Venerable Dhammananda Archives

YouTube channel “Panshu” launched by the Walpola Rahula Institute; A fertile environment for critical thinking By Raj Gonsalkorale The lesson for all is the need for nurturing critical thinking and to question information and its veracity. In explaining the thinking behind naming the new YouTube channel as Panshu, Ven Galkande Dhammananda said that the philosophy of the WRI has always had a positive outlook and it has focused on what could be done to have better outcomes, even over time, rather than just being disappointed with existing outcomes. By Raj Gonsalkorale Social media today has linked millions of people with facts, fiction and outright fake news. It has influenced change of governments, election of Presidents, Royalty being found out and disgraced, scandals of every description doing the rounds faster than lightning, and instant messaging becoming integral to the life of millions. Most do not ascertain the veracity of information that ...

Venerable Galkande Dhammananda’s visit to Australia Venerable Galkande Dhammananda, Executive Director of the Walpola Rahula Institute of Sri Lanka visited Australia in early February and participated in several events in Perth, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide and Melbourne. His visit was prompted by the invitation he had received to address a symposium on Australia and Buddhism in Perth. During his visit, he met with Sri Lankans of all ethnicities and religions, as well as many other Australians. His message throughout his presentations was that real and lasting peace amongst individuals, and communities, could not be achieved without first healing the mental wounds everyone suffers from to varying degrees of intensity. Through such a healing process, first by healing oneself, and then extending that to others through a better understanding of the wounds others may be suffering from, and assisting them in the healing process, equanimity and peace with oneself and with others ...