# Bhikkhu Bodhi

Bhikkhu Bodhi (born December 10, 1944) (Vietnamese: Tỳ kheo Bồ Đề) born Jeffrey Block, is an American Theravada Buddhist monk ordained in Sri Lanka. He teaches in the New York and New Jersey area. He was appointed the second president of the Buddhist Publication Society and has edited and authored several publications grounded in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.

## Early life

In 1944, Block was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents. He grew up in Borough Park, where he attended elementary school P.S. 160. In 1966, he obtained a B.A. in philosophy from Brooklyn College. In 1972, he obtained a PhD in philosophy from Claremont Graduate University.

## Career

In 1967, while still a graduate student, Bodhi was ordained as a sāmaṇera (novice) in the Vietnamese Mahayana order. In 1972, after graduation, he traveled to Sri Lanka, where, under Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero, he received sāmaṇera ordination in the Theravada Order and, in 1973, received full ordination (upasampadā) as a Theravāda bhikkhu or monk.
In 1984, succeeding co-founder Nyanaponika Thera, Bodhi was appointed English-language editor of the Buddhist Publication Society (BPS, Sri Lanka). He became its president in 1988. In 2002, he retired from the society's editorship while still remaining president.
In 2000, at the United Nations' first official Vesak celebration, Bodhi gave the keynote address. In 2002, after retiring as editor of BPS, Bodhi returned to the United States. After living at Bodhi Monastery (Lafayette Township, New Jersey), he now lives and teaches at Chuang Yen Monastery (Carmel, New York), and as of May 2013 he has been the president of the Buddhist Association of the United States.
Bhikkhu Bodhi is founder of Buddhist Global Relief, an organization that funds projects to fight hunger and empower women across the world.

## Personal life

After returning to the United States, Bodhi became a vegetarian.

## Selected publications

* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (1989). The Discourse on the Fruit of Recluseship (The Samaññaphala Sutta and Its Commentaries). Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 978-955-24-0045-2.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu; Bhikkhu, Ñāṇamoli (1995). The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-072-0.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (1998). Great Discourse on Causation: Mahanidana Sutta and Its Commentaries. Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 978-955-24-0117-6.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu; Thera, Nyanaponika (2000). Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: An Anthology of Suttas from the Anguttara Nikaya. Altamira Press. ISBN 978-0-7425-0405-9.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2000). The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A New Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-331-8.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2000). The Buddha and His Message: Past, Present & Future (United Nations Vesak Day Lecture). Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 978-955-24-0346-0.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2000). A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma: The Abhidhammattha Sangaha of Ācariya Anuruddha. Pariyatti. ISBN 978-1-928706-02-1.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2001). The Buddha and His Dhamma. Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 978-955-24-0201-2.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2005). In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-491-9.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2006). The Noble Eightfold Path: Way to the End of Suffering (3rd ed.). Pariyatti. ISBN 978-1-928706-07-6.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2007). The Discourse on the All-Embracing Net of Views: The Brahmajala Sutta Commentarial Exegesis (2nd ed.). Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 978-955-24-0052-0.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2009). The Revival of Bhikkhuni Ordination in the Theravada Tradition. Inward Path. ISBN 978-983-3512-63-8
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2012). The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Anguttara Nikaya. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-1-61429-040-7.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2016). The Buddha's Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-1-61429-355-2.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2016). The Discourse on the Root of Existence: The Mulapariyaya Sutta and its Commentaries (3rd ed.). Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 978-955-24-0064-3.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2017). The Suttanipata: An Ancient Collection of the Buddha's Discourses and Its Canonical Commentaries. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-1-61429-429-0.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2017). Investigating the Dhamma: A Collection of Papers. Pariyatti. ISBN 978-1-68172-068-5.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2017). Dhamma Reflections: Collected Essays of Bhikkhu Bodhi. Pariyatti. ISBN 978-1-68172-032-6.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2020). Reading the Buddha's Discourses in Pali: A Practical Guide to the Language of the Ancient Buddhist Canon. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-1-61429-700-0.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2023), Noble Truths, Noble Path: The Heart Essence of the Buddha's Original Teachings. Wisdom Publications.

### Wheel Publications (BPS)

* Nourishing the Roots and Other Essays on Buddhist Ethics (WH259/260)
* Transcendental Dependent Arising (WH277/278)
* Going for Refuge; Taking the Precepts (WH282/284)
* Dana: The Practice of Giving (WH367/369)
* Maha Kaccana: Master of Doctrinal Exposition (WH405/406)
* Facing the Future: Four essays on the social relevance of Buddhism (WH438/440)

### Bodhi Leaf Publications (BPS)

* Taste of Freedom (BL71)
* The Living Message of the Dhammapada (BL129)
* Discourses of the Ancient Nuns (BL143)
* The Good, the Beautiful, and the True (BL154)