Venerable Bibiladeniye Mahanama Thero becomes a cultural icon in spiritual innovation
Venerable Bibiladeniye Mahanama Thero, a Theravada Buddhist monk, is pioneering an unprecedented journey that bridges spirituality and creative arts. Widely recognized as the first monk in Asia of the Theravada Order to actively engage in experimental music and cinema, the Thero has built an artistic legacy that spans continents and disciplines.
His groundbreaking album Share the Love (2014), an exploration of spirituality and relaxation, gained international attention with releases in Europe, Asia, and Sri Lanka. The project won the State Music Award for Best Album in Sri Lanka in 2015.
In 2017, Venerable Mahanama Thero became the first Buddhist monk to serve as a music director for a feature film in Sri Lanka. His debut in Giriwasipura, directed by Devinda Kongahage, set a national milestone and was followed by contributions to several acclaimed films including Nattami Army, DHARA, and Neeraputtu Nerappu.
Extending his influence to the tech space, the Thero collaborated with international platforms such as Mind Supply (USA) and Rest Tech (India) to produce music for meditation and mental wellness. He also co-founded Heallift, a Sri Lankan mindfulness mobile app, where he served as Head of Content and Consultant.
A visionary in creative expression, the Thero introduced Sri Lanka’s first Conceptual Musical Short Films — Wallstory (2020) and Piece for Peace (2021), the latter released on World Peace Day to promote interfaith harmony.
Furthering his commitment to cultural preservation, he led the Jathaka Stories Recitals Restoration Project in 2015–2016, documenting over 500 hours of traditional Buddhist storytelling with more than 150 monks, preserving this sacred oral tradition for future generations.
In addition to his artistic achievements, he served as Sri Lanka’s music director in the first China–Sri Lanka co-produced television series, You Are Always with Me, directed by Cui Yali.
Venerable Bibiladeniye Mahanama Thero is also the founder of two impactful organizations:
- Share the Love Foundation of Ceylon
- Sandhara Spiritual Research and Anthropology Centre
He continues to hold positions in global environmental, animal welfare, and interfaith organizations, demonstrating that compassion can be harmonized through both word and music.
? Experience His Work
- Evolving in the Wind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lvs_hVIRes
- Wallstory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1b57WHMbAE
- Piece for Peace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo-e_ZCHb8g
