cbci mission to sri lanka : president report

8/6/2019 CBCI Mission to Sri Lanka : President Report

1/4

1

Mottoes:

To

PropagateHumanisticBuddhism;

To

EstablishMeditation

Centre;

To

EstablishBhikkhuTrainingCentre;

To

EstablishBuddhistMonasticEducationalInstitute;

To

EstablishBuddhismandChakmaismHistoricalResearchInstitute;

To

EstablishSanghaHospital;

To

EstablishChakmaMuseum;

To

organiseConference,Seminar,Workshop &Symposium,etc.

CBCI first Mission to Sri Lanka: ReportSubmitted by Bhikkhu Kushalapriya

President, Chakma Buddhist Congregation of India (CBCI),Bodhgaya, India on 25th May 2011.

(Four Sangha members: Bhikkhu Kushalapriya & Bhikkhu Punyokitthi from India, Bhikkhu Dhammananda & Bhikkhu

Subo Jyoti from Bangladesh went to Sri Lanka (19th March 11 April 2011) and three bhikkhus doing for long-term

meditation retreat at Na Uyana Forest Monastery. After the return from his journey, President of CBCI submitted hisreport to the CBCI Executive Council as bellows. The holy mission sponsored by the CBCI.)

On 19th March 2011 at around 9:15 am, we landed at Colombo

International Airport, Sri Lanka from Chennai International Airport, India.

Venerable Dhamma Vihari

Bhikkhu came to receive us

with a monastery car in the

airport from N Uyana Aranya

Sensanaya. Its meaning isIronwood Grove Forest

Monastery.

Before arriving at N Uyana, we went to a branch monastery at

Kurunegala for our lunch. After our lunch, we march again toward the N

Uyana without any rest. After five hours drive from airport

via Kurunegala, we arrived at monastery without any

problem. First, we met and paid respect to Venerable N

UyanaAriyadhamma

Mahathera, Chief

Abbot of the

monastery. After

half and hours chat with him, we

went to visit the huge campus

covered with more than 5000 acres

of forestland on the Dummiya

Mountain Range, and is residence about more than 100 Bhikkhus practising

meditation continuously. N Uyana is one of the famous International Forest

(A Socio-Religious, Non-Political & Non-Profitable Charity Organisation)Administration Office: Devagiri Buddhist Temple, Bazar Veng,

P.O. Tlabung, Dist. Lunglei, Mizoram, India, Pin-796751.Phone: 91(03834)222349; Mobile: 9436392334;

E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

Website:www.cbcicharity.org

The Chakma Buddhist Congregation of India

Estd:

2011
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.cbcicharity.org/http://www.cbcicharity.org/http://www.cbcicharity.org/http://www.cbcicharity.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


2/4

2

Meditation Monastery in Sri Lanka. It is associated with Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha and

Venerable Mahathera is the Spiritual Director of it.

During my visit, about 132 monks are residing and practising meditation. Out of

them, 17 are foreigners meditator. More than 80 small kutis and

some caves surrounding the mountain. I am very impressed that

every monk in the monastery following Vinaya disciplinary rules very strictly, even I had to change my

shoes and use sleeper provided by

monastery until my stay. Every morning

at 5:30 am for breakfast and 10:00 am for

lunch, have to go for alms-round within

the complex. After collect our alms-food,

we offer food to Enlightened One from our alms-bowl according

to seniority than we go to dining hall for lunch. We share our

food each others. I enjoyed and experienced with my meditationpractice in a small kuti in the middle of the deep forest there. I was until 24th March.

On 24th March in the morning, I left N Uyana toward Colombo the capital city of Sri Lanka

by bus. It took me four hours to drive. My fellow three Chakma Bhikkhus left there for long-

term meditation retreat. When, I am leaving them, they little bit look like upset without me.

Nevertheless, Bhikkhu Dhammananda has strong determination to develop his meditation

practice at N Uyana. I have confident on

them; they will be the light of Chakma

Buddhist community near future, if able to

practice meditation for many years. They

are the first three Chakma Bhikkhus in

the history went for forest mediation

practice in Sri Lanka. I heard that

hundreds of Chakma Bhikkhus and

novices went before for studying

Buddhism in different Schools, Colleges

and Universities and still some hundred

there. It is unfortunate for us

that we could not find any Chakma scholar Bhikkhus now. Most of them, after their

Graduation from Universities of Sri Lanka, they return to their home countries or

elsewhere. They failed to explore themselves what they had studies on Buddhism.

I was at Purana-Viharaya Warnavasala in Colombo. On 27th March, went to

visit SRI PAADA. SRI PAADA means footprint of Lord BUDDHA.

It is located on top of a Hill known as Dalhousie. I arrived at

9:30 pm and after taking a short rest; I started to climb the

mountain on foot and reached around 4:00 am at dawn. After

visit, I returned to Keleniya from SRI PAADA and it took me 6 hours journey.

Not only Buddhists, thousands of peoples visiting every year from different faith e.g.


3/4

3

Christian, Hindus, Muslim, etc. and from different part of the globe and pay respect

according to their religious concept.

On 3rd April, I was arrived Tooth Relic Temple at around 2:30 pm and met Second Sangha

Raja of Sri Lanka. He was the Chief Abbot of the Tooth Relic Temple as well. After half and

hours chat with him, I went to visit

Tooth Relic site at around 5:30

pm. I paid my respect and

offered Milk Rice to Tooth

Relic Buddha. I noticed that it was

not open and it has covered with

three layers of gold plates and last covered by glasses. I came

to know that thousands of Buddhist devotees gathered every year on Vesak Full Moon Day

to pay respect. It opens to all, once in every five years only. Here, I felt a little unfortunate

myself without seen the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha.

On 8th April, I had invited by D.M. Jayaratne, Prime Minister of Sri

Lanka for lunch. We had discussed about Buddhist situation in

India, particularly Chakma Buddhist community in brief in our

meeting. His son offered a set of religious textbooks to me.

On 10th April, I visited Anuradhapura one of the well-known monastery of Sri Lanka. At

first, I met Chief Abbot of Anuradhapura and paid my respect to him. He permitted me to

visit Holy Bodhi Tree carried by Sanghamitta Theri daughter of the Great Emperor Asoka

on 3rd Century B.C. I paid my respect and worship to the

Buddha with flower

under the Bodhi tree.

After my prayer, took

a short meditation

under the Bodhi Tree

and reflected Bodhi-

Tree of Bodhgaya where Lord Buddha

Enlightened and I lived in Bodhgaya for many years until now. I had my lunch in Anuradhapura Monastery. After visit several monasteries in Anuradhapura and back to

Colombo.

I visited with a group of tourist in Keleniya and Colombo Universities, which is very famous

for Pali & Buddhist studies. I met Head of the Archaeological Survey of Sri Lanka and Vice

Chancellor of the Universities.

On 11th April at 9:30 am, I flied to Chennai from Colombo International Airport, Sri Lanka

according to my flight scheduled.


4/4

4

My Personal Reflection:

As it was, my second Theravada Buddhist country in Sri Lanka visited after Thailand.

Where the holy places I visited there, it is wonderful, marvellous and interesting ancient

monuments and archaeological history of Buddhism preserved by the Sinhalese peoples

as well as Government of Sri Lanka. I am appreciating them. I am very proud to be a

Buddhist and the member of the Sangha community as well.

Well, when I was there, my mind reflected the Buddhas times, days, situation and his own

word as to be born in a PATIRUPA DESA. The Sinhalese Buddhist peoples are generous,

honest and kinds. They are practising Buddhism, not only theoretically, but practically as

well. They always encourage peoples in constructive ways; and loyal, respectful and

honour to the member of the Sangha. Even, as mentioned before I had invited by Prime

Minister of Sri Lanka for Lunch. He surprised me that the Prime Minister personally served

to me during the lunch.

During my visit, I inspired by Sinhalese peoples and Sangha community for their politebehaviour and attitude. In the N Uyana Monastery, to sharing food amongst us is my

exploration and experience that to maintain mutual respect and strengthened friendship

within ourselves.

In the SRI PAADA, I realize that the visitors practising faith by their emotions and rituals.

However, the Enlightened One prescribes us that to practise faith by using wisdom.

Without wisdom, never reach into the right destination. We must remember that without

Practice Meditation never achieve wisdom. To study theories only is not enough to

penetrate the Dhamma-Vinaya of Buddhism. Buddhism is a Scientific Religion. It has a

formula to explore it. If we do not know the formula, we cannot penetrate it. The formula in

Buddhism is divided into 3 sections; Pariyatti, Patipatti, and Pativeda Dhamma.

Pariyatti is a theory that to study the Dhamma (teachings) and Vinaya (Disciplines) in order

to understand the fundamental principles of Buddhism accurately. Theory leads how to

practice only, but cannot penetrate. Patipatti is to practice (meditation) both physical and

mentally. To practice and cultivates on our own mind by observing Silas (Precepts),

practice meditation leads one-pointedness of mind and finally gain wisdom. Pativeda is the

result to gain wisdom to penetrate Dhamma-Vinaya profoundly in varies level. Pariyatti

and Patipatti can realise physically and mentally, but Pativeda experienced is verydifferent. The person who penetrated after many years of practice meditation, he knew it

only. It is out of express for him that to give understand the ordinary peoples. Because, the

ordinary people do not practice meditation and they do not have enough wisdom to

understand and absorb it. Wise and educated is very different. Educated are not wise. The

wise observe Sila (Precepts) and practice Samadhi (Meditation) accurately; and finally

achieved Pa (wisdom) by penetration profoundly into the Dhamma-Vinaya.

Finally wish India would regain its past Glory.With Metta.

cbci mission to sri lanka : president report

Documents