Spiritual Awakening of a Village

We have charity dispensed by generous local persons, by foreigners who feel love for this country and wish to do something to express it, and of course by organizations and set-up Trusts. What I write about this Sunday, the day following Unduvap Poya, is the subtle transformation of a village in Peradeniya which is my mother’s birthplace where my siblings and I were also born. The village is Boyagama.

My nephew Rohana Weerasekera was the pioneer who brought about this spiritual awakening of the village by donating his share of the property inherited from his mother. Thus it was a single donor and donation I write about.

Rohana was very generous and caring by nature; giving of help and kindness even as a boy. Then, having had a successful career in England and Canada, he wanted to donate everything he possessed during the latter stages of his life. Assisted by his younger sister who is a meditator herself and was impressed by the most Ven Uda Eriyagama Dhammajiva Thera’s promotion of the concept of Sati Bhavana – mindfulness meditation – Rohana offered the land to the Sati Pasala Foundation. On behalf of the Foundation, Most Ven Dhammajiva accepted the gift, at which ceremony I too was present.

The idea to promote the concept of mindfulness – development of sati – particularly in children, was prominent in the Ven Bhikkhu’s mind from many years ago. True to his pragmatic personality, he formulated a project and launched it, encouraging and actively participating in conducting meditation sessions with school children during weekends and out of school hours. Then he got the education department to accept his proposal of making sati meditation a part of the school curriculum. These were significant developments to benefit children, adults, and the country.

In May 2017, the biggest boost to the fulfillment of his meritorious act was the inauguration of the Sati Pasala Foundation with many devoted persons coming together to support him. Ven Dhammajiva Thera was persuaded to be the Foundation’s spiritual leader and main advisor. The Foundation has flourished and grown stronger and promotes sati among children and adults of all races, religions, ages and status.

The concept is fast spreading in the entirely of Sri Lanka; primarily in schools and extending to universities, hospitals, health care centres, government departments and organizations; the Forces, rehabilitation centres. Competent sati trainers tirelessly travel around the island sharing their expertise with those desirous of ‘mindful living.’

The Place

The particular piece of hilly land donated is in Boyagama, Nagastenna, which slopes down to a paddy field named Rankumbura. The most striking and valued on the land is a very old Bo tree right at the top which once a year turns pink with its new sprung leaves. Beside the Bo tree is a small area with tombstones of various sizes, the largest being grandfather’s. That is our family interment ground. Earlier, cremations were done on the land with huge log pyres being put up. Now only the clay pot of ash of the family member cremated in a crematorium is brought to Nagastenna for interment.

Rohana, while on annual holidays from overseas, fenced the land; built a wall around the Bo tree accommodating offerings in veneration, and grew varicolored frangipani and assorted flowering bushes and red anthuriums. He built a house with fine toilet facilities for the caretaker and his family

In conjunction with his sister who had returned home from the US, he decided to donate Nagastenna to be utilized for holding sati meditation. He built some of the necessary infrastructure; the Foundation once it took over the land built the rest – halls, walking pathways etc and two wattle and daub, one-roomed dwellings, one now used by a resident monk and the other by Ven Dhammajiva Thera when he visits. And thus the meditation centre named Sri Kalyani Sevana Sati Pasala, so named in memory of my niece of that family who died at a young age was set up on a solid foundation.

Meditation

The location, surrounding, ambience, beauty and palpable peace of the place are ideal for a meditation center. A less used motorable road passing alongside is a further convenience. The neighboring residents and temples welcomed the conversion of the land to serve a spiritual purpose. School children from surrounding areas, ranging in age from six to 16, gender mixed and of all three races gather together on Sundays to spend a short day of sati meditation. Preaching by a monk starts the day. Instructions and guidance by volunteer teachers; both sitting and walking meditation; discussions and refreshments including lunch follow. Often elders who bring the children, stay on.

On Thursday it is mediation for seniors: those of Boyagama and adjacent villages. My niece tells me that six months ago when meditation sessions for these persons was started, the attendance was less than 10 and mostly elderly women. The composition of the group is now around 45 on average, and includes younger women and men – young adults to the elderly. Many close their kades for the day and three wheeler drivers forego their earnings so they have time to meditate.

This is remarkable when you consider that they forego their livelihood for four days of the month to devote time to their spiritual development. It certainly is the influence of the remarkable Most Ven Dhammajiva Thera and the pull exerted by the beautiful sloping hillock which surely emanates an ambience of sanctity and serenity. I have felt the vibes when I visit Nagastenna.

My niece Dhammika and her friends, and other volunteers from in and around the village see to food for the meditators – tea, refreshments and lunch. Then came a request from the village women that they be given the opportunity to gain merit by preparing and offering the noon meal. Thus the supply of everything needed for meaningful immersion in beneficial bhavana. Generosity and kindness at their peak.

Greatly appreciated by our family is Most Ven Dhammajiva mentioning in his sermons on more than one occasion that the interment ground has to be preserved and protected. The veneration of the Bo tree has been a practice from many decades ago.

Offered are:

Itemized are the benefits offered by the Sati Meditation Centre which seem to be widely appreciated.

Encouragement and provision of facilities and training to practice and make sati meditation a daily habit of both children and adults;

Inculcation of the positive influence of sati on impressionable minds of children and young adults which need gentle guidance towards what is mentally and physically healthy;

The offer of a safe place and sanctuary for children whose lives may be troubled; thus giving them happiness.

Serious, sustained dedication and observance of the practice of Dhamma, Sila and Dhana (generosity).

Inducement and inculcation of hope and happiness in both children and adults.

Nurturing of a sense of unity among those who participate; which fellow feeling spreads among the villagers.

Sri Kalyani Sathi Pasala at Nagastenna, Boyagama, has extended its outreach to include sati training for school teachers, members of the University of Peradeniya Engineering Faculty (Ven Dhammajiva having been an undergrad) and other organizations and units.

It is both heartening and joyful to say that within a comparatively short time this ‘sati pasala’ has brought prominence and light to a village in Peradeniya and its reputation and influence are fast spreading through the Central Province. The late donor and his sister, assisted by multiple volunteers in and around Boyagama, including the most efficient dedicated resident Venerable, continue the good work. Most Ven Uda Eriyagama Dhammajiva is a frequent visitor. Deep gratitude is extended to all of them and the villagers who brought about this amazing transformation of a little tucked away hamlet to a beautiful, peaceful sanctuary for children and adults to further their spiritual growth in the Kandy District.