Meditation is a means of channeling one’s inner-self. Buddhist mediation practices are systems that energize and create focus, clearness, enthusiastic energy, and a quiet observing of the genuine idea of things. By engaging with a particular meditation practice people learn the patterns and habits of their mind, and the practice offers a means to cultivate new, more positive ways of being.
Spiritual tourism is an important component of a Sri Lankan tourism industry as Sri Lanka is a land of spirituality end owned with many places of worships, pilgrim centres and religious monuments etc. Buddhist meditation system and techniques are more vital parts of the spiritual tourism with the help of well skilled and knowledge of Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka.
There are about 20 meditation centres identified by Sri Lanka Tourism, situated outside Colombo, which can provide opportunity for the travelers who are on an expedition to see the reality of life.
International Buddhist tourism Centre is established in 2018 as a parallel of celebration of World tourism day and situated about 125 km from Colombo, is perched the historical cave temple of Ridi Vihara. Further, As an aftereffects of that successfully completed the First International Buddhist Tourism Conference under the theme ‘A Simple Life and Middle Path for Responsible Religious Tourism Development’ at Ridee Viharaya in Kurunegala. The reason of setting up the international Buddhist tourism centres focuses, to enhance knowledge of grate Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist culture, Buddhist ethics,and Buddhist spirituality for the Buddhist and Non-Buddhist who are visiting to Sri Lanka around the globe. International Buddhist tourism centre will be the focal point of future improvement of Buddhist tourism in Sri Lanka.
The Rockhill Hermitage is a Meditation Center located deep in the central mountainous close to the city of Kandy, with easy access from Colombo. The surrounding nature is unaffected by its presence and offers impressive views as well as the opportunity to get to know the lush tropical fauna and flora of the country.
It is a non-profit institution funded by the Sri Lankan government and dedicated to charitable purposes. Located on a hillside, the center consists of a monastery, an area for men, an area for the nuns and a women’s area.
The monastery has its own supply of clear spring water. The name of the center derives from the numerous rock blocks and prisons in the immediate vicinity of the monastery, which form several natural caves on the monastery grounds, which are also used for residential and meditation purposes.
The 2500th Buddha Jayanti saw a great revival in Buddhism in Sri Lanka. There was renewed attention to Vipassana Meditation. Prime Minister at the time Sir John Kotelawala held dicussions on what could be done. The Burmese ambassador at the time U Ba Lwin during a meeting had suggested that the best thing to was to promote Insight meditation techniques to the Sri Lankans, which is the only way to bring immense satisfaction to them. The Lanka Vipassana Bhavana Samitiya (Lanka Insight Meditation Society) was formed.
On 28th July of 1955, a Burmese delegation of four theros led by U Sajata, a close assistant to Mahasi Sayadaw, arrived in Sri Lanka. Under their guidance and with from locals a complete meditation center was built in about six months at Kanduboda, a serene suburb 25kms from Colombo.
Just off Kandy, Nilambe is quite a well known retreat that has an enticing and comprehensive program. You have to turn off your mobile phone and disconnect from the connected world, entirely. There are no drop-in sessions, so you have to check on their upcoming programmes (http://nilambe.net/upcoming-programs.php) and join at the start of a retreat and see it through to the end.
You wake up, early, every morning, to the sound of a gong and you are then taken through a guided meditation. You’re also required to do a few chores that they refer to as working meditation. What’s is unique about this experience is just how immersive it is into the practice of the Dhamma.
Perched on top of hill Kadugannawa with panoramic views of the sprawling valleys below, Paramita Meditation Centre is built on the site of a previous tea plantation. Its terraced hillside, thickly forested with old tea bushes, pepper vines, jackfruit, avocado, nutmeg and clove trees, attract rich native wild life as long-tailed Macaques live along side squirrels, indigenous birds and their human brethren. The Centre is designed as a spiritual home for the resident monastics and all visitors alike.
Away from the hustle and bustle of Colombo, many find this place to cleanse one’s soul judging by its surrounding and space provided.
Sri Subodha Meditation Centre is located in the hill country of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the green misty mountains creating the serene Valley, Ambuluwawa, Nilambe, and Peradeniya. More than 1500 children attend the Sunday Dhamma School to study the Buddhis teaching and practice the precept.
The Sri Subodharama is a charitable organization and is managed Subodharama Sasana Seva Society.
A meditation centre where Vipassana meditation courses are given in the tradition of Sayagi U Ba Khin, as taught by S.N. Goenka.
The centre is located in an abandoned tea estate on a mountain slope with scenic views and a cool climate. Only intensive 10-day meditation courses are held here, both for males and female. One is not allowed to talk during the courses, except for interviews with the teacher, and there are several group sittings during the day.
The Mahamewna Amawathura Bhavana was once an old home before being converted to a meditation centre. It is so popular that the place is today a distinct landmark along the road to Kaduwela.
Having gathered artisans from around the country, Venerable Kiribathgoda Gnanananda, equipped with only the generosity of followers there, initiated the construction of a new building that stands today.
If you are looking for a haven of peace and quietude – why not spend the day at Arankele Monastery. Its green sylvan surroundings will relax and refresh you instantly and completely. According to theories, the place was never meant be a centre but it was once an ancient forest monastery.
The name Arankele exaggerates about a hermitage where Arahants resided. It is witnessed that famous Buddhist monk, Arahat Malyadeva thero was accommodated here. Even today about 18 bhikkus are practicing old and new meditation methods in the hermitage. The hermitage was supposed to be built around 8th century.
The monks who dwell here are called Pansukulika, which means rag-robes. Here the monks take a vow to wear only robes made from rags. A special feature of these buildings is that it is raised by platforms formed by retaining walls of massive stone in pairs and linked by a stone bridge. The buildings are also surrounded by water troughs to keep the interior of the building cool.
Sprawling across 20 acres, the meditation centre was established in 1993 by Ven. Kirama Wimalajothi Thero in filling the void of a meditation centre which could cater to both monks and lay people- local and foreign alike.
The Centre has been conducting several Dhamma training programs since 1994. In house meditation programs and educational programs including dhamma and counseling sessions for both foreign and local women were introduced in 2002. A two-week Temporary Ordination was launched in 2003 which was designed to give basic knowledge in Dhamma, meditation and social work.
Sanatha Suwaya is a meditation and holistic wellness center in Sri Lanka’s Central Province providing a forum for instruction and practice in mindfulness traditions and holistic therapies. Sanatha Suwaya is intended to be a place for discussion, learning, mental and physical exertion, exploration, growth, dissemination, communion, and exposure.
Sanatha Suwaya is non-religious organization and does not promote any philosophy over another. As a “wellness” center, they work to provide a space of peace, where a variety of wholesome experiences and services can be offered.
Situated at 49/2 2st cross street, Pagoda road in Nugegoda, the Pagoda Meditation centre started by well known Ven. Olanda Ananda, a senior dutch monk. He speaks Sinhala fluently and has been teaching meditation for a long time both in Sri Lanka and abroad.
Lanka Vipasanna International Meditation Center
The Nisala Foundation is a secular venue specialising in yoga and consciousness related practices, in Ududumbara in the Central highlands of Sri Lanka. It is open to all levels of practitioners of spirituality, from beginner to intermediate, to advanced. Set up in 2014, it teaches both traditional and modern spiritual practices to attain a deep state of awareness and energetic purification within the seeker. The Center is becoming a popular place among visitors to Sri Lanka due to the quality of its teaching, who are looking for a break from their habitual routine, to visit and engage in secular, yet deep spiritual practices, and enter into a field of awareness that is rooted deep relaxation, peace, and awareness.
To cap the quality of teaching, the Center is situated overlooking the beautiful Knuckles mountains range, surrounded by a forest reserve, paddy fields, and couple of houses that comprise an ancient village. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it is an idyllic place for a spiritual getaway.
