66th Upasampada ceremony of Ramanna Nikaya in Polagahawela

Wasantha Ramanayake

Ven. Marukathure Soratha Thera, Chief Incumbent of Sri Vijethungaramaya, Kuleepitiya, Polgahawela heads the organising committee of the 66th Higher Ordination Ceremony of the Ramanna Nikaya, which will be held in a Seemamalakaya, a special construction erected on the Ma Oya near Karadana Bridge along Polgahawela - Kegalle main road from July 05 to 15, under State patronage.

The inaugural ceremony will be held at the Sri Parakramabahu Madya Maha Vidyalaya grounds on July 05 at 2.30 p.m.

Around 500 novice monks achieve the Higher Ordination of Upasampada at the ceremony which will last for ten days.

Higher ordination is very important for a novice monk, the guardians of the Buddha Sasana, since it is a spiritual achievement as a fully fledged monk and a moment of joy for his family and relatives.

“Therefore this warrants a celebration; a celebration of religious and spiritual achievement,” observed Ven. Marukathura Soratha Thera, Chief Prelate of Sri Wijayatungarama Viharaya, Kuleepitiya, Polgahawela.

A higher ordained monk is supposed to observe a “Kotiyak Sheelaya,” literally ten millions of precepts, by implication; a higher ordained monk is supposed to be a very much disciplined individual as against the lay Buddhists who only observe the basic Five Precepts and also the Ten Precepts observed by an Samanera, an ordained Buddhist monk, continued the prelate.

Higher Ordination

“This shows the importance of the Higher Ordination of Upasampadawa for a novice monk,” he re-iterated.

“This is not all,” the Prelate showed that the Buddha had pointed out the preservation of the Buddhism and the Buddha Sasana itself depends on the Vinaya; the discipline of the Sangha society as a whole.

“Therefore the well-disciplined individual monks are the corners stones of the Buddha Sasana. Therefore the Upasampada or the Higher Ordination is religiously important since this marks the birth of a supremely disciplined being after a painstaking practice and training,” “Samanera monk has to be so trained and educated in the relevant Buddhist scriptures and gain the experience in every aspect of religious activities conducted both in the temple and out side until he is 20 years of age.”

The prelate drew the simple parallel between the graduation of professional and the higher ordination of monk. “Because this will see the fully fledged monk who could engage in the every aspect of religious activities in temples or in lay houses such as conducting sermons in respect of funerals and alms giving.”

“People tend to ignore the difficulties of Samanera monks who are surrounded by various negative forces such as mass media full of worldly stuff,” as opposed to the graduation of a professional who is free to enjoy what is prohibited to the monks, argued the prelate.

Ven. Soratha Thera briefly outlined the path to achieve Upasampada; Samanera monk must thoroughly study the “Prathamokshaya” the indispensable hand book and the guide to achieve the higher ordination apart from his regular studies.

Finally he should sit for a written examination which will be in turn followed by a interview where the Samanera monk should present himself with his personal belongings such as the robe, paththra (begging bowl), umbrella etc. which would too be inspected to as to weather it was in accordance with the required standards.

Religious significance

The religious significance of the higher ordination is also seen in the process involved in the spiritual cleansing of the Karmacharya or the monk who higher ordain the novice monks. “It is not only the novice monk who should be ready,” the thera pointed out.

A Karmacharya, who is a higher ordained bhikku, should under go a painstaking purification for two and a half a month to three months before he could higher ordain the novice monks. Both the Karmacharya and the novice monks are expected to be “spiritually pure”.

The higher ordination achieving the Upasampadawa ceremony is conducted in a Seemamalakaya which is constructed on water in a water body such as a tank or a river. This emphasizes the purity and the detachment from the contamination of the worldly distractions.

“The significance is that the place is out of bound for the other monks except for the novice monks who are to receive the higher ordination and their Karmacharya since the other monks are not spiritually purified,” he explained.

Determination

The money had been always a hurdle to organise the ceremony in this scale which runs into ten days; this has been case for the Ven. Soratha Thera. However, face-lifting of the temple, lighting, sound systems and hundreds of other things would not deter the determination of the Chief Incumbent of the Soratha Thera who also heads the organising committee.

“Our temple like most of the temples does not have Nindagam or the properties to host events like this. Naturally I had to look for help. I had to obtain loans also.”

“President Mahinda Rajapaksa at meeting promised us full support,” he noted. Ven. Soratha Thera extended his gratitude to the Dayakas of the village who contributed in numerous ways in organizing the ceremony.

At first he was very much concerned with finding means to provide alms to the monks and Samaneras who are participating in the event. However, Temples in area with their patrons had come forward to provide the Alms during the period to he added.

Ramanna Nikaya

According to the prelate Ramanna Nikaya and its higher ordination goes back to the nineteenth century. Rev. Ambagahawatte Inda Sbahwara Gnanaswami Mahanayake Thero of Galle travelled to the area known as Ramanna area in Siam or present Myanmar and brought the higher ordination that prevailed in the particular area and established the order in Bopitiya temple, Mathugama in 1850s.

The prelate observed that founding of the Nikaya was a need felt by the society at time since the then monks were imposing an authoritative influence undue pressure upon that depressed the people. “They address the people as if they were their servants. It was unbecoming of the monks and the followers did not like it.”

Unforgettable experience

Ven. Soratha Thera expressed satisfaction that it was an achievement to hold the ceremony in the Kegalle Provincial Sangha Shabha for first time in 132 history of the higher ordination of the Ramanna order.

“It would be an unforgettable experience for the Buddhists as well as non-Buddhists. They have the opportunity to give alms to the novice monks and witness them being ordained in line with the ancient traditions.”

Ven. Soratha Thera believed that although the cost of the ceremony would run into few million rupees its religious significance would surpass the cost, “These novice monks would take up the responsibility to protect and continue the Buddha Sasana”.