Theravāda in Russia as viewed by the monks of Russian Buddhist communities: an interview with bhikkhu Topper Paññāvudho thera and bhikkhu Buddhañāno thera

Abstract

The article represents two interviews recorded in March 2025 with bhikkhu Topper Paññāvudho thera, a representative of the Theravada community in St. Petersburg, and bhikkhu Buddhañāno thera, a representative of Theravada community in Moscow and the Moscow region.

Bhikkhu Topper Paññāvudho thera is the oldest Buddhist monk of the Theravada tradition of Russian origin, permanently residing in Russia, the head of the Buddhist community in St. Petersburg, and also the owner of the portal “Theravada.ru”. The interview touches upon the issues of his life path, his conversion to Buddhism (first to the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, then to Theravāda), the history of modern Russian Theravada, monastic life in Russia and interfaith Buddhist dialogue.

Bhikkhu Buddhañāno thera is a Moscow Buddhist monk of the Theravada tradition, who also permanently resides in Russia, co-founder of the local religious organization “Theravāda Buddhist community” (Moscow Region, Balashikha city). The interview is devoted to the history of bhikkhu Buddhañāno’s religious conversion, his monastic experience in traditional Theravāda countries (Thailand and Sri Lanka), the peculiarities of the structure of the monastic institution and the problems faced by monks of European origin.