By Ven. Dr. Handupelpola Mahinda Nayaka Thera
Henry Allan Bennett an Englishman was born in London on 08 December, 1872. His father Bennett was a civil and electrical engineer who died when Allan was very young. Young Allan was brought up by Macgregor, and during the lifetime of the foster father, he was known as Allen Macgregor.His humble beginning is mentioned by J. F. M’Kechnie (former Bhikkhu Silacara) at a meeting held to commemorate Ven Ananda Metteyya’s tenth death anniversary.
I started doing my own research on Ven. Ananda Metteyya’s contribution to Buddhism in the West, for the Centenary Celebrations of the Establishment of Buddhism in the UK, at the architect of the project. I am most grateful to him for his direction and support to make my task a fruitful one. I am also thankful to the officers of the Archives and the Museum Library in Colombo and the Buddhist Society, the theosophical Society and the British Library in London and many others for their kind assistance.
As an introduction I would like to say that the Gnosticism, theosophy and occultism made the way to Buddhism to the West. For instance, in 1828 J.J.Schmidt of St. Petersburg (where the early Buddhist university was), wrote on the relations of the Gnostic-Theosophical teachings with Buddhism. The Theosophical Society which was started by Col. H. S. Olcott made a gigantic impact over the studies on Buddhism. But the first ever known European who migrated to the East, during 1786, in search of Enlightenment was Athenian Greek, Dimitrios Galanos (1760-1833). He learnt Sanskrit and translated many religious books into Greek. (The manuscript of his Sanskrit dictionary is yet preserved in the National Library of Greece) The second known Western student of Buddhism went to India in 1833. He was Hungarian aristocrat, Alexander Csoma de Korosi (1784-1842).
Initially I like to state Sri Lanka’s early contribution to the spread of Buddhism in the West. British colonial Civil Servants working in Sri Lanka were enamoured by Buddha’s Philosophy as elucidated by Sri Lankan scholarly monks.
Roots of Buddhism
They started studying Pali to get to the roots of Buddhism. After returning from Sri Lanka, they started publications on Buddhism, and translations of the Pali Canon. Among them were Rockhill, Oldenberg, Samuel Beal, Robert Childers (author of the first English-Pali Dictionary), George Turner and T. W. Rhys Davids (the founder of the Pali Text Society). Even, Sir Edwin Arnold, the author of the epic poem, The Light of Asia, a civil servant in India visited Sri Lanka to discuss Buddhism with Ven. Hikkaduwe Sumangala Thera and David Hawavitarane (Anagarika Dhammapala). Therefore, there was a great interest in Buddhism and Sri Lanka’s heritage. Gorden Douglous was one such person, who was enchanted with Sri Lanka. He went to Sri Lanka and was ordained as Bhikkhu Asoka at the Jayasekhararamaya at Kuppiyawatta, Colombo. But he did not return to the UK, and passed away when in Burma.
Henry Allan Bennett an Englishman was born in London on 08 December, 1872. His father Bennett was a civil and electrical engineer who died when Allan was very young. Young Allan was brought up by Macgregor, and during the lifetime of the foster father, he was known as Allen Macgregor.His humble beginning is mentioned by J. F. M’Kechnie (former Bhikkhu Silacara) at a meeting held to commemorate Ven Ananda Metteyya’s tenth death anniversary. According to him, Bennett was a man who knew what suffering was, both physical and mental. His chromic ill-health was due to privations endured in early life. “When quite young he obtained a job in the laboratory of the London City analyst, as a bottle-washer, at ten shillings a week, and from the ages of fourteen to eighteen never knew what it was to have a fully satisfied stomach.”
Young Allan Bennett was educated at a Roman Catholic school at Hollesly College (in Hollesely Bay area) and at Bath. He worked as an analytical chemist under Dr. Bernard Dyer, official analyst to the London Corn Industry.
On 24 March, 1893 he joined the Theosophical Society. He was enrolled to the ‘Secret Doctrine’ classes of H.P. Blavatsky. In this way he gradually turned to mysterious activities and became versatile, in occult sciences. In 1894, he joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, whose members keenly practised spiritual growth through esoteric knowledge. By this time he had gained a name as a magician or a man of mystery. Even as a monk he had the tendency to appreciate psychic powers. In January, 1899 he received lodgings in a flat where his closest associate Aleister Crowley resided and. Crowley learnt Magic and Yoga from Bennett. Crowley also visited Sri Lanka and Burma when Bennett was there and included descriptions about Ven. Ananda Metteyya, in his autobiography.
In 1890, as a teenager of 18 years, Bennett had read Sir Edwin Arnold’s “Light of Asia”. It impressed him and he became curious about Buddhist teachings. His contemplative mood gradually brought him to a position where he gave up all worldly and esoteric activities.
Early in 1900, to learn more about the Buddhist Doctrine, he emigrated to Sri Lanka. It is said that a lady known as Laura gave him some money to buy tickets to travel by ship.
Accommodation for him to stay in Sri Lanka was provided by Dr. W Arthur de Silva, who gave letters to Richard (John Ellensen) Pereira (father of Dr. Cassius, Richard Lionel and Merrill Wilson) introducing Allan Bennett. He was not only warmly welcome by J. E. Richard Pereira, but he also accompanied Allan Bennett to a Venerable Monk who later taught him Pali and Buddhism. The Pereira family members were reputed Buddhist leaders and well educated professionals. Most of the members of this family were in the legal profession. But, Dr. Cassius (Affeleck) Pereira (later Ven Kassapa) was a physician. They joined hands with the Hewavitarana family and readily helped those who were anxiously waiting to become the followers of the Buddha.
Divigalahena temple
I was faced with the challenge of identifying the teacher monk in Sri Lanka who gave Allan Bennett a thorough knowledge of the Pali Language and Buddhism. Dr. Cassius Pereira had written in the obituary given to a magazine, (which is included in this souvenir) that the name of the renowned Monk was Ven. Revata and he lived in a temple at Kamburugamuwa. With the help of Ven. Mapalagama Nalaka Thera, Ven. Ingiriye Udita Thera and Panagoda Gamage Sanath I proceeded to Kamburugamuwa and we found a half dilapidated temple with a Dhamma school named ‘Revata Daham Pasala.’ Villagers called this temple ‘Divigalahena Pansala’.
But the resident monk Ven. Karatota Shantananda Thera told us that the real name of the temple is ‘Devagiri Vihara.’ Though the old buildings are neglected and reduced to ruins, we found a mausoleum with an engraved grave stone. The engraving states that it was established in memory of Ven. Weragampita Revata Thera. I interviewed several elderly villagers over 80 years of age about their memory and their elders. Some of them assured that Allen Bennett or as the villagers called him ‘kehatu Sudda’ (Slim white gentleman) stayed in this temple as a lay pupil of the said prelate. According to the rumours among the villagers Ven. Weragampita Revata Thera had a wonderful memory in oriental languages and the Pali Canon and commentaries. He is said to have had an ability to converse even in English. Ven. Palane Vajiragnana Thera, Ven. Narada Thera, Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Thera, Ven. Piyadassi Thera were among the pupil monks, who were brought up by this monk ‘par excellence.’
Allan Bennett studied the Pali language until he could converse fluently. After the completion of studies, he came back to Colombo and at the request of the English speaking community, he started giving lectures on Buddhism. One such lecture was on “The Four Noble Truths” at the ‘The Buddhist Lodge’ the headquarter of the Theosophical Society in Pettah, Colombo. Later he has delivered sermons, even as a monk at The Maitriya Hall (at the Mettarama premises in Bambalapitiya, Colombo, Sri Lanka) which has been built by the father of Cassius Pereira for Dhamma preaching. The hall was named after Bhikkhu Ananda Metteyya. Ven. Ananda Metteyya Thera stayed mostly at the Vajiraramaya temple in Bambalapitiya. Allan Bennett went to Kandy where Ponnambalam Ramanathan, then Solicitor-General of Sri Lanka, was residing. He started giving tuition to the younger child of Ramanathan, on Science, Mathematics and English. In return Ramanathan taught Bennett the theory and practice of Yoga. Ponnambalam Ramanathan visited London under Allan Bennett’s guidance and introductions and gave lectures on spirituality. After returning to Sri Lanka in September, 1912 he established the Hindu Girls College in Jaffna and appointed Mrs. Florence Farr, (a friend of Allan Bennett), as its Principal. (Even today Ramanathan Girls College is a very famous leading girlsschool) Mrs. Farr died in Sri Lanka in April 29, 1917.
To be continued to Part 02
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