Nissarana Vanaya Meditation System
Encyclopedia
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 allow what it claims are more intense insight results than ‘dry insight’ meditation. It was refined over decades by the head monks of the Nissarana Vanaya
.
an eminent role in the Buddhist meditation revival, he was invited by the Sri Lankan government to train, teach and help establish vipassana meditation centers in Sri Lanka. At that time a group of already well known meditation monks received the opportunity to privately train and practice with Mahasi Sayadaw. Among those was the Venerable Matara Sri Ñāṇārāma Mahathera.
Mahasi Sayadaw made him the main vipassana teacher after his departure and a friend of Matara Sri Ñāṇanārāma Mahathera invited him to lead the training facility for meditation in a newly founded association of forest monasteries, the Nissarana Vanaya
.
Over the years Ven. Ñāṇārāma Mahathera added valuable instructions to the Burmese system. One of the fundamental additions was a greater emphasis on concentration meditation as well as a carefully designed set of standardized instructions which helped newly ordained forest monks to methodically develop their concentration and insight faculties.
During this time the Ven. Ñāṇārāma Mahathera published two renowned books on insight meditation: The seven stages of purification and the The seven contemplations. In the late 80s, one of his foremost students, a former lecturer for Pali
, the Venerable Katukurunde Ñāṇananda
held 33 discourses on the topic Nibbana.
Many influential meditation teachers visited the monastery during this time (Ayya Khema
or were influenced by its meditation methodologies.
During the last decade of Ven. Ñāṇārāma Mahathera's life the meditation system was refined in its approach towards labeling and noting in vipassana meditation. The amount of labels was reduced, the importance of concentration meditation intensified.
Currently this system is taught in many of Sri Lankan forest monasteries which were influenced by Ven. Ñāṇārāma Mahathera.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and the first Upajjhaya
Upajjhaya
An Upajjhāya is a teacher in the Indian religions of South Asia.An upajjhāya is specifically a professional teacher in the technical subjects of Vedanga, i.e. Sanskrit grammar and other basic skills required for the perusal of the Vedas...
of Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha. This Buddhist meditation system uses samatha
Samatha
Samatha , śamatha "calm abiding," comprises a suite, type or style of Buddhist meditation or concentration practices designed to enhance sustained voluntary attention, and culminates in an attention that can be sustained effortlessly for hours on end...
and vipassanā
Vipassana
Vipassanā or vipaśyanā in the Buddhist tradition means insight into the true nature of reality. A regular practitioner of Vipassana is known as a Vipassi . Vipassana is one of the world's most ancient techniques of meditation, the inception of which is attributed to Gautama Buddha...
techniques in combination to allow what it claims are more intense insight results than ‘dry insight’ meditation. It was refined over decades by the head monks of the 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...
.
History
In the 1960s, after the sixth Buddhist concil had given Mahasi SayadawMahasi Sayadaw
The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw U Sobhana was a Burmese Theravada Buddhist monk and meditation master who had a significant impact on the teaching of Vipassana meditation in the West and throughout Asia...
an eminent role in the Buddhist meditation revival, he was invited by the Sri Lankan government to train, teach and help establish vipassana meditation centers in Sri Lanka. At that time a group of already well known meditation monks received the opportunity to privately train and practice with Mahasi Sayadaw. Among those was the Venerable Matara Sri Ñāṇārāma Mahathera.
Mahasi Sayadaw made him the main vipassana teacher after his departure and a friend of Matara Sri Ñāṇanārāma Mahathera invited him to lead the training facility for meditation in a newly founded association of forest monasteries, the 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...
.
Over the years Ven. Ñāṇārāma Mahathera added valuable instructions to the Burmese system. One of the fundamental additions was a greater emphasis on concentration meditation as well as a carefully designed set of standardized instructions which helped newly ordained forest monks to methodically develop their concentration and insight faculties.
During this time the Ven. Ñāṇārāma Mahathera published two renowned books on insight meditation: The seven stages of purification and the The seven contemplations. In the late 80s, one of his foremost students, a former lecturer for Pali
Páli
- External links :* *...
, the Venerable Katukurunde Ñāṇananda
Katukurunde Nanananda Thera
Katukurunde Nanananda Thera is a Sri Lankan Bhikkhu and a Buddhist scholar. He is best known for the research monograph Concept and Reality in Early Buddhist Thought and the exploratory study The Magic of the Mind. Ven...
held 33 discourses on the topic Nibbana.
Many influential meditation teachers visited the monastery during this time (Ayya Khema
Ayya Khema
Ayya Khema , a Buddhist teacher, was born as Ilse Kussel in Berlin, Germany, to Jewish parents. Khema escaped Nazis persecution during World War II. She eventually moved to the United States. After travelling in Asia she decided to become a Buddhist nun in Sri Lanka in 1979...
or were influenced by its meditation methodologies.
During the last decade of Ven. Ñāṇārāma Mahathera's life the meditation system was refined in its approach towards labeling and noting in vipassana meditation. The amount of labels was reduced, the importance of concentration meditation intensified.
Currently this system is taught in many of Sri Lankan forest monasteries which were influenced by Ven. Ñāṇārāma Mahathera.
Followers
Famous meditation teachers who were trained in this system or variants thereof include:- Ayya KhemaAyya KhemaAyya Khema , a Buddhist teacher, was born as Ilse Kussel in Berlin, Germany, to Jewish parents. Khema escaped Nazis persecution during World War II. She eventually moved to the United States. After travelling in Asia she decided to become a Buddhist nun in Sri Lanka in 1979...
- Bhikkhu ÑāṇanandaKatukurunde Nanananda TheraKatukurunde Nanananda Thera is a Sri Lankan Bhikkhu and a Buddhist scholar. He is best known for the research monograph Concept and Reality in Early Buddhist Thought and the exploratory study The Magic of the Mind. Ven...
- Nauyane Ariyadhamma MahatheraNauyane Ariyadhamma MahatheraNauyane Ariyadhamma Mahathera is a Sri Lankan bhikkhu and a senior meditation teacher. He is the Spiritual Advisor of the Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha, and resides at the Na Uyana Aranya.- Early life :...
- Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero
- Bhikkhu Dhammajīva, current abbot of the Nissarana Vanaya forest hermitage
- Mitra Wettimuny, a famous Sri Lankan lay meditation instructor
- Ven. Amatagavesi, a famous Sri Lankan meditation teacher
- Ven. Pannyavaro
- Several Western students now teaching in Great Britain, the US and Sri Lanka
External links
- Mitra Wettimuny
- Nissarana Vanaya Blog
- Nissarana Vanaya Blog
- Nibbana Sermons
- Ñāṇarama's publications
- In the tradition of Ñāṇarama Mahatthera
- The system practiced in Florida
- Information about Nissarana Vanaya
- History on the establishement of Yoghashrama Samsthava
- Interview with Ven. Pannyavaro
- Dhamma talks by Ven. Nyanarama Mahatthera
- Ven. Ariyadhamma Thera Bio