Tribute to Most Ven Seiyu Kiriyama Thera

Ven Urugamuve Assaji Thera

The 19th annual anniversary of the scholarship award festival conducted by Sri Lanka Agonshu Friendship Foundation will be held at the BMICH on November 19 at 2 pm.

Most Ven Seiyu Kiriyama Thera

Historical records show that Buddhism arrived in Japan officially during the sixth century. What existed before in Japan was multi-theism. The basis for such religions was multiple force of nature. Buddhism was invented to Japan from Korea. Korea was introduced into Buddhism by China. Therefore it is clear that there is a link among China, Korea and Japan.

The Buddhism that existed in Korea and China was essentially Mahayana. So what was planted in Japan also happened to be Mahayana. It is amazing to see how Buddhism influenced architecture in Japan. Buddhism influenced the Japanese to stand out illuming the whole world.

Since the arrival of Buddhism, every city, including Kyoto, housed Buddhist centres. The improvement of a culture was evident in the advanced buildings. Agonshu temple is one such temple built in Kyoto. It became the head office of Agonshu sect which was initiated in 1978. The founder of these temples is none other than Most Ven Sieyu Kiriyama Thera.

Born in Japan as a Mahayana Buddhist, Most Ven Seiyu Kiriyama has done numerous researches in numerous countries. He has done extensive research on Theravada Buddhism, Tibet surrealist Buddhism and familiar Mahayana Buddhism.

But the objective of his search - which is also the objective of all Buddhists - the path towards Nirvana or Enlightenment, which enables on to end the cycle of birth and death, was not to be found in the Mahayana Buddhism.

Ven. Kiriyama Thera was born on January 5, 1921. He had a troubled childhood with constant ill health. He was not even recommended for conscription, since Army Medical Board could not draft a proper health record for him. Doctors in fact predicted he would not live long. Giving the lie to the physicians’ prediction, Ven. Kiriyama Thera is now a nonagenarian.

As a young, Ven. Kiriyama Thera had so many hardships to undergo. Once he was on the verge of committing suicide. As luck would have it, he came across a Buddhist Sutta that changed the course of his life. He took up a different path, as a monk.

Somasiri Addara Pathirana

That Sutta was strong enough ward off depression in him. It inspired to face life with energy. He was becoming interested in the Buddha and then different branches of the Buddha’s teachings.

The heart of Agonshu Buddhism preached by Ven. Seiyu Kiriyama Thera contains the truth of the Agon Sutras. While developing Agonshu branch, other traditions of Buddhism evolved over centuries. They are Northern Mahayana tradition, Southern Theravada tradition and the Tibetan esoteric Buddhism.

Agonshu is a combination of these three schools. Agonshu Buddhist tradition has now been firmly established in Japan thanks to Most Ven Kiriyama’s painstaking efforts. Within a very short span of time Agonshu temple became a main Buddhist centre in the whole world. Most Ven Kiriyama’s contribution to the development project has been revered by people over the world.

Agonshu main temple is located in the peak of a pleasant mountain called Yamashina in Kyoto. The building process was initiated in 1980 with the assistance of thousands of skilled artistes, following the traditional architecture. It is the largest building made on wood.

Sri Lanka Agonshu Friendship Foundation (SLAFF) was initiated on January 12 in 1994, in collaboration with the Agonshu temple. This became the turning point of friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka. Somasiri Addarapathiranage has been entrusted with the responsibility of heading the Foundation. Most Ven Kiriyama Thera offers financial sponsorship and consultancy, aiming at several objectives.

Assisting the Sinhala Buddhists who undergo financial difficulties.
Improving financially bankrupt Buddhist centres.
Offering vocational and English education to youths.
Improving infrastructure of schools and piriven libraries
Offering expensive syringes and goods to the patients in need.

SLAFF has so far offered 9939 scholarships at 18 scholarship festivals. About 1129 youths have been given vocational training mainly at the Most Ven Seiyu Kiriyama Thera Vocational Training Centre in Morawaka.

Financial assistance recipients. Pictures by Saman Sri Wedage

Most Ven Kiriyama thera was quite impressed about Pathirana. Pathirana, on the other hand, was making enough living as a freelance interpreter, but he wanted to channel funds in a proper way. Towards the latter half of 1993, Pathirana invited a monk to his place to discuss as to what can be done with the funds.

“Finally we decided set up an organization to support temples, schools, social service institutions, vocational training institutions and students with low income. So that’s how SLAFF was founded with the blessings of Ven. Kiriyama Thera.”

Pathirana however could not fully occupy with the Foundation because of his busy schedules as an interpreter. He was its Treasurer initially. An Advisory Board was set up by Ven. Kiriyama to provide necessary guidance. Apart from the Board, Divisional Coordinators were appointed throughout the country on voluntary basis. Scholarship program is their major program.

“I know the value of scholarship, because I myself had the Grade V scholarship.”

Scholarships are given following a strict procedure. Educational capacity of the student will be examined apart from their low income background. Divisional Coordinators will be monitoring the education progress of the scholarship holders. At least four scholarships have been terminated upon examination that they were being misused. There are scholars including doctors and engineers who also support SLAFF in this endeavour. The Chief Sangha Nayaka of western province Most Venerable Attudawe Sri Piyarathana Thera will hold the chair of the festival. Most Ven Fukada Seia and his retinue will also take part in this event. Labour Minister Gamini Lokuge will participate as the Chief Guest.

Thai delegation reveres Dalada Maligawa

A Thai delegation, including some members of the Thai Royal Family, which visited Sri Lanka and participated in a Pinkama at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy to invoke blessings on the 84-year old King of Thailand, called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees recently. The delegation also included princess Somisuvale, a daughter in law of the royal family and two bhikkhus. Ven Prakru Pisit Soravet Thera of Thailand who was among the delegation invoked blessings on the President and the coutnry and presented Sacred Relics and several Buddha statues brought from Thailand to the President.