VEN. KIRIBATHGODA GNANANADA THERA SPEAKS

“I became a Buddhist from the Catholic religion when I was 6 months old.”
“I do not spread Mahayana.”
“I wasn’t the first to recite ‘Pirith’ in Sinhala”

There were many comments about the newly built Siri Sambuddha Maligawa and many were against it stating that it is against the teachings of Theravada tradition as it goes against the teaching of simplicity. 
Many were commenting on as stating that since Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnananada thera had once being a Catholic, it can be a conspiracy against the Theravada teachings. The main complain was that his teachings show characteristics of Mahayana tradition which he is trying to spread instead of Theravada tradition of the Gautama Buddha.  Some were even stating that it could be the ideas of NGOs or of other religions whose attempt is to ruin the pure teachings of Lord Buddha.
Ven.Kiribathgoda Gnananada thera had answered these questions in an interview which has been published in “Ada” newspaper. He has mentioned that his parents have become Buddhists when he was 6 months old. He had told that he is working towards the development of Gauthama Budhha Sasana and that he is not spreading the Mahayana tradition. He had further stated that the people who are criticizing him do not have the least idea as to what Mahayana tradition is all about.
He also rejects the fact that he was the first to start reciting ‘Pirith’ in Sinhala and shows that it was first started in Gangarama Temple where most Ven.Ariyadhamma  thera was the pioneer in that.
He also answers for the question of ‘dharma chakra’ and says that it is an unjustifiable accusation.
He further states that he had built Siri Sambuddha Maligawa at Polgahawela in order to celebrate 2600 years of ‘Sambuddha Parinirvana’ and he shows that he is very proud of the Buddhist uprising which he could create all around the world.
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