Kalutara Bodhi Trust launches library project
The Bodhi Gnana Library is the latest project designed to cater to
the million readers in Kalutara District, which consist of
schoolchildren of about 600 schools, Samanera Bhikkus and students of 50
Pirivenas, students of numerous Dhamma Schools and for those who are in
work places.
The Kalutara Bodhi Trust founded and fostered by the well-known
philanthropist, Sir Cyril de Zoysa, provides an array of services to the
people. The idyllic Bodhi premises provide ample opportunity for
devotees to engage in their religious observances and for those inclined
to meditation.
The famous Australian monk the Ven. Ajahn Brahmavanso conducted a
session on medication here recently. The latest project undertaken by
the Trust is the setting up of a library.
The Bodhi premises are an ideal setting for the devotees in search of
spiritual peace. The majestic Bodhi tree with its luxuriant foliage
towering above the vast expanse of the waters of the Kaluganga is one
main attraction.
Thousands of devotees congregate daily to worship the Bodhi tree in
veneration, for it is under a Bodhi tree, the Buddha attained
enlightenment.
Pilgrims from all over the country often on their ‘Vata Vandana’
(pilgrimage round the Island) throng this site to perform rituals, while
hardly a vehicle passes the place without stopping to drop a coin as a
donation.
On an elevation on the land side is the huge Chaitya overlooking the
beautiful river and rising starkly upwards to the heavens.
This Chaitya which happens to be an extraordinary architectural feat
designed by the celebrated Sri Lankan engineer Dr. A.N.S. Kulasingha
housed inside its great dome is a shrine to be reached by ascending a
staircase.
Here, there is a smaller dagoba at the centre and several Buddha
statues in meditative posture around it, while the inner wall of the
dome is decorated with murals depicting the previous births of the
Buddha, reminding the devotee the ‘Samsaric Journey’ made by the great
teacher.
Within the premises on the land side is a Bodhi tree on a beautiful
terrace on the same level as the Chaitya with its adjoining Dharmasala
(Preaching Hall on a lower land bordering the main road) is the image
house with a magnificent Buddha statue and the Ananda Bodhiya which is
believed to have been an offshoot of the original sacred Bodhi tree in
India.
The founder Sir Cyril de Zoysa, lawyer by profession, one time
Chairman of the Kalutara UC and later Chairman of the Senate, pioneered
the preservation of the Bodhi tree. Subsequently, the Kalutara Bodhi
Trust was established in 1951.
Since then the services rendered by the Trust ably led by this great
patriot, are innumerable.
Supporting the ordination and education of novices (Samanera Bhikkhus),
providing books to them, maintaining a sick ward for the Sangha at the
Kalutara, Nagoda Base Hospital, donation of houses to the tsunami
victims, conducting weekly sermons and meditation programmes, releasing
cattle ear-marked for slaughter are some of the noteworthy services
provided by the trust, currently chaired by Ajita De Zoysa, nephew of
Sir Cyril De Zoysa.
The objectives laid out include promoting a reading culture in the
society, guiding readers to acquire knowledge and skills necessary for
effective living, promoting research and exchange of ideas in social,
economic, educational and cultural spheres implementing projects related
to community development, building up an environment conducive
infrastructure to inculcate democratic ideals in people thereby enabling
them to play useful roles in the community and helping promote peace and
harmony in our plural society.
The Library is housed in a spacious two-storied building on the
Colombo-Galle Road in Kalutara North with convenient access from any
part of the District.
Three major goals of the library are, firstly, to broad base its
subscribers by strategies such as research, seminars, workshops etc.
conducted by well-known intellectuals, secondly, promoting comradeship
among all ethnic groups by means of community development activities and
thirdly, provision of facilities to acquire a good working knowledge of
English. To achieve these targets a programme of work is being planned.
There are two projects, short term and long term. Short term projects
will last a maximum period of one week with tentative subject areas like
dictionary use, browsing in the library to obtain information, learning
about classification of books.
Long term projects like the history of the Kalutara Bodhi,
construction of the twin bridges spanning Kaluganga the history of
temples and other religious places in Kalutara, ancient buildings in the
area, the development of education in Kalutara, Pirivena education in
the area.
The acquisition of books for the library is effected through several
channels. Apart from what is directly purchased by the Trust itself,
donations from various quarters, are anticipated in order to augment the
collection.
A considerable quantity of books has already been donated by Lak
Saviya Incorporated, an organization of Sri Lankans in Sydney,
Australia. This humanitarian endeavour by Sri Lankans abroad enhances
the quality of education and thereby upgrade the standard of life of
their compatriots.
Their generosity displayed by donating 15,000 books to the Bodhi
Gnana library together with an assurance of further held is an act
deserving high commendation from all Sri Lankans particularly the
reading public, who will benefit by the new library. Asia Foundation too
has donated a large consignment of books of very high quality.
Individuals who wish to contribute may donate books either by
purchasing them or from their private collections. It is a meritorious
act of encouraging the development of wisdom and the committee earnestly
appeals to the public to contribute their might to this great
intellectual crusade.
The trail blazed by Sir Cyril De Zoysa remains to be trod upon by
generations, born and unborn. His brother, later Chairman of the Trust,
Advocate V.T. de Zoysa ably continued with the work.
Today his son, Ajita de Zoysa together with his team of Trustees
keeps the flame not merely flickering but fully ablaze with old
programmes sustained and new ones in place. The newest is the library. A
library is a source of knowledge. It is knowledge that keeps the vision
sharp.
Deepado hoti cakkudo.
- Vijaya Jayasuriya |