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 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 , 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. 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. I tried to me about future plans. Agriculturally,the lems. In order to understand ary school organized by the ACBSU. Mivanapalana to respond to them but was shouted down. Even school should be self-sufficient. To maintain com- and Dr. E. W. Adikaram to the problem children at brought a young crowd from Colombo who joined Lionel Lokuliyana, the principal of the school was munication with the vast world, an improved launch an island wide Ananda, he turned to psycholo- in the Atasil session. They wore white shirts and shouted down. The same thing happened to Mr. printing press was to be transported to Shanti gy - particularly to child psy- trousers and 'Uttara Satakayas'. The group from Mivanapalana too. The crowds demanded and Valley.With the demise of this visionary man, his campaign for the Free chology.The compassionate Colombo belonged to institutions such as Ananda, answer by a person who was a well known mission for a truly Buddhist society and our hopes young teacher found a book - Nalanda, Royal and University of Colombo. Buddhist and someone who has read the of it were dashed to the ground. Now, it is too Education Scheme - Mr. 'The Problem Child'- written by At Pujapitiya there were senior students such Thripitakaya. A small-made man in the last row of much of emotion to describe how we rushed down Mivanapalana, with the A. S. Neil, the principal of as Edwin Ariyadasa, W.M. Tilekaratne, Siri the hall got up to answer. When I saw that this was to Shanti Nagar on the 13th of April 1953 to pay Summerhill School for Problem Gunasinghe, K. H. M. Sumathipala, Newton De Dr. Adikaram, I ran up to him and invited him to our last respects to him. help of his friends and Children in England. He found Silva, H. S. Perera and W.Panditharatne who come up to the microphone. He came and sat there The ACBSU that drew inspiration from Mr. bus company owners two more books by the same became distinguished in many a field later. and Mr. Mivanapalana introduced him to the audi- Mivanaplalna and Henry Van Zeyst continued its author - 'Problem Parent' and Through ACBSU activities, Mivanapalana came in ence. Dr. Adikaram responded "I have read all the activities for a long time after the death of Mr. arranged public meetings 'Problem Teacher'. He later on to direct contact with young intelligentsia, partic- books of the Thripitakaya, both in Pali and in Mivanapalana. But, the ACBSU as an active body purchased a set of copies of ularly from central colleges. English. What is the exact question that you would is no more. Most of its members have passed Mivanapalana, in order to give a broad base to like to ask?" He continued that there were scholars all over the country. these three books and donated away; some have passed the age of 75 years. the ACBSU established a printing press in the who could recite by heart certain sections of the one set to Kandy Municipal Some of the activities have been carried for- library. premises of 'Shanti Nagar'- the residence of Thripitaka - one may have read the entire ward by a few individuals. Kalama Chintanaya, in When I became a teacher at Sri Rahula College Mivanapalana family at Templar's Rd., Mount Thripitaka and yet remain a crook or a murderer. Katugasthota he recommended that I should read Lavinia. There we met the five children of his - Instead of trying to read the whole of the thripita- one direction, was carried forward by the Ven. those volumes. I borrowed the books from the Indrani, Mangala, Manel, Ashoka and ka, if one could understand a word like Bhikkhu Soma of Vajiraramaya. Inquiries in to Kandy library and reading them was an illuminat- Shivantimala. In them we found a set of brothers 'Appamada' that would be sufficient for one to re-birth was continued by men like K. N. ing experience for me because I also came across and sisters who were totally devoid of any affected become an arahath. With the words of Dr. Jayatillake and myself. The branching out of the several children with problems. airs and graces - they did not show any sense of Adikaram, we enjoyed calm and quiet atmosphere Free Education movement as the Swabhasha edu- At Ananda, he conducted English classes free of 'ahankara'. For them the boys and girls of the at Kuliyapitiya Central College. cation under L. H. Mettananda, J. R. P. charge for Buddhist monks such as Ven. ACBSU were also their brothers and sisters. The most of ACBSU members came from non- Suriyapperuma, Harischandra Wijeyatunge and Balangoda Ananda Maithri and Ven. Hinatiyana The printing press brought out annual maga- English speaking homes. They were not fluent in M. B. Karunananda has already been touched Dhammaloka and several other young monks who zine - 'Bees' and monthly journal 'Avabodaya'. For their English. Mr. Mivanapalana saw the uneasi- upon earlier in this speech. The development of came to prominence later on. the Anuradhapura sessions in 1949, the 'Bees' was ness that such students had and treated them with the Free Education Movement in yet another While working as a teacher at Ananda, edited by now well known journalist Edwin kindness care. In fact the English speaking stu- direction - the move to absorb assisted schools in Ariyadasa. This issue included contributions from dents never treated the non English speaking stu- Mivanapalana attended the Law College and spe- to a unified system of education was carried on by cialized in Company Law and Motor Traffic Law. learned men of he day as well as from the young dents with any difference and they encouraged us the teachers of Ananda and Dharmaraja. Thereafter, he was much sought after by the busi- men and women of the ACBSU. This issue carried to speak even in 'kedichchi engreesy'. But Mr. The Kandy Education Front with its President ness magnates of the day.He functioned as the sec- extracts from speeches from annual general meet- Mivanapalana always wrote, in impeccable retary to 17 bus companies scattered all over the ing - this in Sinhala by Sarath P.Kularatna ( now a English; we had to refer to Malalasekera English- Sir Bennet Soysa and joint secretaries K. H. M. country. veteran medical practitioner in the South) and in Sinhala Dictionary several times to understand Sumathipala and myself worked to carry forward Travelling the length and breadth of the coun- English by W.M. Tilakaratne who later became what he had written to us. the ideals of Mr. Ananda Mivanapalana. As men- try in this capacity gave Mr. Mivanapalana the the governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. It Mr. Mivanapalana realized that in Sri Lanka, tioned previously,his work in psychoanalysis and opportunity to take the message of the All Ceylon carried several other articles - 'Akka' by Vinnie good education was denied to thousands of stu- the his interest in developing a system of therapy Buddhist Students Union (ACBSU) to schools in Vitharana (now a distinguished scholar) and uni- dents. Therefore he was among the few leaders to address mental problems, specially those prob- towns and villages, in time to come. versity professor P.Liyanage Newton de Silva's who understood that the introduction of Free lems of the youth has been further developed by In his visits to Kandy for legal work he came to poem 'In Tolerance' started With the following two Education Scheme was the only remedy.He sought myself. The issues that Mivanapalana wanted to listen to Bhikkhu Dhammapala at the Kandy lines - the support of Prof. G. P.Malalasekera and Dr. E. discuss, such as educating the masses, are still Buddhist Association and the Dhamma discus- "Distinguish before you extinguish. W.Adikaram to launch an island wide campaign being addressed by the main media, both print sions at Udawattekele Temple. He was impressed Understand before you destroy" for the Free Education Scheme - Mr. and electronic. Several BSU members of the day contributed to Mivanapalana, with the help of his friends and by the 'Aspirations' of the BSU, written by In that sense, Ananda Mivanapalana and his Bhikkhu Dhammapala. As a joint effort of this journal which provided us with a sense of bus company owners arranged public meetings all belonging together. over the country.There was a public meeting at vision did not die on the 12th of April 1953. Surely.

History of Madhu... From page III According to Denham "Mr. Levers, says Church, by moving its annual festival to a was sacred to the Muslims also, because According to the evidence of the Bishop Holy Statue is independent of its location at in his "Manual of the North Central long established, but "pagan", pilgrimage they believed that it was the burial place of of Jaffna himself, there would have been no Madhu. They have also made it a political Province," states that "St. Mary's Church at site. two of their martyrs. Madhu Church today,if not for the benevo- tool by taking it to a place somewhere Madu is considered by the Buddhist and a "The great feature of the pilgrimage has The Madhu Church is a desolate place lence and tolerance of the to one of their behind the enemy lines. Like the Holy great many of the Tamil pilgrims, who been the feeding of all the pilgrims in front during the off-season. Thus, the 'Madige very important customs houses. There it Mountain Sri Pada, Madhu is a place of resort there, as the Temple of Pattiniamma of the church on the last day of the festival- Church of the Statue of St. Mary' continued had the protection of its armed guards and popular pilgrimage to all religious groups, ('Amman Kovil'). This seasonal influx of known as the pitche choru... After the food to be the sanctum where the Holy icon was of the sentries placed at Siyambalape Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian. It large numbers of other religionists on pil- had been blessed by the Bishop of Jaffna, placed in safekeeping. It was taken to the Raekawala (Puliyadi Irakkam), against the is the duty of the grimage to Marutha Madhu would have who presides at the festival, the vast crowd Marutha Madhu Church only during the danger posed by the Dutch Protestants of to ensure that Madhu continues to remain favoured the idea of shifting the Catholic clap their hands, rise to their feet, and in a short festive season. This practice seems to Mannar. as a place of common worship for all Sri Church to its present location. That is how few hours the practically empty." The have continued up to the closing years of The present custodians of the Church Lankans. the Madige Church became the Madhu Census Report states that Marutha Madhu the 20th century. have demonstrated that the sanctity of .the

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