PILGRIMAGE GUIDELINES TO SRI LANKA

Where to Find: Sri Lanka

• A place visited by the Buddha three times
• Home to the first transmission of the Dharma since the 3rd century BC
• Energy from the practices of esteemed monks and devotees day and night
• A naturally serene and cool environment

Sri Lanka boasts the longest continuous history of Buddhism among Buddhist nations, remaining largely uninterrupted since its introduction in the 2nd century BC. Buddhism is the state religion of Sri Lanka, which is also known as the land of the Dharma – the Dharma nation. In addition to Sri Lanka, India is regarded as the Buddha country and Myanmar as the monk country.

In 250 BC, the holy monk Mahinda, son of the great Emperor Ashoka from India, arrived to introduce Buddhism to this beautiful island nation. In 245 BC, the holy nun Sanghamitta, daughter of Emperor Ashoka and sister of the holy monk Mahinda, came to Sri Lanka with a sapling of the Bodhi tree, under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Today, this tree is considered the oldest known cultivated tree in the world. The Pali Canon, originally preserved through oral tradition, was first documented at the Fourth Buddhist Council held at the Aluwihare rock temple in 103 BC. The Pali Canon, a collection of foundational texts in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, was recorded at this council.

Sri Lanka is one of only two countries in the world with a continuously documented history since ancient times. According to this history, the Buddha visited the island of Sri Lanka three times, detailed in the Mahavamsa, the great chronicle of Sri Lanka, and in ancient works such as Pujavaliya, Samantapasadika, and Buthsarana. As a result, the veneration of the Buddha’s relics here is regarded as more substantial than in other countries. In Sri Lanka, we can pay homage to the tooth relic in Kandy, the collarbone relic at the Thuparamaya stupa, the right tooth relic at the Somawathi stupa in Anuradhapura, the hair relic at the Gangaramaya temple in Colombo, and many more relics at various sacred sites and temples.

Additionally, visitors can explore the remarkable ancient architecture of Sri Lanka, including stupas, irrigation systems, and hospitals. Notable examples include the Thuparamaya stupa, the first built after Buddhism was introduced to the island in the 3rd century BC, the Ruwanweli Maha Seya stupa, one of the largest dagobas, originally standing approximately 103 meters tall, built around the 2nd century BC, the Abhayagiri Dagaba, originally about 115 meters tall and still one of the largest stupas in Sri Lanka, constructed in the 1st century BC, and the Jetavanaramaya stupa, the tallest brick structure in the world, built in the 3rd century AD.

Ancient Sri Lanka was home to the largest irrigation system in the world, many of which are still in use today. The ancient Sri Lankans constructed large reservoirs and complex water diversion systems, with some reservoirs having a gradient of only one inch (equivalent to 2.54 centimeters) per mile (approximately 1.6 kilometers), featuring over 5,000 reservoirs within a network of 4,000 canals. They also designed pressure chambers within the water regulation systems of reservoirs in ancient Sri Lanka.

Ancient Sri Lanka was also the first country in the world to establish hospitals in Mihintale in the 4th century BC. Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that hospitals were known elsewhere in the world before this period. The ruins of the Mihintale hospital complex in Anuradhapura are considered the oldest hospital ruins in the world.

Monk Phap Quang has extensive experience guiding pilgrimage groups in Sri Lanka, introducing them to the history, culture, and lifestyle of the area. Pilgrims guided by Monk Phap Quang will be led in meditation, walking meditation, chanting, and offerings according to Sri Lankan traditions at sacred sites.

Moreover, with the presence of Venerable Phap Quang, participants will have the opportunity to pay respects to the Chief Monk Mawathu and venerate the relics inside the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Fortuitously, the Chief Monk’s compassion is immense, and simply meeting and paying respects to him brings great happiness and energy. Entering the relic shrine and receiving blessings from the relic stupa is a sufficient source of merit.