Meditation as a subject for engineering undergrads

FOR the past three years, Meditation is taught by Prof. Raja de Alwis as an optional subject to the engineering undergraduates of the Moratuwa University. This is the first time that Meditation is taught as a subject in a conventional university in Sri Lanka.

The credit for this introduction of Meditation as a subject goes to the present Vice Chancellor Prof. Malik Ranasinghe, who as the Dean of the Engineering Faculty in the year 2002 invited Prof. Alwis to teach meditation to the second year engineering undergrads.

The first meditation session for beginners commences at YMBA, Dehiwela tomorrow (January 8).

Prof. Raja de Alwis was educated at Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda and Ananda College, Colombo. He graduated from University of Peradeniya in 1965 with an Honours Degree in Engineering.

He joined University of Moratuwa (Formerly Ceylon College of Technology) as a lecturer in Engineering in 1966 and proceeded to University of Manchester, England for Post-graduate Studies.

He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1972. He obtained his professional qualification as a Chartered Engineer in 1979 and was promoted as Associate Professor in 1982.

In 1981 at the age of 40 years, Raja had the good fortune to attend a meditation training session conducted by Sri Lankan Meditation Master Ven. Homagama Kondanna Thera, who in turn is a pupil of the world famous Meditation Master from Thailand, Ven. Ajhan Cha Thera.

On realizing the value of meditation he trained under Ven. Kondanna Thera for ten years eventually ending up learning the higher form of meditation known as Insight Meditation or Vipassana Meditation.

Also he had the good fortune to train under another world famous Meditation Master from North India, S. N. Goenka also known as Goenkaji. The former Auditor General of Burma, U Ba Kin was the meditation teacher of Goenkaji.

It was only after over a ten year period of training the Raja commenced teaching meditation to his friends and relations, eventually emerging as a meditation Master himself. He conducts meditation sessions at various Meditation Centres, YMBAs and temples when invited.

At present he conducts meditation practice session on a regular basis at the YMBA, Dehiwala, Malemulla Temple, Panadura. Mettarama Temple, Bambalapitiya and the Vipassana Meditation Centre, Weliweriya.

Also he is a consultant on Stress Management. He conducts Workshops on 'Stress Management through Meditation' for the management and other staff in the public and the private sector.

Recently he conducted such a workshop for the MBA post-graduate students of the Colombo University the venue being the Auditorium at SLIDA.

The present Dean of the Engineering Faculty, Prof. Ananda Jayawardena too extends his fullest support to continue mediation as a subject for the engineering undergrads.

The message conveyed by Prof. Raja de Alwis to all (Buddhists and Non-Buddhists) is "Meditation could be used as a tool to improve your quality of life, here and now"!

- K. G. L. Chandrasena