Washington meditation centre to honour Ven Madihe Mahanayaka Thera
View(s):
This year’s Vesak will be of special significance to the Washington Buddhist Vihara which is opening a new meditation retreat centre. Named the ‘Lion of Wisdom’ (‘Pannasiha’) Meditation Centre, it has been erected in memory of the founder of the Washington Vihara, Most Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Mahanayaka Thera. The Vihara – the first Theravada Buddhist temple in USA was set up in the mid-1960s.
The brain-child of Maharagama Dhammasiri Nayaka Thera, the chief prelate of the Vihara will be the abbot of the meditation centre with Bhante Yogavacara Rahula as the director and the chief meditation master. Along with the present meditation master at the Vihara, Bhante M. Pannawansa, meditation courses of one to ten days duration will be offered.
The Vihara had been conducting meditation classes regularly but with the increasing interest, the need to have a quiet, spacious place where devotees can conveniently follow a course was felt. The centre stands on the top of a small hill offering beautiful views from two sides. Built on a plot of land extending over three acres, two of the three levels in the building have been allocated for male and female meditators. More ‘kutis’ are being planned in the years to come.
Ven. Dhammasiri once told me that tension and stress in their lives have led Americans to look towards Buddhist meditation as a form of relaxation. “With only a few holidays, the life of an American revolves round work. Their stress levels are high. So they try to get away at least for an hour or two on Sundays to follow our meditation classes,” he said. While at one stage they were more interested in Buddhist philosophy, the accent is now on meditation, he added.
Ven Dhammasiri has been at the Vihara for 30 years. Having observed his skills in planning and organising activities as well as his ability in administrative work, he was handpicked by Madihe Mahanayaka Thera to function as the secretary of the Washington Buddhist Vihara Society which is an incorporated body. A year later he succeeded Ven. Dr. Henepola Gunaratana as president and continues in that capacity to date.
Most Ven Madihe Pannasiha Mahanayaka Thera
- D. C. R.