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| Sunday, 3 July 2005 |
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Editorial
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An onward journey by Dr. Mrs. I. Ratnayaka How did the New York Buddhist Viharaya become so popular? It was with the Buddhist community of New York that the Venerable Kurunegoda Piyatissa Nayake Maha Thera, built this strong edifice - the New York Buddhist Viharaya to promote the Dharma specially among the educated who seek an alternative to stress and viles that loom in the minds of oneself and others. Pandit Venerable Kurunegoda Piyatissa Nayake Maha Thera is one who lives by the Dhamma. Born on December 28, 1928, Seneviratne Bandara was the second in a family of two boys and six girls at the Mulgahalanda Walauwa at Kurunegoda, a village in the Kegalle district. His parents were land owners, on whom the village looked up to, and depended on. In 1935 he started schooling at Pindeniya village school. From his early days he understood what religion was, by the close association of a relative of the family the Venerable Kurunegoda Piyadassi, the chief priest of Keselwatte Shri Sumanarama temple closeby. On November 6, 1941 at the Kegalle Keselwate Purana Vihara, Seneviratne Bandara was ordained Samanera Kurunegoda Piyadassi following the name of his mentor and relative, under the guidance of Thiyambarahene Shri Rathanapala. In the belief that taking the name of a bikkhu who died early in life was inauspicious and on the advice of guides, mentors and followers, the name was changed to Kurunegoda Piyatissa. The Second World War had its impact on Sri Lanka with severe food rationing. The Dayakayas of temples could not afford to offer alms, and the student priests in most pirivenas went back to their village temples. This happened at the Keselwatte Purana Vihara, but Samanera Kurunegoda Piyatissa and Ven. Boswella Premaratne stayed on and looked after their food as best as they could by themselves. The Piriwenadhipathi of Keselwatte Viharaya lived in Hungampola and on the advice of the Nayake Priest of the Keselwatte Temple, Samanera Piyatissa walked daily to and from Hungampola, a distance of three miles each way for his education. While walking he revised his home work like chanting the gathas. After an initial training at Hungampola, Samanera Piyatissa continued his work and studies with the Chief Priest of Kurunegoda Purana Viharaya. After sometime he had the fortune of joining the Maligakanda Vidyodaya Pirivena where most of the scholarship monks studied. On June 22, 1950, Ven. Piyatissa received Upasampada at the Pushparama Seemamalaka of Malwatte Maha Viharaya Kandy. He served and studied at the Kegalla Keselwatte Shri Jayawardenapura Pirivana, Denagamuwa Shri Bodhigupta Pirivena and Maligakanda Vidyodaya Pirivana and was conferred Pracheena Panditha, and graduated at the Vidyodaya University and later obtained B.A. (London) and M.A. (U.S.A.) His services continued at Denagamuwa Shri Bodhigupta Pirivena, at the Hunupitiya Gangarama Pirivena, as Vice-Principal at Polgahawela Parakramabahu Madya Maha Vidyalaya, an assistant teacher at Ananda College Colombo, and lecturer at Maharagama Dharmayathanaya. His analysis of the books Rasavahiniya, Naloparkyana, Sinhala Bodhivansa, Guththila Kavya, Poojavaliya chapters 11,12 and 13, Buduguna Mahima, Oba Upan Rata, and a Sinhala Dhammapadaya are some of his works. These illustrate the depth of understanding of great Buddhist literature and the Sinhala language. His expert knowledge of Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhala and English is seen clearly in these works. In 1972, on an invitation, Ven. Piyatissa visited Oxford Buddhist Centre and the London Buddhist Viharaya in U.K. While there, he helped people to understand Theravada Buddhism. Mahinda Dharmapala of Treasure House, Cotta Road, had brought Mr. Philip, an American who wanted to see treasures and temple, to Gangarama Temple, Hunupitiya. Phillip was impressed with the temple and requested Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera of Gangarama Temple, to start a temple in New York - at Flushing. Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera went to New York to fulfill this need and rented out a house in Flushing and published a reference directory of Sinhala Buddhists. So started the New York Buddhist Centre. From Flushing the centre got shifted to Kew Garden in a rented house. From here with the money donated by dayakayas, and the land by Ananda Silva, who built what now stands as the New York Buddhist Viharaya, an edifice where Buddhists of all nationalities get comfort and peace in the religion. In 1981 Ven. Piyatissa visited New York Tristate. On an invitation by Ven. Galaboda Gnaisara Ven. Piyatissa stayed on and expounded Theravada Buddhism and meditation where many New York residents realised the salvation from stress is by meditation. All these three Centres have Buddhist Viharayas through the generosity of Buddhists and others and it was at the Buddhist Viharya at Queens, New York built by Ananda Silva and other dayakayas, that my son-in-law Santusht and daughter Sharmalie undertook the Katina Pinkama. A resolution made by Ven. Kurunegoda Piyatissa Thera and Randy Sunday, a Buddhist Council of New York was established at the Dharmadutha Centre at Manhattan in 1985. At one Council meeting Ven. Kurunegoda Piyatissa's proposal to write letters to the General Secretary U.N. and the President of the U.S.A. requesting Vesak Day to be recognised as an International religious day was unanimously accepted by all at the meeting. The letters were acknowledged. With no response after a few years, it was decided to send a reminder. Meanwhile President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga convened a meeting of the World Buddhist Sangha Council in Colombo. Ven. Piyatissa who was invited to this meeting suggested that a proposal be sent to the U.N. and the government of U.S.A. to declare Vesak day as a world holiday. This proposal was accepted at the Council meeting. At a meeting with Lakshman Jayakody, the then Minister of Buddha Sasana and Ven. Piyatissa, all details and formalities of this proposal were discussed. At the following U.N. meeting on September 1999, the then Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar addressed the U.N. emphasizing the value of Buddhism to bring peace to the world and made a reference to Vesak Day. On 13th December 1999 the proposal to declare Vesak day as a world holiday, signed by all the countries where Buddhism is practised, was presented to the U.N. It was adopted unanimously to declare Vesak Day as a world celebration day of the Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment and his Passing away. Thereafter Embassies of India, Burma, Thailand and others organized and
participated in the Vesak ceremonies and celebrations in the U.S.A. as in
their own countries. Rev. Kurunegoda Piyatissa sowed the seed. May the world
reap the benefits of Peace. May all those who helped to achieve this goal be
blessed in this and all other after lives. |
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