Temples of Sri Lanka

PALI AND SANSKRIT INTERNATIONAL BHIKKHU EXCHANGE PROGRAM

It is not a secret that the Buddhist philosophy and the Sambuddha Sasana are deeply respected in the spiritual world. The Buddha dhamma and the Buddha sasana have been subjected to different traditions, educational conventions and cultures over the course of years. Therefore, an attempt in uniting the Buddhist world is well-timed. Accordingly, all parties of the Buddhist world came together to start the Pali and Sanskrit International Bhikkhu Exchange Program as per the noble concept of the world’s spiritual leadership, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The inauguration of this program, which will be hosted by many Buddhist states in the next five years, was in December 2022. Buddhist monks from Tibet, India, Thailand, Bhutan, Vietnam, Taiwan and Myanmar participated in this program. A delegation of seventeen Buddhist monks represented Sri Lanka in this noble program.

 

  • The Inauguration

The Inauguration of the Pali and Sanskrit International Bhikkhu Exchange Program was held at the Wat-Pa Thai Temple, in Bodhgaya, the pinnacle of all Buddhist devotees around the world on December 27th 2022. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the Mahanayake Theros of many Buddhist countries were also present at the inauguration of this remarkable event. Most Venerable Warakagoda Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya Chapter Siyam Maha Nikaya, Most Venerable Agga Maha Panditha Makulewe Wimala Mahanayake Thero – Chief Prelate of Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya, Most Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri Anunayake Thero – Deputy Chief Prelate (Anunayake) of Malwatte Chapter Siyam Maha Nikaya and the Most Venerable Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero – Deputy President of Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya represented the Sri Lankan Maha Sangha on this occasion.

A notable exception was that the chief guest of this event which was chaired by His Holiness the Dalai Lama was the Most Venerable Warakagoda Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya Chapter Siyam Maha Nikaya. His Holiness the Dalai Lama further emphasized that even though Buddhism has spread all over the world, the young monks should unite in order to share the message of kindness more and more among the people of the world. ‘Satipattana’ Media Network was the only Sri Lankan media that had the opportunity to cover this inauguration ceremony.

 

 

  • An Invitation to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Visit Sri Lanka

A special discussion between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Mahanayake Theros of Sri Lanka was held on the morning of December 28 at Namgyel Monastery in Bodhgaya. Most Venerable Warakagoda Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya Chapter Siyam Maha Nikaya, Most Venerable Agga Maha Panditha Makulewe Wimala Mahanayake Thero – Chief Prelate of Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya, Most Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri Anunayake Thero – Deputy Chief Prelate (Anunayake) of Malwatte Chapter Siyam Maha Nikaya, Most Venerable Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero – Deputy President of Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya, Most Venerable Dr Madampagama Assaji Anunayake Thero and Venerable Handaganawe Wimaladhamma Thero joined the discussion.

There, the Dalai Lama discussed the issues about protecting world peace and socializing the message of kindness to the Maha Sangha in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan abbots also expressed their thanks and respect to the Dalai Lama for being a pioneer in introducing noble concepts such as this Bhikkhu exchange program to the world. Both parties discussed many issues regarding the understanding between Western education and Buddhist philosophy and the current tendency of the Western world towards Buddhist philosophy. His Holiness the Dalai Lama was presented with some special commemorative gifts by the Maha Sangha of Sri Lanka and the Dalai Lama also presented Buddha statues to all those involved in the discussion.

Referring to the most prominent moment of this discussion, the Mahanayake Theros extended an invitation to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit Sri Lanka. Most Venerable Warakagoda Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya Chapter Siyam Maha Nikaya, invited His Holiness to visit the Temple Tooth Relic in Sri Lanka, while Most Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri Anunayake Thero – Deputy Chief Prelate (Anunayake) of Malwatte Chapter Siyam Maha Nikaya, invited His Holiness to venerate the Sri Maha Bodhi and the Tooth Relics. Furthermore, Most Venerable Agga Maha Panditha Makulewe Wimala Mahanayake Thero – Chief Prelate of Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya handed a letter to His Holiness inviting him to visit Sri Lanka.  On behalf of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya, Most Venerable Dr Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero – Deputy President of Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya represented the Sri Lankan Maha Sangha invited His Holiness to Visit Waskaduwe Sri Subuthi temple and get blessings from Kapilawastu Relics. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who won the people of the world from the top, was expected to visit Sri Lanka several times, but the request was rejected by the governments who ruled the state at that time, but this time the invitation was extended to him by the patriarchs of Three main Nikayas in Sri Lanka.

 

  • Mahanayake Theros’ statements on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit being a blessing to Sri Lanka.

A special press conference on the invitation made by the Mahanayaka Theros of Sri Lanka to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit Sri Lanka was held on the 29th of December in New Delhi. Most Venerable Agga Maha Panditha Makulewe Wimala Mahanayake Thero – Chief Prelate of Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya, Most Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri Anunayake Thero – Deputy Chief Prelate (Anunayake) of Malwatte Chapter Siyam Maha Nikaya, Most Venerable Dr Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero – Deputy President of Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya and the Most Ven Muruddeniye Dhammarathana Thero – Chief Incumbent of Muthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya.

Speaking on this occasion, all the Mahanayaka Theros said that His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Sri Lanka will be a great blessing at this moment.
Most Venerable Agga Maha Panditha Makulewe Wimala Mahanayake Thero said that he was very content to see the public’s interest in the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on spiritual liberation. Giving a further comment, Most Venerable Dr Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero said that despite the severe cold weather, Bodh Gaya is full of foreign tourists who are visiting to listen to the sermons and teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and that such tourism attraction and foreign economic transmissions will be achieved in Sri Lanka through His Holiness’ visit to Sri Lanka and it will be a good solution for economic inflation faced by Sri Lanka. Speaking further, Most Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri Anunayake Thero also expressed his contentment about the brotherhood between India and Sri Lanka that started from time immemorial and he did not forget to thank the Government of India for the museum built with financial assistance from India at Temple Tooth Relic in Kandy.

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