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Ananda Guruge

Former Dean, University of the West

Ananda Wahihana Palliya Guruge is a Sri Lankan diplomat, buddhist leader and writer.

He is the former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka to UNESCO, France, and the United States (with non-resident accreditation to Spain, Algeria and Mexico) during the period from 1985 to 1994 and adjunct professor of Religious Studies at Cal State Fullerton.

Guruge was educated at Dharmaraja College, and graduated from the University of Ceylon with a BA first class honors in Sanskrit special. Thereafter he gained a Government Scholarship to do a PhD at the University of London.

Active in international Buddhist leadership, Professor Guruge is a Vice President of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, the Patron of the European Buddhist Union, and the Dean of Academic Affairs and Director of the International Academy of Buddhism at University of the West (formerly Hsi Lai University) in Rosemead, California. He is also an adjunct professor of Buddhism, Hinduism and Peace Studies at California State University, Fullerton. Dr. Guruge is also the Liaison Officer to the United Nations and UNESCO for the World Fellowship of Buddhists; and is currently the Chairman of the World Buddhist University Council. He serves as an editor of Hsi Lai Journal of Humanistic Buddhism.

Dr Guruge has also authored 53 books in Sinhala and English, including What In Brief Is Buddhism, Free At Last in Paradise, Serendipity of Andrew George, Peace At Last in Paradise and The Unforgettable Dharmapala. He has also published over 175 research articles on Asian history, Buddhism and education. He also translated the Mahavamsa into English.



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Books

What In Brief Is Buddhism?

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