The Ananda Metteyya Archive

Welcome to the archive of Allan Bennett, Bhikkhu Ananda Metteyya. On this site will be an archive of items, texts, etc. related to  Allan Bennett, who took ordination in Burma, modern Myanmar, and became one of the early Europeans converting to Buddhism and attempting to spread the message of the Buddha. To this end, he led a mission from Burma in 1908 to London to help establish Buddhism within England. You can read more about Allan Bennett/Ananda Metteyya in the forthcoming biography by Dr. John L. Crow and Dr. Elizabeth J. Harris, scheduled to be published in 2024 by Equinox Press. In the meantime, please read the articles listed below and browse the archive. If you wish to contact the operator of the archive, please use the Contact Us webpage.

A few of the archive's items...

  • Dharma to the UK Book Cover

    Dharma to the UK: A Centennial Celebration of Buddhist Legacy

    The event this book covers both Sri Lanka's (Ceylon's) and Myanmar's (Burma's) contributions to the spread of Buddhism in the west. With an initial focus on Bhikkhu Ananda Metteyya, and his mission to England for which the centennial celebrates, it also tracks the ways Buddhism spread to other countries in the west, over 12 chapters plus a preface and introduction.

  • UK Buddhist Day Celebration Flyer, 2009

    Announcement Flyer for UK Buddhist Day Celebration. The flyer reads: To commemorate the arrival of the first Buddhist Emissary in the UK by Ven. Bhikkhu Ananda Metteyya (Charles Henry Allan Bennett) in 1908. Sunday, 20 September 2009, 5 - 7 pm at the Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Centre, 309-311 Kingsbury Road, London NW9 9PE Commemorative Lecture: “Spreading the Light of Asia to Europe: Ananda Metteyya’s Buddhist Message to the West” by John L. Crow, Research Scholar, Florida State University, USA. Participants will include members of the Maha Sangha; representatives of diplomatic corps; civic dignitaries; clergy of other faiths and distinguished laity. All Are Cordially Welcome For Details Contact: SSIBC, 309-311 Kingsbury Road, London NW9 9PE Tel: 020 8204 3301 Fax: 020 8933 9395 Email: ssibc@ntlworld.com

  • Venerable Ananda Metteyya's Buddhist Mission to the UK

    Biographical chapter contained in the book, Dharma to the UK: A Centennial Celebration of Buddhist Legacy (2008). At the time of publication, this chapter was the most detailed biography of Ananda Metteyya available.
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