This is a film by Ajoy Roy looking at the great Bengali Buddhist reformer, Ven. Kripasaran (1865-1925), who was one of the pioneers of the revival of Buddhism in Bengal and India, and was known as a Bodhisattva.
The film looks at his personal history, and his struggles to establish a Buddhist presence in Kolkata, his works in many fields and his legacy. The film seems to have been made as part of the 150th birth celebrations in 2015.
Ven. Kripasaran was one of the people who helped with the introduction of Pali studies at Kolkata University, and was also instrumental in many other fields of Buddhist education in his home country around Chittagong.
Although the works of Acarya Dharmapala are very well known to this day, the works of Ven. Kripasaran have been partially forgotten, and this film aims to help re-establish his great contributions in the 19th and 20th centuries.
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Documentary on the life and work of venerable Kripasharan Mahasthavira, who has made significant contributions to the revival of Buddhism in undivided Bengal and the spread of education among Buddhists. Karmayogi Kripasaran Mahasthavir is a luminous Icon in the history of Buddhism and Buddhist Revival movement in the Indo-Pak Subcontinent. This documentary provides indeed significant information about the life of Karmayogi Kripasaran Mahasthavir.
I am amazed at the life and work of Ven. Kripasaran. Coming from such a humble rural background of Uninepura, Chittagong he could set up so many centers based on Dharmankur (meanling seedling of Dharma) Sabha, Calcutta. His great integrity, kind heart, hard labor, selfless service and vision for promoting the message of the Buddha, upliftment and welfare of humanity (including women, and children of non-Buddhist faiths) and Barua community brought him close to many scholars and high ranking public officials of his day. He was seen as a noble one and bodhisattva for his selfless work in his lifetime. Thank you for remembering his legacy in this documentary. Deep bow of gratitude and metta!
Very interesting. I learned a lot.
Jeanne Humble
Lexington Kentucky USA
jshumb1@uky.edu