[3][4] In 1967, while still a graduate student, Bodhi was ordained as a sāmaṇera (novice) in the Vietnamese Mahayana order.

[4] In 1972, after graduation, he traveled to Sri Lanka, where, under Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero,[5] he received sāmaṇera ordination in the Theravada Order and, in 1973, received full ordination (upasampadā) as a Theravāda bhikkhu or monk.

[3] In 1984, succeeding co-founder Nyanaponika Thera,[5] Bodhi was appointed English-language editor of the Buddhist Publication Society (BPS, Sri Lanka).

[1][4][6] In 2000, at the United Nations' first official Vesak celebration, Bodhi gave the keynote address.

[3][9] Bhikkhu Bodhi is founder of Buddhist Global Relief, an organization that funds projects to fight hunger and empower women across the world.