It is very rarely that one can call somebody ‘an iconic figure’. But there is one person—Bhikkhu Sanghasena—who is undisputedly such an individual. He has led a life of ‘grand role-play’ that involves love, compassion,  sympathy,  empathy  and  peace.  His  life-story  is  an exemplary one that transcends from that of a gun-wielding soldier to a devout monk with a prayer wheel and a rosary in his hands. No wonder, he is today known as Guru-ji, with love and respect for his services  and  sacrifices  towards  humanity,  particularly  the  less- privileged and the downtrodden.

Bhikkhu Sanghasena

Ven. Sanghasena was born in  a  remote  village  of Temisgang in Ladakh, 95 km  to  the  west  of  Leh city. And  ever  since  he could understand what life meant and its essence, he tuned  himself  to  the traditional  noble  and religious family set-up.

Ven.  Sanghasena’s ‘gun-to-the-prayer-wheel’ shift  happened  when,  in 1977,  he  was  fed  up  of the purpose and meaning of  life  with  a  gun  as  a soldier  in  the  Ladakh Scouts. He left his life of gun-power to the power of love and compassion, and soon thereafter, he  left  for  Bengaluru  and  became  a  committed  disciple  of  the renowned Buddhist Scholar-monk, Ven. Acharya Buddharakkhita Mahathera, the abode of the Mahabodhi Society Vihara, Bengaluru. Soon after he received his ordination, Ven. Sanghasena buried himself deep into the studies of the Dhamma, and also did the practices of various methods in Buddhist meditation system.

It was in the year 1986 that the Bhikkhu decided to return to his home-place in Ladakh. In no time, to begin with, he founded the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), initially on a barren and rocky land of 250 acre, but today it has grown into a heavenly and sprawling, awe-inspiring institution of great repute. Since then,  he  has  been  working  tirelessly  in  spreading  the  Buddha’s teachings of loving kindness, compassion and empathy as the basic theme of his activities within and outside the institution. He also started launching multifarious charitable and humanitarian services within the campus of MIMC.

Founder of many institutions

The Bhikkhu’s passion and zeal led him into establishing several institutions besides the MIMC in the last few decades. He founded a charitable hospital for the poor and the helpless, a school for students from far-flung areas in the Himalayan region. And, what is of greater value and importance is that he established an old-age home for the destitute and the helpless senior citizens of Ladakh. As a result of his tireless services to humanity at large, the MIMC ,campus is today known as Devachan Campus (Abode of the divine), and one can see it today as a vibrant hub for the delivery of multifarious humanitarian and spiritual services not only in Ladakh but elsewhere in the country and the world too. The campus school has distinguished itself in taking care of about a dozen visually-impaired students. A visit to such an institution is not only inspiring but also makes one realise what and how a single soul in the form of a Bhikkhu can work wonders in changing a scenario for the better as if by a ‘magical trick.’

The MIMC today supports 500 students in its campus, and about 300 more in its branches at Bodhkharbu, Temisgang and Ney villages. Besides, it supports poor students for higher studies in various major cities in India. Some of its former students are in high positions today.

For Ven. Sanghasena, nothing seems to be impossible. This kind of idea seems to have led the Bhikkhu to develop such a paradise like campus, And, as a little birdie says, Ven. Sanghasena has led a kind of movement for revolution that nobody could think of earlier. His vision and his meticulous planning to bring about changes in societal affairs have made him the darling of everybody who loves peace, love, compassion and progressive education that involves spirituality too.

One of the greatly impressive things to be developed among the latest projects is the Buddha Park for World Peace. You visit it and you can’t but express your full-spirited appreciation for this awe- inspiring park. A notable thing is that the foundation-stone for this park was laid by the then President of India, Mr Ram Nath Kovind, in 2017. Since the park has been envisioned as a symbol of world peace, it holds a great significance towards creating awareness among the people on this war-torn globe. The park has now become one of the key centres in Ladakh for holding important and various spiritual and cultural programmes. What is worth mentioning here is that there is a big statue of Lord Buddha right in the middle of the park and a thousand Buddhas in life-size statues all around, symbolising harmony and unity. The park also is distinguished with, among others, an impressive statue of Dr B R Ambedkar, lovingly known as The Father of the Indian Constitution.

Bhikkhu Sanghasena has been a much-sought-after globe-trotter with his message of peace and non- violence. Hardly an international conference or seminar on peace and amity takes place without he being there, standing tall as a messenger of peace and unity. Religious harmony via inter-religious efforts, non-violence in all works of life, environmental protection etc. have been the themes of his non-stop calls. He knows very well that without education, especially spirituality education, we can’t really have a peaceful and global village/family. He understands that only compassion and true love can bring about positive changes in this strife-ridden world. He has the passion and the zeal for the elevation of women’s status, and a greater stress on the  removal  of  poverty  as  the  only  means  for  a  peaceful  and harmonious world.

Recipient of many Awards

Bhikkhu Sanghasena is a recipient of numerous awards, national and international. He has the reputation of having his name in the book, Marquis’ Who is Who’ that includes people with great influences for peace  across  the  globe.  In  the  year  2000,  in  recognition  of  his dedicated  and  selfless  services  to  mankind,  the  Govt  of  India’s ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment,  awarded  him  the ‘National Award for the Welfare of the People with Disabilities’. And in 2002, he was the recipient of ‘Man of the Year’, by the American Biographical Institute. In 2009, he was honoured with the conferment of the Bharat Ratna Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Award from the Ladakh Buddhist Association.  In  2011,  he  was  awarded  the  President’s Commendation Award by the President of Sri Lanka. Then In 2016, the Bhikkhu was the recipient of the ‘Ambassador of Peace’ award on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day. Similarly, in 2025, Ven. Sanghasena was awarded the ‘Global Compassion in Education Award’, by the Confederation of the Indian Universities. He is also an awardee of Yoga Ratna Award by the Shwaasa Yoga Centre, Bengaluru. And, more importantly, he received the prestigious ‘Ladakh dPal rNgam Duston Award’ for his life-long and selfless humanitarian work and peace efforts, from the Ladakh Hill Council in 2005. It is not possible to name the scores of other awards he has received in the limited space one has for this write-up. But one can easily say, for the sake of emphasis, that you name any award, and the Bhikkhu has won it!

And,  finally,  the  punchline:  In  a  phenomenal  life,  Bhikkhu Sanghasena has an amazing life-history – from a gun-toting soldier to a pious monk with prayer-beads in his hands to soften the hardened hearts across the globe. A global peace-Massiah, for whom nothing seems to be impossible!

May he stay healthy and blessed for the greater good of all.