Dhammasiri Thera's invaluable fifty years of service

by Rajakeeya Pundit the Brahmanagama Muditha Thera

A religious ceremony to felicitate Ven. Maharagama Dhammasiri Nayaka Thera for the invaluable service rendered towards the development of Buddhist activities in Sri Lanka and abroad for the past fifty years will be held at Maharagama Siri Vajiragnana Dharmayatanaya on June 25 (Poson poya day) at 9.30 am. The Ven. Thera is presently serving as the Chief Incumbent at the Washington Vihara in the USA.

When I joined Siri Wajiragnana Dharmayatanaya in 1970 as a novice monk who was ordained under the guidance of the late Most Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha Maha Nayake Thera, Ven. Dhammasiri Thera was the best and the first among the students.

He was an active, carefree and sober person who didn't take anything seriously. He was well-known and was often called or wanted by Viharadhipathi (Chief monk) many a time inquiring "Where is Dhammasiri"? He was not at all interested in sitting for examinations. His purpose of learning was not to byheart and to sit for examinations; but to gain knowledge through what he learnt.

Once at a poetical metre examination there was a question where we had to compose a poem. Ven. Dhammasiri Thera looked at Ven. Sumanasara Thera and instantly wrote a stanza.

"Sumanasara oya jathi
Apata nove maha jathi
Apa danne eka jathi
Eva thama upa jathi"

Ven. Dhammasiri Thera was always used to answer papers at examinations and leaving the examination hall early. That day too Ven.Dhammasiri finished the paper early and left the paper with the invigilator who was a lay person. He read the paper. At that time the Head of Pirivena was held by Ven. Walasmulle Rathanasara Thera. The invigilator thought Ven. Dhammasiri by writing the name Sumanasara was aiming at Rathanasara Thera. He showed this paper to Ven. Rathanasara Thera and as a result the Thera refrained from marking the papers.

Later the issue became a big problem and finally it went up to the attention of Maha Nayake Thera. Although the Maha Nayake Thera realised what had happened by inquiring into the problem, he said; "doesn't matter, it is your teacher, so worship and request pardon." Thus the problem at that stage was solved.

Prize for English

It was in 1962 that Dharmayatanaya began selecting those who had excelled in studies and awarding them with prizes. During that time Ven. Dhammasiri won the prize for English. He was very competent in Pali and Sanskrit when he sat for the Pracheena Examination. While learning the Tripitaka he gathered a wide knowledge in other matters of the world by reading both Sinhala and English books.

We have learnt stories how Jayasena, the English teacher at Dharmayatanaya in the olden days had found Ven. Dhammasiri missing in the English class. When he was searching for Dhammasiri Thera he was found under a tree in the garden and brought him back to sit in the class. Ven. Dhammasiri Thera was beaten by Punnaji Myurawansa Thera for playing in the woods without attending classes. But he was never angry with his teachers.

He gave leadership to many special activities at Dharmayatanaya such as organising the islandwide Flag Day, in 1970-71 filling the grounds in preparation of Chaithya and digging the earth to erect a Nelum Vila at the entrance of the temple. He shouldered the leadership while being a novice monk.

In 1971 a group including Ven. Dhammasiri Thera Assaji, Kolitha, Aravinda, Ajitha attained Higher Ordination. It was the first group to attain Higher Ordination from being novice monks. Of them Ven. Dhammasiri Thera was the first to get ordained.

In 1972 erecting of the Chaitya at Dharmayathanaya was completed and placing of relics took place. Tripitaka was chanted for three months.

It was a great religious event which inspired the whole country. Later Ven. Soma Thera who became very famous, initially began his activities at Dharmayatanaya by reciting the Tripitaka at the event. I still remember what three of us, Somarathana Weeratunga, Ven. Dhammasiri Thera and myself discussed while returning to the place where Bhikkhus were residing.

Ven. Dhammasiri Thera made use of the library of Wimal Raj Galhena of Boralesgamuwa, a close associate of the thera, to improve his knowledge. His childhood and adolescence was spent amidst the association of virtuous Bhikkhus and Maha Nayake Theras. Thus gaining ample knowledge in Dhamma and maintaining high discipline.

During this time the Maha Nayake Thera thought of sending Ven. Dhammasiri Thera along with a Bhikkhu-teacher of Dharmayatanaya, Ven. Polwatte Amarawansa Thera to Vagiragnana Dharmayatanaya at Anuradhapura where Maha Nayake Thera was planning to live his old age. Before Ven. Dhammasiri Thera departed several Bhikkhus, viz. Ven. Nepale Wimalananda, Badulle Nagitha, Korathota Wimaladhamma, Alawathugoda Nanda Thera from time to time had lived there. Maha Nayaka Thera decided to erect a metal Buddha Statue in this premises.

Thus the task was entrusted on an Indian sculptor by the name: Mani". This task was disrupted as the sculptor fled the country along with the load of metal. Finally, the Chairperson of the then Dayaka Sabha, Education Director Bandaranaike (present Supreme Court Judge Shirani Bandaranaike's father) native Doctor Sirisena (father of Major General Nanda Mallawarachchi) Wijedasa school master (father of former Secretary to President, K.H.J. Wijedasa), those who were responsible on this task in deciding to erect the statue using concrete.

The task of erecting this statue by sculptor Henry Dharmasena was co-ordinated by Ven. Dhammasiri Thera. The erection of Seemamalaka in Anuradhapura Vajiragnana Viharaya and the first offering of flowers which was done by the late William Goppallawa, the Governor too were co-ordinated by Ven. Dhammasiri Thera.

A friend

He was a friend indeed when Bhikkhus were discouraged over several matters. There were many occassions where he had gone in search of those disrobed Bhikkhus who fled the temple due to immaturity and brought them back to the temple. Some of them are in responsible positions now, and say "We cannot say where we would have been if Dhammasiri Hamuduruwo had not been with us."

Once when Viharadhipathi got annoyed with Ven. Dhammasiri Thera for some minor incident, and found fault with Dhammasiri Thera, he went back to Anuradhapura Temple without informing anybody. The manner that the students responded in regard to this incident instilled pleasant attitudes in Dhammmasiri Thera's mind towards them.

A few days later when he returned some exceptional work was entrusted on him by Viharadhipathi. It was to maintain the activities in relation to the invitation diary which Viharadhaipathi had been maintaining so far. It was a very responsible assignment. While entrusting the work, Viharadhaipathi said. 'Dhammasiri, some Dayakas may say we want to do a pooja worth of this much. Sometimes they may say the amount. You must think if we think of complying with their request, you must tell a task which costs half of the cost that they wish to spend. Ven. Dhammasiri Thera fulfilled this advice very well. Having said so Viharadhipathi left the temple to Aarannya. Since then Ven. Dhammasiri Thera was entrusted with all the work performed by Viharadhapathi.

I believe he brought leadership qualities from birth. His answers did not carry the words 'No' and 'Can not'. That much dignity was in him. It was only a few people who associated him close did know behind that dignity was a very sensitive and kind heart. It may be due to this reason that people even now say, "If Dhammasiri Thera come from Maharagama.

Massacre

I was in the Anuradhapura Vajiragnana temple on the day the LTTE attacked Anuradhapura. It was at about 6.30 am when the massacre occurred killing hundreds of innocents including school children. At about 9.30 or 10.00 am Ven. Dhammasiri Thera came to see us from Maharagama.

The Police and the Army who arose from their slumber were hanging around and were on security carrying weapons along the varied along the roads. It was after the LTTE had massacred and fled the area the people were safe.

Dhammasiri Thera who witnessed the bloodshed near Sri Maha Bodhi and on the roads and the bodies scattered at Anuradhapura hospital, asked a Police officer who was ready for a search, 'had you been on duty yesterday here like today, these bodies would not have been here today.'

During the period the LTTE was gulping down the areas of East and North and their pastime was hurdling into villages where the Sinhalese were living and massacre and burn down the houses.

When the innocents were killed in Seruvila, Dehiwatte, Neelapola, and Somapura. The remaining sought the refuge of Seruvila temple. Providing food for about three-four hundred families was a problem.

The chief incumbent of Seruvila temple informed Maharagama Dharmayatanaya requesting support. Colonel Sam Silva, the GA of Trincomalee district and Rehabilitation Officer during that time made a special request from Dharmayatanaya.

We went to Seruvila with the stuff for the refugees in several lorries.

When we reached Kantale Station, the OIC Pallewela said if we were to proceed from there onwards that we should dispel our wish for life and make up our minds to accept any challenges which were under the shadow of death.

Accordingly those who took the donations decided to go back and

Ven. Dhammasiri thera, the army and myself proceeded. Ven. Hingurakgoda Vibavi Thera who is the Viharadhipathi in Los Angeles was very keen in joining us. Dhammasiri Thera turned him away saying, 'if both of us die in this journey, it will be unbearable for Viharadhipathi.' The journey was fearful to that extent.

We passed the village called Sittaruvana amidst many hardships. while we were travelling a LTTE group attacked towards us to kill us and loot our belongings, while the LTTE and the government forces were fighting on the instructions of the Army, we had to lie on mud for about one hour. It was like an aeon for us.

Fortunately the path that we tread on was surrounded with water, hence LTTE couldn't reach us easily while shooting at us. When Ven. Dhammasiri Thera was trying to take a snapshot, Colonel Sam Silva shouted at us using a few strong words. The Thera wanted to take the scene into a snapshot to show how death comes to us. However, we were fortunate. Major Sanath Karunaratne saved our lives by chasing the LTTE away.

In 1987 Ven. Dhammasiri Thera left for Washington. With the resignation of Ven. Kanthale Ajitha Thera, Viharadipathi Henepola Gunarathana Thera requested Dhammasiri Thera to accept the position. "I came here to see the place and return to Sri Lanka. I may stay here if only Maha Nayake Thera makes a request." This was his short reply. Thus on the approval of Maha Nayake Thera, Ven. Dhammasiri Thera accepted the position.

Washington Vihara is considered as the first Theravada Buddhist Vihara in Washington and it is faced towards the 16th street. In order to facilitate with space for meditation, arrangements have been made now to purchase seven acres from Maryland.

As the Washington Viharadipathi, Ven. Dhammasiri Thera has done immense service to the Sasana.

He is more popular about his hospitality. The best example to prove his pleasant hospitality is that nobody visiting him feels that they are strangers. When there are many visiting Bhikkhus we could see him sleeping on the grounds having had offered his bed to one of them.

The diplomats visiting Sri Lanka or visiting Washington visit Washington Vihara. It is the practice of Dhammasiri Thera to treat them well and deliver a sermon.

There are many things to write about Ven. Dhammasiri Thera. It is about his honourable life which he cultivated for a long period of time by leading an ordained life through the guidance of virtuous Maha Theras.

Bhikkhuhood is one begun with virtues and reaching a complete path of the zenith of wisdom. That path of fifty years is a very valuable and long one. I end this note wishing him healthy, carefree and complete spiritual life.

The writer is Viharadipathi of Mitchigan USA and Montreal Canada.