Thursday, October 14, 2010

Meetings with a Remarkable Monk

 


   Meetings with a Remarkable Monk

Bhante Nanadipa
 
                                                                           

In Sri Lanka
                                                                        
This year marks the 35th anniversary of my ordination as a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka. One wish that I had while on this visit was to reconnect with, if only briefly with The Venerable Nanadipa. Bhante Nanadipa is of  Danish origin but has been living, studying the Dhamma and practicing meditation as a Buddhist monk here since 1968. He took Upasampada ordination at the famous Polgasduwa or Island Hermitage in 1969. I had first heard about him and met with him in 1975, in the first year of my 'pabbaja' or novice ordination. He was living at the time in a remote kuti near the scrub jungle village of Bundala on the south coast. The name of the kuti was in fact, Bundala kuti. I spent a few days visiting him and having inspiring Dhamma discussions with him. He had a vast knowledge of the Pali suttas and could articulate on some Dhamma topics and meditation about which I wished clarification. We also shared an interest in practicing Yoga, especially the headstand as it helped the body/mind in the process of meditation. He said that he stood on his head for over thirty minutes a day.
      To get a better idea of what motivated Ven. Nanadipa to live in this remote place it is worthwhile to learn of the prior inhabitants of this famous kuti. It could be called the ‘kuti of death’.  Not a inspiring name for people with strong craving and attachment to Self, but for meditating monks with an ascetic bent, it is challenging. The most famous of the prior occupants of Bundala kuti was an English monk named, Nanavira. He died in this kuti in 1965 apparently by suffocating himself with a plastic bag. It was said he committed suicide because he had been suffering for a long time from an incurable (it seems) gastric ailment. The only way he could get any relief from the pain was to indulge in certain fantasies unbecoming of an ordained bhikkhu. So he felt that there was only two alternatives open to him: either to disrobe as a bhikkhu and return to a layman status, or to end his physical life. He believed that physical death was preferable to ‘Bhikkhu death’ (disrobing) and continuing to suffer. He believed in rebirth so he knew that he would be reborn. It was assumed by some of his close friends (through letter correspondence) that he had already attained the level of ‘Stream Entry’. Theoretically, having reached this first stage of Enlightenment would have the effect of mitigating or partially justifying his seemingly contradictory action of taking his own life. There was a lot of subsequent debate on this issue as to whether someone who had attained Stream Entry would be capable, ethically speaking, in taking even their own life. Would it not be a breach of the first precept, not to kill, something a Sotapanna would supposedly be incapable of?
     Ven. Nanadipa was quite interested in studying the letters and notes on Dhamma which Nanavira had left behind in his kuti and later made into a book called, Clearing the Path. In these letters to friends he had discussed his dilemma. However at these first meetings with Ven. Nanadipa we did not discuss this topic. It was beyond my understanding at the time to bring up the subject and he did not volunteer to bring it up himself. Ven. Nanadipa did have a vast knowledge of the Pali suttas even at this relatively early stage of his bhikkhu life. His main interest was to integrate his understanding of the Buddhas’ instructions with the correct and diligent practice of meditation. He was single mindedly bent on persuing the life of a reclusive ‘hermit’ monk following the outline and details of the Dhamma-Vinaya of the Buddha. It was his dedication to earnest study and practice, not wasting time on frivolous things, which inspired me in this formative year of my own monk life.
Another of the former western monk inhabitants of Bundala kuti had unmindfully trodden on a poisonous serpent while stepping out of the kuti one night and was promptly fatally bitten. But this had not deterred the courageous hermit, Nanadipa from choosing to live there. It may have in fact encouraged him to challenge whatever remaining fear of death he may still have had. He told me his own personal close encounter with a highly poisonous snake while living in this same kuti. He had already been meditating outside in the full lotus posture and had just reached his limit of bearing up the pain when he felt a serpent slither up onto his legs. The snake proceeded to drape its’ long body over Ven. Nanadipas’ shoulder to take a nap it seems. Needless to say the great ascetic held his ground motionless and sent ‘metta’ to his new uninvited friend. After some time the serpent moved harmlessly on, much to Nanadipas’ relief. At least the experience helped him sit another thirty minutes bearing up the excruciating pain in the full lotus posture, which he may not have done on his own initiative at the time. This story inspired me to live in a remote cave at Dolukanda, near Kurunegala where I had some similar close encounters with poisonous snakes. These remote forest/jungle abodes provide a good environment to exercise more vigilance/mindfulness and ’contemplation of death’ (maranasati), much praised by the Buddha.  As it turned out, however, I was not able to match the Venerable Nanadipas’ long unyielding resolve in virtually shunning the world of social interactions, teaching, and even very limited contact with other monastics. He was and still is a real ‘loner’ after 40 years, hell bent on attaining complete Nibbana in this very life.  Even after my 30 years of travelling, teaching and living actively with other monastics in monasteries and reaching the age of 62,  Bhante Nanadipas’ dedication and ascetic way of life still inspires me.

After these few days with Bhante Nanadipa I never personally met with him again until now, 35 years later. Though I had lived in Sri Lanka until 1977 and again from 1980 until 1986 our paths did not cross. He relished near total seclusion and did his best to minimize contact with the outside world, even visits with other monks. When people found out where he was residing and began to pay him visits he would surreptitiously change his dwelling place. He kept moving to more remote, difficult places to access. I respected his wish for solitude and did not make the effort to seek him out. Anyway I was caught up doing my own thing. But occasionally I would hear from others about where he was living and especially about one near fatal incident that happened to him.
 Some years ago he had been living in a remote forest area inhabited by elephants when he directly encountered one. Despite the venerables’ radiation of Metta the elephant charged him, knocked him down and stepped on his groin/hip area. Painful to say the least. Unable to walk and with nobody around to see and help him Ven. Nanadipa laid there on the bare ground in scrub jungle for two days in and out of consciousness, until he finally managed to crawl for help. This accident resulted in one leg becoming one inch shorter than the other. But this unfortunate incident did not daunt the ascetics great courage and resolve. He continued living in remote creature infested areas and walking two kilometers each day on alms round-- to this very day.

I was very fortunate that I was able to have this brief but memorable reunion with Bhante Nanadipa. Normally he agrees to see visitors for only one week per year. Usually monks spend the traditional three months rainy season ‘vassa’ period living in one selected place from the full moon day of July to the full moon day in October. But Ven. Nanadipa, ever out for more self imposed discipline, adds on an extra three months, making a total of six months without seeing outside visitors, save people offering him alms food. After this six months solitude he travels a couple hours away to stay in a certain monastery, to tend to any personal needs, see a doctor etc. During this time he allows those wishing to have Dhamma discussions to come meet with him—but keep it to Dhamma please! Through a mutual Sri Lankan friend, a message had been conveyed to him that I was visiting Sri Lanka and requested a chance to meet him, even though it was outside his specified time period. Besides just wishing to see him I had a few Dhamma questions I wanted to pose. Out of compassion, and perhaps remembering our friendly encounters 35 years ago, he kindly agreed to this 'Samananan ca dassanam' (seeing of recluses).

This meeting took place during his normal morning pindapata (alms collecting) routine. He walked two kilometers through the scrub jungle from his cave kuti at the base of a hill, to a designated spot where the village people also had to walk one kilometer. There he sat on a chair covered with the traditional white cloth. The villagers paid their respects to him and offered him some rice gruel to drink. Then they offered him the meal in his alms bowl which he would afterwards carry back to his cave kuti to partake of it in solitude. After he received the alms food in his bowl I came up (with two Sri Lankan monks who had brought me), paid my respects, sat down and had our friendly exchanges and lively Dhamma discussion. I informed him briefly of what I had been doing the last thirty years-- traveling, teaching Dhamma and meditation retreats, helping to run the Bhavana Forest Monastery in the USA. At the end of our discussions I asked for any kalyana mitta (spiritual friend) advice he might have for me. He replied that though what I had been doing for spreading the Dhamma in the world was a good thing. He thought that thirty years of outward service was enough. I had paid my dues, put in my time in that regard. Now I was near the normal retirement age. He advised that I should come back to Sri Lanka and spend my twilight years here meditating in more solitude in order to finish the Dhamma business that was started over 35 years back. Good advice!!  Indeed, that is what I have been inwardly longing for over the past few years. This is part of the reason why I have separated myself from active involvement with the Bhavana Forest Monastery in West Virginia, to help facilitate this gradual transition.
There is a saying: “Be careful what you wish for; it might come true”.

I then took my leave of great ascetic and departed.
He calmly smiled, slung his alms bowl over one shoulder and slowly headed back down the sandy path through the scrub forest from where he had come.




Villagers paying respects to the great monk



Taking the morning rice gruel


Engaging in a Dhamma discussion
                                                                     












Recieving his alms bowl of food
Returning to the solitude of his kuti

 

17 comments:

  1. a remarkable and interesting story. It looks like you have come full circle, and given blessings to mediate in Shri Lanka. thanks for an uplifting and extraordinary story. It gives solace to the trouble souls.

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  2. Dear Venerable sir, it is with great interest to know of your teaching tour and itinerary to visit Malaysia. I read your book 'Form Home to Homelessness' my very first autobiography of a Monk.
    Later I met another fellow Buddhist who showed me your book. Now,there must be a connection somewhere and I really hope to host your visit in Kuala Lumpur. I support Chief Venerable Dhammananda in Kuala Lumpur in one of his community centres. My husband and I organised public Dhamma talks to propogate the dhamma teachings. The community centre I oversee now is called Ti-Ratana Community Centre Penchala and the website is WWW.Ti-Ratana.penchala.com.my. I look forward to a favourable reply from Bhante.

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  3. Bhante, thank you very much for referring me to this site. Its hugely inspiring. We too met Ven Nyanadipa early this year but didn't know all what you had learnt about his experiences and his own remarkable journey. I am also presently reflecting on my own good kamma, because more than fifteen years ago when I read 'One Nights Shelter' for the first time, and in my many subsequent readings of parts of the book I had always made a silent wish that I would get an opportunity to meet and learn the dhamma from you. And your last line, 'Be careful what you wish for; it might come true” - ominously rings true!.With much metta. Tara

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  4. That's a great report, Venerable! Ven. Nanadipa must be the most impressive western monk now. What were the Dhamma questions you were discussing with him? I've always wanted to learn a bit more about his approach. All I have ever seen of him in print where his very scholarly annotations to the Buddhist Monastic Code...

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  5. I remember about the kuti resided by the suicide monk mentioned in your book. I am very curious because I sympathise with euthanasia for medical reason. There should be a line where beyond it living becomes unbearable (like, being in constant pain every second, or having all senses disabled except for the mind), and I am tempted to think that seeking release is actually a metta to self. Of course that line is relative and subjective and that's where it's easy to slip. Anyway, I just read this thread about suicide by bhikkhus:

    Suicide by Ariyan Disciples from Ajahn Brahm's Notes on Vinaya:

    The offence of parajika is for killing another human being; the Samantapasadika
    categorically states that there is no parajika for the bhikkhu who kills himself or has
    some obliging fellow kill on request.

    28
    However, such an action, suicide, is an offence of dukkata according to the
    Vinitavatthu, but, according to the Samantapasadika, when done for the appropriate
    reasons suicide is no offence at all. The Samantapasadika gives two examples:

    • A bhikkhu is chronically sick with little sign of recovery and he wishes to
    end his own life so that he will no longer be a burden on the bhikkhus who
    are nursing him – in this case suicide is appropriate.

    • A bhikkhu who is enlightened already becomes gravely ill with a painful
    disease from which he suspects he will not recover. As the disease is
    burdensome to him and he has nothing further to do, he thinks to end his
    life – in this case also suicide is appropriate16.

    Source: http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/Books7/Ajahn_Brahmavamso_Vinaya_Notes.pdf

    Kevin

    The page is on http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=6397

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  6. Dear Bhante, I like to contact you regarding Ven. Nanadipa. Could you please email to me: pathpress-at-gmail.com. Thank you!

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  7. Dear Bhante, Some time back, you had a meditation programme at Pagoda Meditation Centre, Sri Lanka. Please let me know if you happen to conduct such programmes again in Sri Lanka. My email: nish.ndes616@gmail.com

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  8. A very inspiring story...thank you for posting this.

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  9. Interesting. I heard a slightly different account of the elephant incident in Sri Lanka several months after it happened, while Ven. Nanadipa was still recovering. The German Samanera Mahathera, Ven. Hidesi, told me that the elephant was an adolescent, and playfully reared up and then came down on Ven. Nanadipa's hip area. So in your account, it was intentional, in the older account I heard, it was accidental. I wonder which is more accurate.

    Kevin, Ven. Brahm was completely, one might say parajikally, wrong on this. In each instance of a monk killing himself in the Tipitika, it was only when the pain was interfering with his meditation that the monk killed himself. The Buddha also said that the villagers were wrong for providing the monk with a knife. In modern times, pain control is much more advanced, so there is also very little need for monks to kill themselves because pain was disturbing their meditation.

    To think that the Buddha's noble teachings are fully compatible with modern liberalism is a fatal mistake.

    The Venerable Mettavihari, Mahathera, a Danish monk living in Sri Lanka, says that Nanavira's suicide was very demeritorious. I had also heard that Nanavira's gastric ailment was due to repeated reinfection by worms. If this is true, he could have simply relocated to a country or a place where this was not a danger. There are many options he could have pursued without resorting to the extreme of ultimate self-mortification.

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    Replies
    1. Both incidents are accurate, my friend. I had the chanch to ask him personally about it. The first one was the one which resulted in his broken leg (a male adult elephant, during his way back from alms round) and the second one was a baby elephant that was kind of upset by being without his mother and just pressed his leg while he was having his meal many years after the first incident :-)

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  10. I was fortunate to meet Ven. Nanadipa in Thailand in 1978, a year I spent there as I contemplated becoming a monk. He was by far the most impressive western monk I encountered. In talking with him I felt I had to be on my best behavior; no small talk or idle curiousity. A very learned man and dedicated, solitary practitioner, I have often wondered what became of him. Sorry to hear about the elephant encounter. If you should meet him again, please express my gratitude for his tolerance and kindness in answering my foolish questions.
    Richard E.

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  11. This most venerable monk is in my village now. His health condition is very bad now. Bhanthe, many merits to you for keeping this note about him. I am the Secretary of the welfare society of the monastery that he is residing now. Two days ago he was sent to a private hospital for further treatments and tests. Other monks plan to take him to our monastery soon. I think I want to tell you more about him.

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  12. My e-mail address is nimeshtrilan@gmail.com

    Monastery - bhaddekaviharius@gmail.com

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  13. Bhante, Ven Nyanavimala has passed away on 11 September. We remember him with much appreciation. Blessings of the Noble Triple Gem.

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  14. Bhante, Ven Gnanadeepa has passed away.

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  15. Bhante, Ven Gnanadeepa has passed away.He has been one of the greatest forest monks in Sri Lanka.But he left the greatest example of being a real `Bikkhu' to the whole world. May he attain the Nirvana soon.

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  16. Venerable Bhanthe, thanks for shearing this great inspiring information about Venerable Gnanadeepa.🙏🙏🙏

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