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| SOCIAL SERVICE AND PROJECT |
| Foster Aid scheme for village temples |
The first Buddhist Monastery in Sri Lanka known as the Mahaviharaya was built at Mahameuna Uyana in Anuradhapura in or about 307 B.C. by King Devanampiyatissa and was offered to Arahant Mahinda who introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka from India. With the conversion of the King and his subjects to Buddhism, religion began to flourish. Temples, Shrine Rooms, Stupas and Bodhi trees sprang up in all parts of the country. Today we have more than 800 temples scattered all over the country.
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Buddhism had its own ups and downs during this long period of history running back to over two and half millennia. When the country was ruled by religious kings and when it was free from invasions Buddhism flourished. These Kings built temples for the Maha Sangha and offered them land and property for their maintenance, appointed temple functionaries who, while enjoying the property, attended to the work of the temple. In Short, during the hay day of the Sinhala Raj, there was full royal patronage for the religion. These temples are known as Rajamaha Viharas of which only a few still survives. However, after the downfall of the Sinhala Kingdom, even these temples were neglected.
Temples built during the later times have hardly any land or property for their upkeep. Neither are there any temple functionaries to look after the temple work. They entirely depend on public charity and donations for their maintenance. Some remote temples do not receive even sufficient alms for their day to day living. These are also the temples that are struggling to survive while serving the dayakes (villagers) with bana (sermons) preaching, funeral services and religious rituals. They have been guiding the villages for hundreds of years on the lines of the Buddha’s teaching. However, this quiet and contented life in the village is being threatened with the appearance of crimes such as murder, drugs and narcotics, alcohol and thefts. |
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| Scope |
| 01 |
| Generally, a temple is comprised of a monastery for the resident monks; a shrine room adorned with Buddha status, a Stupa a Dhamma Preaching hall and a Bodhi tree. There are a large number of temples without all these features and the priests in them are desperately struggling to do up the additional work necessary for the temple, with public assistance. What is available in some remote temples are a shrine room and a shelter for the incumbent priest. Therefore, it is proposed to develop these temples through the Foster Dayake Scheme. |
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| 02 |
| Persistent poverty among some of these temples have prevented the Bikkhus from receiving an all round Bikkhu training. This situation is likely to prolong and the Bhikkhus of the next generation are also likely to be deprived of such training. It may, therefore be possible to give them a helping hand through the Foster Dayake Scheme in Bhikkhu training via scholarshis. There are about 45,000 Buddhist priests in Sri Lanka and training even a small number will be of immense benefit . |
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| The temples as at present are unable to play their traditional role of guiding the laymen, who although have been living for ages with a religious bent of mind are now being dragged into anti-social and anti-religious activities consequent on alcohol and illicit brews becoming freely available in the village. It is hoped that by improving the status of the temples, the priests will be able to restore the status quo of the village. |
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