Kalyāṇi Yogāsrama Samsthava
Encyclopedia
Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Saṃstha (Pali
: Siri Kalyāṇī Yogassama Santhā, Sinhala: ශ්රී කළ්යාණී යෝගාශ්රම සංස්ථාව), is an independent part of the Sri Lankan Ramañña Nikāya
Buddhist ordination line, with their headquarters in Galduva. They are keeping a strict standard of Vinaya (commentarial interpretation), recognised as the strictest standard of any major organisation in Sri Lanka. It is the largest forest sect of the Sri Lankan Sangha. Their monks are easily recognised by the palm-leaf umbrella they are using and by the habit of wearing the Sanghati (double robe) whenever they walk outside the monastery boundaries. Remarkably for Sri Lanka, all castes are accepted for ordination. Foreign monks, who wish to become resident at one of their monasteries, are usually expected to undergo the so called "Dalhi-Kamma" at Galduva, a short ceremony meant to reconfirm the validity of their original Upasampada according to Galduva standard. After that they are accepted according to their normal seniority.
(sometimes spelled Jinawansa) Thera, with the guidance of Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera, founded the Galduva Aranya, which was to become the centre point of the Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Saṃstha - the first Association of meditation monasteries in Sri Lanka.
Ven. Kadawedduwe Sri Jinavamsa Mahathera himself was ordained at the age of 13, and founded the Thebuvana Granthakara Pirivena (monk school) when he was only 25 and served as head instructor for over 20 years. He started the Yogāśrama Saṃstha at the age of 45, and enjoyed a long life of 98 years.
Following the way of the Buddha he strongly believed that all the riches of life meant nothing without vimukti (vimutti, "freedom" or "deliverance") which he understood was the goal of Buddhist meditation and the reason d'etre for Buddhist monks. Consequently he left all his students except for one, Ven.Gatamanne Vimalavamsa Thera, who accompanied him in his quest for a fitting dwelling for deep meditation. The support rendered by Ven. Gatamanne Vimalavamsa Thera and Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera in this quest, was immense.
But setting up the Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Saṃstha was no easy task. Although most ley persons were attracted to Ven. Kadawedduwe Sri Jinawansa Theras extremely eloquent sermons, there were people, the lay and monks alike who resented and envied his success.
But thanks to his conviction the Kalyana Yogashrama Sanstha now has over 150 Aranya with over 1500 monks.
, Buttala
Budu Gallena Aranya, Ampara Piyangala Aranya, Colombo Sri Kalyani Ashrama, Thalangama Sri Shanthi Yogashrama, Kurunegala Nathagana Aranya, Malsiripura Na Uyana Aranya
, Padaviya Galpiyum Aranya, etc. However, Ambalangoda Galduva Aranya
acts as the main centre and is currently under the guidance of Ven. Naauyane Ariyadhamma Thera.
This can be predominantly observed in Aranya such as in the Na Uyana Aranya or Nissarana Vanaya
, where the monks can be observed spending most of their time meditating in separate chambers in the surrounding forest. They meditate according to the "Visuddhimagga" where it leads from Samatha (concentration meditation) to Vidharshana (Vipassana or insight meditation) in the tradition of Nissarana Vanaya Meditation System
or, more recently, contemporary Burmese meditation systems.
The monks of the Aranya tradition meditate in individual chambers set in the wilderness. Sri Gunawardhana Yogashramaya in Galdoowa, Ambalangoda - the main centre - is probably one of the most unique centres of the world.
Páli
- External links :* *...
: Siri Kalyāṇī Yogassama Santhā, Sinhala: ශ්රී කළ්යාණී යෝගාශ්රම සංස්ථාව), is an independent part of the Sri Lankan Ramañña Nikāya
Ramanna Nikaya
Ramanna Nikaya is one of the most orthodox Buddhist orders in Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1864 when Ambagahawatte Saranankara, returned to Sri Lanka after being ordained by the Neyyadhama Munivara Sangharaja of Ratnapunna Vihara in Burma.-Similar orders:Ramanna Nikaya is said to be similar to the...
Buddhist ordination line, with their headquarters in Galduva. They are keeping a strict standard of Vinaya (commentarial interpretation), recognised as the strictest standard of any major organisation in Sri Lanka. It is the largest forest sect of the Sri Lankan Sangha. Their monks are easily recognised by the palm-leaf umbrella they are using and by the habit of wearing the Sanghati (double robe) whenever they walk outside the monastery boundaries. Remarkably for Sri Lanka, all castes are accepted for ordination. Foreign monks, who wish to become resident at one of their monasteries, are usually expected to undergo the so called "Dalhi-Kamma" at Galduva, a short ceremony meant to reconfirm the validity of their original Upasampada according to Galduva standard. After that they are accepted according to their normal seniority.
History
The (modern) history of arañña senasana or forest hermitages of Sri Lanka runs back to 1951, when Ven. Kadawedduwe Sri Jinavamsa MahatheraKadawedduwe Jinavamsa Mahathera
Kadawedduwe Sri Jinavamsa Mahathera was a Sri Lankan Bhikkhu . He was the founder of Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha, a reform movement within the Sri Lankan Rāmañña Nikāya....
(sometimes spelled Jinawansa) Thera, with the guidance of Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera, founded the Galduva Aranya, which was to become the centre point of the Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Saṃstha - the first Association of meditation monasteries in Sri Lanka.
Ven. Kadawedduwe Sri Jinavamsa Mahathera himself was ordained at the age of 13, and founded the Thebuvana Granthakara Pirivena (monk school) when he was only 25 and served as head instructor for over 20 years. He started the Yogāśrama Saṃstha at the age of 45, and enjoyed a long life of 98 years.
Following the way of the Buddha he strongly believed that all the riches of life meant nothing without vimukti (vimutti, "freedom" or "deliverance") which he understood was the goal of Buddhist meditation and the reason d'etre for Buddhist monks. Consequently he left all his students except for one, Ven.Gatamanne Vimalavamsa Thera, who accompanied him in his quest for a fitting dwelling for deep meditation. The support rendered by Ven. Gatamanne Vimalavamsa Thera and Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera in this quest, was immense.
Foundation
To commemorate the 2500th birthday of the Buddha Buddha Jayanti Ven. Kadawedduwe Sri Jinawansa Thera founded the Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Saṃstha on 18th June 1951. Nimalawa Aranya Senasanaya in Kirinda was selected as the first aranya or hermitage of a number of aranya senasana which were all connected into an association named Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Saṃstha. With the passage of time the fame of Kalyani Yogashrama grew. People in many walks of life flowed in to the Aranya in search of the authentic way of meditation.But setting up the Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Saṃstha was no easy task. Although most ley persons were attracted to Ven. Kadawedduwe Sri Jinawansa Theras extremely eloquent sermons, there were people, the lay and monks alike who resented and envied his success.
But thanks to his conviction the Kalyana Yogashrama Sanstha now has over 150 Aranya with over 1500 monks.
Famous Monasteries
Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Saṃstha has expanded to include forest hermitages like Kurunegala Ruwangiri, Meethirigala Nissarana VanayaNissarana Vanaya
Nissarana Vanaya is a famous meditation monastery in Sri Lanka. It is located in western province close to the town of Kirindiwela.-History:Meetirigala Nissarana Vanaya is a monastery in the strict forest tradition in Sri Lanka...
, Buttala
Buttala
Buttala is a town in Sri Lanka. It is located in Monaragala District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka.-History:The name Buttala or ‘Bath hala’ which is said to have been given in the times of King Dutugemunu. A large number of soldiers located in the area . They had been fed from the plentiful of rice in...
Budu Gallena Aranya, Ampara Piyangala Aranya, Colombo Sri Kalyani Ashrama, Thalangama Sri Shanthi Yogashrama, Kurunegala Nathagana Aranya, Malsiripura Na Uyana Aranya
Na Uyana Aranya
Nā Uyana Aranya Senāsanaya is a Buddhist forest monastery in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka, associated with the Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha. It spreads over more than 5000 acres of forest on the ‘Dummiya’ mountain range, and is residence to about 100 Buddhist monks...
, Padaviya Galpiyum Aranya, etc. However, Ambalangoda Galduva Aranya
acts as the main centre and is currently under the guidance of Ven. Naauyane Ariyadhamma Thera.
Practice
All the monks in all the Aranya belonging to the Yogashrama Samstha, work according to the same time table. They all worship three times a day. They start the day at four a.m. and meditate for an hour. Meditation, cleaning premises and study are integral parts of each forest hermitage. Unlike in temples of today the main focus of an Aranya is meditation.This can be predominantly observed in Aranya such as in the Na Uyana Aranya or Nissarana Vanaya
Nissarana Vanaya
Nissarana Vanaya is a famous meditation monastery in Sri Lanka. It is located in western province close to the town of Kirindiwela.-History:Meetirigala Nissarana Vanaya is a monastery in the strict forest tradition in Sri Lanka...
, where the monks can be observed spending most of their time meditating in separate chambers in the surrounding forest. They meditate according to the "Visuddhimagga" where it leads from Samatha (concentration meditation) to Vidharshana (Vipassana or insight meditation) in the tradition of Nissarana Vanaya Meditation System
Nissarana Vanaya Meditation System
The Nissarana Vanaya Meditation System was developed by the late Matara Sri Ñāṇārāma Mahathera, a highly respected senior meditation master of Sri Lanka and the first Upajjhaya of Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha. This Buddhist meditation system uses samatha and vipassanā techniques in combination to...
or, more recently, contemporary Burmese meditation systems.
The monks of the Aranya tradition meditate in individual chambers set in the wilderness. Sri Gunawardhana Yogashramaya in Galdoowa, Ambalangoda - the main centre - is probably one of the most unique centres of the world.