To celebrate Poson Poya Day, the Observer Kids Chronicle contacted someone very special, a bhikkhu who lives all the way in Balangoda in a beautiful monastery surrounded by nature and animals. He lives a very pure life meditating and teaching others. Before becoming a bhikkhu, Ven. Boralle Seeladassana Thera studied at Wycherley International School and graduated in 1997. He was a very smart child. He was the Head Prefect of the school and achieved 4 As at the London ‘A’ levels examination from the Maths stream. He studied Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Despite all these wonderful achievements he gave it all up to follow the Noble Path the Buddha laid out and became a bhikkhu. Do you know that it was during Poson Poya that the bhikkhu order came to be in Sri Lanka? So with Poson Poya coming up let’s get to know more about this bhikkhu and what’s it like to live this rare and special way of life.
Q: What important role does the bhikkhu Sangha have in Buddhism ?
A: The Sangha protects the Dhamma. They learn the Dhamma and its meaning and then teach others. Also they practise the Dhamma which is very important because only a person who practises can understand the Dhamma. The Sangha also inspires other people to learn, follow and practise the path laid out by the Buddha.
Q: What is it like to live as a bhikkhu every day?
Ven. Boralle Seeladassana Thera
A: It is a simple life. We don’t have many possessions, only essentials such as robes, alms bowl, and a kuti. I wake up at 2.30 am to meditate. Then I worship the Buddha at 5.45 am and then have eat breakfast. I teach the Dhamma and meditation to my students till 8 am and then walk in the garden or forest. Sometimes I speak to my mother who is old. After lunch I meditate again and then teach students at 4.30 pm. Then in the evening I clean the garden near my kuti and water the plants. After that I rest and meditate some more. Sometimes I have to talk to teachers and professors who study meditation in other parts of the world.
Q: Did you ever think as a child you would end up becoming a bhikkhu and what did you want to become ?
A: I wanted to be an astronaut, and then also a doctor. Sometimes I thought I would like to be a bhikkhu because I liked to live in the mountains or the forest. At the time my father shouted at me, when I said I wanted to be a bhikkhu.
Q: Do you feel happy living this simple life?
A: I am very happy now. At the beginning it was difficult because we cannot eat at night and I was hungry. I also missed my parents and friends some times. But, when I learned the Dhamma and about the world, I felt at peace. Also, I thought about our Buddha’s sacrifices to teach us to escape from suffering, I felt inspired and determined to practise a good bhikkhu life.
Q: Do you miss things like sweets or TV?
A: At first I missed Coca Cola and chocolate. But, the Buddha taught us to always share and be generous. He said this would bring us more happiness. So when I received chocolate or Coca Cola I used to give it to others. This brought me more happiness than eating alone. After some time, I did not miss these things anymore. I also do not miss TV because there is nothing interesting to watch.
Q: What do you do when you’re not meditating?
A: Sometimes, I read books, at other times I teach students how to meditate. I also write a little. I like walking in the forest and watering the plants and flowers. There is a hill in my monastery. I like to climb this and then look around because it helps me to relax. I also speak to my mother a lot because she is old now and she had helped me a lot when I was a child.
Q: How does meditation help you feel peaceful?
A: The Buddha taught us to meditate so we can reduce anger and greed in our minds. When I meditate these qualities reduce. Then I feel happy with everyone and everything, so there is peace. It also clears my mind so when I want to read or learn something, I can do it much faster. I like the clear mind because the impure one does not feel bright or quick.
Q: Can children learn to meditate too?
A: Yes, children can learn meditation too. But, it is also important to follow the five precepts and be kind to your parents, teachers and friends. Also being patient is important. When children practise these things, it is easier for them to meditate and enjoy it.
Q: What should we do if our minds keep jumping around while meditating?
A: The first thing we have to understand is that our mind is jumping around. At that time don’t try to stop it from jumping around, but observe it. Sometimes the mind will think about school, then sports, then TV.
When it does this, just watch it and don’t try to stop it. When you observe things like this, the mind slowly calms down and stops jumping around. Then slowly you can meditate again and it will be easier to do so. We want to help the mind grow and we have to do this slowly without force.
Q: What advice would you give children who want to be calmer and kinder?
A: When we are kind and calm, then there is happiness, then the people around us are also calm and kind. What is the opposite of kind? It is hate.
This is not good because then we will suffer inside and other people will also suffer. This will make our mind uncomfortable and restless. Also when we are kind and calm, it is easier to study, and remember things because the mind is pure, and we won’t have many enemies. So our lives are peaceful and happy. We should understand the benefits of kindness and calm and try to follow that.
Q: What does the Buddha’s teaching mean for children today?
A: The Dhamma teaches us how to live in harmony with everyone, respect our elders, follow virtue and live a good life that helps others and oneself too.
This is important, because then we are not driven by greed or hatred. We are driven by qualities such as wisdom, faith, kindness and compassion. When we live like this, there is a bliss that arises in the mind, which no one can take away from you. So it is good to try to achieve this type of happiness.
