A new home for the daughters of the Buddha.

The soothing cool breeze that swept across the Bolgoda lake had a balmic effect on the living beings around it, just as the Dhamma consoles and heals humankind. The peaceful and tranquil Sakyadhita Sri Lanka Monastery situated at the edge of the Bolgoda lake at Sri Dhammananda Mawatha, Gorakana, Panadura is a place that spreads the essence of the "Dhamma" to the world.

Sakyadhita, meaning "daughters of the Buddha" is the main centre for bhikkhunis, the clergy women with full ordination in Buddhism in Sri lanka. "We started this training and meditation centre in 1993, declaring the re-establishment of bhikkhuni status to our "dasa sil mata" (10-precept nuns) in Sri Lanka." Said Ranjani de Silva, President of Sakyadhita Sri Lanka.

Much credit for triumphing over the disapprovals, disagreements and turmoil against giving "upasampada" status (higher ordination) to "dasa sil mata", should be given to Ranjani. Her determination and service rendered to the re-establishment of the bhikkhuni sasana was applauded by honouring her with the Award of Outstanding Buddhist Women presented by the United Nations in Bangkok on March 4 this year. At the event 15 bhikkhunis and women were honoured for their work in helping to spread the Buddha Dhamma in the world.

Under the shady breeze of the Sakyadhita monastery, Ranjani explained her life story along with the re-establishment of the bhikkhuni sasana.

Born in Mirissa, Matara and educated at Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara and Girls' High School, Dehiwala. Ranjani had much exposure to Buddhism at the Sunday Daham School. While working as the manager-personal and Administration at the State Engineering Corporation from 1962-1985, she was involved in welfare work for employees. She got married to B.S.De silva, Deputy Editor of Daily News at Lake House newspapers in 1961, and had a daughter.

After her early retirement from work, Ranjani who was an ardent follower of Buddhism, accidentally got the opportunity to attend a ten-day Buddhist meditation conducted by a well known German Buddhist nun, Sister Khema in 1984.

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"With the Chola invasion in the 10th century, both the Buddhist monks Order and the nuns Order faded away in Sri Lanka. But from time to time Sinhalese kings restored the monks Order with the help of "upasampada" monks who lived in countries like Burma and Thailand where the Buddhist monks Order was also flourishing. But re-establishment of the Buddhist nuns Order in Sri Lanka was neglected until Ms. Catherine de Alwis, an elite Sri Lankan Catholic women became a dasa sil mata, enticed by the simple serene life of a Burmese Buddhist nun who visited Sri Lanka. Catherine entered the nuns order in Burma in 1905. Lady Blake, wife of the British Governor in Sri lanka at that time offered the "Lady Blake Dasa Sil Mata Aramaya" in Peradeniya to Catherine Sil Mata when she returned with robes from Burma. The tradition started by her continued. But, though the Buddhist monks Order was already giving the higher ordination of bhikkhu, the Buddhist nuns Order was not given the same status. Instead they remained as dasa sil mata and led a silent life," explained Ranjani.

Following the meditation session, ten Sri Lankan silmatas and laywomen including Ranjani got the chance to attend the first ever intenational conference organized by the International Association of Buddhist Women in Bodh Gaya, Inaia in 1987. Seeing over two thousand people including women in robes who came from 26 countries, Ranjani was amazed at the manner in which Buddhism and the Buddhist nuns order was recognized intemationally. Many of them were from Europe. The International Association of Buddhist Women was named "Sakyadhita" with the meaning of "the daughters of the Buddha" at that first conference.

"A thought that came to my mind was the poor state and the low recognition of the Dasa Sil Matas in our country. They have not even got the bhikkhuni status. Instead they were sometime treated as 'mad women' or a symbol of misery. I compared them with the well versed and well recognised bhikkhunis I met from other countries. Also in the Buddha's sasana there were four groups of followers, bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, laymen and laywomen. Though other countries still follow the same rituals and status, we, the Sri Lankans discriminate against Buddhist nuns by not giving the due higher ordination, the bhikkhuni status which they are entitled to. Suddenly, I felt I should take the initiative to uplift the state of our women who devoted their lives to the dhamma", she said.

When Ranjani came back to Sri Lanka she launched the first step by training twenty selected dasa sil matas for hospital services in the Badulla District. Going from bed to bed of the patients in the hospital and preaching the Buddha's word and blessing them, sil mata did a great service to enliven the spirits of the patients. Simultaneously she organised a meeting with 50 women at the All Ceylon Women's Buddhist Congress (ACWBC) and formed a Sakyadhita Sri Lanka.

In 1991, at the second conference of Sakyadhita International held in Thailand, Ranjani invited them to hold the third conference in Sri Lanka. "But I had no idea how we were going to have it as we were not well off with resources. But, some unseen power was directing me, and I had the courage to work on it," said Ranjani, The conference was scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in October 1993 but, the country was in turmoil since President R. Premadasa was assassinated in May. "But I know my pure thoughts will make my dream a success." She said.

Her prayers was answered. The Third Sakyadhita International Conference was held at the BMICH on Oct. 15 in 1993 with 200 delegates from 27 countries. President D. B. Wihetunga and the President of Maha Bodhi late Ven. Mapalagama Vipulasara Maha Thera also participated at the opening session of the conference.

After meeting the international Buddhist nuns, our Dasa sil matas also got more confidence in getting the higher ordination, the upasampada status which was not given to them until then. Though many were against giving them the bhikkhuni status, two renowned Buddhist monks came forward to help them. Under the guidance of Ven. Mapalagama Vipulasara Thera, ten dasa sil matas were selected and given a training of bhikkhuni vinaya (monastic code for six months at the Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena at Ratmalana. And in 1995 in Sarnath, India where the Buddha preached his first sermon after attaining enlightenment 2500 years ago, the ten sil matas were given the upasampada with the help of Korean Bhikkhu Sangha. A well known educated Mrs. Kusuma Devendra took the lead at this ordination.

The second group of twenty bhikkhunis trained by Ven. Inamaluwe Sumangala Thera at Dambulla temple got the higher ordination in Bodh Gaya in 1998.

And since then Buddhist women who enter the sasana as samaneris get the higher ordination after training for 2 years.

Although bhikkhuni status is not yet officially recognized by the State, it is well accepted by the Buddhist community. At present there are 400 fully ordained nuns in Sri Lanka. And 3000-4000 Buddhist nuns live in the 1000-1500 bhikkhuni aramayas scattered throughout the country. Sakyadhita Sri Lanka Centre in Panadura is one of the main centers and Pirivena for bhikkhunis.

The three other training centres are at Naugala (Kegalle), Millaniya (Horana-Kalutara) and Eheliyagoda. In these centres young and old Samaneris learn Buddhism, practice meditation along with studying Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhala and English. They are also trained in family counseling, child and mother care, health and nutrition and even first aid which help them to render a great service to the community.

Today, Sri Lankans have developed a lot of confidence in bhikkhunis. People seek their kind advice not merely connected to Buddhism and meditation, but also in relation to problems they confront in day-to-day life.

The bhikkhunis find solutions for them through the medium of the dhamma. "There are many bhikkhunis who go for higher studies. But we only have resources until next year," said Ranjani.

She would welcome the generosity of any lay people who would like to sponsor them. Ranjani was the president of the Sakyadhita international from 1995 to 2000. The next conference was held in Korea June 27, 2004. (see report on p. 16)