A taste of tradition for Ajahn Brahmali
View(s):By D.C. Ranatunga
Navam Poya falls tomorrow
It was a novel experience for the simple villagers in Gastenna, Wewatenna and Kantahela in and around Bandarawela town when they had the rare opportunity to offer alms to a group of Buddhist monks who were coming for ‘heel dana’ – morning alms. Not that they were not used to giving alms. The difference was that the monks were a mixed lot – local and foreign, the latter from different countries. Among them was Ajahn Brahmali – the senior pupil of Ajahn Brahmavamso who had just concluded a seven-day meditation retreat in Bandarawela organised by the Ajahn Brahm Society Sri Lanka.
The monks on pindapatha and right, Ajahn Brahmali accepts alms
Throughout the week devotees from neighbouring villages had offered the ‘dana’ at the retreat centre. They were from fairly faraway places and trekked a few kilometres every day to get to the centre. Yet they were an enthusiastic lot. Those in the nearby villages requested the monks to come on ‘pindapatha’ to the villages on the final day and accept the ‘dana’. The monks agreed. The villagers were so happy.
“They are pious Buddhists who are ever willing to give ‘dana’. But in the villages, not often do monks come on ‘pindapatha’ and accept the ‘dana’. So this was something different,” said Ven. Sirinaivasa Nayaka Thera, chief monk of Kahattewela Sri Subodharamaya – the temple closest to the Bandarawela Tourist Resort where the retreat was held.
Although the monks from these villages did not participate, they extended a helping hand in providing the ‘dana’ and any other needs. I asked Ven Sirinivasa how they got involved. “One day a ‘sudu hamuduruwo’ walked into my temple.
He was so simple – just carrying a sling bag and the alms bowl. He wasn’t even wearing slippers. He spoke to me in Sinhala and sought my assistance for a meditation programme. He told me it was going to be conducted by Ajahn Bramavamso who is renowned all over the world. I was impressed and I readily agreed,” he said.
This happened two years ago. The Danish monk resident here, Ven Mettavihari who is heading the Ajahn Brahm Society in Sri Lanka, was planning the programme. He walked to eight temples over two days and asked them whether they could provide the ‘dana’. They gladly accepted. The monks got the ‘dayakayas’ to prepare the ‘daval dana’ and accompanied them to the retreat centre. Some brought ‘heel dana’ as well.
This year too, he visited each temple and met the monks who readily agreed to provide the ‘dana’. “The villagers from Biyabibula prepared ‘kenda’ and at the crack of dawn they brought it and offered the monks,” Ven Sirinivasa said. He often accompanied the villagers and inquired about the needs of the meditators, got them to observe ‘pan sil’ to start the day’s programme, becoming part and parcel of it. “I myself found the programme pretty interesting,” he said.
Those who brought the ‘dana’ were from Obodella, Mahaulpota, Kontepola, Matetilla, and Dowa villages. For Ajahn Brahmali who was on his first visit to Sri Lanka, it was a good experience. “The visit was fruitful. The people are so warm and friendly and they show a lot of respect for monks. The weather kept fine and it was ideal for the retreat,” he said.
He addressed a full house at the BMICH on his return from Bandarawela. There was pindrop silence during his near three-hour talk on ‘Dhamma in the modern world’, including a meditation session. He visited Kandy and Anuradhapura too before returning to Perth. He resides at the Bodhinayana Monastery where Ajahn Brahm is the abbot.
Ven. Mettavihari thought the retreat was a great success. “Everything was fine. We had made certain observations during the earlier programme and were able to streamline the whole operation this time. The laity was most helpful and the organising committee did a fine job,” he said.
He had a special word of thanks for Ven. Sirinivasa and other monks who went out of their way to help. “They never thought we were a demanding lot. They were so pleased to organise the alms. The age old tradition of respecting the monk’s word is very much seen in these villages,” he added.
There were 70 at the retreat – both male and female among the laity. Two nuns – one from Korea and the other from Sri Lanka also attended. There was a Ukranian monk who is presently in Sri Lanka. Another was from Canada and others were American and European monks.
The participants will reflect on the teachings at this year’s retreat during the monthly weekend sessions of the Society held at the BMICH in partnership with the BMICH Staff Welfare Association. Anyone interested can get more information by e-mailing abs.sl.list@gmail.com
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