Kiri Amma Dana - Sri Lanka

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
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SarathW
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Kiri Amma Dana - Sri Lanka

Post by SarathW »

Kiri Amma Dana - Sri Lanka

Just for your interest I like to share the following video.
Some Sri Lankans prefer to give food to animals and old women instead of monks.
Generally they give this to dogs and crows.
Kiri Amma means the step mother or the mother who give milk in absence of the birth mother.
So they select some women who had children for this event.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattini

“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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dylanj
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Re: Kiri Amma Dana - Sri Lanka

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"Endowed with these five qualities, a lay follower is an outcaste of a lay follower, a stain of a lay follower, a dregs of a lay follower. Which five? He/she does not have conviction [in the Buddha's Awakening]; is unvirtuous; is eager for protective charms & ceremonies; trusts protective charms & ceremonies, not kamma; and searches for recipients of his/her offerings outside [of the Sangha], and gives offerings there first. Endowed with these five qualities, a lay follower is an outcaste of a lay follower, a stain of a lay follower, a dregs of a lay follower.

"Endowed with these five qualities, a lay follower is a jewel of a lay follower, a lotus of a lay follower, a fine flower of a lay follower. Which five? He/she has conviction; is virtuous; is not eager for protective charms & ceremonies; trusts kamma, not protective charms & ceremonies; does not search for recipients of his/her offerings outside [of the Sangha], and gives offerings here first. Endowed with these five qualities, a lay follower is a jewel of a lay follower, a lotus of a lay follower, a fine flower of a lay follower."
caṇḍāla sutta
Born, become, arisen – made, prepared, short-lived
Bonded by decay and death – a nest for sickness, perishable
Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
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robertk
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Re: Kiri Amma Dana - Sri Lanka

Post by robertk »

That is lovely..kind of..?
or strange ritual, not sure which.
SarathW
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Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Kiri Amma Dana - Sri Lanka

Post by SarathW »

In my opinion, it is a lovely kind of a ritual.
My mother was a Kiria Amma and I wish she knew of Buddha Dhamma instead.
I think this is some sort of Hindu practice crept into Sri Lankan society.
It is a great event as it offers some food to elderly women but they were carried out at the expense of Buddha's teaching.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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