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| Sunday, 21 December 2003 |
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Country mourns passing away of Ven. Soma Thera by Shanika Sriyananda Saffron flags at half mast at shops, shopping malls, offices, houses and vehicles have overshadowed the festive decorations as Sri Lanka mourns the death of one of its most popular monks, the Venerable Gangodawila Soma Thera.
'Soma Hamuduruvo' as he was fondly referred to by his legions was a charismatic figure, who within a short span earned an islandwide reputation as an 'erudite exponent of the Buddha Dhamma'. His practical approach to the teachings of the Buddha influenced many to change their lifestyles. The course of his own life was perhaps changed by Ven. Ampitiye Rahula Thera, who after reading the young Somaratne's palm, asked, "Narakada Putha Mahana Vunoth ?", (Son, would it be bad, if you become a Thera?). This made the young Somaratna to make a firm decision to become a bhikku. Born on April 24, 1948, Somaratna became a samanera under the guidance of Ven. Madihe Pannaseehe Maha Nayake Thera at the age of 26. A past pupil of Kotte Ananda Shathralaya and Isipathana Vidyalaya, Soma samanera studied Buddhism and received his 'upasampada' - higher Ordination in 1976 - from the Buddhist Training Centre, Maharagama. Forsaking the traditional routine activities of Buddhist monks, Soma Thera went to a jungle village in Veheragala in the Ampara district to experience the 'true sense' of Buddhist meditation. With the rapid change in cultural values and the escalating crime rate, Ven Soma Thera using his experience as a 'Sunday school' teacher, started various programmes to address the minds of the young.
He pioneered the 'Sil campaign' in 1975 and his practical approach to preaching Buddhist thinking saw the campaign, which started with 35 youth become a leading movement with a membership of over thousands of youth in a short time. He was also the brainchild behind the 'Tharuna Saviya' movement, which guided young people according to Buddhist thinking. Ven. Soma Thera, who was a distinguished pupil of the late Agga Maha Panditha Most Venerable Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayake Thera visited Australia under the 'dharmaduta mission' in 1986. Sri Lankans living in Australia helped Ven. Soma Thera to build the 'Sri Lanka Buddhist Viharaya' in the Victoria province in 1993. Then on an invitation from Sri Lankans living in New Zealand, he visited the country to preach Buddhism for a short spell. Back in Sri Lanka, Ven. Soma Thera continued with his preaching of Buddhist values breaking the orthodox forms of religious beliefs. Through his television and radio programs he highlighted how the practical side of Buddhist theories could help ordinary lives. Openly attacking those who believed in supernatural powers, Ven. Soma Thera guided the young and old to live according to Buddhist teachings. He also openly and frequently criticised the behaviour of politicians. 'Aduren Eliyata' (from Darkness to Light) and 'Nana Pahana' (Wisdom), discussions based on problems faced in day-today life became very popular among millions of local TV viewers. He was shut out from certain television stations due to his heavy criticism of politicians and their 'activities'. With the aim of introducing 'clean politics', he also founded the 'Jana Vijaya' Foundation. According to reports from Moscow he was operated for a heart ailment. Ven. Soma thera was in Russia to receive a doctorate in Buddhist Philosophy from the International University of Fundamental Studies, for his book - 'Buddhastupa', a guide book on how to start meditation. Proving that people who do good to the society do not often have a long life, Ven. Soma Thera passed away at the relatively young age of 55, at a time when the country needed him most. |
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| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
The news of his passing away in Russia on December 12, barely three
months after the death of his mentor, Agga Maha Panditha Most Venerable
Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayake Thera, literally shocked the country with
many crying in disbelief.
