The Chakma Buddhist Congregation of India

(A Socio-Religious, Non-Political & Non-Profitable Charity Organisation)

Administration Office: Devagiri Buddhist Temple, Bazar Veng,
P.O. Tlabung, Dist. Lunglei, Mizoram, India, Pin-796751.
Phone: 91(03834)222349; Mobile: 9436392334;
E-mail: cbci2011@gmail.com or cbci@asia.com
Estd:
2011
Website: www.cbcicharity.org
Mottoes:
• To CBCI first Mission to Sri Lanka: Report
Propagate Submitted by Bhikkhu Kushalapriya
Humanistic President, Chakma Buddhist Congregation of India (CBCI),
Buddhism;
Bodhgaya, India on 25th May 2011.
• To
Establish (Four Sangha members: Bhikkhu Kushalapriya & Bhikkhu Punyokitthi from India, Bhikkhu Dhammananda & Bhikkhu
Meditation Subo Jyoti from Bangladesh went to Sri Lanka (19th March – 11 April 2011) and three bhikkhus doing for long-term
Centre; meditation retreat at Na Uyana Forest Monastery. After the return from his journey, President of CBCI submitted his
report to the CBCI Executive Council as bellows. The holy mission sponsored by the CBCI.)
• To
Establish
Bhikkhu
Training On 19th March 2011 at around 9:15 am, we landed at Colombo
Centre;
International Airport, Sri Lanka from Chennai International Airport, India.
• To Venerable Dhamma Vihari
Establish
Buddhist
Bhikkhu came to receive us
Monastic with a monastery car in the
Educational
Institute; airport from Nā Uyana Aranya
Senāsanaya. Its meaning is
• To
Establish “Ironwood Grove Forest
Buddhism Monastery”.
and
Chakmaism
Historical Before arriving at Nā Uyana, we went to a branch monastery at
Research
Institute; Kurunegala for our lunch. After our lunch, we march again toward the Nā
Uyana without any rest. After five hours drive from airport
• To
Establish via Kurunegala, we arrived at monastery without any
Sangha problem. First, we met and paid respect to Venerable Nā
Hospital;
Uyana
• To
Establish
Ariyadhamma
Chakma Mahathera, Chief
Museum;
Abbot of the
• To monastery. After
organise
Conference, half and hours chat with him, we
Seminar, went to visit the huge campus
Workshop &
Symposium, covered with more than 5000 acres
etc. of forestland on the “Dummiya
Mountain Range”, and is residence about more than 100 Bhikkhus practising
meditation continuously. Nā Uyana is one of the famous International Forest

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Meditation Monastery in Sri Lanka. It is associated with Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha and
Venerable Mahathera is the Spiritual Director of it.

During my visit, about 132 monks are residing and practising meditation. Out of
them, 17 are foreigners’ meditator. More than 80 small kutis and
some caves surrounding the mountain. I am very impressed that
every monk in the monastery following Vinaya disciplinary rules
very strictly, even I had to change my
shoes and use sleeper provided by
monastery until my stay. Every morning
at 5:30 am for breakfast and 10:00 am for
lunch, have to go for alms-round within
the complex. After collect our alms-food,
we offer food to Enlightened One from our alms-bowl according
to seniority than we go to dining hall for lunch. We share our
food each other’s. I enjoyed and experienced with my meditation
practice in a small kuti in the middle of the deep forest there. I was until 24th March.

On 24th March in the morning, I left Nā Uyana toward Colombo the capital city of Sri Lanka
by bus. It took me four hours to drive. My fellow three Chakma Bhikkhus left there for long-
term meditation retreat. When, I am leaving them, they little bit look like upset without me.
Nevertheless, Bhikkhu Dhammananda has strong determination to develop his meditation
practice at Nā Uyana. I have confident on
them; they will be the light of Chakma
Buddhist community near future, if able to
practice meditation for many years. They
are the first three Chakma Bhikkhus in
the history went for forest mediation
practice in Sri Lanka. I heard that
hundreds of Chakma Bhikkhus and
novices went before for studying
Buddhism in different Schools, Colleges
and Universities and still some hundred
there. It is unfortunate for us
that we could not find any Chakma scholar Bhikkhus now. Most of them, after their
Graduation from Universities of Sri Lanka, they return to their home countries or
elsewhere. They failed to explore themselves what they had studies on Buddhism.

I was at Purana-Viharaya Warnavasala in Colombo. On 27th March, went to

visit SRI PAADA. SRI PAADA means footprint of Lord BUDDHA.
It is located on top of a Hill known as Dalhousie. I arrived at
9:30 pm and after taking a short rest; I started to climb the
mountain on foot and reached around 4:00 am at dawn. After
visit, I returned to Keleniya from SRI PAADA and it took me 6 hours journey.
Not only Buddhists, thousands of peoples visiting every year from different faith e.g.
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Christian, Hindus, Muslim, etc. and from different part of the globe and pay respect
according to their religious concept.

On 3rd April, I was arrived Tooth Relic Temple at around 2:30 pm and met Second Sangha
Raja of Sri Lanka. He was the Chief Abbot of the Tooth Relic Temple as well. After half and
hours chat with him, I went to visit
Tooth Relic site at around 5:30
pm. I paid my respect and
offered Milk Rice to Tooth
Relic Buddha. I noticed that it was
not open and it has covered with
three layers of gold plates and last covered by glasses. I came
to know that thousands of Buddhist devotees gathered every year on Vesak Full Moon Day
to pay respect. It opens to all, once in every five years only. Here, I felt a little unfortunate
myself without seen the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha.

On 8th April, I had invited by D.M. Jayaratne, Prime Minister of Sri

Lanka for lunch. We had discussed about Buddhist situation in
India, particularly Chakma Buddhist community in brief in our
meeting. His son offered a set of religious textbooks to me.

On 10th April, I visited Anuradhapura one of the well-known monastery of Sri Lanka. At
first, I met Chief Abbot of Anuradhapura and paid my respect to him. He permitted me to
visit Holy Bodhi Tree carried by Sanghamitta Theri daughter of the Great Emperor Asoka
on 3rd Century B.C. I paid my respect and
worship to the
Buddha with flower
under the Bodhi tree.
After my prayer, took
a short meditation
under the Bodhi Tree
and reflected Bodhi-
Tree of Bodhgaya where Lord Buddha
Enlightened and I lived in Bodhgaya for many years until now. I had my lunch in
Anuradhapura Monastery. After visit several monasteries in Anuradhapura and back to
Colombo.

I visited with a group of tourist in Keleniya and Colombo Universities, which is very famous
for Pali & Buddhist studies. I met Head of the Archaeological Survey of Sri Lanka and Vice
Chancellor of the Universities.

On 11th April at 9:30 am, I flied to Chennai from Colombo International Airport, Sri Lanka
according to my flight scheduled.

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My Personal Reflection:

As it was, my second Theravada Buddhist country in Sri Lanka visited after Thailand.
Where the holy places I visited there, it is wonderful, marvellous and interesting ancient
monuments and archaeological history of Buddhism preserved by the Sinhalese peoples
as well as Government of Sri Lanka. I am appreciating them. I am very proud to be a
Buddhist and the member of the Sangha community as well.

Well, when I was there, my mind reflected the Buddha’s times, days, situation and his own
word as to be born in a “PATIRUPA DESA”. The Sinhalese Buddhist peoples are generous,
honest and kinds. They are practising Buddhism, not only theoretically, but practically as
well. They always encourage peoples in constructive ways; and loyal, respectful and
honour to the member of the Sangha. Even, as mentioned before I had invited by Prime
Minister of Sri Lanka for Lunch. He surprised me that the Prime Minister personally served
to me during the lunch.

During my visit, I inspired by Sinhalese peoples and Sangha community for their polite
behaviour and attitude. In the Nā Uyana Monastery, to sharing food amongst us is my
exploration and experience that to maintain mutual respect and strengthened friendship
within ourselves.

In the SRI PAADA, I realize that the visitors practising faith by their emotions and rituals.
However, the Enlightened One prescribes us that to practise faith by using wisdom.
Without wisdom, never reach into the right destination. We must remember that without
Practice Meditation never achieve wisdom. To study theories only is not enough to
penetrate the Dhamma-Vinaya of Buddhism. Buddhism is a Scientific Religion. It has a
formula to explore it. If we do not know the formula, we cannot penetrate it. The formula in
Buddhism is divided into 3 sections; Pariyatti, Patipatti, and Pativeda Dhamma.

Pariyatti is a theory that to study the Dhamma (teachings) and Vinaya (Disciplines) in order
to understand the fundamental principles of Buddhism accurately. Theory leads how to
practice only, but cannot penetrate. Patipatti is to practice (meditation) both physical and
mentally. To practice and cultivates on our own mind by observing Silas (Precepts),
practice meditation leads one-pointedness of mind and finally gain wisdom. Pativeda is the
result to gain wisdom to penetrate Dhamma-Vinaya profoundly in varies level. Pariyatti
and Patipatti can realise physically and mentally, but Pativeda experienced is very
different. The person who penetrated after many years of practice meditation, he knew it
only. It is out of express for him that to give understand the ordinary peoples. Because, the
ordinary people do not practice meditation and they do not have enough wisdom to
understand and absorb it. Wise and educated is very different. Educated are not wise. The
wise observe Sila (Precepts) and practice Samadhi (Meditation) accurately; and finally
achieved Paňňā (wisdom) by penetration profoundly into the Dhamma-Vinaya.

“Finally wish India would regain its past Glory”.

With Metta.