Message from the Director and the Senior Advisor
– Most Venerable Wattegama Dhammawasa Nayaka Maha Thero, Sri Subodha
Sanghamitta Dhamma Education Institution and The Chief Incumbent of The Sri
Subodharama International Buddhist Centre, Peradeniya.
On the Teacher's Thanksgiving Day, 2014, (Guru-Upahara
Dinaya)
The Nuns of the Sri Subodha Sangamitta Dhamma Education
Institution Celebrated their Teacher's Thanksgiving Day (Guruupahara Dinaya)
Recently. Written below is the Message given in the Upahara Magazine by the Chief Anusasaka/Senior Advisor
of the Institution Most Ven. Wattegama Dhammawsa Nayaka Maha Thero.
The Buddha appeared in the world to show the way out
of all suffering of samsara. He showed the way to gain the supreme bliss of
Nibbana to all beings in the universe. The Buddha’s dispensation consists of
the four fold assembly of Sangha comprised of Bhikkhu, Bhukkhuni, Upaska and
Upasika. The Order of the Bhikkhuni Sangha that began with Maha Prajapati
Gotami allowed women to gain freedom from suffering. During the reign of King
Devenapatis, the daughter of King Dharma Ashoka, named Saghamitta Arahat Theri,
began the Order of Bhikkhunis in Sri Lanka. On her arrival, she established the
Order of Nuns, the Bikkhuni order. This gave the golden opportunity to Anula
Devi and a large number of other females from all walks of life to enter the
order. This enabled these women folk to end all suffering and gain the freedom
of Nibbana. During the Anuradhapura dynasty the Bhikkuhni Order was firmly and
well established in Sri Lanka.
However, later due to various political, social and
economic difficulties the Bhikkhini Order declined. But the female disciples of
the Buddha who were well established in the Dhamma became the great female
leaders of the world. At present with the globalisation of the world and the
interconnectedness of nations unity amongst human beings has increased. As a
result there have been numerous benefits. Once again, in our country, a large
number of females from all social levels have begun to seek to enter the Order.
These Nuns do not have a suitable environment to foster their education, which
is a tremendous disadvantage to their spiritual development. In order to give
them some relief from this situation our Sri Subodha Sanghamitta Dhamma
Education Institution was established.
I am thankful to Ven. Nadimale Sudhamma Mehinwanse who
proposed this idea of inaugurating this educational institution and who spent
her time, knowledge and resources to bring this idea to fruition. Similarly, I
am thankful for the commitment and the teaching efforts of Ven. Orutota
Dhammavijitha Meheninwanse and Ven. Idamegama Vajira Meheninwanse provided to
this institution.
Similarly, I would like to very much appreciate the
contribution of the retired Assistant Director of Education, Shasrapathi the Most
Venerable Vijitha Watagoda Nayaka Thero and Shasrapathi, The Most Venerable Udugama
Sasanarathana Thero, the Pirivenadipathi of our Insitution, Royal Pandith
Sharapathi Madadeniya Punnarathana Thero, Royal Pandith Sharapathi Daraniyagala
Dhammavijaya Thero, Royal Pandith Wavagama Soma Thero, Royal Pandit Panvila Amitha Bhikkhu, Royal Pandith Peramandiye
Sunanda Bhikkhu,, and Royal Pandith
Thavalantanne Assaji Bhikkhu.
I would also like to thank the treasurer of the
Sanghamitta Dhamma Education Institution and Coordinator for English language
Dr Shirani Jayasinghe, Coordinator for computer teaching Dr Inoka Karunaratne,
Secretray Dr Mangalika Nugeliyadde and Mrs Kumari Jayasinghe.
The vision of our
Initiation is to develop a group of nuns who are competent, have
self-confidence, be well learned, be upholders of the Dhamma, practitioners of
the Dhamma, be followers of the Dhamma, and who are able to serve the country
so that Buddha’s dispensation may continue and free all beings from suffering.
Most Venerable Wattegama Dhammawase Nayaka Maha Thero.
The Chief Sangha Nayaka of the Central Province of Sri
Lanka and Australia.
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