Global Spread of Buddhism with Special Reference to Sri Lanka

Although small, Sri Lanka is a developing country that supports Buddhism on five continents with numerous projects, such as preserving and learning many scriptures in Pali. The preservation of the Pali Canon alone stands unparalleled as a unique Sri Lankan contribution to the global spread of Buddhism.

When it comes to the worldwide dissemination of Buddhism, Sri Lanka has assumed a pivotal role unmatched by any other Buddhist nation. Sri Lankan Buddhism has exerted significant influence as a formidable presence in religious, political, and social spheres. It began in India, traversed through its birthplace, and subsequently flourished in Sri Lanka and numerous locations across the US and the world.

Dr. Bhikkhuni Gioi Huong (world name Sunyata Phạm) was born in 1963 in Binh Tuy, Vietnam and ordained at the age of fifteen under the great master, the Most Venerable Bhikkhuni Hai Trieu Am. In 1994, she received a Bachelor's Degree in Literature from Sai Gon University. She studied in India for ten years and in 2003, graduated with a PhD in Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Delhi, India. In 2005, she settled down in the United States and in 2015, she earned a second Bachelor's Degree in Literature at the University of Riverside, California.

Currently, she is pursuing a degree in the Master of Arts Program at the University of California, Riverside and works as a lecturer at the Vietnam Buddhist University in HCM City. She favors quietly reflecting on Dharma, and that leads her to write, as well as translate, Buddhist books and lyrics for music albums on her Bao Anh Lạc Bookshelf.

In 2000, she established Huong Sen Temple, Bình Chanh, Sai Gon, Viet Nam. In 2010, she founded Huong Sen Temple in Perris, California, USA, where she serves as abbess.

On a summer afternoon in 2023, on the Kandy plateau in Sri Lanka, renowned for its veneration of the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, on the lush green grounds of the University of Peradeniya, Kandy, the Departments of Education and Buddhist Studies held a Buddhist Seminar on July 14. 2023, with the patronage of Maha Mahinda International Dharmadutha Society, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Huong Sen Buddhist Temple, California, USA.

The conference was attended by many prestigious monastic doctorates, professors, lecturers, and scholars from several universities such as Prof. Ven. Medagama Nandawansa Thera (Maha Mahinda International Dharmadutha Society and Chief Incumbent of Sri Lanka Vidyalaya Maha traveled), Dr. Ven. Kahawatte Siri Sumedha (Chief Incumbent of Jambudvipa, Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple, Varanasi, India), Dr. Prabath Ekanayake (Dean of the Faculty of Arts), Prof. Walter Senevirathne (Head of the Department of Education), Prof. H.M. Mahinda Herath (Head of the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies), Prof. Prasad Sethunga (Director General of the National Education Foundation). Dr. Ven. Bhiksuni Gioi Huong (Lecturer at the Vietnam Buddhist University in HCM City and Abbess, Huong Sen Buddhist Temple, California, USA), Dr. Samarakoon Banda (Senior Lecturer, the Department of Education), Dr. Kasun Dharmasiri (Senior Lecturer, the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya), Bhiksuni TN Vien An (Lecturer of English, Huong Sen and Dieu Ngu School, California, USA), Ven. Madugalle Sudaththa (Lecturer, the Department of Social Sciences and Comparative Studies, Bhiksu University of Sri Lanka, Anuradapura). Ven. Panadure Dumindalankara and Ms. H.M.L.M. Munasinghe (Lecturers for Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Peradeniya).