Features
Thus Spake Ajahn Brahm

A wonderfully precious four hours at the BMICH on May 30 when Most Venerable Ajahn Brahmavamso explained some Dhamma; conducted guided meditation; and answered queries. I came away inspired and infused with loving kindness to all, myself included. There was also gratitude to my niece, grandniece and the driver who were with me extending help and concern.
Much gratitude and appreciation to Ven Mettavihari under whose guidance the members of the Ajahn Brahm Society of Sri Lanka (ABS) worked hard for many months to plan, organize and see to every little detail so that the crowded programme presented to Ajahn Brahm – visiting for 10 days – worked out smoothly with not the slightest twinge or hitch. Most appreciation is extended, of course, to Ajahn Brahm, not only for what he told us and led us to consider and think on, but for his very presence; smiling always and radiating ‘benign-ness’ and his ‘kindfulness’: a most meaningful term he coined from the two absolute necessities in life: mindfulness and loving kindness.
By 6.15 in the morning of May 30, mostly white clad, disciplined people collected at the BMICH and moved to the Main Hall and Sirimavo A and B Halls as designated in the free passes collected earlier. I reckon there were well over 7,000 who moved sedately and noiselessly to take their seats well before Ajahn Brahm was guided in to the main hall. He addressed us for about an hour, Halls A and B having two large screens each; thus able to clearly follow proceedings and see and hear Bhante. With a short interval intervening, he moved to Hall A and conducted meditation and spoke too. He moved to Hall B for the Q & A session and around 10.30 moved back to the Main Hall for summation and to give his blessing to all present, others, and the country.
Ajahn Brahm’s expressed thoughts
I need not mention that I include here only some of what the Bhikkhu said and narrate only a few of the anecdotes Ven Brahm spiced his talk with.
The first thing he said was “How beautiful your country is. When I come here monks are always smiling and happy. That’s what you can expect. Buddhism and meditation make for happiness. There is a misconception that meditation is difficult. It is not a concentration camp. Meditation is easy and most pleasant. When I was a teenager I learnt this; I meditated. Now mindfulness is taught in schools. When in Cambridge University following studies in Theoretical Physics, the final exam lasted six days. I would meditate before each of the two papers a day. This disconnected me from the stress of exam studies. I was in the present moment and not nervous at all. Often however, the brain was exhausted. But with ‘kindfulness’ I became happy. We have to know our minds. The power of the mind can sure cure illness.”
He next spoke of stillness, demonstrating with a glass with water in it. Holding it, the water was not still; placed on a table the water was still. This is symbolic of the mind. When the winds of wanting blow, the mind is disturbed. Let it go; be patient. Then the mind will be rested. “When your mind is still, you see things as they truly are. Clarity and energy of the mind increase. The power of mindfulness is great; awareness becomes very strong, very refined and you see clearly. A medical student nearly gave up studies due to cancer. He developed mindfulness, cured himself and went on to become a very caring doctor. Please do not underestimate the power of your mind, which gives a person who is thus mentally attuned, great happiness, peace of mind, eliminating stress. Of my 42 years of being a monk for 38 years I have had not a day’s illness.
“I work very hard; I meditate; I am very glad to help all people. For 35 years I have visited a cancer hospital. Some question why a Buddhist monk visits. I got to know and spoke often with a woman who had suffered greatly with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. She was in remission from the cancer but was totally worried about it returning. ‘What will I do if my cancer returns. How can I suffer more pain?’ she constantly asked. I posed to her the question ‘What if the cancer is cured and will not come back?’ That was an eye opener to her and set her thinking. I continued to speak to her on my visits. She changed to thinking positively. She was cured and discharged from hospital. I changed her life by guiding her to think positively.”
One feature of Ajahn Brahm’s teaching and addresses is that on the surface what he says seems simple. But my word, his anecdotes and preaching are so very meaningful and convey so much to the listener who will go deeper into what he says and gets to the significance he intends conveying. In the above instance of his address he stopped short of explanation and preaching.
The listeners had to work out what truth or advice he meant to convey. This method is much more enduring and can be remembered than the crux of the matter being revealed by the speaker.
He spoke about a student in a university in Adelaide who was so stressed that she could not leave her bed. Her uncle was a Buddhist, so he asked Ajahn Brahm to visit the bedridden girl. He asked her how she felt when a panic attack overcame her. “Tight in the chest.” He advised her to investigate and find out exactly where she felt the tightness. He gave her three days for this. Then six days of gently massaging the place of pain with loving kindness. He asked her how she felt. “Tightness has disappeared”, she replied. “Nine days more of treating yourself with love and kindness”, he suggested. She overcame her panic attacks; went on to continue her dental studies and obtained a first class degree. Now a busy dentist, the girl thanked him for saving her life.
Ajahn Brahm touched on a relevant, related topic: depression. “Depression is a low state of mind; mind has low energy; life turns boring; worries are excessive; mental exhaustion results. Don’t fight it; save your energy; build up your mental and emotional strength; determine to see much more comprehensively, hear more clearly.” Ajahn Brahm advised. His anecdote here was how when in Cambridge University, particularly during exams for the Natural Science Tripos, other students would study hard during the hour’s lunch break. He would walk and passing a clump of bamboo, would be captivated and stare long at it. Later during continued walks, after the initial wonder died down, he saw the bamboo more clearly and noticed how it seemed to miss the tropical climate that was its right. “The mind gets stronger with meditation; mindfulness opens the mind.” “Why do you smile?” he asked. “Because there is peace within you,” he replied. “This is the best makeup”, he advised.
With a broad smile and chuckle, Ajahn Brahm said that even though 72, he was much photographed, “though not famous, not a celebrity nor that handsome!” He seemed to indicate, without saying so, that his smile won him popularity, or maybe it was a mystical drawing power. So true! His smile radiates far out conveying a joyful sense of togetherness, shared calm and serenity.
Some answers abrupt but telling
The Q & A session was extremely well worked out since the questions had already been perused and translated to Sinhala. The translation of questions and the venerable monk’s answers were excellent, truly so with not one jot of content missed out. For this Ven Damita deserves applause and thanks. He is currently the abbot of Pothgulagala Forest Monastery in Devalagama, Kegalle, having ordained in 2007 and practiced meditation under Ajahn Brahm in Perth and in Thailand.
Answers were varied in length. One or two answers were extra illuminating since with a few words, Ajahn Brahm said much. One question was what he thinks of the view that some believe that the Buddha was born in Sri Lanka. Bhante read aloud the question, then pat came the answer without a moment’s hesitation: “The Buddha was born in Australia” and deadpan, he passed the piece of paper to Ven Damita. Reams were meant; unsaid.
A question dealt with peer pressure on teenagers and how to circumvent dangers. Ajahn Brahm narrated how as a teenager and young man he adopted Buddhism, kept the five precepts giving up alcohol. He thought his friends would ostracize him. On the contrary they admired and respected him and of course used him to drive them safely home after a session of heavy carousing. “Advice the young to say no firmly. Arrange for peer groups and clubs where, by consensus, they decide drugs and dissipation is not to be. In all temples on Sundays, instead of teaching again like in school, organize peer group meetings. These are safe places and spaces created for youth. Trust develops strength.”
How do I still my mind was another question. Bhante’s advice: “By practicing, not thinking nor wanting. Once you are still the mind too will become still.”
There were many more questions.
The morning ended with Ajahn Brahm being driven back to the Main Hall and a second brief session of guided meditation. He then chanted blessings which he prefaced thus: “Never think less of blessings. When Sangha chants, there is power. Chanting gives me priti. As a scientist I say this.”
We left the premises with no hassle though hundreds of vehicles were lined up. Serenity and joy were within us and we wholeheartedly gave thanks to Most Ven Ajahn Brahmavamso, Ven Mettavihari and members of the Ajahn Brahm Soceity of Sri Lanka for giving us this glorious morning of Dhamma.
Features
Kashmir terror attack underscores need for South Asian stability and amity

The most urgent need for the South Asian region right now, in the wake of the cold-blooded killing by gunmen of nearly 30 local tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir two days back, is the initiation of measures that could ensure regional stability and peace. The state actors that matter most in this situation are India and Pakistan and it would be in the best interests of the region for both countries to stringently refrain from succumbing to knee-jerk reactions in the face of any perceived provocations arising from the bloodshed.
The consequences for the countries concerned and the region could be grave if the terror incident leads to stepped-up friction and hostility between India and Pakistan. Some hardline elements in India, for instance, are on record in the international media as calling on the Indian state to initiate tough military action against Pakistan for the Kashmiri terror in question and a positive response to such urgings could even lead to a new India-Pakistan war.
Those wishing South Asia well are likely to advocate maximum restraint by both states and call for negotiations by them to avert any military stand-offs and conflicts that could prove counter-productive for all quarters concerned. This columnist lends his pen to such advocacy.
Right now in Sri Lanka, nationalistic elements in the country’s South in particular are splitting hairs over an MoU relating to security cooperation Sri Lanka has signed with India. Essentially, the main line of speculation among these sections is that Sri Lanka is coming under the suzerainty of India, so to speak, in the security sphere and would be under its dictates in the handling of its security interests. In the process, these nationalistic sections are giving fresh life to the deep-seated anti-India phobia among sections of the Sri Lankan public. The eventual result will be heightened, irrational hostility towards India among vulnerable, unenlightened Sri Lankans.
Nothing new will be said if the point is made that such irrational fears with respect to India are particularly marked among India’s smaller neighbouring states and their publics. Needless to say, collective fears of this kind only lead to perpetually strained relations between India and her neighbours, resulting in regional disunity, which, of course would not be in South Asia’s best interests.
SAARC is seen as ‘dead’ by some sections in South Asia and its present dysfunctional nature seems to give credence to this belief. Continued friction between India and Pakistan is seen as playing a major role in such inner paralysis and this is, no doubt, the main causative factor in SARRC’s current seeming ineffectiveness.
However, the widespread anti-India phobia referred to needs to be factored in as playing a role in SAARC’s lack of dynamism and ‘life’ as well. If democratic governments go some distance in exorcising such anti-Indianism from their people’s psyches, some progress could be made in restoring SAARC to ‘life’ and the latter could then play a constructive role in defusing India-Pakistan tensions.
It does not follow that if SAARC was ‘alive and well’, security related incidents of the kind that were witnessed in India-administered Kashmir recently would not occur. This is far from being the case, but if SAARC was fully operational, the states concerned would be in possession of the means and channels of resolving the issues that flow from such crises with greater amicability and mutual accommodation.
Accordingly, the South Asian Eight would be acting in their interests by seeking to restore SAARC back to ‘life’. An essential task in this process is the elimination of mutual fear and suspicion among the Eight and the states concerned need to do all that they could to eliminate any fixations and phobias that the countries have in relation to each other.
It does not follow from the foregoing that the SAARC Eight should not broad base their relations and pull back from fostering beneficial ties with extra-regional countries and groupings that have a bearing on their best interests. On the contrary, each SAARC country’s ties need to be wide-ranging and based on the principle that each such state would be a friend to all countries and an enemy of none as long as the latter are well-meaning.
The foregoing sharp focus on SAARC and its fortunes is necessitated by the consideration that the developmental issues in particular facing the region are best resolved by the region itself on the basis of its multiple material and intellectual resources. The grouping should not only be revived but a revisit should also be made to its past programs; particularly those which related to intra-regional conflict resolution. Thus, talking to each other under a new visionary commitment to SAARC collective wellbeing is crucially needed.
On the question of ties with India, it should be perceived by the latter’s smaller neighbours that there is no getting away from the need to foster increasingly closer relations with India, today a number one global power.
This should not amount to these smaller neighbours surrendering their rights and sovereignty to India. Far from it. On the contrary these smaller states should seek to craft mutually beneficial ties with India. It is a question of these small states following a truly Non-aligned foreign policy and using their best diplomatic and political skills to structure their ties with India in a way that would be mutually beneficial. It is up to these neighbours to cultivate the skills needed to meet these major challenges.
Going ahead, it will be in South Asia’s best interests to get SAARC back on its feet once again. If this aim is pursued with visionary zeal and if SAARC amity is sealed once and for all intra-regional friction and enmities could be put to rest. What smaller states should avoid scrupulously is the pitting of extra-regional powers against India and Pakistan in their squabbles with either of the latter. This practice has been pivotal in bringing strife and contention into South Asia and in dividing the region against itself.
Accordingly, the principal challenge facing South Asia is to be imbued once again with the SAARC spirit. The latter spirit’s healing powers need to be made real and enduring. Thus will we have a region truly united in brotherhood and peace.
Features
International schools …in action

The British School in Colombo celebrated the 2025 Sinhala and Tamil New Year with the traditional rites and rituals and customs unique to the island nation, during a special Avurudu Assembly held at the school premises.
Students from all over the world, who are part of The British School in Colombo, gathered to celebrate this joyous event.
The special assembly featured traditional song and dance items from talented performers of both the Junior and Senior Schools.
On this particular day, the teachers and students were invited to attend school in Sri Lankan national costume and, among the traditional rituals celebrated, was the boiling of the milk and the tradition of Ganu-Denu.

Boiling of
the milk
In the meanwhile, a group of swimmers from Lyceum International School, Wattala, visited Australia to participate in the Global-ISE International Swimming Training Programme in Melbourne.
Over the course of 10 days, the swimmers followed an advanced training schedule and attended sessions at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC), Victoria’s Nunawading Swimming Club, and Camberwell Grammar School.
In addition to their training, the group also explored Melbourne, with visits to key landmarks, such as the Parliament House and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), along with city tours and cultural experiences.

Traditional dance item

Tug-of-war contest

On arrival in Melbourne, Lyceum International School, Wattala, with Sri Lankan officials
Features
Perfect … and healthy

Got a few more beauty tips to give you … for a perfect complexion, or, let’s say, a healthy skin.
* Honey Face Mask:
Take a tablespoon of raw honey and then warm it up by rubbing it with your fingertips. Apply the warm honey all over your face. Let this natural mask stand for about 10 minutes and then wash it off gently with warm water.
* Coconut Milk Face Mask:
You need to squeeze coconut milk out of a grated raw coconut and apply this milk all over your face, including your lips.
(This will help you gain a glowing skin. It is one of the best natural tips for skin care)
* Orange, Lemon, and Yoghurt Moisturiser:
To prepare this moisturiser, you need a tablespoon of orange juice, a tablespoon of lemon juice and a cup of plain yoghurt.
Mix them together and apply the paste all over your face, leaving it as a mask for 10 to 15 minutes. Next, take a damp handkerchief and use it to clean your face.
(This moisturiser brightens the complexion of your skin)
* Cucumber and Lemon:
Apply equal parts of cucumber and lemon juice on your face before taking a bath. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes before rinsing it off. This natural face beauty tip will brighten your skin tone and lighten blemishes if used on a regular basis. The best aspect is that it is appropriate for all skin types!
* Healthy Diet:
Aside from the effective home remedies, there are certain other factors to consider for skin care – and the first of them is your diet. Without the right nutrients, your skin cannot reverse the damage it suffers every day.
Eat fruits that are high in vitamin C because they contain antioxidants.
Adjust your diet to get the right amount of protein and unsaturated fats, as well as fresh green vegetables. All of this provides the right amount of nutrients so your skin can heal and improve itself naturally.
* Sun Protection and Care:
Another thing to keep in mind is not to step out of your home without sunscreen, especially with this awful heat we are experiencing at the moment. The hard rays of the sun can do you more damage than you could ever imagine.
By the way, you can prepare your own sunscreen lotion with glycerin, cucumber juice and rose water. You can also keep this lotion in the fridge.
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