Ven.Nauyane Ariyadhamma Maha Thera : Ven.Nauyane Ariyadhamma Maha Thera is a Sri Lankan bhikkhu ( Buddhist monk ) and a senior meditation teacher. Ven. Ariyadhamma Maha thera was born on 24 April 1939 to a traditional Buddhist family in Kurunegala and was educated at the Government School of Nilagama. Hisfather was a supporter or benefactor of Ven. Wigoda Bodhirakkhita Thera, who was resident at the nearby Na Uyana forest monastery. The close relationship with the monks from childhood inspired his decision to ordain, and he trained under Ven. Wigoda Bodhirakkhita Thera in 1956 as an upasaka. At the age of seventeen , on the 27 th of March 1957, he received the Going-forth (Pabbajjà/Monk ) as a novice (sàmanera ) and two years later, on the 15 th of July 1959, took Higher-ordination ( Upasampadà) with the Sri Kalyàni Yogàshrama sanstha (association) , an organized group of Forest Tradition monks. He was a senior disciple of the Most Venerable Ràjakeeya Pandita Kadavedduve Sri Jinavansa Maha Thero (passed away: 13 th of July 2003), and from him and other senior monks of the Sri Kalyàni Yogàshrama sanstha, including the Most Venerable Ràjakeeya Panditaita Màtara Sri Gnànàràma Mahà thera (the Late Abbot and Meditation Master of Nissaranavanaya Forest Monastery, Meetirigala), received instructions in Pàli, Sanskrit, the Tripitaka (Three fold Buddhist Canon) and the meditation methods taught by the Late Most Venerable Mahàsi Sayadaw, Aggamahapandita Sobhana Mahà thera, of Myanmar. Ven. thero studied the Burmese language with Ven. Nyaninda Sayadaw while he was in Sri Lanka in 1964. Ariyadhamma Thera is proficient in Pali and Sanskrit and has extensive knowledge of the Pali Canon and the Pali commentaries. Therafter Most Ven Ariyadhamma engaged in teaching the Bhuikkus at the Gunawardena Yogasramaya at Ambalangoda. In 1996 Ven thero underwent training under the Most Ven. Pa-Auk Sayadaw Aggamahakammattanacariya Mahàthera, at the Pa-Auk Tawya Meditation Centre in Myanmar, and was given authorization to teach. The meditation method taught by the Most Ven. Pa-Auk Sayadaw is based on the `The Path of Purification’ ( Visuddhi- magga). On returning to Sri Lanka in the beginning of 1997, he introduced to the Sri Kalyàni Yogàshrama Sanstha, what he had learnt and practiced in Myanmar. As a consequence of that there are now a number of forest monasteries practicing this proven method in Sri Lanka.Ven. thero was appointed as the spiritual advisor and head of the Sri Kalyàni Yogàshrama sansthaorganization in 2003. In his current capacity, Ariyadhamma thera leads about 1,500 forest monks in 193 branch monasteries. Ven. Ariyadhamma Thero has been teaching meditation to monks and lay practitioners since 1977. In 2006, he was awarded the `Mahàkammattànàcariya’ (`Great Meditation Teacher’) title by the Government of the Union of Myanmar, in recognition of his services in teaching Dhamma and meditation. The Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya awarded Ariyadhamma Thera the titles of ‘Tripitaka Vāgīśvarācārya’ and ‘Mahopādhyāya’ and most recently Anunayaka (Deputy Advisor) of Ramanna Nikaya.The Government of Burma again awarded him the title ‘Agga MahāKammatahānācāriya’. Ven. Ariyadhamma thero has written more than 100 books and booklets in Sinhala on meditation and Dhamma. A few of these have been translated to English. Many are attracted by ven theros kind and gentle disposition (mettà ), good conduct, vast knowledge and wisdom. It is widely believed that there is no Venerable in Sri Lanka today who knows Saddamma to the extent that Maha thero Ariyadhamma knows. Apart from the knowladge Maha thero is a living example of an Ariya Srawaka. May the Venerable Maha Thero enrick this Sassana for another hundred years to come & finally fulfill the aspiration of attaining Buddhahood in future. May all beings be well and happy & attains the fruits of Nibbana.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 13:08:11 +0000
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