Theravada Samadhi Education Association

Unduvap Poya Day Ceremony

2011-12-11T21:42:00.000-08:00

The Full Moon Poya Day of Unduvap in the Buddhist year 2555, falls on December 10, 2011.

This particular day signifies the introduction of the Buddhist Order of nuns or Bhikkuni Sangha to Sri Lanka by the Arahath Therini Sangamitta, the daughter of Emperor Asoka of India 2318 years ago.

At Manelwatta Temple near Kelaniya, a special Poya Day ceremony took place on this special day. Although the Bhikkhuni Order disappeared in Sri Lanka around the 10^th century, in the past two decades, efforts have been made to revive the sacred tradition.

International Academy of Buddhist Studies has also made its efforts. On 13^th November 2011, a training program for bhikkhunis was launched. 50 bhikkhunis joined the program which was to last for three months.

To commemorate Unduvap Poya Day, a special day for Buddhist women, the ceremony was held at Manelwatta Temple on 10^th December 2011, with bhikkhunis leading the ceremony. The ceremony began at 6.00 am, eight hundred laywomen and laymen participated in the auspicious ceremony.

All 50 bhikkhuni students participated in the Poya Day ceremony.

aids donated to hospital

2011-12-11T21:24:00.000-08:00

H. E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa practicipated in the enthronement of Buddha shrine at International Academy of Buddhist studies, Manelwatta-Kelaniya on 17th Nov. 2011.

MahaDanaya Ceremony

2011-07-05T01:22:00.000-07:00

On 7th May 2011, a grand MahaDanaya Ceremony was held at Manelwatta Temple, Bollagela.

It was to celebrate the 2600th anniversary Lord Buddha's enlightenment.

2600 monks were invited for the alms-offering ceremony.

The ceremony was attended H.E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself.

click here for more photos

Bhikkhuni Maha Danaya

2011-01-20T00:54:00.000-08:00

Sponsored by Jiuhua Shan of Taiwan, all bhikkhunis in Sri Lanka were invited to a danaya at Manelwatta Temple,Bollagela, Kelaniya on 5 Jan. 2011. It is estimated that appoximately 3000 bhikkhunis attended the event.

At the same day, a building for future nunnery school was also unveiled.

Click for more photos

Click here for a Sri Lanka newspaper report

first all Sri Lankan Buddhist Nuns' Maha Danaya

2010-10-05T23:53:00.000-07:00

Twenty years ago, the very word 'bhikkhuni' was a taboo in Sri Lanka. But on 5 Oct 2010, the first all Sri Lankan Bhikkhuni Dana (alms-giving ceremony) took place in Manelwatta Temple, Bollegala.

The event was initiated by a Taiwan bhikkhuni sangha, Jiuhuashan. After cooperating on numerous charity projects in Myanmar with T.S.E.A., the head nuns of Jiuhuashan expressed the wish to offer alms to all nuns, including bhikkhuni, in Sri Lanka. Ven. B. Chandima Thero gladly agreed to help and hence the first all Sri Lankan bhikkhuni dana at Manelwatta Temple.

The event took about three months and over 1000 volunteers to organize. All bhikkhuni in Sri Lanka, numbered about 1000, were invited to attended. Buddhist nuns of other status (e.g. dasi sila mata) were also invited. 3000 invitations were sent out and it is estimated that approximately 2,900 nuns turned out for the historical event. It was very successful.

Ven. B. Chandima Thero would like to express his gratitude to all the volunteers and donors who made the first all Sri Lankan bhikkhuni dana possible.

Please click here for photos

Aid for Tanzania

2010-09-16T22:40:00.000-07:00

Once in Thailand, Ven. Chandima met a Sri Lankan monk, Ven. Ilukpitiye Pannasekara by sheer chance. He learnt that Ven. Ilukpitiye Pannasekara had lived in Tanzania of Eastern Africa for many years and devoted himself to help the needy in Tanzania. Tanzania is a relatively poor country where GNI per capita was only $440 USD (World Bank, 2008). In light of the widespread poverty, Ven. I. Pannasekara founded Metta Foundation of Africa in April and plans to establish a children’s home in order to help the street children.

Ven. Chandima was moved and realized the people of Tanzania are in greater need of aid. Hence, after returning to Taiwan, Ven. Chandima re-allocated aids that had been intended for the refugee camp in North Sri Lanka to be sent to Tanzania. Brother Xu Jinde of Wanhua and other volunteers spent a year collecting aid materials from numerous donors. And Mr. Guo Senxiang of Xinzhuang offered his factory warehouse for Theravada Samadhi Education Association to store and sort out the donated goods. In September, a 40 foot of container with aid materials was shipped to Tanzania. A Mr. Chen of Australia used his own money and bought the container for the future use of Metta Foundation of Africa. TSEA would like to express its gratitude to those who donated their time and money in this project. Without their kindness, this aid distribution would not be successful. For photos, please click here.

Buddhism and Environmental Protection-by Ven. B. Chandima Thero

2010-08-02T23:44:00.000-07:00

2554th Buddha Jayanti Celebration

2010-07-16T01:32:00.000-07:00

By invitation of Maha Bodhi Society of India, Ven. B. Chandima Thero of Theravada Samadhi Education Association, joined the 2554th Buddha Jayanti Celebration in India. Ven. B. Chandima Thero also brought a whole shipping container of Buddhist books to be distributed for free among those who might be interested.

The honorable guests who took part in the Celebration included, Ven. Dr. D. Rewatha Thera (General Secretary, Maha Bodhi Society of India), Dr. Brahmanda Pratap Barua, Hon'ble Justice Mr. Arunava Barua, Shri Hrishikesh Sharan, Sri Hemendu Bikash Chowdhury (Vice-President, Maha Bodhi Society of India) and Dr. Brahmanda Pratap Barua.

see here for more photos

2010 Lunar New Year Prayer

2010-02-15T01:46:00.000-08:00

Pictures from 2010 Lunar New Year Prayer and a sermon by Ven. B. Chandima.

Happy Chinese New Year!!

2010-02-11T05:52:00.001-08:00

aid distribution in Kilinochchi

2010-02-11T01:05:00.000-08:00

For decades, Kilinochchi in north Sri Lanka was ravaged by civil war. On 20 Jan 2010, Ven. B. Chandima went there to distribute much needed aids to the local population.

Medical Serivce

2010-02-11T00:54:00.000-08:00

A group of medical team from Malaysia, under the arrangement of Ven. B. Chandima, provided free medical service to the needy in the north area.

A prayer in Anuradhapura

2010-02-11T00:45:00.000-08:00

Ven. B. Chandima joined a prayer in the sacred city Anuradhapura on 19 Dec 2009. The event was attended by President.

We are in media again!

2010-01-27T07:08:00.000-08:00

The Myanmar Time has run a report about our mission in August 2009. Maybe it's a little bit too 'outdated' to post it now but we still would like to share the report with you.

Buddhist group donates to Metta village

By Cherry Thein

August 17 - 23, 2009

Residents of Metta model village tend vegetable gardens.

THE Taiwan branch of the Theravada Samadhi Education Association on August 9 donated relief goods valued at US$1.8 million to 720 households in Metta model village in Kungyangon township, Yangon Division.

Twenty-six members of the association travelled to Metta to take part in the ceremony to donate the goods, which included clothing, kitchen utensils, canned foods and toys for each of the households.

The village consists of 736 houses built by the association after Cyclone Nargis devastated the Ayeyarwady delta in May 2008.

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement has granted permission for 720 of the houses to be occupied, with priority given to families who lost their homes during Nargis and lack the resources to rebuild, and those who are caring for disabled family members.

Ms Chang Ho Chin, the deputy secretary general of the Theravada Samadhi Education Association, said the group planned to build a total of 1024 houses in the village, as well as a one-storey, eight-classroom school building valued at $100,000 for the village’s 453 school children.

“At the moment some children from Metta village must travel [about 3.5 kilometres] to schools in Kungyangon, which takes time. We want them to have a school in their own village,” she said.

Metta resident Ko Saw Min Htut said 16 houses in the village are being used as temporary schools for children in the current academic year, with the new school building expected to open for the next academic year.

He added that the people living in the new village have come from different townships throughout the delta.

Indeed, Ms Chang said the association plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Energy, which since the cyclone has taken responsibility for post-Nargis development in the township, in supporting villagers with seeds, tools, fertilisers and agricultural knowledge so they can start planting more crops.

“We plan to use $2500 for the agriculture project and we plan to start as soon as we get permission from the government,” she said. “There are many resettlement programs planned for the village. We want to raise their living and education standards. We want to offer training courses for agriculture also.”

The Theravada Samadhi Education Association was established in 1998 by the Venerable Bodagama Chandima Thero, who is also an adviser to the president of Sri Lanka on international religious and cultural works.

http://www.mmtimes.com/no484/n012.htm

Prayer for victims of typhoon Morakot

2009-10-11T07:17:00.000-07:00

It has been more than two months since typhoon Morakot devastsated south Taiwan, casuing more than 600 deaths and $.4.7 billion USD damage.

More than $1 million N.T.D. has been raised by T.S.E.A. Although the exact details are still in discussion, it has been decided that T.S.E.A. will join charity groups based in south Taiwn in the reconstruction works.

Meanwhile, Ven. B. Chandima has never forgetten about the spiritual needs of the victims and wanted to offer more than financial relief.

On 10 October, Ven. B. Chandima, accompanied by three Sri Lankan bhikkhus, one Taiwanese bhikkhuni and 22 T.S.E.A. members from Taipei, traveled to the disaster zone in south Taiwan to hold a pirit (prayer) for the victims of typhoon Morakot.

With the help of a local Buddhist charity group, Miaofa Cishan Hui (wondrous dharma charity association) , the pirit was held in a local temple in the disaster zone.

The pirit was chanted in Pali and lasted for more than two hours. Local Buddhists also came to join the event. For many of them, it was the first time that they heard Buddhist chanting in Pali.

In the sermon after the pirit, Ven. B. Chandima reminded people the importance of compassion. With compassion, many obstacles can be overcome. Even though the victims of typhoon Morakot may not be Buddhist or understood Pali, as long as the prayer was chanted with compassion and sincerity, the wondrous merit created by the pirit would still reach them.

Visit from ShaoLin Temple

2009-09-20T22:09:00.000-07:00

On 23 August 2009, a group of Chinese delegates visited Manelwata Temple.

It includes the abbot of ShaoLin Temple, Dharma Master Yong Xin, and more than forty monks of ShaoLin Temple.

Pilgrimage Sept. 2009

2009-09-20T20:55:00.000-07:00

Chairperson Wong of T.S.E.A. once vowed that when peace arrives, he would go to Sri Lanka to thank Buddha's blessing. Peace did arrive, so Chairperson Wong, age 76, took time off and paid a pilgrimage to Sri Lanka.

Morakot Relief Activities

2009-09-09T00:15:00.000-07:00

On 8 Aug 2009, typhoon Morakot devasted southern Taiwan, causing the loss of hundreds lives and properties.

T.S.E.A. has joined local NPOs in the reconstruction works. Many T.S.E.A. members also volunteered to help out in the post-storm cleaning work.

Vauniya visit

2009-08-03T18:42:00.001-07:00

On 23 July 2009, Dr. Ven. B. Chandima Thero accompanied a Malaysian charity group (Cihui Tang) and Taiwan charity group (Dharma Drum Mountain) for an inspection in the Vauniya region of Sri Lanka.

Civil war had raged in Sri Lanka for more than three decades. It has caused enormous loss of lives and properties for people who lived in the war zone. Although the civil war has ended in April 2009, more than 250,000 refugees remained homeless in the borderline regions such as Vauniya,, for they must wait for their home villages to be cleared of land mines in oder to have safe home return.

In the meantime, education for children, food, housing and etc. are needed for those homeless refugees. Upon learning the need of those refugees, a Chinese religious group in Malaysia, Cihui Tang, contacted Dr. Ven. B. Chandima, offering to help the needy refugees.

Hence, along with a Taiwanese Buddhist organization, Dharma Drum Mountain, an inspection field trip was conducted in the Vauniya region on 23 July 2009. The group visited a ruin village where a school is needed and a refugees camp to inspect the situation.

A reconstruction of a school and medical service are in the consideration. It is likely that Dharma Drum Mountain will provide a medical team for the homeless refugees in October, and Cihui Tang will help to reconstruct a school and dispatch a medical team in December.

Dr. Ven. B. Chandima Thero has pointed out that help must be given to where is most urgently needed and at this moment, it is the homeless refugees from Sri Lankan north that need help. By combining resources, a better help can be offered.

Chinese New Year Pryar

2009-01-28T00:49:00.000-08:00

Lunar New Year is an important time for all Chinese around the world. At Theravada Samadhi Education Association in Taiwan, Chinese New Year was celebrated with excitement.

On 26th Feb. 2009, the First Day of the Lunar New Year, members gathered at T.S.E.A. HQ in Taipei. After greeting one another good wishes, Ven. B. Chandima thera and two other Sri Lankan theras led the New Year prayer. Afterwards, Ven. B. Chandima thera gave us a sermon. He advised us to find time to engage in spiritual practice. In this volatile, forever chaning world, he said, we must find tranquility within. Therefore, no matter how busy we are, we have to try 5 to 10 minutes a day to meditate and learn Dharma.

Buddhist Pilgrimage

2009-01-23T00:43:00.001-08:00

Pilgrimage to Sri Lanka

A pilgrimage trip to Buddhist holy sites in Sri Lanka

Led by Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima

Organized by Theravada Samadhi Education Association

Date: 3 ~ 22 March 2009

Registration & Inquire:

Tel: +886 (0)2-2822-6388

Fax: +886 (0)2-28202173

E-MAIL：Samadhi.Buddha@msa.hinet.net

Fees: $35,000 NTD (a. $1200 USD)

(included flight cost from Taipei to Colombo, accommdation and travel costs in Sri Lanka)

3/14

Taipei-Hong Kong - Colombo

3/15

Colombo City Tour

in addition to the city tour, we will join a function to distribute Buddhist music tapes and Buddhist books to the local people

3/16

Colombo - Dambulla - Alu Vihara–Kandy

We will visit the sacred Dambulla Cave Temple (a world hertigae site) and Alu Vihara before reaching Kandy.

3/17

Kandy Royal Botanical Gardens- Nuwara Eliya-dana

In addition to visite the beautiful Kandy Royal Botanical Gardens, an important function today is to give dana to the sangha.

3/18

KATARAGAMA-Maha Devalaya-Kirivehera

Kataragama is known for its beauty and rich religious culture. It is where you can find Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and even Christian elements blend together.

3/19

Taiwan Samadhi Village-Big Love Village

In the aftermath of 2004 tsunami, T.S.E.A. helped to raise funds and build houses for the displaced victioms. One of the housing project is Taiwan Samadhi Village. We will visit Taiwan Samadhi Village today, as well as another housing project for the tsunami victims, Big Love Village.

3/20

Colombo-Dharmachakkra Child Foundation

Today, you will have chance to meet the children whom you may have sponsored through the assistance of Dhamrachakkra Child Foundation.

3/21

Colombo--Kelaniya Temple- Manel Watta

Kelaniya Temple is one of the most sacred sites in Sri Lanka, for Lord Buddha had visited it. Afterwards, we will visit another temple where the purposed Kelaniya International Buddhist University is planned. You will have the chance to do some shopping in Colombo after supper or return to the hotel for rest. Around midnight, a bus will take us to the airport.

斯里蘭卡朝聖

暨

供僧行程表

主辦：原始佛法三摩地學會

出發日期：2009年3月14日 ～ 2009年 3月22日(共九日)

報名截止日期：2009年2月28日前

領隊：強帝瑪 法師

電話：02-2822-6388 傳真：02-28202173

E-MAIL：Samadhi.Buddha@msa.hinet.net http://www.samadhi-buddha.org/

地址：台北市石牌路一段39巷80弄15號1樓

斯里蘭卡被譽為<印度眉間閃爍之珍珠>，舊名錫蘭，釋迦牟尼佛曾三度造訪此地，使得這個島嶼受到了極高的敬重，是原始佛教最重要的基地之一。公元前三世紀，印度阿育王廣弘佛教，派遣子女親自將佛法、佛舍利及大菩提樹之分枝送來錫蘭，佛法遂大興於此，此期間並完成「貝葉經」之巴利聖典，成為原始佛法之重要寶典。印度佛法衰落之後，鍚蘭更成為東南亞、中國及全世界各地求法的根源地。

錫蘭島魅力天成，蘊藏大自然美景和豐富的歷史古蹟，島上保存了2000多年來的佛教遺跡、優美人工湖景、古老水利灌溉系統，以及近代興建的舍利塔、寺院、道場、佛像雕塑等，其中最古老的城市—阿努拉德普勒和坎迪等地都妥善保存了歷代王宮和佛殿的歷史痕跡，置身其中，天地悠悠，引人思古之幽情。

◆ 3/14 第一天

行程：台北-香港-可倫坡( TPE – ＨK - CMB )

搭乘豪華客機，飛往斯里蘭卡，於抵達首都-可倫坡直接至泛亞飯店休息。

晚宿：Trans Asia Hotel

◆ 3/15 第二天

行程：可倫坡( Colombo- city tour)

除了參觀可倫坡外市區，也將參加佛書、佛曲音樂發放的活動。

晚宿： Trans Asia Hotel

◆ 3/16 第三天

行程：可倫坡-旦普勒 ( Colombo - Dambulla - Alu Vihara–Kandy)

前往參觀建於西元前一世紀的旦普勒石寺，岩石聖殿是鑿建於一系列的洞穴中，內有2萬平方公尺的釋迦牟尼佛像壁畫，並有高47公尺的釋迦牟尼佛石刻雕像。旦普勒石寺是斯國保存得最完整的佛像石窟藝術，共有大小5個石窟及200多尊佛陀雕像，巡禮其間，彷彿暏佛真儀，猶似佛音在耳。

往坎迪路上順道參訪貝葉經寺，即位在Matale附近的Alu Vihara寺院。西元一世紀 Valagamba 國王執政期間，佛教僧伽們在 Alu Vihara寺院的七個岩洞裡結集出來佛教三藏聖典，並將聖典以巴利文記錄在ola（貝葉）樹葉上，這是第一部以文字紀錄的佛教巴利聖典，目前Alu Vihara寺院仍保存了三個岩洞。第一岩洞大約25呎長、10呎高，洞頂以辛哈拉文記載了這段佛教勝事。於途中經香料園參觀各式各樣的香料樹種及其用途。

接著，前往坎迪佛牙寺參拜。坎迪是一座美麗的山城，她曾是錫蘭最後王朝的古都，也是重要世界文化遺址。此地最值得一遊的是達拉達‧瑪莉迦瓦（Dalada Maligawa）的「佛牙寺」，寺院是坐落在湖邊的一棟白色的奇偉聖殿，供奉著釋迦牟尼佛的佛牙舍利。此佛牙舍利係西元第四世紀印度Kitsiri Mevan國王派印度希曼利公主(Hemamali)藏於髮中與旦塔(Danta)王子一同從Kalinga帶來錫蘭，佛牙舍利是佛陀的精神象徵，亦為全世界佛教徒非常重要的精神支柱，來此朝聖之信士絡繹不絕，每年7、8月間佛牙節，寺院都會舉行十天的遊行慶祝盛典。

晚宿：The Citadel Kandy Hotel

◆ 3/17 第四天

行程：坎迪-皇家植物園-供僧法會 (Kandy Royal Botanical Gardens- Nuwara Eliya-dana)

早上，則要進行本行程最主要的任務　—　供僧。供僧功德殊勝，為難得機緣。

下午，前往坎迪(Kandy)市郊的Peradeniya參觀南亞最大的坎迪皇家植物園。園內有超大的菠蘿蜜；有百年以上的老榕樹，它的根與莖葉涵蓋有面積2500平方公尺之廣；並且會有垂直的莖枝生長下來作為枝幹的支撐，所以又叫weeping fig(垂淚榕兒) ；有雙胞大王椰，果實成熟後下方會對分成兩瓣，就好像人的屁股一樣，所以又叫double coconut……；園內植物與台灣所見的迥異其趣，絕對值得一遊。

接著前往聞名世界的錫蘭茶鄉努娃拉依利亞參觀。努娃拉依利亞群山環繞，放眼盡是綠油油的茶園，氣候溫和宜人，山霧漂緲，仿若人間仙境。晚上在此夜宿，享受山城仙境。

晚宿：Nuwara Eliya Grand圓山飯店

◆ 3/18 第五天

行程： (KATARAGAMA-Maha Devalaya-Kirivehera )

凱達拉嘎瑪為於斯里蘭卡南部，不但風景優美，更是融合了佛教、印度教與伊斯蘭三個宗教文化，佛教徒會認為凱達拉嘎瑪神是菩薩化身，印度徒則認為祂是天神，一年一度的凱達拉嘎瑪慶典（七～八月）更是各宗教信徒都會共襄盛舉的，遊行隊伍從Maha Devalaya　出發到Kirivehera舍利塔結束。世尊於第三次造訪斯里蘭卡時，也來到凱達拉嘎瑪，因此建於公元前三世紀Ｋｉｒｉｖｅｈｅｒｅａ舍利塔也是斯里蘭卡十六大佛教勝地之一。

晚宿︰Rosen Renaissance

◆ 3/19 第六天 (Taiwan Samadhi Village-Big Love Village)

當２００４年南亞大海嘯重創斯里蘭卡時，不少台灣人發揮愛心，除了參與立即的賑災，也投入後續工作，捐款為災民興建房屋。今天將參觀台灣愛心所建成的村落　—　三摩地台灣村、慈濟大愛村。

晚宿︰Rosen Renaissance

◆ 3/20 第七天(Colombo-Dharmachakkra Child Foundation)

上午前往班達拉嘎瑪的法輪兒童基金會參訪，並朝禮該院所珍藏之佛舍利。中午於基金會用齋，觀賞院童表演的各項才藝節目。

強法師求學期間，斯里蘭卡北方長期戰亂，有一次，強法師看到一張照片，一個媽媽懷裡抱著一個嬰兒，小孩正在吸奶，可是媽媽的頭不見了，鮮血從脖子流了下來，小孩吸的竟然是媽媽的血啊！強法師看了很難過，於是發願：『以後我要蓋孤兒院，不蓋寺院，要讓這些流離失所的孤兒能有所依怙』。於是在1996年強法師創建了法輪兒童基金會，目前院内收容約100位男女院童。

晚宿︰Rosen Renaissance

◆ 3/21 (Colombo--Kelaniya Temple- Manel Watta)

上午參訪佛陀第三次親臨的可蘭尼亞寺(Kelaniya)，此寺是斯國16個重要佛寺之一。根據歷史記載：佛陀覺悟後第8年的Vesak月月圓之日，在可蘭尼亞Naga(龍)國Maniakkhika國王的邀請下，至可蘭尼亞寺傳道，國王不但皈依佛陀，並將可蘭尼亞的土地全部供養佛陀。當時佛陀傳法之寶座，目前仍保存於該寺之佛舍利塔，塔高80呎，圓周長180呎。

下午參訪可蘭尼亞另一寺院—藍蓮花寺，這是斯國第一任總統捐贈之官邸改建而成的寺院，佔地約十六甲，對外交通非常便利。2004年第七代法王達摩揭諦長老（DhammaKitthi Sangharaja Maha Nayaka Thero，於2008年1月23日示寂）將住持重任交付強帝瑪法師，在徵得長老同意之後，強法師決定將寺院再改建成一所多元化的國際佛教大學，將聘請世界各國及斯里蘭卡各寺院的長老擔任教授。希望能夠融合南北藏傳三大糸佛教，提供全世界佛教四眾弟子一個學習完整佛法的最佳研究環境，不分大小乘，不分宗派，不分國籍，提供一切吃住，培養專業的國際弘法人才。強法師希望這所大學將來能夠成為全世界學習、交流、翻譯、弘揚佛陀正法以及推廣佛教相關學術、藝術、文化的一個重要據點。

結束後可至Colombo採購物品，然後回飯店休息。翌日3/22凌晨搭乘CX710班機前往香港轉機返台。

飛機航班一覽表
日期	飛行地點		班機	起飛時間		抵達時間
3/14	台北 → 香港香港		CX421	12：00		13：50
或
	高雄→香港		KA433	11:20		12:50
	香港 → 可倫坡		CX711	16：00		22：35

3/22	可倫坡 →香港		CX711	00:05		12: 00
	香港 → 台北		CX564	13:10		12:00
或
	香港　→　高雄		KA 430	17:50		19:15
飯店住宿一覽表
飯店名稱					電話/傳真
可倫坡Colombo		Trans Asia Hotel			Tel:002-94-112-544200 Fax:002-94-112-449184
坎迪Kandy		The Citadel Kandy Hotel			Tel:002-94-81-2234365

● 遊遊費用：總計新台35,000元(不含出國手續工本費)，美金匯率及各地機票票價若有變動，按其比率調整之。以上費用包含導遊、領隊、司機及飯店、行李每天之服務費。

▲以上費用包括：

1.機票－來回經濟客艙團體機票。

2.住宿－行程中所到之酒店以兩人一室為原則。

3.門票－參觀遊行活動費用。

4.餐膳－旅程中之早、午、晚三餐。

5.其他－交通遊覽車、遊艇、導遊車、入場、簽證費、機場稅等等。

6.行李－23公斤以下之行李一件，機場與旅館間托運費。

7.保險－兩百萬元旅行平安險及三萬元意外醫療險。

8.石牌佛堂至中正機場來回遊覽車接送。

▲以上費用不包括：

l.出國手續之各項規費(如護照申請費用)。

2.純係私人之消費，如行李超重費、飲料、酒、洗衣、電話費及私人交通費。

3.團體餐、宿之稅捐。旅程上未表明之開支。

4.領隊－派經驗豐富之領隊，協助旅途中一切出入國手續及食宿遊覽之安全。

5.供僧費用。

●報名方式：

1.半年以上有效期限護照影印本一張

2.一吋相片2張

3.訂金5000元（總數38,000元）

●報名請洽新華旅行社：

聯絡電話：2504-22814、2504－2815

傳真號碼：2509－1890

聯絡人：林經理

Photos from the Second Relief Mission

2008-12-01T00:08:00.001-08:00

Myanmar Relief

Photos from the Second Relief Mission

2008-10-05T23:08:00.000-07:00

Project Proposal:

Kaleniya International Buddhist University

Goal

Buddhism originated in India some 2,500 years ago and yet suffered severe destruction from the 11^th century onward. Nowadays, Buddhism is mostly found outside of India.

Generally speaking, present Buddhism can be divided into two major traditions: the Theravada Pali tradition that is found in Sri Lanka and other southeast Asian countries and Mahayana tradition that is furtherer divided into the Chinese-literary tradition and Tibetan tradition.

It is the goal of Kaleniya International Buddhist University to bring different traditions together in order to promote inter-tradition dialogue, mutual understanding and share thoughts and spiritual practice.

Mission

To advance academic study in Buddhism and to cultivate talents in Buddhist studies;
To revive the bhikkhuni sangha in Sri Lanka and to improve the status of bhikkhuni around the world;
To encourage educational activities and to apply Buddha-Dharma in the social-cultural works;
To collect and preserve Buddhist texts, literature, arts, etc.;
To support inter-traditions dialogue and academic exchange.

Proposed Programs

There will be long-term as well as short-term programs at the university. They are either diploma-intended or degree-intended programs. Postgraduate degrees will also be provided.

Site location

Only 10 km. to the capital Colombo and 40 km to Bandaranaika International Airport.
A total of 40 acres of site measure.
The Lord Buddha visited Kaleniya.

stupa at the site of the university

the bodhi tree

How we began

2008-10-05T00:22:00.000-07:00

While the formally formation of our organisation was carried out in Taiwan in the year 1999 by Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima the fundamentals of our organised charity work dates back earlier.Our founder had in his home country Sri Lanka already brought the Dharma Chakkra Child Foundation as part of his charity work into being in 1993.

With his projects like the Dharma Chakkra children's homes he had the goal to transcend the boundaries of nations and races by involving people from various backgrounds and to realize the Bodhisattva path.As stable financial income is a requirement for the continuity of charity projects Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima accepted the donation of a ground-floor apartment in San-chun, Taipei from Ms. Chen Jiezhi and Mr. Huang Saiying in 1995.Hereby the basis of the Theravada Samadhi Education Association was laid and so our organisation was founded for the purpose of funding charity projects in Sri Lanka. Mr. Wang Zhuqing was elected as the first president.

In the course of time our association grew and in the end the San-chun premises have no longer been big enough to accommodate our congregation. When The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation heard about our difficulties, it gladly donated bigger premises to us without hesitation.In the year 2004 the Theravada Samadhi Education Association moved to the current location in Shipai, Taipei. Our new address is only a 10 minutes walk away from Shipai MRT station.

We hope that with this convenient and more spacious location, those who either wish to learn about Dharma or want to take part in our charity projects may find it easier to join us.

Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima

2008-10-05T00:11:00.000-07:00

Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima was born in Matara District of southern Sri Lanka on 3rd February 1957. Sri Lanka, or 'Ceylon', as she was called during the colonial era, lies in the Indian Ocean, south of India. She is a beautiful island, flourishing with thousands-year-old of Buddhist culture.

According to a Sri Lankan chronicle, the Mahavamsa, it was to the people of Sri Lanka that the Buddha gave the auspicious responsibility of protecting Dharma before his final nirvana. Since young, Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima has been nourished in Dharma.When he was eleven, his aunt invited three monks to take the rainy season retreat at her house, for there was no proper place nears the village for the monks to hold the retreat.

Young Chandima was attracted to the Dharma the monks disclosed and the bright yellow color of robes the monks wore at the first sight. He went to his aunt's place every day after school to hear the Dharma sermon from the monks.'Mama,' he begged his mother, 'I want to wear that robe.'

At the first, his mother refused. But after awhile, she relented. So three months later, young Chandima followed the three monks to their temple and as he had wished, wore the robe.

But soon, young Chandima found out that wearing the monastic robe was no fun at all! He must get up at four in the morning for the morning prayer. Everyday, there was sutra-studying and there was so much to be learnt! He ran away three times. But each time, his teacher went after him and persuaded him to return.

Despite all the hardship of monastic life, young Chandima remained in the robe.

In 1970, at the age of 13, young Chandima formally received Buddhist monastic ordination. After the ordination, he was sent to study at Maha Mantinda Pirivena. A pirivena is a Buddhist monastic school where young monks (and after 1980s young nuns) are trained. The subjects of study at a pirivena include Pali, Sanskrit, Tiripitaka, social studies, Sinhala, mathematics, etc. Studying at a pirivena is no easy task and one needs great determination to finish the strict and demanding courses. After seven years of study, Ven. Chandima graduated from the pirivena with a Distinction and he stayed on at the pirivena as a teacher.

In 1980, after more than ten years of 'wearing the robe', Chandima received the higher ordination and became a Bhikkhu, a full member of the Sangha (Buddhist monastic order).

In 1982 Ven. Bodagama Chandima was admitted into the renowned Buddhasravaka-Dharmapithaya University in the northern Sri Lanka. There he studied courses such as English, Pali, Sanskrit, Hindi, Sinhala, Tiripitaka, Abhidharma, meditation, Buddhist history and culture, etc. After three years of study he was granted a B.A. degree and in 1986 a M.A. degree. At the same time he also studied at Peradeniya University as an external student and was eventually granted a M.A. degree in Buddhist philosophy.Although as soon as he obtained his M.A. degree, he was invited to be the principal of a pirivena, he felt that he had yet seen the world.

So between 1986 and 1988 he traveled to Thailand for trainings in meditation. And later he went to Malaysia to study under the revered Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera and at the same time helped to translate Pali texts. During his stay in Malaysia, library was where he spent most of his time.In 1990 under the encouragement of Chinese Buddhists in Malaysia, Ven. Bodagama Chandima came to Taiwan to study Chinese.

He thought that he would stay in Taiwan only for a few years and after acquiring Chinese language skills, he would return to Malaysia to spread Theravada Buddhism to the Chinese population there. Little did he know that he would go on to make Taiwan his home!At the first he took a Chinese language course at National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei.

During this period (1990~1993) all of his tuition and living expenses were paid by Mr. Jian Fengwen, the former Chairperson of The Corporate Body of Buddha Education Foundation. After he finished his Chinese language course, he was invited by the Corporate Body of Buddha Education Foundation to teach meditation and to translate Pali texts into Chinese. This has never stopped. Till today, Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima still engages in the task of translating Pali texts for the Corporate Body of Buddha Education Foundation and holds regular Dharma sermons and meditation classes there.Even though he lived in Taiwan, he never forgot about the needy in Sri Lanka.

Thus, in 1993, he founded the first Dharma Chakkra children's home near Colombo as well as the Dharma Chakkra Child Foundation for the upkeep of the children's home. In the meantime, he always tries to spread Dharma. For example, between May and September of 1997, he was invited to New York, Atlanta, Paris, and Germany to teach meditation and give Dharma sermons. But charity works remain important to him. In 1999, he founded the Theravada Samadhi Education Association in Taiwan for the purpose of funding various charity projects in Sri Lanka.In 2001 he was granted a honorary Ph.D. degree in philosophy by Kandy University. And in 2003 he was granted another honorary Ph.D. degree in Buddhist study from Southern University.

In Buddhist legend, there is a mystic bird called 'garuda'. A garuda has wings miles wide and when it flies, it can fly from one end of the world to the other within blinks. It flies alone but it is strong. Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima is like a garuda. In the dark sky of night, he frequently flies between Sri Lanka and Taiwan, spreading Dharma and compassion.His ability and compassion soon gained the attention of Ven. Dhamma Kitthi Thera, the abbot of the Sangharaja Museum, Kandy.

He then offered Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima a temple in Kaleniya near Colombo. Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima was puzzled. He asked Ven. Dhamma Kitthi Thera: 'Why did you give me this temple?'. The elderly Ven. Dhamma Kitthi Thera gave a simple but assured reply: 'I have confidence in you.'.Manelwata Vihara in Kaleniya is a big but half-ruined temple. Given its approximate to the capital Colombo, Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima thought that he might utilize this temple. The idea of 'Kaleniya Buddhist University' was thus born.

He plans to establish a Buddhist university at the location. And in order to provide better understanding among Buddhists of different traditions, the 'Kaleniya International Buddhist University' will differ from other Buddhist universities in Sri Lanka, in the way that it will provide not only courses in Pali and Theravada Buddhism but also courses in Buddhist studies of other traditions.

However, because of the devastating situation caused by the 2004 tsunami, all fund-raising events for the establishment of Kaleniya Buddhist University have been diverged to Tsunami relief projects.

As soon as the tsunami relief project was completed to a satisfying stage, a catastrophe, caused by the May 2008 cyclone, hit Myanmar. Forever compassion, Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima immediately threw his energy to help the cyclone victims. Therefore, the "Kaleniya International Buddhist University" will have wait even longer.

Make a donation

2008-10-04T22:50:00.000-07:00

Name of Bank: Hua Nan Commercial Bank

Branch: Shipai Branch

Branch Address: No.78, Shipai Rd. Sec.1, Beitou, Taipei, Taiwan

A/C Name: Theravada Samadhi Education Association in Taiwan R.O.C

A/C-No.: 123970023130

SWIFT CODE: HNBKTWTP

Please remark: “Relief for Myanmar”

Kaleniya International Buddhist University

2008-10-04T22:48:00.002-07:00

University projectThough the Manelwata Vihara temple in Kaleniya near Colombo comprises a big site, however it lies half in ruins.

After the elderly Ven. Dhamma Kitthi Thera, the late abbot of the Sangharaja Museum, Kandy, conveyed this temple as a gift to our founder Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima, the idea to establish a university at this site was soon born.

In order to provide better understanding among Buddhists of different traditions the Kaleniya International Buddhist University will differ from other Buddhist universities in Sri Lanka.

It will provide not only courses in Pali and Theravada Buddhism but also courses in Buddhist studies of other traditions.The fundraising measures for the establishment of the university have however been diverged to the tsunami relief project, because of the devastating situation caused by the Tsunami in the end of 2004.

Let's hope the Kaleniya International Buddhist University will be with our collective efforts the reality in the near future anyhow.

Scholarship Project

2008-10-04T22:48:00.001-07:00

Due to financial difficulties students from Asian countries are often unable to successfully finish their studies.Our founder Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima made a public appeal to help those students and many people gave generously. So those scholarships have helped more than 100 students in the past years, more than 40 students among them have been from overseas.We provide different scholarships for students who want to study in Sri Lanka. Among are scholarships for medical studies, for Buddhist studies and scholarships for excellence. The recipients of our scholarships are both Buddhist monks and laypersons.

Dharma Chakkra children's homes

2008-10-04T22:46:00.000-07:00

With the accommodation in a comfortable and well looked after home we want to offer orphaned children as well as for children from problem families a happy environment to grow up.Our first children's home was opened on the 29th November 1998 in the presence of the president of Sri Lanka. This home is exclusively housing boys and offers approximately 100 children accommodation.In the beginning of 2005 we have started the construction of a second children's home on our site in Bandaragama, which meanwhile is completed. This home is exclusively for girls, which shall be prepared for a independent live by a family environment and good educational opportunity and has accommodated 9 girls so far.The costs for clothing, food, health care, education, etc. amount to approx. 35 US-Dollars per child per month. The Dharma Chakkra Child Foundation is raising the total expenses by donations. So fare more than 400 children already profited from this project.

Samadhi housing project

2008-10-04T22:44:00.001-07:00

Up to 500,000 humans have been made homeless by the Tsunami disaster on the 26th December 2004 in Sri Lanka. After carrying out relief actions we have concentrated our efforts onto the reconstruction for the lasting support of the people affected.Already on the 19th January 2005 we have been able to start with the works to realise our master plan. The project comprises besides the construction of a 1,000 residential houses substantial measures for the upgrading of the infrastructure and further accompanying projects.For the first construction stage of our Samadhi housing project we have obtained 80 acres of land on the southeast coast in the Hambantota District from Sri Lanka government and we have been able to complete the first housing complex with fully-equipped houses in the village Uahapitagoda Gramasewa. Those houses have been donated to 300 Tsunami affected and destitute families with a total of 1200 family members on the 10th September 2005.In the meantime the building of the second and third stage has started. The parcel of land for the second construction stage is located in Bataata, Hungama and was donated by Cetiyagiri Viharaya. The third phase of the project will be created in Panama, Madakalapuwa. Those two construction stages are estimated to be completed in December 2006.We still ask you for your participation in this project, because substantial work still needs to be done. Please join us in helping the Tsunami victims, for that the persons affected will be put in the position to build a new existence!

Tsunami relief

2008-10-04T22:43:00.000-07:00

In the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sumatra the third strongest recorded earthquake in history triggered Tsunamis in the entire region on the 26th December 2004. Based on estimations in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and in another 8 countries up to 230,000 humans lost their lives and up to 1,700,000 have been made homeless in the course of this natural disaster.In Sri Lanka especially the east and the south of the island have been effected. Besides substantial damages caused to the infrastructure of the country the disaster did cost there up to 38,000 humans their lives and up to 500,000 have been made homeless. Many of the survivors lost their entire belongings as well as their basis of existence.As the news of the devastating effects of the Tsunami disaster reached us, we immediately started the relief work. Already on the 28th December Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima traveled with a few helpers to Sri Lanka and so we have been able to instantly put 5 million rupees immediate aid at disposal.Our team toured across the affected regions afterwards and distributed auxiliary goods like medicine, food, clothing and kitchen utensils. Further relief actions have been performed by us in the beginning of 2005.In the further order of our work the reconstruction of the affected regions moved in the foreground and so we made the decision to concentrate our efforts onto the construction of free houses for the displaced victims. We call our new project the Samadhi housing project.Our organisation is still committed to the Tsunami victims, for many persons affected still wait for adequate help!

Activities in Taiwan

2008-10-04T22:42:00.001-07:00

We conduct various actitivies at our location in Taipei. Besides the planning of our charity projects we do hold volunteer training sessions there, to prepare them for their work in Sri Lanka.We also offer various classes and events like for example meditation classes, chinese classic reading for children or Buddhist studies. New this spring term is a Sinhala class, as many of our members realized the need for knowledge of the Singhalese language in order to intensify their invovlement in charity projects or to pursue their meditation training in Sri Lanka.

Lianxian kindergartens

2008-10-04T22:41:00.000-07:00

As the population in rural Sri Lanka is due to financial difficulties often not in the position to offer their children adequate preschool education, our organisation support the Lianxian kindergartens.By supporting those kindergartens we give children from less privileged families an early opportunity to obtain a basis for their future education. So they have regardless of their origin the chance to go a successful path of life.The kindergartens are located in impoverished areas and are free of charges due to our support. So far we have been able to promote 10 Lianxian kindergartens. Lianxian is a Chinese word and can be translated with lotus mind.

Medical project

2008-10-04T22:39:00.001-07:00

To improve the health care of the population in Sri Lanka we support medical teams from Taiwan, which offer free treatment and free medicine during several days stays.The local media informs the population before the arrival about the offer and so patients often wait for the team already since early morning. The doctors and nurses than often have to work till late in night.This free help means a lot to the needy as otherwise they would not be in the position to receive proper medical treatment.