Learning the noble aspects of Buddha’s wisdom
View(s):Several thousands of miles away, in Sydney, participating in a not-so-common Buddhist ‘pinkama’ even in Sri Lanka, was a most satisfying experience. The elaborate ‘pinkama’ woven round 73 noble aspects related to the wisdom of the Buddha.
I have attended the pinkama back home at the Narada Centre down Sarana Road and watched the detailed preparations involved in its planning and execution. When I heard it is being held every year at the Lankaramaya, Sydney’s only fully fledged temple, during the ‘vas’ season two weeks before the ‘katina pinkama’ I wondered how they could gather sufficient manpower to organise such an elaborate ‘pinkama’. I was proved wrong.
When we got to the temple last Sunday morning to help in the arrangements, there was a full gathering of males and females – children and adults, both young and old. In fact, apart from the preliminary planning a few months ago, the week just prior to the ‘pinkama’ is a busy one for the dedicated team of volunteers. They did a shramadana and cleaned the entire temple premises, washed the vases, candle stands and other utensils used for the ‘buddhapooja. The day before the ‘pinkama’ at the crack of dawn, at least six vehicles go to the flower market to fetch sufficient quantities of freshest flowers to prepare 73 separate flower vases. Joss sticks, scented candles and other items are collected. Tables are laid in the ‘dhammasalawa’ and arranged displaying silk pennants – each with the stanza related to one of the 73 aspects of Buddha’s wisdom. The pennants are neatly hung along with simple decorations. Space is provided to keep the flower vases, ‘gilampasa Buddha pooja’ trays and the lighted candles.
On the morning of the pinkama, the men put up Buddhist flags right round the spacious hall and arranged seating while women took charge of the flower vases spending at least six to seven hours. Great care is taken in selecting the flowers leaving aside ones they feel are not suitable to offer to the Buddha. In the evening the devotees brought the ‘gilanpasa’ and prepared the ‘buddha pooja’.
The chief prelate of the Lankaramaya, Venerable Meegahakumbure Dhammgaveshi NayakaThera directed the operations. After the ‘buddha pooja’ was taken in procession and offered and once the vast gathering settled down, the Nayaka Thera gave ‘pan sil’ and delivered a sermon describing the background related to Buddha’s wisdom and the significance of the special ‘pinkama’. Thereafter he went through each of the 73 stanzas getting those present to repeat them.
Now that the ‘pinkama’ is over, the devotees will get ready for the ‘katina pinkama’ to be held on Saturday October 11 preceded by the ‘pirith’ ceremony on Friday.
Regular ‘sil’ programmes are held at Lankaramaya on Sundays and the children are taught both the Dhamma and Sinhala lessons once a fortnight. The classes are well attended since the Sri Lankan parents are keen to bring the children up in an environment where they will know their religion and their mother tongue.
-D.C. Ranatunga