Short Biography of Most Highest Holiness

Venerable Sadhanananda Mahathera

(Bana Bhante) By: Ven. Pragya Jyoti,

Goldfields Meditation Centre, On 8th January 2010, Australia

The Jummaland (Chittagong Hill Tracts) is situated in the South-

Eastern part of the Bangladesh. The total population of Buddhists is

nearly 3 million roughly. They are

Chakmas, Tanchangyas, Mros or

Murungs, Chaks, Marmas, and

Baruas. The Chakmas,

Tanchangyas, Mros, Chaks and

Marmas are living in Jummaland

since pre-historic periods. The

Tanchanyas, Chaks and Mros are

the sub-tribe of Chakmas.

Approximately, 90% of Buddhists

(Chakmas, Tanchangyas, Chaks,

Mros and Marmas) are living in the

Jummaland and the rest 10%

(Baruas) living in the plain districts.

They all are the followers of the

Theravada Traditional Buddhism. Most Highest Holiness Venerable Sadhanananda Mahathera is

well known as “Bana Bhante” which means Forest Monk. Prior of

his receive Novice Monk (Shramanera) Ordination; his house-hold

name was Mr. Ratindra Chakma. He was born on January 8, 1920

at the Dhanapata, Moroghona village of Maghban Mouza under the

Rangamati jurisdiction, the then Chakma Royal Kingdom (now

Jummaland or Chittagong Hill Tracts,

Bangladesh). Later, the Moroghona village

along with thousands of Jumma villages as

well as Chakma Royal Palace was submerged

under the water by the Kaptai Hydro-Electrical Project in 1964-65. Mr. Ratindra

belongs from middle class family of Chakma

Nation. His father name was Mr. Haru Mohan

Chakma and mother Mrs. Birpudi Chakma.

He was the eldest son of his parents. He has

four brothers and one sister. Since his early life, Mr. Ratindra was very

gentle, honest, polite, kind, noble, and

religious. Occasionally, he used to practice meditation in a

secluded place in the midst of his works and studies. He was

educated up to class four standards only from their village primary

school. As he was not interested in general study, he gives up for

further education. Even, he is not interest to join with others

children to play. In comparison to others, he was different by nature

and was averse to enjoying pleasure and comfort. However, he

would spend most of his time in studying history, science,

literature, religious books and the books relating to the biographies

of the famous writers, poets, philosophers, and scientists. He was

read life story of the famous authors like Poet Rabindra Nath

Tagore, Kamini Roy, and even Ramayana and Mahabharata. He

earned an enormous inspiration for the future course of life through

the reading of books. But, he also interested to watching the

dramas and theatres and listening the Folklore (Kabigaan) in the

village. He was deeply thinking after listening and watching it. He

realized that the life is just like a drama with full of suffering. One day in 1924, at the age of five, Mr. Ratindra was meditating in

a secluded place and suddenly visions arise to him. After a while

vision was disappeared and then he was clearly realized and

understood about the vision which is the sign of the light of wisdom.

Since then, he practice meditation frequently in secluded place,

whenever gets chance. In around 1940-41, Mr. Ratindra was an employee by Mr. Biraj

Mohan Dewan in a shop at Rangamati Bazar. During those days Mr.

Dewan was Headman as well as landlord. Even though, never

happy with his wealthy and always express unsatisfactory and suffered mentally. Mr. Ratindra carefully observes and remarks on

Mr. Dewan opinions and expressions. When turned 29 years old, Mr. Ratindra was faced one of the

remarkable episode in his life – which is given an opportunity to

renounced the world. It was an eleven year old girl, the only

children of their parent suddenly died in their village. All of her

relatives and villagers came and get together. The dead body was

kept aside near the veranda. On the other-hand, the parent and

relatives of the dead body’s crying loudly. Sometimes hitting their

fore-head; sometime hitting their head with trees, sometimes hitting their chest, sometime become senseless, etc. A young Ratindra is

watching carefully all this scenarios silently from one side. He

realized that one day, he has to die like this girl and also have to cry

like her parents and relatives. After watching this episode, he

strongly determined that he will not be joining in the worldly life.

He will renounce the world for searching the truth of this suffering

like the Enlightened One. After few days of that episode, Mr. Ratindra decided to meet Ven.

Dipankar Srigyan Mahathera, who was Chief Abbot of the Nandan

Kanan Buddhist Temple, Chittagong (here Mahathera is pali and

Mahasthavir is Bengali. I prepare Pali). By

the help of Dr. Gajendra Lal Barua, he met

Ven. Mahathera and was ordained as a

Novice monk (Shramanera) under him in

1949 at the age of 29; which was full moon

day in the month of March. His Novice-hood named was given Ven. Ratindra

Shramanera by his Preceptor. During his stay at Nandan Kanan, Ven.

Ratindra was diligently studies many

Buddhist religious books whatever he got

in the Temple library as well as from his Preceptor. After 3/4

months studies he became well-known about the teaching of

Buddha on theoretical knowledge. But, he is not much happy with

that and he always thinking about practical approach. He always

ask himself –Where and how it possible to achieve spiritual

wisdom? Shaving head, wearing saffron robes and wandering here

and there is no use, if I unable to achieve supreme wisdom. He also

remarks on his Preceptor that- “Preceptor always expresses by

himself - oh! Suffering; oh! Very suffering; oh! Life is full of suffering; and so on”. But, Ven. Ratindra did not understand that his

Preceptor’s suffering means. He think that- his Preceptor is highly

educated, scholar, teacher, highly respected and prominent monk.

What he doesn’t have? What he want? Why expressing suffering? One day, Ven. Ratindra went to meet to his Preceptor. He pays

homage to him, after that he sit one side with join palm and ask a

question. Bhante! Can you tell me-What is and how is feeling of “Spiritual Wisdom”? His Preceptor replied! Ven. Ratindra, I did

not achieve that goal. I do not have any ideas about it. So, I am sorry. After got unsatisfactory answered from his Preceptor; Ven.

Ratindra started thinking deeply and realized that his Preceptor is

Tripitaka scholar as well as first B.A graduate monk in those days

that he failed to answer my question – than nobody will be able to

answer it. He determined that he have to go for searching the

Spiritual Wisdom by himself.

He asks the permission from

his Preceptor to leave Nandan

Kanan in order to find out it.

So, after got permission, he

decided to leave Nandan

Kanan at the end of 1949 and

went to Chitmorong Buddhist

Temple, one of the oldest

Temple in Chakma Royal

Kingdom. During his stay at

there, he was asked the same questions to the Chief Abbot of the

Temple, what he was asked to his Preceptor. The Chief Abbot also

failed to answer. Instead of that- he comment to him, “It is not easy,

it is very difficult and impossible task that for ordinary monks and

novices like you and me to achieve that goal”. After few months there, Ven. Ratindra left the temple and took shelter in the dense

forest. After wandering a month, he arrived at Dulyasuri Buddhist

Temple. Even there, he failed to find the suitable secluded place for

him to meditate. After a month later, he left the Dulyasuri and went

Reingkyan Kengrasuri Buddhist Temple under the Bilaisuri Police

Station. He did not have any suitable and secluded place there too.

After few weeks, he decided to wander again in order to find a

suitable place for practice. So, he was many places, such as Betagi

Aranya Kutir, Rauzan, and Kaptai dense forest, etc. as a wandering

ascetic novice monk before reaching Dhanapata. Before Dhanapata, Ven. Ratindra achieves some sort sainthood

during his wandering periods in the dense forest. We can say, First

Psychic Power – while he was living in the dense forest in between

Dhanapata and Kosalyagona areas. On one remarkable night, it was

heavily rain with strong storms and thundered in those areas where

he uses to live. In the morning, he came nearest village is called

Chongrasuri for alms-round with fully dried robes. When see him

without any sign of wets in his robes, the villager became

surprised. The villagers started talking each other about him. Later, the news had spread all over. So, that was the first “Psychic

Power” shown by the Ven. Ratindra to the public, most probably it

was happened after 8/9 months of his Novice-hood. When Ven. Ratindra arrived at Dhanapata in end of 1949, he

chooses the dense forest of those areas and will be suitable for him

to practice. So, firmly decided not to move anywhere any more

until and unless reach his final goal. He also thinking deeply, how

he will be progress his practice without teacher. Later, he firmly

determined to practice in order to achieved and final discover the blissful wisdom by any means like the great Scientist Sir Isaac

Newton - who discovered the Laws of Motion and Gravitation;

Galileo Galilei – who discovered the Law of the Pendulum; Neil

Armstrong - first man to walk on the moon; and Lord Buddha

discovered blissful Nibbana, by their determination, dedication,

hard works, effort and sacrifices. He took oath to observe minimum

Five Duthanga (Kammathana) out of 13 and determined to become

more ascetic life style monk in the dense forest. Ven. Ratindra secluded place was very far from the village.

Nobody does know where he meditate, eats, sleep, drink, etc. He

depends on alms-round (Pindapat) from the nearest village only.

During the rainy season, he comes to collect alms food only after

every 3/4 days. During the winter faced cold without enough

woolen clothes. He carried with him only tri-civaras (three robes)

as part of his ascetic practice, which is called “Tri-civaric

Duthanga”. After around 5/6 years (1954/55) in the dense forest, he

became popular on his ascetic life style and practice. Later, the

villagers built a hut (first hut) for him

at the bank of Jogonasuri River after

got permission from him and invited

to stay there. He also meditated many

months under a Bodhi Tree near his

hut. About two years later in 1957, a

piece of land donated by Mr. Tejmoni

Chakma for the construction of a hut

at Selajghat. The villagers built the

second hut and invited him to stay

there. It became permanent hut till he

was at Dhanapata. So, from 1949-1960

(around 11 years), he was diligently

in concentration at a stretch for 11

years in solitude. When he come in the village to alms-round, people call him Ratindra Shraman and later became well-known

as Bana Sadhak (Bana means forest and Sadhak means meditator)

which meaning is “practicing meditation in the forest”. During

this 11 years period of times, the villagers had proved many ways,

through his psychic power that “Bana Sadhak became an

enlightened being”. Since, His name and fame spread all over the

county and abroad as “Bana Bhante”. As mentioned earlier, thousands of villages, Chakma Royal Palace including Bana Bhante’s hut and dense forest areas started

submerging under the water in 1960 by the Kaptai Hydro-Electrical

Project. All villagers compelled to move from their ancestral land to

different places and directions. The Dhanapata villager moved to Diginala, northern part of the Kingdom. Bana Bhante was spent

many days without the villager. Later, he could not found any

people for alms-round. After a month, a close lay supporter Mr.

Nishi Moni Chakma and others on behalf of the villager came to

invite and to take him to Diginala in the end of 1960. The villager

constructed a small hut for him to practice meditation at Diginala,

which was secluded and far from their village. After came there,

started diligently ascetic practice again. After few months later at Diginala, the lay supporters organize a Full

Ordination Ceremony (Bhikkhu Upasampada) after obtained permission from Bana Bhante. So, in the middle of 1961, Ven.

Ratindra Shramanera took Full Ordination as a Bhikkhu under the

Preceptor of Ven. Gunalankar Mahathera at the age of 41. Many

prominent monks were present during his ordination ceremony;

such as Ven. Jinavamsa Mahathera, Ven. Ananda Mitra Mahathera,

Ven. Rajguru Aggavamsa Mahathera, and Ven. Gyanasri Thera and so on. His full ordination named given as Ven. Sadhanananda

Bhikkhu. So, from 1949-1961 (12 years), he was meditated as an

ascetic Novice Monk at Dhanapata and Diginala dense forest. Prior

of his Bhikkhu Ordination, he never accepted any invitation from

the public. After his Bhikkhu Ordination, he started to accept public

invitation with strict condition according to Vinaya. He was for 10

years (1961-70) after his Full Ordination at Diginala. In middle of 1970, Bana Bhante was shifted to Dursuri from

Diginala and was 6/7 months there. Later on earnest request from

Mr. Anil Bihari Chakma

(Headman and Chairman)

moved to Tintilya of Longadu

at the end of 1970. In 1971,

after 11 years (11 Vassa = Rain

Retreat) of his Bhikkhu-hood, Bana Bhante started giving

Dhamma Discourses publicly

on his Spiritual journey and

achievements. According to

the Vinaya (disciplinary rules

and code of conduct in

Buddhism), a ordinary

Bhikkhu, who not reach

minimum 10 Vassa, which

means 10 years of his

Bhikkhu-hood would not

allowed him to be in-charge (Abbot) of a Monastery or Temple as

well as not permitted to give Dhamma Discourses publicly. Prior of

that, he must have to stay and studies Dhamma-Vinaya under his

Preceptor or senior Bhikkhu until reach 10 Vassa. But, in case of Bana Bhante, question does not arise. He already enlightened,

when he was in Dhanapata as an ascetic Novice monk. During his stay at Tintilya in 1973 for the first time in history

“Kathina Chivara Dana” was offered to him by the lay supporters,

which first introduced by the Chief female lay benefactor named

Visaka during the life time of Exalted One. It was the most

remarkable event in Buddhist history in Chakma Royal Kingdom.

Chakma Rajmata Benita Roy, Royal family members and devotees

from Rangamati was also attended in the Katina Ceremony. Headed by Chakma Rajmata Benita Roy, they invited to Bana Bhante to

attend at Katina Dana Ceremony at Raj Vihar which was held on

October-November, 1974. He was accepted. When he came to

attend in the ceremony, the devotees headed by Chakma Rajmata

Benita Roy and Rajmata Aroti Roy earnestly requested again to dwell at Rangamati permanently. Bana Bhante was accepted their

invitation as well, which should be after 3 years in 1977. He was

dwelt at Tintilya and preached profound Dhamma-Vinaya for 7

years (1970-77). In 1975, a piece of land was donated by the Chakma Royal family

and constructed Raj Bana Vihar.

After finished the construction, Bana Bhante sent his disciple

headed by Ven. Nanadapal

Bhikkhu at Raj Bana Vihar,

Rangamati. In 1977, Bana Bhante along with

his disciples shifted to

permanently at Rangamati from

Tintilya, where the present Raj Bana Vihar was constructed. Since

then he has been staying there till now.

On 14th February 1981, after reached 20 Vassa (Rain Retreat) Bana

Bhante was awarded the title as “Mahathera” by the Sangha

community of Bangladesh which was sponsored by the Chakma

Royal Family and devotees at Raj Bana Vihar. At present, the Raj

Bana Vihar has become an international tourist spot of pilgrimages

and is regularly visited by diplomats and other dignitaries of both

home and abroad. Bana Bhante’s life time scheduled from 1925 - 1949 (age 5 to

29=24 years) as a layman; from 1949 -1961(age 29 to 41=12 years)

as a Novice Monk (Shramanera); from 1961-1981(age 41 to 61= 20

years) as a Bhikkhu; and from

1981-2010 (age 61 to 91 = 30

years) as a Mahathera (till

today). As Bhikkhu and

Mahathera, he had reached 49

Vassa (Rain Retreat) in 2009. During this periods, Bana

Bhante spent uncountable days

and nights in secluded dense

forest inside the caves, under

the trees, huts, bank of the

rivers, open field, and slept on

the bush; travel many plains,

slopes and hills; crossed many

streams and rivers; walked

uncountable kilometers on

foots; suffered unbearable; shivered due to cold; wetted due to

rain; unable to slept due to hunger, cold, and rain; millions of

visible and invisible sentient beings was around him as good

friends and some are as bad friends too; and spent uncountable

days and nights without foods; sacrifices his whole life; for

searching wisdom and blissful happiness what he had now. Finally, by his firm determination, dedication, devotion, practice

meditation, morality, compassionate, equanimity, effort, energy,

loving-kindness, patience, sacrifices, hard works, diligent, etc. he

had achieved what he wants. After achieved in the final stage, he

came out in the public to teach the truth what he found. The truth is

Four Noble Truth, such as Truth of Suffering, Truth of the Cause of

Suffering, Truth of the End of Suffering, and Truth of the Path

Leading to End of Suffering; as well as the truth of right path which

is Noble Eightfold Path, such as Right Understanding, Right

Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort,

Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. Bana Bhante is universally recognized to have attained the

Arahatship and regarded as Savaka Buddha, which is last stage of

sainthood in Buddhism. The definition of Arahant means, one who is

totally free from all defilements- greed, hatred, delusion, desire, rid

of ignorance, craving, and future birth. The destination of Arahant is to Nibbana, which is Supreme and Blissful Happiness.

“Sabbe Satta Sukita Hontu,

Sabba Dukkha Vinasantu”