Difference between revisions of "Nissarana Vanaya"
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| − | '''[[Nissarana Vanaya]]''' is a famous [[Meditation | + | |
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| + | '''[[Nissarana Vanaya]]''' is a famous [[Meditation Monastery]] in [[Sri Lanka]]. It is located in [[Western]] province close to the town of Kirindiwela. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | + | [[Meetirigala Nissarana Vanaya]] is a [[Monastery]] in the [[Kalyāṇi Yogāsrama Samsthava]] or [[Galduwa Samsthava]], the strictest [[forest tradition]] in [[Sri Lanka]]. | |
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| + | It is considered as one of [[Sri Lanka]]'s most respected [[Meditation Monasteries]] and was founded in 1967 by [[Asoka Weeraratna]] (the founder of the [[German Dharmaduta Society]] and the [[Berlin Buddhist Vihara]] in {{Wiki|Germany}}). | ||
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| + | He equipped the [[Monastery]] with all the facilities conducive to the [[Meditative]] [[Life]], found an accomplished [[Meditation master]], Ven. [[Matara Sri Nanarama]] [[Mahathera]] (author of '[[Seven stages of Purification]]' and '[[Seven Contemplations]]', both published by the BPS), to direct the [[Meditation]] {{Wiki|training}}, and then, his [[Mission]] accomplished, he himself entered the [[Buddhist Order]] under the [[Name]] ]]Mitirigala Dhammanisanthi]]. He passed away on July 2, 1999 after spending 27 years as a {{Wiki|forest}} [[Monk]] at [[Mitirigala]]. Ven. [[Dhammanisanthi]] was 80 years of age at the [[Time]] of his [[Death]].[[File:Pic03.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
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| + | The {{Wiki|distinguished}} senior [[Monk]] [[Venerable]] [[Matara Sri Nanarama]] [[Mahathera]] was the first [[abbot]] and the [[Meditation master]]. | ||
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| + | During his period [[Nissarana Vanaya]] became one of the most respected [[Meditation Monasteries]] of [[Sri Lanka]] due to the [[Fame]] of its [[Meditation master]] as well as its secluded and {{Wiki|contemplative}} [[Life]] where [[Monks]] practiced sincerely with the [[aspiration]] of [[attaining]] [[Nibbana]] in this very [[Life]]. | ||
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| + | Many foreign [[Monks]] and [[lay people]] also practiced [[Meditation]] under the guidance of [[Venerable]] [[Matara Sri Nanarama]] [[Mahathera]]. | ||
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| + | Due to his enormous influence on the revival and study of [[Meditation]] techniques Ven. [[Nanarama]] was appointed as the head [[Meditation master]] of a chain of {{Wiki|forest}} [[Monastery]] throughout the [[island]] called [[Kalyāṇi Yogāsrama Samsthava]] or [[Galduwa Samsthava]]. One of Ven. [[Nanarama's]] greatest gifts was his ability to incorporate the [[Burmese]] [[Vipassana]] techniques into [[Sri Lankan Meditation traditions]] and [[Balance]] them with the [[teaching]] of [[Samatha Meditation]]. It is here that the famous [[Buddhist nun]] [[Ayya Khema]] was [[taught]] by Ven. [[Ñāṇanārāma]] in the practice of the [[Jhāna]] or [[Samatha Meditation]]. | ||
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| + | On his passing away in 1992 a senior pupil, [[Venerable]] [[Panaduwa Khemananda]] became the new [[abbot]] and [[Meditation Teacher]] and served the [[Monastery]] for 15 years. | ||
| + | During this [[Time]] one of the closest pupils of Ven. [[Nanarama]], Ven. [[Katukurunde Nanananda]] [[Thera]] (famous for his [[Books]] '{{Wiki|Concept}} and [[Reality]]', '[[Magic]] of the [[Mind]]' and his series of 33 [[sermons]] on [[Nibbana]]) left the [[Monastery]] due to its shifting away from the [[Meditation]] {{Wiki|training}} established by Ven. [[Ñāṇārāma]]. | ||
| − | + | Ven. [[Nanananda]] moved to [[Potgulgala]] [[Aranya]] near [[Devalegama]], [Kegalla]] where he is still residing, but until a few years ago was connected with the [[Mangalarama]] at [[Meetirigala]]; see below. | |
| − | + | [[Nissarana Vanaya]] moved closer to current [[Burmese]] [[Vipassana]] teachings. After Ven. [[Panaduwa Khemananda]] [[Thero]] [[died]] in July 2006 the new most senior [[Meditation Teacher]] became [[Venerable]] [[Uda-Iriyagama Dhammajeewa]] [[Thera]]. Ven. [[Dhammajeewa]] (or [[Dhammajiva]]) is fluent in English and [[Burmese]] and has translated several [[Meditation]] guides and [[Books]] from [[Burmese]] into English and {{Wiki|Sinhalese}}. | |
| − | + | Apart from the years of {{Wiki|training}} under Ven. [[Matara Sri Nanananda]] he spent several years of {{Wiki|training}} under [[Sayadaw U Panditabhiwan]] in [[Myanmar]] ([[Burma]]), a well-known [[Teacher]] in the [[Mahasi Sayadaw tradition]]. | |
==[[Life]] at the [[Monastery]]== | ==[[Life]] at the [[Monastery]]== | ||
[[File:Images_3.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:Images_3.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
| − | The [[Monks]] are dedicated to [[Meditation]] practice and stay in {{Wiki|solitary}} huts in the {{Wiki|forest}}. Lay [[meditators]] stay in rooms in compounds. The [[Monks]] and lay [[meditators]] regularly receive instructions from Ven. [[Dhammajiva]], who regularly holds [[retreats]] for lay [[meditators]] at [[Nissarana Vanaya]]. [[Meditation]] is done in a large [[Meditation]] hall in the centre of the [[Monastery]]. Most [[Monks]] [[meditate]] alone in their huts in the {{Wiki|forest}}. | + | The [[Monks]] are dedicated to [[Meditation]] practice and stay in {{Wiki|solitary}} huts in the {{Wiki|forest}}. |
| + | |||
| + | Lay [[meditators]] stay in rooms in compounds. The [[Monks]] and lay [[meditators]] regularly receive instructions from Ven. [[Dhammajiva]], who regularly holds [[retreats]] for lay [[meditators]] at [[Nissarana Vanaya]]. [[Meditation]] is done in a large [[Meditation]] hall in the centre of the [[Monastery]]. Most [[Monks]] [[meditate]] alone in their huts in the {{Wiki|forest}}. | ||
In the morning [[Monks]] go on [[alms]] begging to a kitchen area down the hill where lay-people who have cooked [[Food]] donate it to them. A few [[Monks]] go begging in the [[traditional]] style to the village. The [[Monks]] don't eat after mid-day. | In the morning [[Monks]] go on [[alms]] begging to a kitchen area down the hill where lay-people who have cooked [[Food]] donate it to them. A few [[Monks]] go begging in the [[traditional]] style to the village. The [[Monks]] don't eat after mid-day. | ||
Revision as of 14:12, 3 February 2016
Nissarana Vanaya is a famous Meditation Monastery in Sri Lanka. It is located in Western province close to the town of Kirindiwela.
History
Meetirigala Nissarana Vanaya is a Monastery in the Kalyāṇi Yogāsrama Samsthava or Galduwa Samsthava, the strictest forest tradition in Sri Lanka.
It is considered as one of Sri Lanka's most respected Meditation Monasteries and was founded in 1967 by Asoka Weeraratna (the founder of the German Dharmaduta Society and the Berlin Buddhist Vihara in Germany).
He equipped the Monastery with all the facilities conducive to the Meditative Life, found an accomplished Meditation master, Ven. Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera (author of 'Seven stages of Purification' and 'Seven Contemplations', both published by the BPS), to direct the Meditation training, and then, his Mission accomplished, he himself entered the Buddhist Order under the Name ]]Mitirigala Dhammanisanthi]]. He passed away on July 2, 1999 after spending 27 years as a forest Monk at Mitirigala. Ven. Dhammanisanthi was 80 years of age at the Time of his Death.
The distinguished senior Monk Venerable Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera was the first abbot and the Meditation master.
During his period Nissarana Vanaya became one of the most respected Meditation Monasteries of Sri Lanka due to the Fame of its Meditation master as well as its secluded and contemplative Life where Monks practiced sincerely with the aspiration of attaining Nibbana in this very Life.
Many foreign Monks and lay people also practiced Meditation under the guidance of Venerable Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera.
Due to his enormous influence on the revival and study of Meditation techniques Ven. Nanarama was appointed as the head Meditation master of a chain of forest Monastery throughout the island called Kalyāṇi Yogāsrama Samsthava or Galduwa Samsthava. One of Ven. Nanarama's greatest gifts was his ability to incorporate the Burmese Vipassana techniques into Sri Lankan Meditation traditions and Balance them with the teaching of Samatha Meditation. It is here that the famous Buddhist nun Ayya Khema was taught by Ven. Ñāṇanārāma in the practice of the Jhāna or Samatha Meditation.
On his passing away in 1992 a senior pupil, Venerable Panaduwa Khemananda became the new abbot and Meditation Teacher and served the Monastery for 15 years.
During this Time one of the closest pupils of Ven. Nanarama, Ven. Katukurunde Nanananda Thera (famous for his Books 'Concept and Reality', 'Magic of the Mind' and his series of 33 sermons on Nibbana) left the Monastery due to its shifting away from the Meditation training established by Ven. Ñāṇārāma.
Ven. Nanananda moved to Potgulgala Aranya near Devalegama, [Kegalla]] where he is still residing, but until a few years ago was connected with the Mangalarama at Meetirigala; see below.
Nissarana Vanaya moved closer to current Burmese Vipassana teachings. After Ven. Panaduwa Khemananda Thero died in July 2006 the new most senior Meditation Teacher became Venerable Uda-Iriyagama Dhammajeewa Thera. Ven. Dhammajeewa (or Dhammajiva) is fluent in English and Burmese and has translated several Meditation guides and Books from Burmese into English and Sinhalese.
Apart from the years of training under Ven. Matara Sri Nanananda he spent several years of training under Sayadaw U Panditabhiwan in Myanmar (Burma), a well-known Teacher in the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition.
Life at the Monastery
The Monks are dedicated to Meditation practice and stay in solitary huts in the forest.
Lay meditators stay in rooms in compounds. The Monks and lay meditators regularly receive instructions from Ven. Dhammajiva, who regularly holds retreats for lay meditators at Nissarana Vanaya. Meditation is done in a large Meditation hall in the centre of the Monastery. Most Monks meditate alone in their huts in the forest.
In the morning Monks go on alms begging to a kitchen area down the hill where lay-people who have cooked Food donate it to them. A few Monks go begging in the traditional style to the village. The Monks don't eat after mid-day.
In the evening there is a worship of the Bodhi Tree and Buddha followed by Pali Chanting.
The Monastery is located in a dense low-country tropical jungle and the climate tends to be hot and humid.
Male meditators are allowed to stay after requesting permission and receiving prior invitation. Retreats are held for female meditators at the reception area down the hill.
