Teacher of Ven. ÑāṇavimalaMahāthera and Founder of the Island Hermitage
Early Life and Ordination
Most Venerable Ñāṇatiloka Mahāthera (1878–1957) was one of the earliest Westerners to embrace Buddhism as a fully ordained Theravāda Bhikkhu. Born Anton Walther Florus Gueth on February 19, 1878, in Wiesbaden, Germany, he was deeply inclined toward spiritual and philosophical exploration from an early age. Educated in music and composition in Germany and France, he initially aspired to be a musician but soon became drawn to Buddhism after attending a lecture by a Theosophist on the subject. This encounter ignited a lifelong commitment to the Buddha’s path.
In 1902, determined to ordain as a monk, he traveled to Sri Lanka and Burma, where he met Ven. Ananda Metteyya, one of the first Western Buddhist monks. In 1903, he was ordained as a novice monk (sāmaṇera) at the Nga Htat Kyi Pagoda in Burma and later received full ordination (upasampadā) in 1904 with Ven. U Kumara Mahāthera as his preceptor. He was given the monastic name Ñāṇatiloka, meaning “one who has the vision of wisdom.”
Challenges and Perseverance
Ven. Ñāṇatiloka faced significant hardships during both World War I and II, as he and other German-born monks were viewed as enemy aliens under British colonial rule. He was first interned at Diyatalawa Camp in Sri Lanka and later deported to Australia. After the war, he was repatriated to Germany but later made his way back to Sri Lanka in 1926, where he resumed his monastic duties.
With the onset of World War II, he was again interned—this time in Dehradun, India, along with several of his monastic disciples. Despite these obstacles, he remained committed to spreading the Dhamma, continuing his translation work and supporting his students.
Leadership and Contributions
Ven. Ñāṇatiloka dedicated much of his monastic life to Pāli scholarship and translation, making Theravāda Buddhism more accessible to Western audiences. His seminal works include:
- The Word of the Buddha – A structured presentation of the Dhamma based on the Four Noble Truths.
- Buddha’s Path to Deliverance– A Systematic Exposition in the Words of the Sutta Pitaka
- Buddhist Dictionary – A comprehensive guide to key Buddhist terms and concepts.
- Guide through the Abhidhamma-Pitaka – A detailed exposition on Theravāda Abhidhamma.
His writings and translations laid the foundation for future generations of Western Buddhist scholars and practitioners.
Prominent Students
In 1911, Ven. Ñāṇatiloka Mahāthera established the Island Hermitage on Polgasduwa, a secluded island in the Dodanduwa lagoon, Sri Lanka. The hermitage became a hub for Western monks seeking to study and practice Theravāda Buddhism in its purest form. Over the decades, it attracted many dedicated practitioners, including Ven. Ñāṇaponika Thera, founder of the Buddhist Publication Society and author of The Heart of Buddhist Meditation; Ven. Ñāṇamoli Thera, a renowned translator of Pāli texts, best known for his works The Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga) and The Middle Length Discourses (Majjhima Nikāya); Ven. Ñāṇavīra Thera, a contemplative monk and philosopher, author of Notes on Dhamma; and many others.
His last student, Friedrich Möller, who later became Ven. Ñāṇavimala Mahāthera, ordained in 1955 and went on to become a highly respected wandering monk (cārikā bhikkhu), known for his strict adherence to the Vinaya and deep wisdom. Through these disciples, Ven. Ñāṇatiloka’s scholarly contributions and unwavering dedication to the revival of Theravāda Buddhism among Westerners continued to influence modern Buddhist thought and practice worldwide.
Recognition and Legacy
In his later years, Ven. Ñāṇatiloka moved to Forest Hermitage in Kandy due to health reasons, accompanied by his close disciple Ven. Ñāṇaponika Thera. In 1954, he and Ven. Ñāṇaponika were the only two Western monks invited to participate in the Sixth Buddhist Council in Burma, marking his recognition as a leading figure in modern Theravāda Buddhism.
Ven. Ñāṇatiloka passed away on May 28, 1957, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. His funeral was attended by the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Hon. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, who delivered a eulogy in recognition of his immense contributions to Buddhism.
Ven. Ñāṇatiloka Mahāthera was not only one of the first European Theravāda Buddhist monks but also a pivotal figure in the global expansion of Buddhism. His scholarly contributions, monastic training, and direct influence on great monks such as Ven. Ñāṇavimala Mahāthera and Ven. Bambalapitiye Gnanaloka Thero have left an enduring impact on Buddhist practice and study.
Read the full biography of Ven. Nyanatiloka, translated and compiled by Bhikkhu Nyanatusita and Hellmuth Hecker, freely available on the Buddhist Publication Society website.
