Serendipity Travel - Adventure - Sri Lanka

"May the divine beings of the entire universe come here to hear the good doctrine of the King of Sages that confers both heavenly happiness and the freedom of Nibbana."

People go on holiday for many different reasons. Some enjoy cocktails by the pool, some thrive on adrenalin and fast paced adventure, while others, like us, venture out into the unknown to experience and learn. Learn different customs, explore different religions, and discover new cuisine and a fresh outlook on the world.

If you are looking to discover something unique and rare, a visit to Sri Lanka is a must. It's not necessarily about the stunning architecture and the ancient culture. It's not even about the historical sites and the marvellous bygone monuments. No! No amount of Buddha statues and temples can compare with the true hospitality and warmth of the Sinhalese people.

We have been back home for six weeks, but the people that we encountered there still visit us in our dreams, a constant reminder that Sri Lanka touched our souls and left a permanent print on our hearts.

Sri Lanka is generally regarded as the home of the pure Theravada form of Buddhism, which is based on the Pali Canon, the most complete set of these scriptures live in Sri Lanka. This school of Buddhism emphasizes the Four Noble Truths as the framework of Buddhist doctrine and the Noble Eightfold Path as the direct route to Nibbana, or as most people know it, Nirvana, as the final goal of the Teaching.

However, side by side with this austere, intellectually sophisticated Buddhism of the scriptures, we found in Sri Lanka, a warm current of devotional Buddhism, practiced by the general Buddhist populace, who may have only a hazy idea of the Buddhist doctrine but seem to live its philosophy in their everyday lives.

We were so warmly welcomed and accepted by the people we interacted with and it was evident in their practical life that there is a gap between the "great tradition" of canonical Buddhism and the average person's world of everyday experience. This gap is bridged by a complex array of ceremonies, rituals, and devotional practices, almost an adaption of ritual and dogma that was not out of place at all, but seemed to have been added to their belief system.

Devotion is the intimate inner side of religious worship and must have had a place in early Buddhism. For Buddhism, devotion does not mean submitting oneself to the will of a God or taking refuge in an external Saviour, but is more an ardent feeling of love and affection (pema) directed towards the Teacher, who shows the way to freedom from suffering. Such an attitude inspires the devotee to follow the Master's teaching faithfully and earnestly through all the hurdles that lie along the way to Nibbana.

The Buddha often stressed the importance ofsaddha,faith or confidence in him, as the Perfect Teacher and in his Teaching as the vehicle to liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Unshakeable confidence(aveccappasada)in the Triple Gem — the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha — is a mark of the noble disciple, while the Buddha once stated that those who have sufficient confidence in him, sufficient affection for him(saddhamatta, pemamatta)are bound for heaven.

We were so accepted into the community where we were staying that we even had the opportunity to cook for the Priest at the local temple in Hikkadua. The humility and openness of this encounter and the way that his devotees, monks and followers interacted with him was so inspirational and heart warming. He really embodied the term magnanimous through his actions.

The main centre of devotion in Sri Lanka today is an ancient tree at Anuradhapura, which, in addition to its religious significance, has a historical importance as well. As the oldest historical tree in the world, it has survived for over 2,200 years, even when the city of Anuradhapura was devastated by foreign enemies. Today it is one of the most sacred and popular places of pilgrimage on the island. The tree itself is very well guarded, the most recent protection being a gold-plated railing around the base (ranvata).Ordinarily, pilgrims are not allowed to go near the foot of the tree in the upper terrace. They have to worship and make their offerings on altars provided on the lower terrace so that no damage is done to the tree by the multitude that throng there. The place is closely guarded by those entrusted with its upkeep and protection, while the daily rituals of cleaning the place, watering the tree, making offerings, etc., are performed by bhikkhus and laymen entrusted with the work. The performance of these rituals is regarded as of great merit and they are performed on a lesser scale at other important Bodhi-trees on the island as well.

We visited one temple where the tree was a central theme to their altar and the outpouring of love and devotion seemed so sincere and a little less dogmatic than some places of worship we have visited.

There is so much more to see, feel, learn and do in Sri Lanka, book your trip today and explore this mystical wonderland. More adventures coming your way next week.