About Pilisarana
Pilisarana is a Buddhist nuns monastery located at Kirindiwela in the Gampaha District of Sri Lanka, approximately 48 kms from Colombo. It provides accommodation for mehenin wahanses, anagarikas, and other female yogis who wish to practice meditation in a tranquil, rural atmosphere. Pilisarana is affiliated to Nissarana Vanaya, Meethirigala which is situated approximately 8 kms away.
Building Projects
The Pilisarana facilities are now becoming insufficient to meet the demand. Accordingly, a clay kuti is currently being constructed due to the escalating costs of cement-associated building works. We would like to construct more kutis when building costs have stabilised, as well as a lotus pond surrounded by trees to provide coolness and shade, and more sakman maluwas. We appreciate your generous contribution towards such projects. The Trustees will be able to advise you of the details of proposed projects.
Meditate
Anagarikas (female renunciants following 8 precepts leading a homeless life), and lay yogis wishing to become anagarikas, are welcome to stay and meditate at Pilisarana and must make an application to Pilisarana. A decision regarding each application will be made in consultation with Nissarana Vanaya. Approval will usually be on a temporary basis and further decisions on continuity at Pilisarana or other affiliated location will be made on each anagarika’s progress and wishes.
Lay female practitioners who wish to practice meditation are also welcome at Pilisarana. They too must request for permission to stay indicating the dates and times required. Whilst accommodation cannot be guaranteed due to lack of sufficient facilities, every effort will be made to accommodate. In the absence of experienced mehenin wahanses to provide kamatahan, guidance can be sought from Nissarana Vanaya, including through the regular zoom meetings .
Meditators at Pilisarana can benefit from its peaceful atmosphere. Meditation can be conducted in a variety of spots such as in the Meditation Hall, Bana Salawa, Uda Maluwa, under trees, in the sakman maluwas as well as in the kutis. One of the kutis has an enclosed sakman maluwa which can be safely used at night and in rainy weather.
Directions
The Pilisarana address is as follows:
Pilisarana Bhikkuni Aramaya, Pingamuwa, Kirindiwela.
The easiest way to find directions is to use google maps and entering Pilisarana Bhikkuni Aramaya. Gampaha as destinatination. ( or use 3556+W7Q, Gampaha)
The best approach to the Aramaya is from Naduwatte Road as the other approach road is not motorable at present.
Dana
Morning and afternoon dana is usually provided at Pilisarana by a group of regular devotees. If they are unable to provide dana on the relevant date, they will contact Pilisarana and inform them of their inability. In such an event, dana will be sought from other devotees. If funds have been provided, dana will be cooked at Pilisarana.
If other devotees wish to provide a dana to Pilisarana on a day that a regular dana is being provided, they will need to make a request to the regular provider through Pilisarana. Alternatively, they may make a request to share the dana.
If there are large numbers of inmates staying at Pilisarana, the regular providers will be contacted to find out if they are able to accommodate the additional number, or share with others.
If you wish to donate pirikara items, please contact us in advance and we can let you know what items are needed.
Shramadana
The Pilisarana precinct covers approximately 4 acres and a substantial effort is needed to keep the land free from overgrowth, repair roads, sweeping and weed control in the Uda Maluwa, internal pathways, sakman maluwas etc. Garbage disposal and re-cycling including plastic bags, glass and plastic bottles brought by devotees is also an issue requiring your help. Please assist us by keeping Pilisarana environmentally sustainable.
We greatly appreciate any voluntary labour that you can provide for such activities. The Head Mehenin Wahanse will liaise with lay devotees on what activities can be handled by way of shramadana.