Support for Sakyadhita Training and Meditation Centre (2012–2024)

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Between 2012 and 2024, Karuṇā Sevena continuously supported the Sakyadhita Training and Meditation Centre in Sri Lanka, led by Buddhist nuns. This centre serves not only as a monastic residence but also as an important educational and social hub for the local community.

 

Over many years, the centre has developed a wide range of meaningful activities. It organizes Dhamma School for children, provides education and guidance for young girls and pregnant women, supports families living in poverty, and offers regular meditation programs for adults. The nuns are also actively involved in organizing charity work, especially in areas affected by natural disasters.

 

Bhikkhunī Visuddhi was personally connected with this centre for many years. During her stay in Sri Lanka, she regularly travelled from her home monastery in Olaboduwa to Sakyadhita, where she assisted not only with teaching children in the Dhamma School, but also with the training of young nuns. This long-term direct experience made the support of this centre both meaningful and deeply trusted.

 

One of the most inspiring aspects of the centre’s work is the way Dhamma is taught to children. Besides basic instruction, children learn through creative and engaging methods, such as transforming Jātaka stories into theatre performances. Drama and movement are very natural to Sri Lankan children, allowing them to deeply experience the teachings. They also learn through visual methods, such as painting scenes and characters, helping them better understand the stories.

 

At the same time, the centre has long faced material limitations. Children often lack proper Dhamma textbooks and rely only on notebooks. The teaching hall itself is very simple and not ideally suited for study. Despite these conditions, the nuns continue their work with dedication and care.

 

The centre also plays an important role in preserving cultural and spiritual traditions. It is a place where Buddhist festivals and ceremonies are held, where children learn respect, gratitude, and the practice of offering. Ethical education is strongly emphasized, but children also gain practical life skills—helping with daily tasks, learning how to behave in community, and developing responsibility.

 

Special care is also given to young women, including those who are pregnant—many of whom come from difficult social conditions. They receive guidance based on the Dhamma, learning how to approach motherhood with awareness, calmness, and responsibility. Meditation and inner stability are encouraged as an important foundation for both mother and child.

 

The long-term support of Karuṇā Sevena was grounded in the clear understanding that this centre provides not only spiritual education, but also essential social care for vulnerable members of the community. Over the years, many joint projects were carried out in cooperation with the nuns—this support being one meaningful part of a much wider shared effort.