November 30, 2024 • 35 mins
This episode, I take you to Sammajeewa Buddhist Temple in Minuwangoda, a town in Sri Lanka's West.
During my travels in Sri Lanka, I thought it would be interesting to spend a couple of weeks at a Buddhist temple to learn more about the lifestyle of a Buddhist monk, learn more about Buddhist philosophy, and observe how this is practiced in a temple.
Here, I met Bhante Subodhi, a lovely monk who started the temple in Minuwangoda. I hope you enjoy this short interview with Bhante Subodhi, who shares insight into his personal experience as a Buddhist monk.
At the end (from about 27 mins) he also shares a loving kindness meditation for you to experience.
Book I mention: 'What the Buddha Taught' by Walpola Rahula https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_the_Buddha_Taught
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello world family and welcome to Ripples of Humanity.
(00:07):
I'm Rachel Thompson and through this podcast I'm sharing interesting stories along my travels
of people, projects and initiatives I discover that are contributing to positive ripples
throughout humanity.
In this episode I am taking you to Samajihwa Buddhist Temple in Mino-Ngoda, a town in
Sri Lanka's west.
(00:28):
My reason for going to Sri Lanka was to do a visa run because my visa in India only allowed
me to stay consecutively for 90 days so I had to leave and enter another country in
order to come back to India.
My plan was to go trekking in Nepal originally but I discovered pretty quickly that it would
be peak monsoon season there which was not advised.
(00:50):
So another country that interested me was Sri Lanka so I booked my trip there instead.
I wanted to experience something a bit different in Sri Lanka and so after some research I
found out that about 70% of the population are Buddhist and I thought it could be really
interesting to explore Buddhism in Sri Lanka and start off by spending a couple of weeks
(01:15):
in a Buddhist temple, meditating with Buddhist monks, learning about the lifestyle of a Buddhist
monk in Sri Lanka, learn more about Buddhist philosophy and observe how this is practiced
in a temple.
So I found something online that was called Temple Stay and what you did was you donate
for your food and accommodation to stay with a local family right by the Buddhist temple
(01:40):
and then each day you go to the temple and spend the day there, meditating, doing your
own self study, chatting with the monks there and following around whatever the monks are
doing or the senior monk wherever they're going for the day you're welcome to join and
experience as their guest what it's like.
(02:03):
So it was here that I met Bhante Subodhi, a lovely Buddhist monk who started the temple
in Munnawangoda.
So Bhante is the respectful term used to address Buddhist monks and nuns.
So this isn't an episode going deep into Buddhist philosophy, there are plenty of resources that
you can do your own research on.
(02:24):
On a side note though, a book I enjoy reading while at the temple and contemplating was
called What Buddha Taught by Walpola Sri Rahula, I can link to that book in the episode notes.
But the intention of this episode is to share a short interview I did with Bhante Subodhi.
It was really nice to chat with him about what life is like as a Buddhist monk and a
(02:46):
little bit about his life.
I will admit though, I feel like we were only just scratching the surface and there were
so many more questions I wanted to ask Bhante about his life but we really didn't have much
time.
At the end he also shares a sample of a loving kindness meditation so if you'd like to listen
to that at the end of the podcast then that's available as well.
(03:06):
I hope you do enjoy the short conversation I got to have with Bhante.
Thank you Bhante Subodhi for joining me.
I know you're a busy person.
I wanted to start by asking you when did you decide to become a Buddhist monk, what age
and why, what was going on in your mind and thoughts and feelings when that was happening.
(03:32):
Yeah when I was 12 years in that time I wanted to become a Buddhist monk.
Actually in that time I saw a little one became a Buddhist monk in my village temple.
(03:54):
After that I liked it and I wanted to become a Buddhist monk.
Firstly I tried to get permission for that from my parents and my elder brothers and
sister but they didn't like it but anyway I tried to get a permission from them.
(04:25):
After that they gave permission to become a Buddhist monk.
What changed their mind?
Actually it was not easy, I didn't want to separate my family because I was very close
(04:53):
to them but after I became a Buddhist monk I identified who I am.
So in that time I tried to distance in my family.
(05:19):
It's better to go my way, go to my way.
When you were 12 years old and you wanted to become a Buddhist monk and your family
was not wanting that and they were asking you, were they asking you why do you want
to become a Buddhist monk, what were you saying to try and convince them?
(05:42):
Actually I didn't understand what is reality in that time.
Actually it is a desire, I liked it because I didn't have more knowledge in that time
(06:05):
but culturally we were Buddhist so I think they understood his idea is not bad, his idea
is good so after that they gave permission for me.
(06:27):
So you wanted to do it to learn more about Buddhism and learn more about yourself?
Yeah, after I became a Buddhist monk I studied a lot, it's better to me.
And I'm guessing in the training there was a lot of meditation practice as well?
(06:51):
Yeah, before I became a Buddhist monk I practiced meditation in my meditation center.
I think for one month I practiced meditation early morning 4 am to 10 pm.
(07:20):
Yeah, continuously I practiced meditation there.
What age were you when you did that?
2 years.
That was when you were 12?
Yeah.
Wow, that's a lot for a 12 year old.
And then what did you learn when you were 12 years old after that one month?
Yeah, in that time I understood it is not easy, it's very difficult but day to day
(07:49):
practicing I understood it's better path.
So you say it's a better path, you felt by experiencing that it was a better path, is
there anything in particular that felt that made you feel that way?
(08:13):
Yeah, especially I felt it's helped to maintain good memory, we can improve our capability
and capacity.
And a few years ago I could understand it's better path for liberation.
(08:44):
So now we're at the temple which you started this temple?
Yeah, I started this temple 20 years before.
What made you want to start your own temple?
Actually I wanted to help poor people and so many children.
(09:08):
I think today I achieved it.
You achieved it?
Yeah.
Because here I arranged special program and every Sunday I conduct special Dharma school
here and we do special social activities here.
(09:35):
For the community?
Yeah.
And how many children come to the Dharma school?
More than a thousand.
A thousand?
Yeah.
I had the pleasure of being here for one of the Sundays for the Dharma school and it was
very special to have everyone here.
Thank you for you.
When people come to you and speak to you, what's the most common challenge that people
(10:01):
are facing in their mind or in their life?
A lot of people don't identify what is their life and what is their happiness.
(10:23):
So many people try to do more experiments in their life.
Some experiments are good, some experiments are bad.
Commonly I try to guide them.
(10:44):
What's the right path, what's the wrong path?
The right path to them to have more happiness in their life?
Yes.
Firstly you should try to build your behaviour.
It's help to find your happiness.
(11:05):
Yeah.
Lot of people find to materialistic mind is not good.
It's not happiness.
So what's the first step to finding happiness?
(11:26):
And we're talking like the happiness from within.
Yeah.
It's better to you, firstly you can control your mind.
Lord Buddha said to us,
You don't do bad deeds and do good deeds and control your mind.
(11:56):
If you practice it, you can feel it.
It is very calm and happiness.
Practice, so this is controlling the mind.
And so if someone's coming and has no practice of meditation
or no awareness of much Buddhist philosophy,
(12:19):
and they want to try to control their mind,
what's the first step that you would teach them?
Firstly I teach them, you try to build your behaviour.
Don't kill anyone, don't steal, don't misbehave,
(12:40):
don't lie and don't intoxication.
If you practice it, easily you can concentrate your mind.
It's help to practicing meditation.
Because it can be hard if people have challenges in their life
(13:01):
that then cause them to intoxicate or misbehave.
Then it's like there's a cycle.
So there needs to be something like meditation
which can then support to then make those behaviours.
I know from my own experience when I started meditating,
(13:23):
I naturally became happier in myself.
So it wasn't that first, I couldn't change that before I started meditating.
I meditated and then that naturally started happening.
What kind of meditation do you start to teach people when they are brand new?
(13:46):
It's better to loving kindness or friendliness.
It is a meditation in Buddhism.
It's better.
You can spread loving kindness for yourself, after that others.
So with the loving kindness meditation, what are the benefits of doing that?
(14:11):
If you practice loving kindness or meditation, you can get 11 benefits.
First one, you can sleep well.
Second one, you can awake well.
Third one, you don't dream ebius.
Fourth one, you will be liked by everyone as you have a good appearance.
(14:39):
Fifth one, gods will protect.
And sixth one, even the non-humans will like you.
Seventh one, there will be no anger with poison, weapons or fire.
Eighth one, always you will be having a happy mood.
(15:03):
Ninth one, you will have a good appearance in your face.
Tenth one, you can face death in consciousness.
Eleventh one, after death, you will be born in a Brahma place.
(15:26):
And when you say you will be born in a Brahma place, what do you mean by that?
In that time, we can improve again our mind.
So you will be born into a reincarnation where you can continue to improve your mind.
(15:48):
As a monk, you are living a life where you have given up a lot, a lot that other people
may be attached to.
What's been the most difficult thing that you've had to detach from in your life?
(16:09):
I have a lot of work in my life.
People give food, clothes, accommodation and everything for us.
But I don't so like that.
(16:30):
Anyway, I try to, it's not trouble to my life.
So you have to learn to accept receiving from others and relying on others for everything.
Anyway, I receive a lot of stuff, money or anything, but I try to give to others.
(16:58):
It's better.
You do a lot of work as well, giving to the community.
What is a typical day for you?
(17:19):
I have Dharma seminars.
That's where you go out to different temples, different places, you do television, other
interviews and things to spread the teachings of Lord Buddha.
Yeah, anyway, day to day I have Dharma sermons, temples, houses, special ceremony.
(17:42):
In that time, I explain Lord Buddha's teaching for them.
Actually, it is a good duty for me and others.
I can share Lord Buddha's talks with them.
(18:03):
So that's what you do most days is organizing and going out and doing speaking and staying
here at the temple and having visitors come as well?
Yeah, some, especially foreign people come to our place.
I try to explain what's the Buddhism and every Sunday and every full moon or a day, I explain
(18:33):
Lord Buddha says to our community.
A lot of people invite me for their Dharma sermons in their house or in their temple
or especially in their community.
(18:53):
I wanted to ask you about your, you mentioned earlier when you were young that your family
didn't approve when you were becoming a monk and then as you got older, how is your family
now towards you being a monk?
Yeah, today they are very happy about seeing my position and I help more my parents and
(19:24):
my siblings.
Yeah, they are very gratitude for me.
What do you help with?
Once a month I visit my parents, I go to my parents place and I visit them and I give
(19:51):
medicine and money and everything for them.
And they are very happy.
They are proud of me.
Was it difficult for you when you were younger, needing to separate and spend less time with
(20:14):
your family when you were becoming a monk?
Yeah, in that time it was very difficult.
But today I understood what is reality, what is life.
What is life?
Everything is in permanent.
Everything is impermanent.
(20:35):
Relationships, materials, our life.
And does that help with not being attached to things?
Yeah.
And this is I guess from my own experience, I want to understand from yours that becoming
(20:55):
less attached doesn't mean you become cold or not loving or anything, it's almost like
you have more love and capacity to give.
Is that how you feel?
Yes.
Yeah.
We try to spread our loving kindness for everyone.
(21:21):
After that you can get more results in your life.
When you ask the question, who am I, what answer do you have for yourself?
Actually I thought and I felt it.
(21:42):
I came to earth from a special place.
Yeah, and anyway I felt it, I should help to others, it's better.
In my childhood I helped to others.
(22:07):
In my young age I helped to others.
So I think in my whole life to others, helped to others.
What age was that that you felt that desire to help others?
When you first felt that?
(22:28):
In my school time I wanted to help my friends, I remember.
Quickly I completed my work, study, after that I helped to my friends.
I know you have to go in a second so I want to ask maybe one more question.
(22:53):
What do you hope to see a change in humanity?
Others.
I like to see everyone try to protect their honest, loving kindness and gratitude, it's
(23:20):
better qualities.
I have one final question and that is what do you like to do for fun?
I think there might be a perception that monks may not, you don't have fun but is that true
(23:41):
or what do you do for fun?
Especially if you practice mindfulness it is fun.
Lord Buddha said to us, don't you think about your past and future, think about your present.
(24:11):
So you can focus and concentrate your mind in your work, it's better, it's fun.
Thank you so much, is there anything else you wanted to share before we finish?
(24:32):
Yes, I invite to others coming to Sri Lanka and you can search it what is Buddhism.
Actually Buddhism is not a religion, Buddhism is a philosophy, you can study and you can
(24:53):
practice it.
After that you can find who I am, it's better because a lot of people today didn't find
it.
And why is it important to find it?
(25:21):
After that you can easily survive because a lot of people have complicated lives.
If you have complicated life you try to do anything, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's
(25:42):
bad.
Thank you so much for your time Bonte.
Thank you, bye bye.
Well I hope you enjoyed the insight into Bonte Subodhi's life as a Buddhist monk.
I really enjoyed spending a couple of weeks in Bonte's company at the temple.
(26:03):
I really got a taste of all the action at the temple from the thousand children coming
on Sunday for Buddhist school to visiting a nearby cancer hospital to serve food that
had been donated by the temple, attending different functions around the community and
meeting the community that was coming to the temple each day.
I also really enjoyed just sitting and spending time with Bonte Subodhi over lunch and getting
(26:26):
to know him and he had a really, really wonderful sense of humour and he really brought that
humour through in his interactions with people coming to the temple.
I also really got a lot out of spending a couple of weeks in meditative practices at
the temple like insight meditation, walking meditation and of course loving kindness meditation.
(26:48):
I really feel like I left the temple with a stronger connection to my inner world and
further insight from the teacher within myself, especially gaining a deeper understanding
and knowing of unconditional love for all beings.
So thank you for taking the time to listen.
Please feel free to rate the podcast and share with any friends who this may interest.
(27:11):
If you'd like to listen to the loving kindness meditation shared by Bonte Subodhi, then keep
listening.
Otherwise, sending you love my fellow humans wherever you are.
So for the meditation, just get yourself into a comfortable position.
(27:32):
Just choosing what's right for you at the moment, whether that's sitting, perhaps laying
down if that's your preference.
And just start by taking some deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth.
Just feeling yourself letting go with each exhale and allowing yourself to arrive in
(27:59):
this present moment, just letting go of the day so far, letting go of anything you need
to do after.
Just notice if there's anywhere in your body that needs to be a little bit more relaxed,
perhaps softening the muscles in the jaw, around the face, around the eyes, relaxing
(28:22):
the shoulders, releasing any tension in the hands.
Now bringing your awareness to your heart area.
(28:43):
And just notice any sensations you can feel in this area.
And just feel yourself opening up in this area, perhaps sending some of your beautiful
breath to this area.
Just opening yourself up to this loving kindness meditation.
(29:10):
And the loving kindness meditation will begin now.
May I be well, happy, peaceful and prosperous.
May no harm come to me.
May no difficulties come to me.
(29:33):
May no problems come to me.
May I always meet with success.
May I also have patience, courage, understanding and determination to me and overcome inevitable
(29:58):
difficulties, problems and failures in life.
May my parents be well, happy, peaceful and prosperous.
May no harm come to them.
(30:20):
May no difficulties come to them.
May no problems come to them.
May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding and determination to me and overcome inevitable
(30:51):
difficulties, problems and failures in life.
May my teachers be well, happy, peaceful and prosperous.
May no harm come to them.
(31:13):
May no difficulties come to them.
May no problems come to them.
May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding and determination to me and overcome inevitable
(31:43):
difficulties, problems and failures in life.
May my family be well, happy, peaceful and prosperous.
May no harm come to them.
(32:04):
May no difficulties come to them.
May no problems come to them.
May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding and determination to me and overcome inevitable
(32:33):
difficulties, problems and failures in life.
May my friends be well, happy, peaceful and prosperous.
May no harm come to them.
(32:55):
May no difficulties come to them.
May no problems come to them.
May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding and determination to me and overcome inevitable
(33:24):
difficulties, problems and failures in life.
May all beings here be well, happy, peaceful and prosperous.
May no harm come to them.
(33:49):
May no difficulties come to them.
May no problems come to them.
May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding and determination to me and overcome inevitable
(34:17):
difficulties, problems and failures in life.
May no harm come to them.
May no problems come to them.
(34:47):
You don't do bad deeds.
You do good deeds and control your mind.
It's Lord Buddha's advice.
Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu.
Thank you for sharing that.
Hello world family and welcome to Ripples of Humanity.
(00:07):
I'm Rachel Thompson and through this podcast I'm sharing interesting stories along my travels
of people, projects and initiatives I discover that are contributing to positive ripples
throughout humanity.
In this episode I am taking you to Samajihwa Buddhist Temple in Mino-Ngoda, a town in
Sri Lanka's west.
(00:28):
My reason for going to Sri Lanka was to do a visa run because my visa in India only allowed
me to stay consecutively for 90 days so I had to leave and enter another country in
order to come back to India.
My plan was to go trekking in Nepal originally but I discovered pretty quickly that it would
be peak monsoon season there which was not advised.
(00:50):
So another country that interested me was Sri Lanka so I booked my trip there instead.
I wanted to experience something a bit different in Sri Lanka and so after some research I
found out that about 70% of the population are Buddhist and I thought it could be really
interesting to explore Buddhism in Sri Lanka and start off by spending a couple of weeks
(01:15):
in a Buddhist temple, meditating with Buddhist monks, learning about the lifestyle of a Buddhist
monk in Sri Lanka, learn more about Buddhist philosophy and observe how this is practiced
in a temple.
So I found something online that was called Temple Stay and what you did was you donate
for your food and accommodation to stay with a local family right by the Buddhist temple
(01:40):
and then each day you go to the temple and spend the day there, meditating, doing your
own self study, chatting with the monks there and following around whatever the monks are
doing or the senior monk wherever they're going for the day you're welcome to join and
experience as their guest what it's like.
(02:03):
So it was here that I met Bhante Subodhi, a lovely Buddhist monk who started the temple
in Munnawangoda.
So Bhante is the respectful term used to address Buddhist monks and nuns.
So this isn't an episode going deep into Buddhist philosophy, there are plenty of resources that
you can do your own research on.
(02:24):
On a side note though, a book I enjoy reading while at the temple and contemplating was
called What Buddha Taught by Walpola Sri Rahula, I can link to that book in the episode notes.
But the intention of this episode is to share a short interview I did with Bhante Subodhi.
It was really nice to chat with him about what life is like as a Buddhist monk and a
(02:46):
little bit about his life.
I will admit though, I feel like we were only just scratching the surface and there were
so many more questions I wanted to ask Bhante about his life but we really didn't have much
time.
At the end he also shares a sample of a loving kindness meditation so if you'd like to listen
to that at the end of the podcast then that's available as well.
(03:06):
I hope you do enjoy the short conversation I got to have with Bhante.
Thank you Bhante Subodhi for joining me.
I know you're a busy person.
I wanted to start by asking you when did you decide to become a Buddhist monk, what age
and why, what was going on in your mind and thoughts and feelings when that was happening.
(03:32):
Yeah when I was 12 years in that time I wanted to become a Buddhist monk.
Actually in that time I saw a little one became a Buddhist monk in my village temple.
(03:54):
After that I liked it and I wanted to become a Buddhist monk.
Firstly I tried to get permission for that from my parents and my elder brothers and
sister but they didn't like it but anyway I tried to get a permission from them.
(04:25):
After that they gave permission to become a Buddhist monk.
What changed their mind?
Actually it was not easy, I didn't want to separate my family because I was very close
(04:53):
to them but after I became a Buddhist monk I identified who I am.
So in that time I tried to distance in my family.
(05:19):
It's better to go my way, go to my way.
When you were 12 years old and you wanted to become a Buddhist monk and your family
was not wanting that and they were asking you, were they asking you why do you want
to become a Buddhist monk, what were you saying to try and convince them?
(05:42):
Actually I didn't understand what is reality in that time.
Actually it is a desire, I liked it because I didn't have more knowledge in that time
(06:05):
but culturally we were Buddhist so I think they understood his idea is not bad, his idea
is good so after that they gave permission for me.
(06:27):
So you wanted to do it to learn more about Buddhism and learn more about yourself?
Yeah, after I became a Buddhist monk I studied a lot, it's better to me.
And I'm guessing in the training there was a lot of meditation practice as well?
(06:51):
Yeah, before I became a Buddhist monk I practiced meditation in my meditation center.
I think for one month I practiced meditation early morning 4 am to 10 pm.
(07:20):
Yeah, continuously I practiced meditation there.
What age were you when you did that?
2 years.
That was when you were 12?
Yeah.
Wow, that's a lot for a 12 year old.
And then what did you learn when you were 12 years old after that one month?
Yeah, in that time I understood it is not easy, it's very difficult but day to day
(07:49):
practicing I understood it's better path.
So you say it's a better path, you felt by experiencing that it was a better path, is
there anything in particular that felt that made you feel that way?
(08:13):
Yeah, especially I felt it's helped to maintain good memory, we can improve our capability
and capacity.
And a few years ago I could understand it's better path for liberation.
(08:44):
So now we're at the temple which you started this temple?
Yeah, I started this temple 20 years before.
What made you want to start your own temple?
Actually I wanted to help poor people and so many children.
(09:08):
I think today I achieved it.
You achieved it?
Yeah.
Because here I arranged special program and every Sunday I conduct special Dharma school
here and we do special social activities here.
(09:35):
For the community?
Yeah.
And how many children come to the Dharma school?
More than a thousand.
A thousand?
Yeah.
I had the pleasure of being here for one of the Sundays for the Dharma school and it was
very special to have everyone here.
Thank you for you.
When people come to you and speak to you, what's the most common challenge that people
(10:01):
are facing in their mind or in their life?
A lot of people don't identify what is their life and what is their happiness.
(10:23):
So many people try to do more experiments in their life.
Some experiments are good, some experiments are bad.
Commonly I try to guide them.
(10:44):
What's the right path, what's the wrong path?
The right path to them to have more happiness in their life?
Yes.
Firstly you should try to build your behaviour.
It's help to find your happiness.
(11:05):
Yeah.
Lot of people find to materialistic mind is not good.
It's not happiness.
So what's the first step to finding happiness?
(11:26):
And we're talking like the happiness from within.
Yeah.
It's better to you, firstly you can control your mind.
Lord Buddha said to us,
You don't do bad deeds and do good deeds and control your mind.
(11:56):
If you practice it, you can feel it.
It is very calm and happiness.
Practice, so this is controlling the mind.
And so if someone's coming and has no practice of meditation
or no awareness of much Buddhist philosophy,
(12:19):
and they want to try to control their mind,
what's the first step that you would teach them?
Firstly I teach them, you try to build your behaviour.
Don't kill anyone, don't steal, don't misbehave,
(12:40):
don't lie and don't intoxication.
If you practice it, easily you can concentrate your mind.
It's help to practicing meditation.
Because it can be hard if people have challenges in their life
(13:01):
that then cause them to intoxicate or misbehave.
Then it's like there's a cycle.
So there needs to be something like meditation
which can then support to then make those behaviours.
I know from my own experience when I started meditating,
(13:23):
I naturally became happier in myself.
So it wasn't that first, I couldn't change that before I started meditating.
I meditated and then that naturally started happening.
What kind of meditation do you start to teach people when they are brand new?
(13:46):
It's better to loving kindness or friendliness.
It is a meditation in Buddhism.
It's better.
You can spread loving kindness for yourself, after that others.
So with the loving kindness meditation, what are the benefits of doing that?
(14:11):
If you practice loving kindness or meditation, you can get 11 benefits.
First one, you can sleep well.
Second one, you can awake well.
Third one, you don't dream ebius.
Fourth one, you will be liked by everyone as you have a good appearance.
(14:39):
Fifth one, gods will protect.
And sixth one, even the non-humans will like you.
Seventh one, there will be no anger with poison, weapons or fire.
Eighth one, always you will be having a happy mood.
(15:03):
Ninth one, you will have a good appearance in your face.
Tenth one, you can face death in consciousness.
Eleventh one, after death, you will be born in a Brahma place.
(15:26):
And when you say you will be born in a Brahma place, what do you mean by that?
In that time, we can improve again our mind.
So you will be born into a reincarnation where you can continue to improve your mind.
(15:48):
As a monk, you are living a life where you have given up a lot, a lot that other people
may be attached to.
What's been the most difficult thing that you've had to detach from in your life?
(16:09):
I have a lot of work in my life.
People give food, clothes, accommodation and everything for us.
But I don't so like that.
(16:30):
Anyway, I try to, it's not trouble to my life.
So you have to learn to accept receiving from others and relying on others for everything.
Anyway, I receive a lot of stuff, money or anything, but I try to give to others.
(16:58):
It's better.
You do a lot of work as well, giving to the community.
What is a typical day for you?
(17:19):
I have Dharma seminars.
That's where you go out to different temples, different places, you do television, other
interviews and things to spread the teachings of Lord Buddha.
Yeah, anyway, day to day I have Dharma sermons, temples, houses, special ceremony.
(17:42):
In that time, I explain Lord Buddha's teaching for them.
Actually, it is a good duty for me and others.
I can share Lord Buddha's talks with them.
(18:03):
So that's what you do most days is organizing and going out and doing speaking and staying
here at the temple and having visitors come as well?
Yeah, some, especially foreign people come to our place.
I try to explain what's the Buddhism and every Sunday and every full moon or a day, I explain
(18:33):
Lord Buddha says to our community.
A lot of people invite me for their Dharma sermons in their house or in their temple
or especially in their community.
(18:53):
I wanted to ask you about your, you mentioned earlier when you were young that your family
didn't approve when you were becoming a monk and then as you got older, how is your family
now towards you being a monk?
Yeah, today they are very happy about seeing my position and I help more my parents and
(19:24):
my siblings.
Yeah, they are very gratitude for me.
What do you help with?
Once a month I visit my parents, I go to my parents place and I visit them and I give
(19:51):
medicine and money and everything for them.
And they are very happy.
They are proud of me.
Was it difficult for you when you were younger, needing to separate and spend less time with
(20:14):
your family when you were becoming a monk?
Yeah, in that time it was very difficult.
But today I understood what is reality, what is life.
What is life?
Everything is in permanent.
Everything is impermanent.
(20:35):
Relationships, materials, our life.
And does that help with not being attached to things?
Yeah.
And this is I guess from my own experience, I want to understand from yours that becoming
(20:55):
less attached doesn't mean you become cold or not loving or anything, it's almost like
you have more love and capacity to give.
Is that how you feel?
Yes.
Yeah.
We try to spread our loving kindness for everyone.
(21:21):
After that you can get more results in your life.
When you ask the question, who am I, what answer do you have for yourself?
Actually I thought and I felt it.
(21:42):
I came to earth from a special place.
Yeah, and anyway I felt it, I should help to others, it's better.
In my childhood I helped to others.
(22:07):
In my young age I helped to others.
So I think in my whole life to others, helped to others.
What age was that that you felt that desire to help others?
When you first felt that?
(22:28):
In my school time I wanted to help my friends, I remember.
Quickly I completed my work, study, after that I helped to my friends.
I know you have to go in a second so I want to ask maybe one more question.
(22:53):
What do you hope to see a change in humanity?
Others.
I like to see everyone try to protect their honest, loving kindness and gratitude, it's
(23:20):
better qualities.
I have one final question and that is what do you like to do for fun?
I think there might be a perception that monks may not, you don't have fun but is that true
(23:41):
or what do you do for fun?
Especially if you practice mindfulness it is fun.
Lord Buddha said to us, don't you think about your past and future, think about your present.
(24:11):
So you can focus and concentrate your mind in your work, it's better, it's fun.
Thank you so much, is there anything else you wanted to share before we finish?
(24:32):
Yes, I invite to others coming to Sri Lanka and you can search it what is Buddhism.
Actually Buddhism is not a religion, Buddhism is a philosophy, you can study and you can
(24:53):
practice it.
After that you can find who I am, it's better because a lot of people today didn't find
it.
And why is it important to find it?
(25:21):
After that you can easily survive because a lot of people have complicated lives.
If you have complicated life you try to do anything, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's
(25:42):
bad.
Thank you so much for your time Bonte.
Thank you, bye bye.
Well I hope you enjoyed the insight into Bonte Subodhi's life as a Buddhist monk.
I really enjoyed spending a couple of weeks in Bonte's company at the temple.
(26:03):
I really got a taste of all the action at the temple from the thousand children coming
on Sunday for Buddhist school to visiting a nearby cancer hospital to serve food that
had been donated by the temple, attending different functions around the community and
meeting the community that was coming to the temple each day.
I also really enjoyed just sitting and spending time with Bonte Subodhi over lunch and getting
(26:26):
to know him and he had a really, really wonderful sense of humour and he really brought that
humour through in his interactions with people coming to the temple.
I also really got a lot out of spending a couple of weeks in meditative practices at
the temple like insight meditation, walking meditation and of course loving kindness meditation.
(26:48):
I really feel like I left the temple with a stronger connection to my inner world and
further insight from the teacher within myself, especially gaining a deeper understanding
and knowing of unconditional love for all beings.
So thank you for taking the time to listen.
Please feel free to rate the podcast and share with any friends who this may interest.
(27:11):
If you'd like to listen to the loving kindness meditation shared by Bonte Subodhi, then keep
listening.
Otherwise, sending you love my fellow humans wherever you are.
So for the meditation, just get yourself into a comfortable position.
(27:32):
Just choosing what's right for you at the moment, whether that's sitting, perhaps laying
down if that's your preference.
And just start by taking some deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth.
Just feeling yourself letting go with each exhale and allowing yourself to arrive in
(27:59):
this present moment, just letting go of the day so far, letting go of anything you need
to do after.
Just notice if there's anywhere in your body that needs to be a little bit more relaxed,
perhaps softening the muscles in the jaw, around the face, around the eyes, relaxing
(28:22):
the shoulders, releasing any tension in the hands.
Now bringing your awareness to your heart area.
(28:43):
And just notice any sensations you can feel in this area.
And just feel yourself opening up in this area, perhaps sending some of your beautiful
breath to this area.
Just opening yourself up to this loving kindness meditation.
(29:10):
And the loving kindness meditation will begin now.
May I be well, happy, peaceful and prosperous.
May no harm come to me.
May no difficulties come to me.
(29:33):
May no problems come to me.
May I always meet with success.
May I also have patience, courage, understanding and determination to me and overcome inevitable
(29:58):
difficulties, problems and failures in life.
May my parents be well, happy, peaceful and prosperous.
May no harm come to them.
(30:20):
May no difficulties come to them.
May no problems come to them.
May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding and determination to me and overcome inevitable
(30:51):
difficulties, problems and failures in life.
May my teachers be well, happy, peaceful and prosperous.
May no harm come to them.
(31:13):
May no difficulties come to them.
May no problems come to them.
May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding and determination to me and overcome inevitable
(31:43):
difficulties, problems and failures in life.
May my family be well, happy, peaceful and prosperous.
May no harm come to them.
(32:04):
May no difficulties come to them.
May no problems come to them.
May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding and determination to me and overcome inevitable
(32:33):
difficulties, problems and failures in life.
May my friends be well, happy, peaceful and prosperous.
May no harm come to them.
(32:55):
May no difficulties come to them.
May no problems come to them.
May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding and determination to me and overcome inevitable
(33:24):
difficulties, problems and failures in life.
May all beings here be well, happy, peaceful and prosperous.
May no harm come to them.
(33:49):
May no difficulties come to them.
May no problems come to them.
May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding and determination to me and overcome inevitable
(34:17):
difficulties, problems and failures in life.
May no harm come to them.
May no problems come to them.
(34:47):
You don't do bad deeds.
You do good deeds and control your mind.
It's Lord Buddha's advice.
Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu.
Thank you for sharing that.
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