Sihanada International Meditation Community

Founded and Headed by Ven. Borelle Seeladassana, it is an Institute that teaches Meditation, under the guidance of Lord Buddha’s Teachings, up to attainment of Nibbāna. Methodology is based on: Tipitaka, Commentarial Work written by Bhadanta Acariya Buddhagosa and Sub- Commentarial work. Main Commentary that is used is Visuddhimagga (“Path of Purification”) The main teacher has meditated under the guidance of several teachers in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. While he found all the meditation experiences valuable, he believes that the teachings in the Visuddhimagga provide a clear and practical path of meditation that can be studied by the modern-day yogi. The Visuddhimagga uses the Pali texts (Tipitaka) and the ancient Sinhalese manual known as the Maha Atthakatha to take the yogi through the seven stages of Purification (referred to in the Rathavinita Sutta). The Seven Stages of Purification are: 1. Virtue 2. Concentration 3. Purification of View 4. Purification by Overcoming Doubt 5. Purification by Knowledge and Vision of What is the Path and What is Not the Path 6. Purification by Knowledge and Vision of the Way 7. Purification by Knowledge and Vision The institute plans to teach suitable students that may comprise of Buddhist monks, Buddhist nuns and laypersons. Our belief is that each student is different and needs individual attention to help guide them through and avoid the obstacles and missteps that can occur while meditating. We choose students carefully with the main focus being – their inherent desire to practice Lord Buddha’s teachings correctly and a desire to attain Nibbāna. Further, it is important to note that all these meditation techniques will be based on the Teachings of the Buddha found in the Tipitaka, Visuddhimagga and accompanying Commentarial and Sub-Commentarial work. Our mission is to humbly teach a pure meditation technique in Sri Lanka and re-establish Sri Lanka as a meditation stronghold in the Theravada Buddhist world.