AN EXEMPLARY BUDDHIST MONK
He worked hard for the upkeep of his temple, the clergy and the village
People have begun to respect monks due to their being disciplined and erudite as far as the Buddha Dhamma is concerned. There are innumerable exemplary stories about such stories. However, it is ironical that some monks of the present era are entirely different because they belong to various political groups, give leadership to various organizations, while living in the lap of luxury.
There was a discussion that took place in the Mihirigama community centre in Anuradhapura between government officers and the people regarding the human-elephant conflict and the damage to cultivation. The people discussed their hardships and the strategies to be adopted for the protection of their cultivated lands from the elephants.
In the meantime, a Buddhist monk explained the trials and tribulations faced by him when he was in charge of agricultural lands. The people listened to his harrowing tale and the experiences faced by him. His name is Ven. Pannala Piyaratana Thera, the chief incumbent of Sri Bodhirukaramaya in Nabadawewa in Talawa.
The Thera said, “Talawa was a densely populated area several decades ago. The Europeans came to this village and repaired the Nabada wewa in 1878. In those days the temples and other religious places were overgrown with weeds and became god-forsaken areas in Anuradhapura. This was told by the Ven. Hunupitiye Saranankara Thera who was the former chief incumbent of the temple. In the days gone by, those temples were covered with forests due to foreign invasions and it was the people in Nabada wewa who discovered Isurumuniya temple. There were about 18 satellite villages around our village where giant like men lived. They were able to face foreign invasions successfully. Today, Nabada wewa is filled with soil. People cultivate lands with the rainy water. There are 62 disciples who look after the temple. Except policemen and civil defense force officers, all others are engaged in agriculture.”
He said he cultivates 3 acres of paddy land out of about 11 acres that belong to the temple - He works alone and there are lots of vegetables, yams and fruits in his vegetable plot.
He said further, “I have to watch the vegetable plot by climbing up the ‘ Mila’ tree in order to prevent it from being attacked by the wild elephants and I break rest daily throughout the night, for this purpose.”
This monk said he is going to use the money earned from cultivation for construction purposes of the temple.
When compared to the Buddhist monks in the modern society, this monk should be given an honourable position. He earned money at the sweat of his brow and constructed temples amidst numerous hardships.
Let us wish him all success.
He said he cultivates 3 acres of paddy land out of about 11 acres that belong to the temple - He works alone and there are lots of vegetables, yams and fruits in his vegetable plot.