In our country, in step with other parts of the world, there is a seemingly exponential increase in dissatisfaction or dukkha. People are trying to seek satisfaction in material things as never before in our culture, chasing after the insatiable gratification of sensual pleasure.
With not enough to go round, with increasing demand for pleasure, there is widespread conflict within people, and without in society. But beneath the surface, there is an encouraging development, chiefly among young people.
More and more are interested in the Teaching of the Buddha and in the moral values and aims that shaped and nurtured or society for 2500 years.
The Buddhist Cultural Centre (BCC) was started by Venerable Kirama Wimalajoti its Director 12 years ago in a modest way at its premises at 125, Anderson Road, Nedimale, Dehiwela. Over the years, it has steadily grown and extended its activities.
Besides the main activity of publishing, distributing and sale of Dhamma books and literature worldwide, they have now embarked on a project to address the aforesaid issues and cater to the wishes of a new generation of young people desirous of helping themselves and others through Dhamma.
In the time of the Buddha, hundreds of young people from noble families renounced their inheritances and went into homelessness seeking permanent ordination as bhikkhus in order to strive for final release from dukkha. But as with all things, perceptions changed. Moreover, there is now no Buddha to give inspiration and leadership.
Many years ago, the Sangha in Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and latterly in Malaysia and Singapore adapted to these changing conditions. They offered short-term or temporary ordination, training in Dhamma and an experience in homelessness to their people, who were in the main Buddhists. It was a Theravada innovation.
This practice of temporary ordination gradually took root in the culture of these countries. Even royalty accepted a short period of homelessness to give patronage and leadership.
However, temporary ordination was not practiced in our country. The Sangha here preferred to stick by the orthodox tradition.
This matter was discussed by the trustees of the BCC two years ago and on the suggestion of its Director, Ven. Wimalajoti, it set apart funds and resources to offer initially, a two weeks course of training in Dhamma and Vinaya to a batch of 25 young people selected from over 100 who applied to join in a short career of homelessness.
A panel of monks and lay scholars prepared a detailed syllabus covering the whole of 24 hours of each day in the training.
It was conducted at the Dekandawila forest monastery in Horana run by the BCC. This monastery was started a few years ago by Ven. Wimalajoti with support from his teacher in Malaysia and other national and international well-wishers.
It is now well equipped with residential facilities and dana for up to 40 persons on any one day.
As the name indicates, it is between two hills covered with forest and foliage, providing the ideal of peace, tranquillity and solitude for meditation and study.
The temporary ordination project has now trained over 100 young male persons between the ages of 18 - 35 years from cities and villages, from University students, school leavers and a few employed young men on leave. All persons joining the course with permission from parents are inducted as samanera according to Vinaya rules at a simple ceremony.
That is, their heads and beards are clean shaven and they wear the robe same as the monks who teach them.
All necessaries are provided and no fee is charged from the students. The program each day begins at 4 in the morning and it is intensive without being physically and mentally overworked.
It provides for individual and group instruction, discussion and private mediation.
At the end of the course, there is a course evaluation from participants with a view to improve it. The few persons who request extension of ordination are sent to temples in the borderline villages in the North of the country to strengthen Dhamma activities in these areas.
In pursuance of this addition to the original project, the Director has now included in the syllabus training in public speaking and discourse of Dhamma, teaching at Sunday schools, counselling, social welfare activities and management of small village temples.
The organizers of the project have found that there is a great need to provide instruction and guidance in Dhamma to people in villages scattered in these remote and difficult areas because many temples have been virtually devastated by the civil war in the recent years.
There are many young monks who are eager to venture out in these remote places and the BCC has started a special one year Tipitaka instruction course for them.
There are now 30 monks in training at Dekandawila.
This article is written to inform the Buddhist public and NGOs about this historic temporary ordination project and solicit their support and participation to strengthen it with their patronage and advice.
The reader is welcome to contact the Director for details at the Buddhist Cultural Centre on any day of the week. The telephone numbers are: 2726234, 2734256.
(http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/09/15/fea07.html)
