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world of peace on top of a hill We were awakened
to the calm pealing of the brass gong hung in front of the dining
hall; the time was 4 a.m. When the rest of the world was quiet and
the lights of Sri Morning meditation starts at 4.30 a.m. We listened to chantings by the Master; then had meditation, meditation and more meditation and wound up the day with an out of this world sermon by Goenka Ji which went on past 9 p.m. The prospective Jhana laabhis then walked back to their kutis, washed and slept. The kutis are very simple and clean; there's no furniture except for a bed and a clothes' horse. We swept and cleaned our kutis, three to a room, washed and cleaned the toilets and bathroom. All of us benefited from drinking unchlorinated water for 10 days! The meditators are expected to bathe everyday, wear clean clothes and most of all not have any dialogue with anybody except the teacher with whom we discussed our progress. In other words, we observed noble silence. Our meals were well balanced and extremely clean, served onto our plates by the retreat staff. It was an early breakfast at 6.30 a.m. and an early lunch at 11 a.m., biscuits and fruit at 5 p.m., for those who did not observe the eight precepts. After meals we were expected to wash our plates and cups and wipe them with the dish-cloth provided. Food and board being looked after, the task ahead was only to meditate, to progress on the path according to one's ability. The path is not so rosy. Being seated on the cushion for at least an hour was killing me. It was impossible to sit for more than 15 minutes; and a lower back pain got the better of me- Master says people like Angulimala, KisaGothami or even Patachara trod on this very same path. So why can't I? Respiratory meditation was a mere impossibility. Previously I could breathe only thrice without losing concentration, but with advice from the teacher our concentration improved and towards the end of the course, most of us could feel happy that difficulty in concentrating was a thing of the past. The meditation technique was so beautifully planned that we were taught something new each day. We were left to ourselves (observing noble silence) to progress on the path which is the best thing that could ever have happened. Starting off with respiration meditation we ended up with Vipassana. Well, everything good must come to an end. On the final day the meditators, most with plus marks were saddened to leave the retreat, but were taught to look at all sensations with equanimi ty. We went home on the 11th day with a lot of home work. Everybody gave a donation to the Trust to anable them to conduct the next course. I recommend it to everyone. So much so I wish I had been able to attend a course 30 years ago! The experience I gained was wonderful and helped to make a big change in my attitude to life! Share the wonder with me - "Ehi Passiko". Vesak
Lipi: Another collection of insightful essays The digest which contains photographs, religious stanzas, verses commending Lord Buddha's compassion and essays on the Dhamma by renowned priests is a publication of the Minuwangoda Potgul Vihara. The book focuses on Abhidamma and various different aspects of Buddhism, a philosophy which has been 2546 years upon this earth. Funded entirely by meritorious offerings, the book has several colour photographs depicting Buddha statues, temples and chaityas of Sri Lanka. The first essay in the collection is by the Most Venerable Agga Maha Panditha Madihe Pannaseeha Mahanayake Thera and is titled the 'Unequalled and Most Supreme Social Worker'. Other essays are on the Pattica Sammupadaya and the Maithri Bhavana by Parama Pujya Heenatiyana Dhammaloka Tissa Mahanahimi and on pirith by the incumbent of the Mettaramaya Temple, Ven. Sirisumana Himi. An essay titled "Buddhist View of Mind and Body" by Panduka Mahanama, a teacher of Abhidammma and an article explaining Buddhists' reliance on astrology has been written by D. Kulathilake, who has himself studied the science of astrology. Songs of reverence have also been included in this Vesak issue, which contains poems regarding the thrice blessed day of Vesak and the Nava Guna Gatha extolling the nine great virtues of the Buddha. One picture depicting the Bodhisatva's search for enlightenment is presented with a caption explaining the very meaning of this moment in the ultimate realisation. Much of the
contents are thought provoking. "The entire Dhamma rests on
three foundations. Sila (purity of conduct) Samadhi (Tranquillity)
and Panna (Insightful wisdom)," writes Asoka Devendra in his
essay the Pancha Sila (Five Precepts). In a chapter titled 38 Blessings, the Mangala Sutta, it is stated, 'In the Buddhist sense a "blessing" is not something given by a divine being, rather a state of well-being or happiness that arises within oneself, when one leads a righteous life, maintaining human dignity in a pleasant environment.' Photographs depicting 'jathi', 'jara', 'marana' - birth, decay and death, establish the inescapability of this cycle, except through the path to Nirvana, where 'dhana', 'seela' and 'bhavana' stand as landmarks on the correct path. The Vesak Digest holds many hours of insightful reading including a debate on premature death, the Taliban onslaught on Buddha images, and an essay on the subject of "The Coming Buddha". The book will be distributed free of charge to school libraries. Donations are welcome from persons who wish to contribute towards publishing and distributing this book. Only cheques should be sent in favour of the account "Vesak Lipi", address - Compiler/Editor "Vesak Lipi" 29 Deal Place (A), Colombo 3. Those who make donations will receive a copy of the book. |
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Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
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Pada
visible from my kuti door, the novices (experienced meditators as
well) washed and dressed in clean garb and walked towards the meditation
hall. Males entered from the left and females from the right. There
I saw rows of mats with individually placed numbered meditation
cushions, so clean and orderly, that at once I felt happy and pleased
at my 10 days ahead at the retreat.
