Renowned meditation teacher visits Sri Lanka

by Samantha Wettimuny

Sri Lankans will have the opportunity to hear lectures and Dhamma discussions by the visiting Buddhist monk Venerable Ajahn Brahmavanso, as he shares his knowledge of meditation and the Dhamma in his unique and engaging style.

Venerable Ajahn Brahmavanso, known as Ajahn ("teacher" in Thai) Brahm to his lay followers and monks, is the Abbot of Bodhinayana Monastery and the Spiritual Director of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia (BSWA) and the Singapore Buddhist Fellowship. Bodhinayana Monastery follows the Thai Forest Sangha tradition, which is known for its strict adherence to the vinaya, or monk's rules for living, and their emphasis on meditation.

British by birth, Ven. Ajahn Brahm began teaching himself Buddhism and meditation at the age of 17 while he studied Theoretical Physics at Cambridge University, England. After taking a wrong turn at the library, he found himself in the Religion section and picked up a book on meditation.

He continued to study and practise meditation throughout his school years, and after receiving his degree and working as a teacher for a year, he decided to move to Thailand to become a monk. He was ordained at the age of 23. Ven. Ajahn Brahm spent 9 years training with Ven. Ajahn Chah in Thailand.

In 1983, Ven. Ajahn Chah asked Ven. Ajahn Brahm to help establish a forest monastery near Perth, Australia, which is the current site of the Bodhinayana Monastery.

Ven. Ajahn Brahm has been invited to speak on meditation and Buddhism throughout Australia, Asia, the United Kingdom and North America. He is known for his wit and charismatic style of communicating important aspects of the Buddha's teachings, making him a popular speaker on the Dhamma.

His weekly talks at the Dhammaloka Buddhist Centre in Perth are punctuated with laughter, thoughtful learning and questions and answers by lay followers, who gather by the hundreds every week. A selection of his stories, Buddhist parables and Dhamma talks are part of his book, Who Ordered this Truckload of Dung: Inspiring Stories for Welcoming Life's Difficulties (Wisdom Publications).

While Ven. Ajahn Brahm appeals to the wider masses of Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, he also attracts the serious meditator, and offers meditation retreats at the BSWA and throughout the world. In his recently published book, Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond: A Meditator's Handbook (Wisdom Publications), Ven. Ajahn Brahm offers instruction on how to develop and intensify one's meditation experience.

Honouring the Buddhist monk's vow of poverty, all royalties from Ven. Ajahn Brahm's two books are going towards the construction of a meditation centre in Perth, Australia, which will be open to lay Buddhists who wish to partake in overnight meditation retreats.

For more information about Ajahn Brahm, the Bodhinayana Monastery or the BSWA, please visit http://www.bswa.org.

Ajahn Brahm will be giving several Dhamma talks (in English, unless otherwise specified) throughout Sri Lanka.

Venerable. Ajhan Brahmavamso will be in Sri Lanka from January 28 to February 5. The venerable Bikku's programme in Sri Lanka is as follows.

January 28- from 4.00 p.m to 6.00 p.m at the Sambodhi Vihara, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 (Discourse will be in English)

February 2- from 9.00 a.m to 11.00 a.m and from 1.00 p.m to 3.00 p.m at Nauyana Aranya ( Discourse will be conducted in English)

February 3 - from 9.00 a.m to 11.00 a.m at Gangaramaya, Hunupitiya, Colombo 2 (Discourse will be conducted in English)

- From 4.00 p.m to 6.00 p.m at the Dharmayathanaya, Maharagama (Discourse will be conducted in English with a Sinhala translation)

February 4 - from 9.00 a.m to 11.00 a.m and from 12.30 to 2.00 p.m at Subodharamaya, Peradeniya (Discourse will be conducted in English)

- from 2.30 p.m to 4.00 p.m at Peradeniya University, Peradeniya (Discourse will be conducted in English)

February 5 - From 9.00 a.m - 11.00 a.m at the BMICH (Discourse will be conducted in English)

From 3.00 p.m to 4.30 p.m at the Kalutara Bodhiya (Discorse will be conducted in English with a Sinhala translation)

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