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Today's Dhammapada
Mano Pubbangama Dhamma
Mano Setta Manomaya
Manasace Passannena
Bhasativa Karotiva
Mind precedes all knowables,
mind's their chief, mind-made are they.
If with a clear, and confident mind
one should speak and act
as one's shadow ne'er departing.
Happiness Follows The Doer of Good
Explanation: All that man experiences springs out of his
thoughts. If his thoughts are good, the words and the deeds will
also be good. The result of good thoughts , words and deeds will
be happiness. This happiness will never leave the person whose
thoughts are good. Happiness will always follow him like his
shadow that never leaves him.
Source: Buddhanet.net

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A fully equipped meditation centre was established at Dekanduwela,
Horana on a 10 acre land in 1993 by the Director of BCC, Ven. Kirama Wimalajothi thero. Atop a mountain located
in Kananwila, off Horana in the Kalutara District exists the Institution called Dekanduwela Meditation Centre
which is engaged in dissemination of knowledge gathered from ''Buddhist teaching to devoted Buddhists who have
a general understanding of the dhamma. The idea is to teach them how one can achieve mind
and self control through
proper practice of Buddhist teachings.
At Dekanduwela, uniqueness about the place is that it provides a training to both men
and women of all
ages to lead a simple life while engaging in spiritual practices. The usual program is of 2 weeks duration
and one can live like a monk during that period. This has become vey popular among
both young and old
irrespective of their religion and gender.
In-house training on
meditation from 2 days to 2 weeks were organized in this
panoramic place. The centre could accommodate 40
participants at a time.
Besides local participants including Bhikkhunis, over 2000
foreign persons have been trained by the Centre.
Participants from Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia,
Japan, Russia, Thailand Sweden and some other
countries attended these sessions. One year training course
in Tripitaka Dhamma for Bhikkhus and lay devotees is now
being conducted at the Centre.
Temporary (two weeks) Ordination program was launched in
2003.This was designed to give basic knowledge in Dhamma,
Meditation and Social Work. This novice training was
conducted once in two months. The program gained popularity
among the youths very rapidly. Most of the people who stay
there are students, graduates, professionals and fathers and
mothers from various social back grouns. After one year of this basic
training, all of them are enrolled as members of the ‘Ariya
Mittha Sansadaya’, main objective of which is to propagate
the Buddha Dhamma among the school children. This activity
is carried out in addition to the Sunday Dhamma Schools.
10 youths were ordained in March 1995 for the purpose of
spreading the Buddha Dhamma in foreign countries. Most of
them are now following higher studies abroad.

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Why do Bhikkhu need training? According to
the tradition in Sri Lanka the main method of entering
priesthood is to ordain a person in his childhood. There fore they need an
education system which should be able to with stand any impact
coming internally and
externally. Pirivena education is the accepted well known
education system for Bhikkhus which is coming from
generation to generation to-date. Pirivena means small
university like schools which can accommodate and educate
large number of Bhikkhus which was started more than 1000
years ago as maha Viharara.
When the Young Bhikkhus grow up part of them are choosing
Pirivena education while the others are pursuing the University
education. Most of the Pirivena educated Bhikkhus lead a
traditional way of life such as preaching Bana and chanting
Pirith and conducting practice sessions of meditation to the lay people while they
themselves cultivate their minds through meditation. Most of the Bhikkhus who are pursuing university education expect
employment under the Government on the following subjects
which they study in the university as academics. Some of the
subjects are Sinhala, Pali & Buddhism, History & Archeology,
Social science, Sanskrit etc. By working they expect a
financially secured life to build their own temples mostly
in the cities to serve the lay people better.
Founder of the BCC understood the problems what the above
two categories are facing. As a remedial measure the
Venerable thought of giving
training for all the Bhikkhus practically and theoretically
on the following manner.
01 Who is a real Bhikku?
02 How can he serve him self?
03 How can he serve the world?
04 How to be impartial in a Politically and economically
diversified society?
Hence the founder Venerable Kirama Wimalajothi Thero plans to build a complete Bhikku
training centre with all the facilities such as lecture
halls, Auditorium, A complete library, reading rooms and
accommodation.
Foreign student Bhikkus also can improve their knowledge on
Buddhism using these facilities.
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Today the Sri Lankan
Bhikkhunies are facing several problems. Some of
them are
01. Lack of Education.
02. Deficiency of recognition in the society.
03. Lack of Security.
04. Deficiency in delegating responsibilities to them and no
Proper Organizational System
Bhikkhuni order is becoming popular in the country. But there are
only three Bhikkhuni educational institutes to train them. Due to this, the educational level of Bhikkhunies are
at a very low standard. Their
knowledge of preaching, teaching and chanting as well as
their mind cultivation should be uplifted to obtain
recognition from the society at large.
Steps have to be taken to uplift their educational level
very soon. By doing so they are given an opportunity to go
to
society to spread the word of the Buddha while getting the
due respect.
As women priests, they should be able to lead a well secured and
conflict free life. To maintain this they should organize
themselves. Also the society has its own role to protect
them as their mothers and sisters.
To achieve a solution to the above three ( 01. Lack of education. ,02
lack of recognition in the society, 03. Lack of
security.) they should understand their
responsibility to organize themselves. The Bhikkhu sasana
also give their utmost support for overcoming Bhikkhunis
problems.
Understanding this situation the creator of the BCC has decided
to build an International Bhikkhuni Training centre
including all the facilities such as lecture halls,
Auditorium, A complete library, Reading rooms and also
accommodation, even
suitable for foreign trainee Bhikkhunies.
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