peace Buddhist School to produce educated and capable Buddhist monks and nuns in order to produce sufficient manpower to propagate Theravada Buddhism in Nepal.
Major Accomplishments of the Vihara:
- A World Peace Buddhist School was established on March 12, 1997, to produce
capable and educated monks and nuns to serve the cause of Buddhist revival and
propagation in Nepal and abroad.
3 Kathina Chivara and Astapariskara (offering of eight requisites) Dana ceremony
is celebrated, often participated also by representatives and devotees from other
countries (Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, etc.) annually. - Temporary ordination ceremony for hundreds of laity is conducted every year.
- Bhikshus and Shramaneras are sent to towns and villages to teach pariyatti
education (dhamma education) and propagate Buddhadhamma on a regular basis. - Appointing of qualified monks, novices and nuns to different monasteries around
Nepal to actively engage in social and religious affairs and to teach Buddhism in
that locality. At present, we have sent our monks and nuns who graduated from this
temple to within Kathmandu valley (Dhapakhel, Badikhel, Thecho, Chapagaun,
Lubhu, Koteshower, Sanogaun, Tokha) and outside of valley to Pokhara, Butwal,
Baglung, Banepa, around 25 monks and novices for dhamma work. - Late Ven. Bhikshu Jnanapurnik Mahasthavira, Chief monk of the Vihara, used to
conduct two months meditation retreat for devotees in Singapore and Malaysia
every year. - Our monastery actively participates in social work to provide for families affected
by natural disasters in collaboration with foreign devotees. - Vsv also regulary organizes free health camps where dental care, eye checkup,
heart checkup and other services are provided. - Establishment of Theravada Buddhist Academy (TBA), affiliated with Lumbini
Buddhist University in 2014. TBA now offers Bachelor’s degree in Pali and
Master’s degree in Buddhist studies. - One and only Theravada Buddhist education system for general mass in the form
of “Nepal Bauddha Pariyatti Shiksha” and the headquarter of “All Nepal Monks
Association” (official organization of Theravada monks in Nepal) is located
within the precints of our monastery. Consequently, our monastery has been
serving as a centre for the propagation and protection of Theravada Buddhism in
Nepal for several decades.
Activities of the Vihara
- The Vihara conducts morning and evening Buddha Pooja (Worship) sessions,
reciting from holy books, and collective Buddha pooja takes place on the 3 rd
Saturday of each month. On especial days, the Sangha gathers to admonish
Vinaya (disciplinary) activities. Group meditation and religious discourses are
conducted on a weekly basis. - To keep up with our Buddhist tradition and culture, an alms round (piṇḍapāta), is
conducted on the full moon day of each month in different places of Nepal. - On the occasion of sacred Buddhist month, known as Gunla, creative activities,
especially dhamma talk for that whole month is conducted. - On Vaisakha Full Moon day our monks and nuns are sent to all over Nepal to
lead and celebrate this holy occasion. - The Vihara is publishing books, bulletins, etc. with the active cooperation of its
committee members. - Ven. Bhikshu Bodhijnana, present abbot of the Vihara, regularly conducts
dhamma activities online, which commands active participation from thousands
of devotees from all over the world.
Organizations and Committees helping the Vihara
The following committees and organizations are helping the Vihara to carry out
the above activities smoothly. - Vishwa Shanti Vihara Management Committee.
- Vishwa Shanti Vihara Dayaka Committee.
- Vishwa Shanti Bauddha School Board.
- Pariyatti School
- Theravada Buddhist Academy