From 26.03.2012 to 15.03.2019, for a period of seven years, I stayed full-time at the Labunoruwakanda Forest Monastery to study, practice, and incorporate pure Theravada Buddhism into my life, as well as to practically exercise and implement other steps of my spiritual research. During this time, under the guidance, advice, and admonitions of the head monks of this hermitage retreat, I studied, practised, and incorporated pure Theravada Buddhist philosophy into my life. I also practised and implemented the forty steps presented in the “Key to the Universe” or “My Spiritual Research in Detail” section of my website, as well as the methods or steps presented in “Key to the Universe – Extension – 1” or “My Spiritual Research in Detail – Extension – 1” throughout the seven years I stayed full-time at this Labunoruwakanda Forest Monastery. For this purpose, I did not face any hindrance from any of the monks including the head monks of this hermitage, and as I have mentioned before, this hermitage was a free space for me to conduct my spiritual research.
This Labunoruwakanda Forest Monastery is located in Labunoruwa village near the postal village of Muriyakadawala in the Galenbindunuwewa area of Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. The postal address of this hermitage is:-
Labunoruwakanda Forest Monastery
Muriyakadawala
Anuradhapura
Telephone numbers to contact this hermitage:- 0705777171, 0766642882, 0773916769, 0772774640, 0253254193
This hermitage can be reached by traveling on the Kandy – Jaffna A-9 road and getting off at Maradankadawala town. It can also be reached from Kekirawa town by traveling on the Galenbindunuwewa road and getting off at either Muriyakadawala junction or Alagollewa junction. This Labunoruwakanda Forest Monastery is situated within the forest located on the mountain called Labunoruwakanda. The forest on and around this Labunoruwakanda mountain features a very beautiful, attractive environment where wild animals such as elephants, deer, rabbits, porcupines, birds, and snakes live freely. This Labunoruwakanda mountain has a history of more than 2000 years, and even today one can see some ancient ruins that serve as evidence that Arahants (enlightened monks) resided and lived on this mountain for more than 2000 years.
There is a beautiful historical story about the history of this mountain. That is, during the early period of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, Prince Pandukabhaya, who was the son of princess Unmada Chitra, killed his seven uncles, cut off their heads, and hung these seven heads on a vine tied between two trees on this mountain. Since these seven heads appeared from a distance like hung bottle gourds, the village where this Labunoruwakanda is located was initially named Labunuwara {Gourd Village), and later this name Labunuwara gradually changed to Labunoruwa, as mentioned in history. This mountain located in that Labunoruwa village has thus been named Labunoruwakanda.
The current Labunoruwakanda Forest Monastery located on this Labunoruwakanda was started around 1999 by the Most Venerable Mankadawala Sudassana Thero and the Most Venerable Mankadawala Nandarathana Thero as a very small place. At present, about sixty Buddhist monks reside here, living in separate individual meditation huts built in the forest. Currently, the head of this Labunoruwakanda Forest Hermitage is the Most Venerable Kothmale Kumarakashyapa Thero. The Most Venerable Mankadawala Sudassana Thero and the Most Venerable Mankadawala Nandarathana Thero both serve as co-advisors of this Labunoruwakanda Forest Monastery.
At present, this Labunoruwakanda Forest Hermitage has expanded further, and branch hermitages have been newly established in places such as Balangoda, Nawula, Iluppukulama (Anuradhapura), Basawakkulama (Anuradhapura), Kandy, Wariyapola, Mahiyanganaya, and others. Buddhist monks also live there as forest dwellers. The main Dhamma teacher of this Labunoruwakanda Forest Hermitage and all its branch hermitages is the Most Venerable Mankadawala Sudassana Thero. The Most Venerable Mankadawala Sudassana Thero makes a strong effort to understand and teach Theravada Buddhist philosophy very accurately and completely. The Most Venerable Mankadawala Sudassana Thero also makes a strong effort to define and explain the pure Buddha’s words exactly as they are.
After spending a complete period of seven years fully engaged in studying, practising, and incorporating pure Theravada Buddhism into my life, and implementing other steps or forms of my spiritual research at this Labunoruwakanda Hermitage, I temporarily left the Labunoruwakanda Forest Hermitage upon completion of the seven years.
I now present to you below some photographs containing views of the Labunoruwakanda Forest Hermitage for your viewing. Please direct your attention to these as well.
During my time at the Labunoruwakanda Aranya (Forest Monastery), except during the rainy season retreat period {Vas time}, our daily routine proceeded as follows:
Wake up at 4:00 AM, wash face and get ready for the day’s activities.
4:30 – Buddha worship
5:00 – Chanting
6:00 – Morning meal
6:30 – Sweeping the compound and monastery duties (here “Vatha” or “duties” refers to carrying out activities in the monastery)
7:30 – Meditation, reading books, and listening to Dhamma sermons
9:00 – Work in the dining hall
12:00 – Midday meal
1:00 – Rest
2:00 – Meditation, reading books, and listening to Dhamma sermons
4:00 – Washing clothes and bathing
5:30 – Picking flowers and preparing for Buddha worship
6:00 – Buddha worship
6:30 – Taking evening refreshment {Gilanpasa}
7:00 – Dhamma sermon (daily)
8:00 – 11:00 – Meditation
11:00 – Going to sleep
Six days of the week followed this schedule, while Sunday was entirely devoted to common duties {Podu Vatha}. Common duties refer to spending the entire day performing some major work in the monastery that requires physical labor. During the rainy season retreat (Vas period), the daily routine changes slightly. It is as follows:
4:00 – Wake up, wash face and get ready
4:30 – Buddha worship
5:00 – Chanting
6:00 – Morning meal
7:00 – Morning duties
8:30 – Morning sermon
10:00 – Rest
11:30 – Midday meal
12:00 – Midday duties
12:30 – Practice sermon {Training serman}
1:45 – Midday sermon
3:00 – Rest (during this time, one rests, bathes, and picks flowers to prepare for Buddha worship)
5:45 – Buddha worship
6:35 – Taking evening refreshments
7:30 – Group meditation
9:30 – Worship and admonition
11:00 – Going to sleep
* Saturday is the silent day. On this day, one does not speak with anyone about anything except absolutely essential Dhamma matters.
* Sunday – Common duties {Podu Vatha}
Weekly schedule during the rainy season retreat:
Day – Monday
Morning – Anguttara Nikaya
Evening – Pali
Day – Tuesday
Morning – Visuddhimagga
Evening – Abhidhammartha
Day – Wednesday
Morning – Dhammahadaya Vibhanga
Evening – Pali
Day – Thursday
Morning – Samyutta Nikaya
Evening – Dhammapada commentary
Day – Friday
Morning – Majjhima Nikaya
Evening – Pali
* The subjects in the weekly schedule related to morning and afternoon sermons change from time to time.
When the Most Venerable Mankadawala Sudassana Thero, the Dhamma teacher, is present, he conducts Dhamma sermons daily and practical meditation instructions continuously for a week or two. During this time, the above daily routines change completely. On some days, he guides meditation practices until midnight or until 1:00 or 2:00 AM.
After studying Dhamma and engaging in meritorious activities at Labunoruwakanda Aranya for seven years, on 30. 03. 2019. I arrived at Nawula Dhammahadaya Aranya, a branch of Labunoruwakanda Aranya {Forest Monastery}, where I spent about two years studying Theravada Buddhism theoretically and practically while engaging in meritorious activities. This Dhammahadaya Aranya is located in Wattegammadda village, about 6 kilometers down Karavilahena Road, which is on the left side about 1 kilometer before Nawula town on the Dambulla-Matale Road. The chief monk here is the Most Venerable Mankadawala Samahita Thero
The daily routine at this Nawula Dhammahadaya Aranya was very similar to that of Labunoruwakanda Aranya. The address of Nawula Dhammahadaya Aranya is:
Dhammahadaya Aranya Senasana
Wattegammadda
Lenadora
Nawula
Telephone numbers: 0761773629, 0703822999
I present to you below some photographs featuring views of this Dhammahadaya Aranya for your viewing. Please direct your attention to these as well.
