Amazing Healing Power of Bodhi Puja at Nagane Seevali Temple.

by Gamini Dissanayake . Canada

Before long, the Sinhala readers of Mr Matugama Mahinda Wijetilaka's columns
in Silumina and Sunday Lankadeepa [on Invisible Phenomena/paranormal]
will be getting more detailed stories of amazing healing thru Bodhi Puja at
Nagane Seevali Temple in Wadakada NWP Sri Lanka by Ven Matale PannaNanda Thero.
In fact, for the past several weeks Mr W has been zeroing in on the Nagane
Temple and Ven PannaNanda
Physicians [who are trained in western model] treat physical
symptoms/ailments/defilements. Surely, it has its own strengths. Even their
psychiatric therapy is largely based on medical/pharmaceutical model
The Ayurvedha mentions 3 causative humours: Most times the Ayurvedic
physician will also examine the Birth Chart or Horoscope of the patient as Vedic
Astrology/Jyotish has unique tools to probe all domains of a person's life.
Congenital thru acquired.
[The surge in popularity of alternative medicine/therapies in the West has
stunned Pharamaceutical Companies which seemed to have funded a bunch of
attack-books like Trick or Treatment: sub titled Alternative medicine on trial by
Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst. Corgi UK 2008. This is nothing compared to Oil
companies like Exxon Mobil bribing scientists to write negating the emissions
factor in Global Warming.
In this, James Hansen's recent book Storms of My Grandchildren and James
Lovelock's Vanishing Face of Gaia: Final Warning are enlightening as always.
When it comes to healing, Ven P goes farther.
[In passing, works like Dr Jane Amatuzio's Forever Ours: Real Stories of
Immortality and Living From A Forensic Pathologist and her other book
Beyond Knowing: Mysteries and Messages of Death and Life From A Forensic
Pathologist, both now also available as E books plus Toronto based Kimberly
Moltos' two books True Tales of the Paranormal 2002 and More True Tales of the
Paranormal 2009 bring a sobering dimension to our preoccupation with material
outlook]

Siddhartha Gautama, our last Buddha, like the 27 Buddhas before him
primarily targeted the mental defilements like cravings/lust, hatred/vengeance
and delusions/ignorance. The first two leading to the third.
This is the cause of suffering which embraces all types of "displeasurable
experiences " pain, despair, discord, agitation, frustration, sorrow, fear etc. The 3
causes of suffering , on other occasions were divided into 5 components by the
Buddha: sensual lust, anger, sloth/torpor, agitation/worry, and doubt. and also
into ten components.
But these can be overcome. Based on Buddha's teachings Ven PannaNanda has
been prescribing, teaching, guiding the sick on a series of mental
exercises/therapy or meditations designed to uncover and cure our psychic
aberrations and confusions which manifest in various physical ailments as well
The Sacred Bodhi [Tree] is the first to be honoured with gratitude by the
Gautama Buddha Himself. The spiritual power of the Buddha is thus
embodied/absorbed in the Bodhi and there is lot more to the routine ceremony
performed by millions of Buddhists across the country in front of the Bodhi
So when a person participates in a Bodhi Puja comprehensively [usually 2 hours
long] conducted by Ven P, he or she has to go vegetarian [milk and dairy
products allowed] and abstain from liquor/drugs.
This qualifies you like the prerequisites urged in the Karaneeya Metta Sutta [The
Discourse on Practicising Loving Kindness or Metta/Maitri] Sakko, uju ca suju
ca thru yena vinnu pare upavadeyyam,[Be able, stright, and extremely straight.
Be odient and soft -hearted, free from pride/ego. Satisfied/content and of easy
living- not being a burden to others. etc before you can radiate Maitri to others
Abstaining from alcohol and meat eating itself contributes to good health
Nagane temple premises spread across the gently rising Kekunagala rock is
very conducive to inner peace. Not to mention the healing power acquired by
Ven Pannananda acquired over 30 years of meditation and other healing
skills
Factor in his simple life style. In fact during my first visit he got a call from a
lady living in London. England. After being childless for years she was
participating in Ven P's Bodhi Pujas before going overseas.
She got a baby just a few days ago [in fact I picked the auspicious letters to name
the baby] and was telling the Rev over the phone."Sir, I made a vow that I would
buy you a car if I got a baby. Now please tell me what kind of a car or truck/SUV
you need. I will have my dad in Sri Lanka buy it for you."

Naturally the venerable monk declined. And it was not the first time.

During the LTTE's last offensive Ven P had a forest temple in Padaviya in the
miltary jurisdiction of the late Brigadier Janaka Perera. [In fact Ven P belongs to
Forest Dwelling Sect/Vanavasi Nikaya] When the Tigers were around the
Brigadier arranged security to the temple where the Bodhi Puja was regularaly
conducted. However, as some soldiers started harrasing the young females who
were visiting the temple, Ven P was saddened and left . Janaka Perera came
looking for him and pleaded him to return. He offerred the temple 15 acres of
land plus a jeep to keep. Ven P declined saying that's not the path he is treading
and if he owned a vehicle, he would also need to learn driving and mechanics.
No way. Thanks anyway
During the two- hour Bodhi Puja, Wed thru Sun plus Full Moon day, Rev P
starts off with a "harmonic" and re-arranged lyrical version of Ithipiso Bhagava
and moves onto Sapta Bodhi Vandana, paying homage to the last 7 Buddhas,
namley Vippasi thru Gautama and Their Bodhis, followed by group Maitri and
Anapana Sathi /Mindfulness in Breathing Meditation, and closes with special
blessings to all

When you participate in this mindfully, earnestly and regularly for days, you
will become lighter, cooler and healthier.

Some partcipants go farther. They would provide refreshments to all particpants

and do similar meritorious deeds/pinkams, and donate money to help improve
the facility
Ven P admits he cannot heal congenital/severely karmic ailments. When he feels
your pulse/nadi, he can read into you more along with your horoscope.
Like the clarity Carl Jung claimed to have got when he had read the chart he
himself prepared for the patient he had before him for psychoanalysis session.
Synchronicity:He coined it. Lot more than mere coincidence, surely.
In early Sep this year [during my last month of stay in Sri Lanka] Dhammika
[not his real name] a young man of 25 years age was brought before Ven P by his
parents. Dhammika was like [pardon me] a real life zombie. Ven P prepared
and read his chart and read his pulse as well. He requested one parent to stay

with him at the temple and to particiapte in 9 Bodhi Pujas at least. Dhammika
was treated by a psychitriatist before.
His mom told me that in 2004 Dhammika was reading an Anduna [a divining
device similar to the water bowl Nostradamus was using to figure future events
and pen the quatrains] Dhammika read it for about 18 months. In May 2010
Dhammika began intense "prayers" at his village temple 140 KM away. Soon
after he became very confused and disoriented
Dhammika was a skilled mason. By the 3rd week of Sep his condition turned
for the better. He would now speak a few words and I got him to help in our
voluntary work on the temple premises. Cleaning up, providing /improving
facilities for the devotees [at least 500 and rising] who flock to the Bodhi Puja

Dhammikas horoscope [which I erected] showed psychic abilities as well. It

also indicated that he would have better days after Oct 14, 2010, especially if
Bodhi Puja and other spiritual activities were continued. Dhammika observed
Atasil [8 precepts] on Sep Full Moon Day and was seen meditating for longer
periods
After 3 weeks, as he was leaving the temple for home with his dad, he thanked
me for providing his supper [as Buddhist monks do not eat solid foods after Mid
day until breakfast the following day] and asked me if he could stay behind and
continue to help with activities now intensified on the premises.
I said, No Dhammika . You have been a great help. Everybody loves you here.
Go home now and come back on Saturdays for the Bodhi Puija.
And when I saw him getting off the bus the following Saturday at the turn off to
our temple [I happened to be there buying some paint for the temple with
Sameera, the kid who was rescued by Ven P from alcohol addiction and who is
now the "care taker" of the temple]
I told Sameera: Here Comes Your Best Man. Dude!
The 2nd case was more out of the ordinary; Sunil [not his real name] is 33
years old. He had bought an acre of land 12 years ago and built a house. He is a
skilled grader operator. He knows Back-Hoes and Caterpillars equally well.
His home is located way down South about 250 KM from our temple
His contact is Mr Matugama Wijetilaka who told me beforehand that a young
man who is bugged by a spirit for over a decade is coming to seek help. [Mr

Wijetillaka chose to become a " Lay-Monk" at our temple. That is to

temporarily become a Buddhist Monk, in fact this is his 3rd time donning the
yellow robes . Ven P and Mr W have been friends for long years]
It was only when his girl friend left him earlier this year that Sunil came to know
more about the Ghost that is hanging out with him.
The Ghost was his deceased landlord. He died like 20 years ago. But Sunil was
able to check out facts about the Ghost from the villagers and the city offices.
The Ghost was a prominent and affluent member of the village. He was often
seen walking about with a gun on his shoulder. He was implicated in the killing
of a woman and soon after he shot himself to death
The problem with his Ghost is that he would never allow Sunil to get into a
relationship. Every time he would see a girl looking to begin a relationship the
Ghost would scare the life out of the girl. This is the bottom line.
I was curious: This happens to Sinhala-Buddhist girls right? Have you tried to
date a Christian or Muslim or Hindu girl. ?
He had. But for no apparent reason the Girls freaked out as if the Ghost was
bugging them standing behind Sunil , when he visited them
Can't you sell the house and the property? He has been trying to do that for years
now and nobody would buy. Well he has spent over 2 million rupees on it, and
that's a lot of money in Sri Lanka by any standard.
So , on his arrival he told us his story for hours.
Ven P and I erected his horoscopes. Ven P felt his pulse/nadi. " I can feel the
Ghost faintly. We need to request him with loving kindness to leave you alone.
Threats or any other measures would not work.
That Saturday night after Bodhi Puja Mr W [ now in robes named Ven
Matugama Kusaladhamma] took me and Sunil back up to the Bodhi-Tree
around 10 in the night. He started blessing the Ghost and was asking him to
leave poor Sunil alone. And I was ready to photograph any unusual
thing/phenomenon. No luck
Sunil returned to his grind/day job Monday morning. And on Wednesday had
gone to the Devale 'where the spirits come thru a medium who owns the place.
In fact Sunil was telling me that was the best place and the only place where the
medium in trance told him about the Ghost a few months ago

So what did the Medium tell you I asked Sunil?

The Ghost came thru and started speaking to me in a coarse voice. " So you
thought that stupid monk could chase me away , ha? I was there dude. The
Senior Monk [Ven P] knew I was there.
I got a deal for you now. My present plane of existence is that of a Demon
Commander. Yaksha Senadhipathi. Demon does not mean I am a totally bad
guy. I did some bad Karma and some good Karma in my last birth on the human
plane. I know the aggravation you have gone thru because of me. I got some
redeeming news for you
Listen carefully. You thought you would become a Buddhist monk because I
would not let you get married. You got some spiritual power in you already and
I have also helped you [specifically when your supervisors were in trouble] on
and off. Right?
Relax. I will get your girlfriend back, [who will be finishing university in a few
months] and above all I will give you my power: to heal. I repeat ONLY TO
HEAL THE SICK. And get ready for that on your next birthday which is Nov
9" [Sunils chart and his girlfriend's too were full of yogas /planetary
combination indicating spiritual and psychic powers]
PS: I called Sunil 2 weeks ago and he was on track getting all preliminaries
fulfilled.

[Ven Pannananda can be reached at [94] 71 824 7200 or 71 976 8629. And Mr
Mahinda Wijetillaaka at [94] 71 639 8690
[End]