3rd Month Almsgiving for Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi Sangha Nayaka Theros’s beloved mother

Photographs by Tissa Madawela
3rd Month Almsgiving for Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi Sangha Nayaka Theros’s beloved mother

Devotees of the Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Centre together with Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi Nayaka Thero, organised a 3 month’s alms giving for late Mrs. Senanayake Arachchilage Dingiri Menike, beloved mother of the Nayaka Thero and grand mother of Ven. Galayaye Dhammadassi Thero.

Several such ceremonies were held by the family and devotees, in Temples in Sri Lanka, UK ,Paris as well as in several other countries.

The sermon was delivered by Ven. Murungasyaye Gnanissara Nayaka Thero , Head of the Jethavanaramaya Temple in Paris on the evening of Friday 10th October 2014 .

Besides the seven resident monks, Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain and the head of London Buddhist Vihara,Venerable Bogoda Seelawimala Nayka Thero, Ven. Vitharanndeniye Kassapa Nayaka Thero, Head of the Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara , Ven. Makure Mangala Nayaka Thero , Head of the Lumbini Buddhist Cultural Centre, and Ven. Akurala Samitha Nayaka Thero, Head of the Letchworth Buddhist Vihara also participated in the Sanghika Dana held at the Kingsbury Vihara on the following day, Saturday 11th October.

Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi Nayka Thero had studied under the same tutor of Ven. Murigasyaye Gnanissara Nayaka Thero at the Vidyodaya University and had close connections and the Ven. Gnanissara Nayaka Thero delivered a stirring sermon which was adored by the devotees.

He said that the Nayaka Thera's late mother was very fortunate indeed to have a son and a young grandson serving the Sasana.The son was having a distinguished career and had received honours in the UK , Myanmar and Sri Lanka, all of which would have brought happiness to the mother. This happiness and the simple village life she led , saw her living to a ripe old age of 103 years. She was indeed a very fortunate lady who had acquired merit in her life.

He delivered the sermon on ‘ AROGIYA PARAMA LABHA ‘ referring to the mother's healthy long life free of any ailments. He quoted from the Girimananda Sutta which describes the various illnesses and how they come about. Everything should not be blamed wholly on the Karma Vipaka. Healthy living is most important for health.

He quoted the instance where a young lad who was drunk, having fallen asleep on the road in heavy snow, freezing to death or the doctor who drowned in a basin of water .etc.