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IV Wednesday 14th May 2008 by Dr H. S. S. Nissanka Bhikkhu Dhammapala and and Ananda, Kalama Chintanaya made us ponder on ques- Pushpadana Society Hall in Kandy to support free Mivanapalana, ACBSU was formed. By 1945 the tions such as - 1). Is re-birth true? 2). Why do we education. This was in 1945 and this was the first n the early forties of the 20th century,a great ACBSU had grown in size and stature. The discus- get angry? 3). What are the causes of anger? 5). time I saw this great man. At this meeting, Prof. intellectual and spiritual movement began to sions on Kalama Sutta delivered by the Buddha Can we transfer merits to dead ones? Mr. Malalasekera and Dr. Adikaram requested that we Iinfluence the young minds of Sri Lanka, partic- invigorated the union members. 'Kalama Mivanapalana did not answer such questions, but sign a petition addressed to D. S. Senanayake, the ularly,of those who were the members of All Chintanaya' appealed to the young minds who would point out various members of the audience Prime Minister. I too signed the petition. For hun- Ceylon Buddhist Students Union. A Dutch were keen to enjoy freedom of thinking and and say so and so would answer the question. We dreds of such meetings, the money came from the Catholic priest, Henry Van Zeyst, came to Sri expression. In keeping with the spirit of Kalama the members had to think and answer. If an purse of Mr. Ananda Mivanapalana. If not for him Lanka in 1941 in search of Buddha Dhamma. He Sutta the young Buddhist students came to ques- answer was not satisfactory,he would give another the reactionary forces would have crushed the joined the Buddha Sasana by being ordained a tion blind faith, various rituals and practices (sil- person a chance to think and reply.Thereby he Free Education Bill itself I remember both C. W. monk by the name of Bhikkhu Dhammapala. abbata paramasa) by Buddhists as well as non generated lively discussions and even debates. W.Kannangara and A. Ratnayaka- the fathers of Bhikkhu Dhammapala subsequently gave a Buddhists. They questioned even the existence of In 1951 he arranged a debate between the Free Education Scheme were present at the funer- series of lectures on the Buddha Dhamma at the god Kataragama. Colombo group and Kandy group. The Colombo al of Mivanapalana. Kandy Buddhist Association. Students and teach- They questioned about the very aspirations of group was composed of all university men. The Strong support came from teachers of ers of Dharmaraja, Trinity and Mahamaya col- the ACBSU. At a session held in Kandy in 1950, the Kandy group consisted of S.S.C. qualified mem- Dharmaraja and Ananda for C. W.W.Kannangara leges in Kandy were drawn towards this intellectu- word 'Aspirations' was changed to 'Efforts'. Future bers. Mr. Mivanapalana was very pleased with the to introduce the bill to the parliament. al. The Buddhist students of Kandy became aware tense form such as 'I will seek' and so on were Kandy Group because they were equally good Mivanapalana's efforts were carried forward in a of a strongly felt need to form a forum for discus- changed to 'I seek', the present tense form. But cer- compared with the Colombo group. another direction, this time by L. H. Mettananda, sions of Dhamma. They met at the Udawattekele tain sections in the Aspirations were kept Once the ACBSU held a session on suicide at the principal of Ananda College, on the issue of temple where Bhikkhu Dhammapala resided and unchanged. For instance, the section - "If I go Vidyartha college Kandy.I was the chief speaker Swabhasha Education. That was after the death of Buddhist Students Union was established. A stu- wrong I will not make it worse by trying to excuse at this session. Dr. E. W.Adikaram and Mr. Mr. Mivanapalana. On the Swabhasha issue, J. R. dent from Dharmaraja - a handsome youth by the myself, but I will accept full responsibility for my Mivanapalana were on stage. Someone wanted to P.Suriyapperuma of Ananda and Harischandra name P.D. Uduwela was elected as its secretary. action and reaction and motive and effect. May the know from Dr. Adikaram how he would respond to Wijeyatunge of Dharmaraja helped Mettananda They held their weekly meetings at the temple sincerity of the 'Efforts' give me the strength to ful- someone bent on committing suicide. Dr. with the fight. Thus, the legacies of Mivanapalana where a calm and quiet atmosphere of spirituality fil my duties towards myself and others" Adikaram said "I would take a rope and tie him continued to create strong ripples in the country. prevailed. In his capacity of being secretary to 17 bus com- and lock him up in a safe room. When he is As mentioned before, Ananda Mivanapalana Now let me take up the story of Albert panies, Mr. Mivanapalana was able to get buses calmed down I would speak to him!" came across several students who were physically or mentally ill. At one point he heard that a BSU man was warded in Colombo General Hospital. This patient needed some medication which was very expensive. The family of this patient could not afford to spend for the required medication. Mivanapalana first visited the patient and later returned with the medicine and gave it to the sis- Understanding ter-in-charge, requesting her to start the medica- tion without delay.The sister had requested the patient to stop worrying as his father had brought in the medicine. The patient later told me that Mr. Mivanapalana did not speak a word of his 'dana'. That was Mivanapalana. Ananda Mivanapalana It was from Mr. Mivanapalana that I learnt the techniques of psychoanalysis and interpretation of dreams. This has led me, with time, to evolve a new method of psychotherapy,now known as Buddhist Psychotherapy,which I have practiced for the last forty five years, free of charge. This and the ACBSU method has received academic recognition in many a land. Mivanapalana's intense interest in understanding J. Krishnamurti was evident from the books that he left with me. However, his vener- Mivanapalana. (Albert was changed to Ananda ation for the Buddha never decreased because of later on). Because of a shocking experience at the his interest in Krishnamurti. Christian college where he had his early education Mivanapalana cherished his dream of an agro- he decided to leave the school and he was brought based spiritual and educational institution. He to Kandy by his brother and eventually he was bought a one thousand acre piece of land near admitted to Dharmaraja College where he found a Mimure village in the Matale district to establish pleasing atmosphere. This happened during the such an institute. One house was built there and time of that great educationist - P.De S. Kularatna, two bungalows of St. Martins estate were leased the principal of Dharmaraja. When Kularatna left out. He hand picked twenty five students, mostly Dharmaraja to become the from central schools to enroll at the institute. principal of Ananda College, Minister of labour Athauda Seneviratne, was one Mivanapalana realized the young Mivanapalana also of those twenty five students with whom the insti- that in Sri Lanka, good left Dharmaraja and joined tution began to function. Ananda College Colombo. After Edwin Ariyadasa, K. H. M. Sumatipala and education was denied to the completion of Senior myself left our permanent jobs and joined the Secondary education, he was institution. We learnt from Mr. Mivanapalana that thousands of students. invited by the principal of more teachers would join in January 1954. - I ananda to join its academic At Ananda, the young Mivanapalana came across several children with mental problems. In order to under- remember the, names - Dr. E. W.Adikaram, Henry Therefore he was among staff. Following the 'examples of Van Zeyst, Ven. Bhikkhu Piyadassi, Lionel Kularatna, Mettananda, stand the problem children at Ananda, he turned to psychology - particularly to child psychology. the few leaders who Lokuliyana, Keerthi Dissanayake. In addition, Malalasekera and D. T. understood that the Devendra, all in the teaching free of charge for Buddhist students to travel to In 1950 we had a very stormy session at teachers from India and Europe were also to join profession and the politician S. places where ACBSU had sessions. For instance, Kuliyapitiya Central College. About 400 students us. introduction of Free W.R. D. Bandaranaike, he too for the Anuradhapura sessions students had free had come from all over the country for Dhamma In his last visit to Shanti Valley - the dream Education Scheme was discarded the western dress for rides in 20 buses from all over the country. discussion session. At 9 A.M., morning session land of Mivanapalana, he brought a lot of books, ever and took to the national Students were well looked after by was started, as usual with reading of 'Aspirations'. and a weight lifting set, together with provisions the only remedy. He dress. Mivanapalana's friends. In 1947 he came to No panchaseela was chanted and because of this, including sweets and fruits. While sitting on the sought the support of At Ananda, the young Nugawela Central College and Katugasthota the local crowds became very unruly,questioning boulders alongside the stream that ran close to the Mivanapalana came across sev- Rahula College. I joined the ACBSU in 1947. I both the reasons for not chanting the panchaseela school, Mivanapalana was thinking aloud - talking Prof. G. P. Malalasekera eral children with mental prob- remember an 'Atasil' session at Pujapitiya second- as well as the 'Buddhistness' of the ACBSU.