Placing trust in inner salvation
Bhante Vayama Kami at his new abode. Pic by Indika Handuwala
From donning the black cloak as a lawyer in his younger years to the saffron robes of a Buddhist monk he’s clad in today, Bhante (Venerable) Vayama Kami’s search for salvation has taken him on a long and unusual path.
Till a couple of months ago, Bhante Kami (73) was Ubayasekera Mapa or U.Mapa as he was better known, a retired public official who served a record 18 years as the Public Trustee. In addition, he held high positions as Sri Lanka‘s Ambassador to Myanmar, Magistrate in Colombo and Kandy, the Financial Ombudsman while also practising law in his younger years.
All the time, while enjoying the trappings of high government office, Mr. Mapa searched for answers from the teachings of Lord Buddha on finding the path to the end to the eternal cycle of births and deaths that human beings are trapped in.
“My parents were devoted Buddhists but they did not influence me to become a monk. I cannot remember when exactly I developed such an interest in Buddhism but I remember getting my hands on a book called Buddhist Teachings by Venerable Narada Thera. After reading that I was keen to learn more on the subject and hence began reading more and more Buddhist literature,” recalled Mr.Mapa who was ordained as Bhante Vayama Kami at the Panditaraman Buddhist Centre in Myanmar two months ago.
The youngest in a family of seven, he was born in Dedigama in the Kegalle District and having passed out as a lawyer began practising at the Kegalle Courts. It was the sudden onset of a serious health condition that made his career take a different path making him opt for a job in the government service.
“I began practising law in 1969 and about three years later I fell ill and one of my kidneys had to be removed. At that point I decided it was best to join the government service as I could get a fixed salary. So I began my career in the public service as the President of the Labour Tribunal and later went on to hold many other positions,” Bhante Kami said.
It was while he was at the Labour Tribunal that he came across the writings of Ven. Narada. While the readings aroused his curiosity on the subject, he soon realized what he was reading were in fact someone else’s interpretations of the teachings of the Buddha. “Thereon I gradually began to collect copies of the Tripitaka (Buddhist scriptures) and began to read the Buddha’s teachings but at that point I was not convinced I should become a monk,” he said.
He was particularly engrossed in verses 277,278 and 279 in the Tripitaka which speak on the impermanence and the unsatisfactory nature of life and how to develop wisdom. There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom; some of the great thinkers of our time and of the past have knowledge but they lack something which is wisdom,” the septuagenarian monk said.
He had another bout of bad health a few years ago when he had to undergo surgery to remove his gallbladder. Two operations and 18 pints of blood transfusion later, he spent ten days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a private hospital convinced that his life was about to end. “I had a deep realisation of dukkha or suffering during those few days,” he recalled.
Bhante Kami is convinced that his karma played a role in his decision to become a Buddhist monk. “Certain amount of karma has moulded my character. I was toying with the idea for many years but I cannot give one single reason why I decided to become a monk. I believe I have done it for my salvation and also to set an example to others,” he said.
The final decision to get ordained came soon after the Sinhala New Year in April this year. With the support of his wife and two daughters, U.Mapa heeded the call and entered monkhood.
“I have freedom of mind which is only possible by becoming a monk,” he said with a smile of contentment.
Living a life of seclusion away from worldly pleasures and commitments, Bhante Kami is immersed in meditation, being one with nature and gaining a deeper insight into the path of salvation the Buddha taught. It’s a path he will tread till the end of his days.