Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery – Ella
Description
More than thirty Theravada Buddhist monks find peace and quiet at the Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, tucked away near the charming town of Ella. The monastery, perched on a mountain, welcomes committed practitioners and those who are merely spiritually curious to climb its slopes in search of a unique combination of spiritual enlightenment and natural beauty.
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Visitors to the monastery can engage in a wide range of engaging activities, all aimed at deepening their personal meditation practices and understanding of Buddhism. The monastery encourages communication between visitors and monks, offering a unique chance to talk about the Buddha's teachings with people who have vowed to live according to his path. Personal training is offered to those interested in meditation, providing customised direction to improve one's practice.
During the nightly chanting session at 6:00 p.m., visitors can join the monks in their spiritual recitations and experience the profound sense of calm and community that comes from collective devotion. This is one of the highlights of the monastery's daily schedule. In addition, the monastery is building a historic stupa, allowing visitors to see the construction of an important holy structure.
Visitors are also encouraged to engage in the monastery's daily activities by performing acts of kindness, such as bringing dinner to the monks at 10:45 a.m. or putting flowers on the altars. Through these deeds, people can practice the Buddhist virtue of giving and offering the monastery material support. Getting a blessing thread from the monks is a significant way for visitors to remember their stay, ideal for those who want to carry a bit of the monastery's spiritual energy with them.
The monks' dinner offerings and nightly chanting are scheduled within specified hours, and the monastery is open every day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Guests should arrive equipped with necessities like sustenance, hydration, a sun umbrella, and easily detachable footwear. It is possible to exhibit devotion spontaneously by purchasing offerings of flowers and oil for the shrines from neighbouring stalls.
There are several ways to get to the monastery from important locations, such as the Elle rail station and the Bandarawela bus station. The trip itself provides an opportunity to interact with the locals, who are usually happy to help travellers to Mahamevnawa.
