The Rotary Club of Akron had a thought-provoking presentation on Tuesday, September 6th when Bhante Soorakkulame Pemaratana, Chief Monk, Pittsburgh Buddhist Center and Cleveland Buddhist Vihara & Meditation Center, spoke to the Club.
Bhante Pemaratana earned a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017. During recent years, he has given guest lectures and conducted seminars in universities including Pennsylvania State University and the University of Cambridge in the UK. He also travels to countries in Southeast Asia to conduct public talks and mediation retreats.Bhante Pemaratana spends most of his time administering to the Sri Lankan community in the Tri-State area and to an ever-growing group of Americans interested in learning more about Buddhism, mindfulness, and meditation. He offers workshops on meditation and provides spiritual counseling to help people to deal with challenging issues of life.
He began his presentation discussing the partnership his religious community has participated in with a Rotary Club in Sri Lanka. This project involved opening two orphanages, one for males and one for females.
Continuing with his presentation, Bhante Pemaratana discussed how one’s spiritual values are in sync with the Service values that are part of the Rotary mission and vision. He also stressed Rotarians, and others who provide various types of service, to their fellow mankind, and don’t expect anything in return, do experience some social benefits by feeling good about what they do. Ultimately, we should all transform ourselves to be the best we can be.
To hear Bhante Pemaratana’s presentation, check on the following link: https://youtu.be/38CKFAlcSLE.
Yours in Service,
Terry Dalton
Club Secretary and Scholarship Chairperson
