Face to Face With Ven.Galayaye Piyadassi M.B.E
in London
picture credit; Google
Interviewed by Dr. Tilak S. Fernando
Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi is the first ever
Buddhist monk to be honoured, by Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II (reigning
British Monarch) for community service in Britain.
Ven. Piyadassi stands out as a monk who has
determination, courage, and steadfastness in whatever he embarks on. His
hospitality, kindness, and enchanting personality have helped hundreds of
‘destitute’ Sri Lankans in London, in terms of advice and board and lodging in
a characteristic Buddhist temple environment. Sri Saddhatissa
International Buddhist Centre depicts a twin village temple in Sri Lanka, where
people feel very comfortable and homely - needless to say with the archetypal
Sri Lankan hospitality (refreshments at any time) available.
Q. Congratulations
Venerable Sir, on receiving Her Majesty’s MBE award for your service to
community, which was significantly announced when you were holding the Poson
Poya religious ceremony at The SSIBC. As Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe,
when in London recently said, I quote: ‘It’s not only a great honour
for Buddhism, but for the whole of Sri Lanka’ as you became the first
Buddhist monk to receive an MBE honour from the Queen of England’. How do you
feel about it ?
A. More than an achievement for
me personally, I consider it as a recognition for the community work we did
embracing all communities and faiths. I am particularly thankful to the Dayaka
Pirisa (devotees), who were behind me always, and assisted me in every
endeavor thus making my projects work effectively.
Q. Prior to this award, didn’t you receive The Citizenship Award, from the
Mayor of Brent. What was that in aid of?
A. There are 99 ethnic groups in
Brent, who speak one hundred and eleven languages. We work with organisations
such as Brent Ethnic Minority User, Brent Muti-faith, Brent Interfaith;
Brent Association for Voluntary Action and Brent Youth and Community
Service Council, an umbrella organization that has over 300 affiliated
groups. Mr. Wimal de Silva, the Secretary of our Cultural foundation for the
last two years has been liaising with the above-mentioned organisations in
all aspects of community work. Mr. Silva has been the Secretary of the Brent
Youth and Community Service Council for seven years prior to becoming its vice
President and made a valuable contribution. The Citizenship Award was conferred
to me in recognition with the service to the community in the London Borough of
Brent.
Q. You have been honoured with few more awards in the past as well, would
you like to mention them?
A. I received the Hindu Council,
London Special Award (Swami Vivekananda Celebrations) in 1993, The Television
Film and Media Community Award 1996, Philosopher’s Award for Missionary Work
(Don Good Buddhist Jun Bud College, South Korea) in 2001 and The Mayor of
London’s Certificate for making an outstanding contribution to life in London
in 2003.
Q What is the significance of using the name Saddhatissa for your
International Buddhist Centre?
A. (Being exceedingly emotional and
posing on and off & wiping a silent tear or two from his eyes) Ven.
Hammalawa Saddhatissa was my sponsor to come to the UK, and guru subsequently.
I am indebted to him for what I am today, and for all what I have achieved so
far. At the beginning we called our abode ‘The International Buddhist
Centre’. After one and half months of our moving to this building Ven.
Saddhatissa thero came to live with us, but unfortunately he was able to spend
here only two nights, and suddenly passed away. So I decided to call it The
Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Centre purely to remember him and as
a mark of great respect and gratitude.
Q. At what age did you
take up robes, and what made you decide to be a Buddhist monk?
A. At the age of 14 I joined the
Sandalanka Sasthrodya Pirivena, where I read Sinhala, Pali, and Sanskrit. After
passing ‘O’ and ‘A’ level examinations, I was inclined to become a Buddhist
monk, but due to objections from my family I could not do so. However, I
had to make my own decision when I became 20 years old. I was ordained at The
Hettipola Girathalana Purana Maha Vihara against the wishes of my parents, even
at that time. After my ordination, I studied at the Maligakanda
Vidyodaya Pirivena and was successful in the Pracheena Panditha examination (Pandit, Oriental Examination)
and Doctor in Buddhist Scriptures (Tripitakacharya). Subsequently, I read for
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Master of Arts degrees at the University of
Kelaniya.
Q. Are you pursing any more
studies in the UK?
A. In 1994 I obtained
The Training Certificate in Youth Work from the Brunel University UK. At
present I am engaged in research work on ‘the Influence of
Theravada Buddhism’ in the UK.
Q. How did teachings of the late Ven. Hamallawa Saddhatissa Maha thero
influence your spiritual life?
A. Actually Venerable Hamallawa Saddhatissa
gave me all the guidance and advice after coming over to the UK. But, before I
came over, I had been a lecturer at Hunupitiya Gangaramaya, Peliyagoda
Vidyalankara Pirivena, and Sangaraja Pirivena of Malwatta Chapter, under Ven.
Sirimalwatte Ananda Maha Nayake thero
Q. What
are some of the services rendered through the Sri Lanka Educational, Cultural
and Welfare Foundation?
A. We commenced our cultural activities in
1987 at the height of communal tension in Sri Lanka by organising the first
Sinhala and Tamil New Year Celebrations in the UK to bring together the
belligerent Sinhala and Tamil communities together. We have been running a
Saturday school for students between the ages 3- 16 for 90 percent of students who
are born in the UK. We teach them Sinhala, Buddhism, poetry recital, oriental
dancing etc., free of charge. For the last 13 years we have been holding the
Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations, which is the most popular and the
biggest cultural event for Sri Lankan expatriates in the UK. We invited the Sri
Lankan Dance Ensemble to the UK, and had them perform in London and Birmingham
as well as through the BBC television. A very special project under the
patronage of the Muditha Foundation was set up in Sri Lanka
as the first ever Buddhist Delinquents Home and Home for
orphaned children (terrorist victims).
Q. Tell me about the World Buddhist Foundation.
A. We organized the first ever exposition
of Corporeal Relics of Lord Buddha from the Wembley Conference Hall in 1996. I
was responsible for the following publications: Buddhism for the new
millennium, 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Independence, Buddhist Essays: A
miscellany, Introduction to Buddhism, Nine special qualities of the Buddha,
Facets of Buddhism, Life of the Buddha, Manual of Buddhism and Pali Literature
in Southeast Asia (majority of these publications had been authored by the late
Ven. Saddhatissa.). We also organized the UK Buddhists Day, commencing from
1996, which has become an annual event to commemorate the advent of Buddhism in
the UK introduced by the first Buddhist missionary, a British National known as
Ven.Ananda Metteyya.
Q. Could you also tell me about the Sri Saddhatissa International
Buddhist Centre?
A. In 1990, we organized the first
ever all-night Pirith chanting, conducted from a temple outside Sri Lanka, with
a traditional octagonal pavilion and observing traditional customs and rituals.
We have also held the first Vesak Dansala in the UK, and in 1998 for the first
time in Europe, we released a compact disc containing Pirith Chanting by
Buddhist monks of the SSIBC.
Q. When
you embark on service to community do you make a distinction
between religious and cultural or treat society as a whole through
a wider spectrum?
A. I am a disciple of Lord Buddha,
and according to his teaching, I treat everyone as a human being with
compassion and love, and there is no room for the word discrimination in my
vocabulary or project profiles. In other words, there are no barriers between
ethnic background or faith and the rich or the poor.
Q. Can you elaborate more on the Muditha Foundation’s work
in Sri Lanka ?
A. While I was a student in
1977, I started the Muditha Foundation in Sri Lanka in a very small scale by
opening a kindergarten for young children (free of charge) with a children’s
library. In 1980 the Sri Lanka Government donated a land to expand my initial
project. The first building was completed in 1999 accommodating five children.
Today there are 52 children belonging to all three communities. Many
children go to school from here. A new building for a Vocational Centre is
being erected at present at a cost of Rs.6 million. It is due to be opened in
October 2003. This will increase the input of children to 100. My disciple Wilbagedara
Gnanisswara thero has given up a Graduate Teacher training post to look
after the welfare of these children. In addition, I was responsible for
planting 5000 trees, within one year, to mark the National Environment Day in
Sri Lanka
Q. Some cynics may pose the question that by mixing community work,
interfaith activities and culture promotion, you are taking far too much on to
your plate as a Buddhist monk, and by having a finger in every pie, you might
fail in the main responsibility of functioning as a disciple of the Lord Buddha
in propagating Buddhism. Is there any truth in such statements?
A. I believe, in the fact, that sermons
alone cannot help the society, but actions speak louder than words. My work is
based on Buddha’s following advice: “Caratha Bhikkave Carikang Bahujana
Hithaya Bahujana Sukaya” (“Go forth, O Bhikkus, for the good of the many,
for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world)
Q. You seem to have remarkable organisational skills, stamina, patience and
management know-how in delegating power, and all your past records will
undoubtedly prove it, and what more, your MBE in itself stands as self-
evidence. How do you do manage to do all this, and where do you get such
inspiration and energy from , to withstand pressure and concentrate on all aspects
of your responsibilities?
A. (Smiling) I don’t think about it or
worry about it when I make a decision, but go about it very seriously. My
intentions are pure, and once I embark on some worthy cause things seem to fall
into place automatically. As I said before, I suppose spiritual energy
has a role to play in it! (Smiling). Furthermore, I believe in delegating
and sharing my project work and responsibilities.
Q. A prominent Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka openly criticises Buddhists
worshipping Hindu Gods and Buddhist temples having Devalas. SSIBC has a Devala too, and from what I have seen
with my own eyes, many devotees seek solace by visiting the Devala and perform various rituals to
suit their beliefs and aspirations. What are your views on this issue?
A. This controversy has been going on for
the past several centuries. It is human nature that everyone wants better
things in life, and at times of suffering and ill health many seek a prop,
which is natural. With that motive as a backdrop, I personally don’t think
by visiting a Devala will harm anyone, or it will be an impediment to be a
Buddhist.
Lord Buddha never denied the presence of gods
as well as non-humans when Bhikkus who retreated into the woods for meditation
were troubled by demons. He advised the Bhikkus to chant Karaneeya Metta
Sutta and spread compassion to everyone alike. In the Mangala
Sutta it isclearly stated that it was a god who arrived in the presence of
the Buddha alighting the night’s darkness and asked the question: ‘ What
constitutes “Managala?”
Also we must realize that intrinsic
Buddhism has been influenced by other philosophies like Hinduism, which give
priority of place to gods – which Buddhism clearly does not. In Ratana
Sutta, Buddha evokes the gods to look after the welfare of the devotees who
venerate them. Buddhism is a way of life, as well as a philosophy. In respect
of being a way of life, it is a religion, and the pride of place it gives to
the development of the mind makes it a philosophy. In Buddhism salvation has to
be brought about by oneself. Gods cannot do it. The help gods grant is related
to life in this world, and in Buddhism, it has always been customary to impart
merit to gods (Punnyanumodana). Also Buddha has never imposed
compulsions to anyone!
Q. Now having been awarded the MBE, what would
be your message to the readers of this interview?
A. Human being is the most
intelligent genre with a powerful organ called the brain. One’s sole duty or
the mission in life should be to be united with one’s fellow beings, live in
harmony and to serve one’s society, religion, and one’s country. Do not waste
time engaging in gossip and tawdry tittle-tattle or judging and criticising
others. Criticism is easy to make
but to perform and achieve effective results is the hardest.
London 2003 – News Lanka