Bhante Dharmawara
A Cambodian-born monk whose 110-year life spanned continents, teaching meditation and fostering interfaith dialogue well into his second century.
1889–1999 (age 110)·Birthday: February 12·The Lost Generation
Biography
Bhante Dharmawara was a human bridge across time and tradition. Born in colonial Cambodia, he was ordained as a Theravada monk in his youth before an extraordinary detour into secular life saw him work as a judge, a lawyer, and even a dentist. He re-ordained in his fifties, dedicating the remaining six decades of his life to spiritual teaching. His journey took him from the forests of Thailand to the burgeoning spiritual scenes of the United States and Europe, where he established meditation centers and became a respected, serene presence. A living link to 19th-century Buddhist practices, he adapted ancient teachings for Western audiences, emphasizing mindfulness and metta (loving-kindness). His incredibly long life, which witnessed everything from the Model T to the internet, made him a symbol of timeless wisdom and gentle perseverance.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Bhante was born in 1889, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bhante Was Born
The biggest hits of 1889
Bhante's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1889Born
Eiffel Tower opens in Paris
President: Benjamin Harrison
1894Started school
President: Grover Cleveland
1902Became a teenager
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1905Could drive
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1907Could vote
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Turned 21
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1919Turned 30
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1929Turned 40
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1939Turned 50
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1949Turned 60
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 70
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 80
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1999Died at 110
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
Key Achievements
- Founded the Dhammachakka Meditation Center in Los Angeles, bringing Theravada Buddhist practice to the West.
- Served as a spiritual guide and teacher for communities across the United States, Europe, and Asia for over 50 years.
- Played a key role in early interfaith dialogues, participating in the 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions.
Did You Know?
Before becoming a monk, he trained and worked as a dentist.
He lived to be 110 years old, making him one of the longest-lived Buddhist monks on record.
He was a teacher to the American meditation teacher and author Jack Kornfield in the 1960s.
“The mind is like a garden; if you do not cultivate flowers, weeds will grow.”
