Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery

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Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery


Motto The world that Buddha saw
Formation 14 August 1999
Type Organization of Buddhist monasteries
Purpose/focus Spiritual Development
Headquarters Polgahawela, Sri Lanka
Location Sri Lanka (36 branches); Toronto, CA; New Jersey, USA; Sydney, AU details
Region served Worldwide
Membership practicing Buddhists
Founder Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero
Website http://www.mahamevna.org http://www.buddhavision.com

Mahamevnawa[7] is "an organization of monasteries established for the sake of spiritual development of human beings through the teachings of the Sakyamuni Buddha who was born in 500 B.C. Our only wish is to give you spiritual help in order to make your mind pure which is useful for the realization of Nibbāna: the unbounded liberation."[1]

It has around 40 monasteries[2] for meditation throughout Sri Lanka (and recent ones in Canada [8], USA [9] and Australia [10]).

Founder and the chief Buddhist monk in charge of these monasteries is Venerable Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero who is engaged in spreading Buddhism in its true form (to both local and international communities), highlighting the aim of Buddhism: putting and end to Dukkha (suffering) or attaining Nibbana.

Image:Mahamevnawa-pawidi pin kama.jpg

Contents

[edit] Buddhism in brief

A Buddha Statue
A Buddha Statue

This section presents Buddhism in a concise form, highlighting its aim.

Buddhism is the doctrine revealed by Sammasambuddha Gauthama, in India, around 5th century BC. Buddhahood is a rare achievement, in which one perfectly understands the true nature of the world (loka) through unmatched wisdom (paññā) developed through concentration (smādhi) of mind; and reveals it with pure compassion (mahā karunā) towards the others.

Message embedded in the Teachings (Dahmma) is clear and evident in almost all Suttas. It is that the samsāra - one's existence over a boundless succession of births & deaths is abundant with suffering (dukkha); and that one should get started, without further delays, with a process that helps cease this suffering.

Without just stopping at cautioning, the Buddha discloses desire (tanhā) as the cause of samsāraic existence; highlights the capability of ending it (attaining Nibbāna); and shows fully the path one needs to follow to attain it.

“ Ye dhammā hetuppabhavā tesam hetum tathāgato āha - Tesañca yo nirodho evamvādi mahāsamano
Of whatever phenomena arising from a cause, Tathagata - the Great Contemplative explains the cause; He explains its cession as well; this is the Doctrine of the Great Samano.		 ”

— Sāriputtamoggallānapabbajjākathā [3]

Although present in all life forms, peril of samsāraic existence is somewhat obscured in humans. It is having to be born in worlds of essential suffering, which one cannot unfortunately evade because of selfless (anatta) nature of one's existence.

What one gains with birth (jāthi) is: aging (jarā), illness (vyādhi), death (marana), sorrow (soka), lamenting (parideva), suffering (dukkha), distress (domanassa), despair (upāyāsa), association with things disliked (appiyehi sampayogo dukkho), separation from things liked (piyehi vippayogo dukkho) and not getting what one wishes (yampiccham na labhati, tampi dukkham). Concisely pañupādānakkhandhā: the forms (rupha), feelings(vedanā), perceptions (saññā), volitional/mental formations (sankāra) and consciousness (viññāna) that one clings to as oneself is suffering.

“ Idam kho pana bhikkave dukkham ariyasaccam: jātipi dukkhā, jarāpi dukkhā, vyādhipi dukkha, maranampi dukkhm appiyehi sampayogo dukkho piyehi vippayogo dukkho yampiccham na labhati tampi dukkham sankhittena pañupādānakkhandhā dukkhā ”

— Dhammacakkappavattanasuttam [4]

Unlike some other worlds, humans seem to experience both comfort (sukha) and suffering/discomfort. But it is not difficult to perceive if one thinks carefully that

  • the life is impermanent (anithya)
  • therefore subjected to suffering (dukkha)
  • hence and because it's subjected to change (vipaprināma dhamma) life should not be seen as self (anatta)

Dhamma seeks just one goal: putting an end to samsāraic existence or attaining Nibbāna. Path to achieve it is the Nobel Eightfold Path (Ariya Attangiko Maggo). And the core of Dhamma is Vimukti - becoming free of tanhā. Ample advice on how to cultivate the Path as virtue (sila), concentration of mind (samādhi) and wisdom (paññā) is found in Dhamma.

[edit] Practicing Dhamma

Aim of a practicing Buddhist: "Cession of Suffering, within One's Life"(as highlighted in Sinhalese by: Mahamevnawa Bodhignana Sabhava)
Aim of a practicing Buddhist: "Cession of Suffering, within One's Life"
(as highlighted in Sinhalese by: Mahamevnawa Bodhignana Sabhava)

According to Lord Buddha's teachings: birth as a human being is a very rare opportunity. Fortunate people who also gets to hear about Dhamma should develop their minds to attain the ultimate goal of Nibbāna.

One can attain Nibbāna only by adhering to the Buddhist doctrine (Dhamma); through a process called: Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya Attangiko Maggo). Initial levels of spiritual development: e.g. Stream Enter (Sothāpañña) & Once Returner (Sakadāgami), may be achieved even amidst the chores of one's day-to-day life.

First step towards cession of suffering (achieving Nibbāna) is getting to know Buddha's teaching. Mahamevnawa plays an important role in this regard through promotion of teaching, discussing and practicing Dhamma in unaltered form.

Mahamevnawa also facilitates people to practice meditation, one of the key aspects for improving concentration (Samādhi) and wisdom (Paññā), through cultivating mindfulness (Sathi) as a component of path to Nibbāna.

A key point highlighted is that: Dhamma not only says that the life is suffering (Dukkha), but also shows a proven path to cession of suffering.

[edit] Spreading Dhamma

Tipitaka Chanting at Bodhgaya, India, 2008, with participation from Mahamevnawa
Tipitaka Chanting at Bodhgaya, India, 2008, with participation from Mahamevnawa
“ Tathāgatappavedito dhammavinayo, bhikkhave, vivato virocati, no paticchanno
The Teaching and Discipline declared by the Thus Gone One shine when manifested and not when covered.		 ”

— Paticchannasuttam [5]
“ Caratha bhikkhave, cārikam bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānam. Mā ekena dve agamittha. Desetha, bhikkhave, dhammam ādikalyānam majjhe kalyānam pariyosānakalyānam sāttham sabyañajanam kevalaparipunnam parisuddham brahmacariyam pakāsetha. Santi sattā apparajakkhajātikā, assavanatā dhammassa parihāyanti. Bhavissanti dhammassa aññātāro.
Go, bhikkhus, and wander for the benefit of many people, wellbeing of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, for the benefit, and for the wellbeing of the divine and men. Let two of you not take the same path. Bhikkhus, preach the Dhamma, which is beautiful in the beginning; beautiful in the middle; beautiful at the end; substantive; immaculately proclaimed; perfect in every way; the pure path to Nibbana. There are beings with less defilements in the hearts; They will wither away, if they do not get the opportunity to Listen to Dhamma. They will realize the Truth and Flourish, if they get to Listen to Dhamma.		 ”

— Mārakathā [6]
Discussion of Dhamma, at Bodhgaya, India
Discussion of Dhamma, at Bodhgaya, India

True disciples of Buddha are Sāmichipatipanno. In other words, they not only practice Dhamma with the sole aim of relinquishing suffering, but also spread it with compassion towards others. Both lay and clergy associated with Mahamevnawa adhere to this whenever possible.

The way of preaching/ teaching Dhamma adopted by the clergy at Mahamevnawa is what advocated by the Buddha.

“ "If a monk preaches Dhamma, to help one resolve to let down (Nibbidhayā), loose interest in (Virāgayā), and cease (Nirodhayā) forms (Rupha), that monk deserves to be called an expounder of the Teaching (Dhammakathika)...

If a monk preaches Dhamma, to help one resolve to let down, loose interest in, and cease feelings/sensations (Vedanā), that monk deserves to be called an expounder of the Teaching...
If a monk preaches Dhamma, to help one resolve to let down, loose interest in, and cease perceptions (Saññā), that monk deserves to be denoted an expounder of the Teaching...
If a monk preaches Dhamma, to help one resolve to let down, loose interest in, and cease volitional/mental formations (Sankāra), that monk deserves to be called an expounder of the Teaching...
If a monk preaches Dhamma, to help one resolve to let down, loose interest in, and cease consciousness (Viññāna), that monk deserves to be called an expounder of the Teaching... "

 ”

— Dhammakathikasuttam[7]
Mahamevnawa Sadaham Prakashana (Mahamevnawa Dhamma Publications) [6]
Mahamevnawa Sadaham Prakashana (Mahamevnawa Dhamma Publications) [6]

Recorded Sermons & Dhamma text based on original teachings of Buddha that reveal the Truth in life and emphasize the urge of cession of suffering are therefore in circulation among those associated with Mahamevnawa.

Owing to the initial Sri Lankan context, most of the publications are in Sinhalese; but English versions are now being released through Buddha Vision [11].

"Ama Sadaham Mandapaya"[12], a Live Internet Dhamma Discussion conducted in Sinhalese is a new initiative by Mahamevnawa Canada & Mahamevnawa USA. It provides a way for Sinhalese Buddhists dispersed across the world to get their doubts in Dhamma resolved.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery - Official Website
  2. ^ Mahamevnawa Monastery - Events
  3. ^ Vinayapitake→Mahāvaggapāli→Mahākhandhako→Sāriputtamoggallānapabbajjākathā [1]
  4. ^ Samyuttanikāyo→Mahāvaggo→Saccasamyuttam→Dhammacakkappavattanasuttam [2]
  5. ^ Anguttaranikāyo→Tikanipātapāli→Kusināravaggo (Bharanduvaggo)→Paticchannasuttam [3]
  6. ^ Vinayapitake→Mahāvaggapāli→Mahākhandhako→Mārakathā [4]
  7. ^ Samyuttanikāyo→Khandhavaggo→Khandhasamyuttam→Dhammakathikavaggo→Dhammakathikasuttam [5]

[edit] Suggested Readings

(from BuddhaVision, the official English website of Mahamevnawa)

[edit] FAQ

[edit] Dhamma Articles

[edit] Meditations Article

[edit] Dhamma Books

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Mahamevnawa

Tipitaka

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