Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Forum

Hello

At the end of December, beginning of January, i am travelling to Sri lanka on a 3 month visa with the soul aim of ordination. I know this is a major dessision and one i have not made lightly, i have had this desire since childhood only now years later am i able to live a life long dream. excited, you bet! apprihensive, too right! but so very determined.

So my question to you all is regarding any information you have on Monesteries in Sri lanka that you know that western lay practioniers have been and ordained. A teacher or abbott who can speak english whould help. I find the mashai sayadaw method most suitable to my mind.

Information such as addresses or website links would be so much appreciated as i would like to write beforehand.

with kind regards to all who take the time to read this and special thanks to all who hwlp in my quest

With Mettta
Andrew

http://nauyana.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Na Uyana Aranya is a very prestigious meditation center, although it is in the Pa Auk tradition. From what I've heard, it's not too hard to go from Mahasi to Pa Auk.

Otherwise http://lanka.sirimangalo.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; might be of help.

Hi Andrew, here's a very helpful list of monasteries in Sri Lanka.
This one is aimed at people intending to ordain: http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/Sri-L ... teries.pdf
This one is aimed at laypeople going to Sri Lanka to practise seriously: http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/Sri-L ... teries.pdf

They were done in 2005 but I believe they would still be a great resource for phone numbers, address for writing to them, and general information.
Could you PM me with information on how to get a 3 month visa? I thought I had to get a one month visa and renew it each month. I'm going there next year too.

Many thanks!

Many thanks to James and Youghart for your replys very usefull indeed.

James the pdf list is awesome infomation and gives as you have said plenty of telephone numbers and addresses

As for the visa situation you are right it has changed very recently to an online 30 day visa. however after speaking to the high commision in london for sri lanka they are still issuing 90 day single entry visa as before you just have to apply to them.

try this for more details http://www.srilankahighcommission.co.uk ... &Itemid=17" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

good luck and hope to see you there next year.

many thanks for the info LonesomeYogurt however the link below for sirimangalo and yuttadhammo in sri lanka looks like a no no. it appears yuttadhammo is leaving sri lanka for thailand then onto canada. Shame but i understand he has been hit rather hard with dengue fever and sounds a little dispondent

Otherwise http://lanka.sirimangalo.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; might be of help.[/quote]

with metta kindness

LonesomeYogurt wrote:http://nauyana.org/

Na Uyana Aranya is a very prestigious meditation center, although it is in the Pa Auk tradition. From what I've heard, it's not too hard to go from Mahasi to Pa Auk.

Otherwise http://lanka.sirimangalo.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; might be of help.

I confirm this reply.

Pa Auk tradition have tipitaka memorizer.

Parappuduwa Nun's Island at Dodanduwa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissarana_Vanaya" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hi everyone
My first post.
Your best bet is to visit BPS (Buddhist Publication Society) in Kandy and get in touch with Ven. Nyanatusita, the editor there. He is the one who compiled some lists above mentioned, and is quite knowledgeable about places and monastics in Sri Lanka. Often western monks visit at Forest Hermitage where he lives (walking distance from BPS). That is just to get a general overview.

After that it is certainly a good idea to go see the individual places and get a feel of them. Na Uyana is a large monastery; when I was there 5 yrs ago there were only perhaps 5 English speaking (young) monks staying there. Unfortunately very few Sinhalese monks speak English in general, at Na Uyana I did not get past very basic communication skills).

A place where many speak English, including some the teacher Ven. Pemasiri, is Siematipala Meditation Center next to Kanduboda meditation center. Quite a few westerners staying and ordaining there, but Ven. Pemasiri does not give full ordination. As it is close to Colombo, it is rather hot and humid there. The advantage for you is that it is in the Mahasi tradition.

A cool, sometimes even cold place is Bowalawatta (for some unknown reason called University Forest Solitude). It is not a meditation monastery, with few monks, but very well supported.

A line to consider is certainly also the one of Ven. Kiribatgoda Gnyanananda (sometimes spelt that way to differentiate from Ven. K. Nanananda the former Pali scholar who has his monastery at Devalagama near Kegala; also worth a visit).
For info see here: http://theravadin.wordpress.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

At Nissarana Vanaya you have Ven. Dhammajiva as meditation teacher, also Mahasi school. And he speaks English rather well.

One thing I learnt specifically at Ven Pemasiri's place was that people ordaining were soon disappointed to learn that they did not have much time for meditation, as they needed to learn many things. Therefore it is a good idea to separate the two things, desire for meditation and desire for ordaining, at least for the first few years.

An advantage with ordaining with Na Uyana would be that they also have many branches, and are well respected.

One thing for sure: you need to learn Sinhalese soon to survive in any monastery there.

If you are set on the Mahasi method, sooner or later you'll find your way to Kanduboda near Colombo.
http://www.insight-meditation.org/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Many thanks to the wonderful replys. been away for a few days and this information is a fantastic suprise.

Piano Piano thank you so much for the great info, looks like you have some excellent knowledge on the subject. I must admit with such good information i have many places to check out and try. I will head for the BPS as i've been ordering from them for a few years now and have always wanted to meet Ven. Nyanatusita, i also have contacted Venerable Bhante Sobhana who is at present just outside of Kandy. I can completly understand the need and desire to learn Sinhalese i have tried to find some sort of CD but to no avail.

Does anyone know of any language schools in Colombo where perhaps it is possible to learn at least some basics?

I am very easy and not in anyway stuck to one particular method of meditation (mashai) i just seem to keep doing this method out of habit i suppose. I have no problem in learning new techniques.

I have spent a long time making this deccission to become ordainned. I could write a whole load of info as to why i am doing this, i will instead try to sum it up in a ferw words. Life is about being hear rather then in the future or past and in this moment i know i have arrived, if i do not ordain how will the future generation profit from the teachings, i am doing this only for the good of all, not a selfless act of wanting to run away from society or become a recluse, a wholehearted decission to benifit others.

For everyone who even spends the five or so minutes reading this i thank you, and for all those who reply, you are wonderious people.

Many thanks

Hi Andrew,

See also: http://dhamma.ru/sadhu/directory?catid=120" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would also recommend the meditation center of Ven Pemasiri (Sumanthipala Na Himi Senasun Arana
Kanduboda, Sri Lanka).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pchO5pWcRKY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.phil.muni.cz/suriyalamai/Dha ... htrope.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://blag.biz/Mango_tree_wisdom" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are some apps for basic Sinhalese vocabulary:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... DB56A0.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... ry.offline" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... dictionary" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... g.practice" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good luck!

Dmytro wrote: I would also recommend the meditation center of Ven Pemasiri (Sumanthipala Na Himi Senasun Arana
Kanduboda, Sri Lanka).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pchO5pWcRKY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.phil.muni.cz/suriyalamai/Dha ... htrope.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://blag.biz/Mango_tree_wisdom" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good luck!

Thank you so very much for the help Dmytro. The center mention of Ven Pemasiri sounds very interesting as it has been mentioned twice now.

I wonder does anyone know of a web site or blog page for this center?

and Dmytro would this (Sumanthipala Na Himi Senasun Arana Kanduboda, Sri Lanka) be the address?

many thanks

Dmytro wrote: There are some apps for basic Sinhalese vocabulary:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... DB56A0.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... ry.offline" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... dictionary" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... g.practice" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good luck!

this is simple awesome. I do have a small question and please be gently as i have no idea what these apps things are or how they can be used.

basically I dont have a mobile phone to load apps onto and wondered if there a another way around this?

can i load it onto computer? normal windows lap top?

or will i have to find a nice friend who has this technology?

Perhaps someone knows of the old fashioned CD of Sinhalese.

I dont want to sound ungreatfull as i honestly think this is awesome information. I hope you can HELP

The good old Lonely Planet Sinhala Phrasebook. Good for a start.
http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/sri-lanka/ ... asebook-3/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;