Rural Pirivena where English comes first

Story and pictures by Mahil Wijesinghe

Ven Rassagala Chandakiththi Thera, a tender aged Samanera, arrived at the Sri Bodhinikethanaramaya Temple at Bopaththa in 2002 when it was an abandoned shrine, which he inherited from his chief priest Ven.Pathberiye Sri Somananda Thera. He decided to stay in a small dilapidated Avasa Ge undergoing many hardships. While studying higher education at the University of Ruhuna, this young monk made up his mind to conduct an English tuition class for grade eight and nine children in the village. The money he earned from tuition fees was mostly used to develop the temple and the rest used was used as pocket money for his university education.

This is how the young monk started his challenging but unassuming devotional life of priesthood. Today he is chief priest of the Sri Bodhinikethanaramaya and manages the Sri Somananda English language Pirivena, perhaps, which is said to be the only English medium Pirivena in Sri Lanka, where 30 Samanera students are studying mainly in the English medium including Pali, Sanskrit and other subjects.

Enchanting

The temple and the Somananda English primary Pirivena are located in the enchanting green setting of the Bopaththa village in Eheliyagoda, with gem mines dotted in between the paddy fields. It can be reached by two routes. One option is to travel eight kilometres on the Avissawella-Ratnapura highway, turn left at the Minnana junction and proceed another two kilometres on the Bopaththa road. The other route goes through the Eheliyagoda town - drive just 500 metres on the Dehiowita road, turn left and travel another four kilometres on the narrow carpet road until you reach the Pirivena which lies on the left side.

Entering the Pirivena premises, I glimpse a group of bald headed, saffron robe clad Samaneras aged around seven to fifteen walk freely amidst the gentle breeze and breathtaking scenery. I ask one of them where the “Loku Hamduruwo” is and he pointed me to the Chief Priest’s abode. The soft-spoken chief priest pointed out that the establishing of the Pirivena was almost a miraculous event.

Sprung

The idea of a Pirivena had first sprung in the mind of the late chief priest. He had told Ven. Chandakiththi Thera to start a Pirivena for young Samanera monks at the temple as soon as possible, while he was lying in the hospital bed in his final days. The chief priest passed away exactly on the auspicious day on which the Pirivena was due to be started. Whilst bearing the sorrow of the passing away of the chief priest, Ven. Pathberiye Somananda Thera fulfilled the late chief priest’s dream of establishing the Pirivena on September 3, 2012 with just two Samanera students.

Revival

Today, the Sri Somananda English language primary Pirivena of Bopaththa is a renowned academic institution for Samanera students which has earned a name and fame for its indispensable contribution to dissemination of Buddha's teachings and the revival of Buddhist education. Though it had taken root as a fully-fledged Buddhist temple, it has also emerged as a dignified religious academic institution.

Discipline is key to moulding the Samanera monks at the Pirivena, whose aim is producing erudite monks who can disseminate the Words of the Buddha in English in cities around the world. The chief priest and lay and Bhikku teachers are devoted to the cause of training the Samanera students to follow their disciplines in accordance with the Buddha’s preaching.

They wake up early in the morning around 4 o’clock, all the Samanera students clean the garden and the buildings. The classes begin after their ablutions. They learn how to deliver a sermon in English and how to chant Pirith, Gatha and Suthra by heart.

Presently, seven of 30 Samanera students attend the Pirivena from outside temples while others stay in the temple. Those who stay in the temple are provided food, lodging and other necessary facilities. Most of the Samanera students are from remote areas such as Ampara and Udawalawe. “Twelve Samanera students of the Pirivena can speak both Sinhala and English very well and they can deliver sermons in both languages. Our aim is to build up their bilingual communications skills for propagating Buddha’s teaching around the globe as His disciples,” says the Chief Priest.

Samanera

Covering the one acre of land, the temple premises comprise several buildings which are still being constructed. Some of the buildings are partially constructed. For instance, the new two storey Pirivena building which is planned to be built along with new Chaitya on the upper platform is at a standstill due to financial problems.

To the Western side a new building room (Kuti) is being constructed to provide accommodation to newly ordained Samanera students. In 2014, a two-storey building comprising several rooms (Kuti) was constructed to accommodate Samanera students. Its upper section houses a library which is still not completed. At present, the library and the office of the Pirivena are housed in a small room adjoining the preaching hall (Dhamma Salawa) due to the lack of space and the new building is planned to be built despite the financial difficulties.

Renovated

The Bo-tree shrine and the main shrine room are in a dilapidated condition and it should also be renovated before long. The chief monk appeals for financial assistance from Good Samaritans to complete all the uncompleted work in the Pirivena.

Ven. Chandakiththi Thera has arranged to ordain 10 boys as Samaneras in the Pirivena with the help of Sri Lanka- Israel friendship society on September 18 this year at the Pirivena. A Foundation called the Sri Ranahanhasa will donate Thripitaka books published in the English medium to the Pirivena library on the same day. Chamode Dilranga, a university student, has agreed to donate English grammar books to the Pirivena worth several lakhs.

In addition to this, the chief monk has initiated a program to provide financial assistance to the Samaneras through a Mapiya-Kepakaru Dayakathwaya (Foster Parents Scheme). Ven. Chandakiththi Thera says it has taken a few years of hard work by teachers, Samanera students, donors and the chief monk himself to achieve this level of excellence in the Pirivena despite many hardships. (For further details on the Pirivena you can contact 036-2259311).