About This E-Book

The Sacred Dhamma (or The Sacred Teaching)

The Sacred Dhamma (also translated as The Sacred Teaching) is a collection of teachings and an autobiography of the Most Venerable Na Uyana Ariyadhamma Mahāthera, one of the most renowned contemporary Theravāda Buddhist monks from
Sri Lanka.

The Most Venerable Na Uyana Ariyadhamma Mahāthera was a highly respected meditation master of the modern era and was regarded as a living encyclopaedia of the Buddha’s teachings. He served for many years as the spiritual advisor of
Na Uyana Aranya, a renowned forest monastery in Sri Lanka.

📇 A Brief Biography of the Most Venerable Mahāthera

• Date of Birth and Passing Away: 24 April 1939 – 6 September 2016
• Place of Birth: Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka
• Spiritual Position: A principal spiritual leader of the Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha, a forest monastic order in Sri Lanka renowned for its strict observance of the Vinaya discipline.

• Remarkable Spiritual Experiences:

  According to the Most Venerable Mahāthera’s own account in The Sacred Dhamma, he had a recollection during childhood of a previous existence, in which he had descended from a celestial realm (such as the Brahma or heavenly realms)
  and entered the human world with the sole purpose of renouncing worldly life and undertaking the path of monastic practice. He also stated that he foresaw that after his passing away, he would be reborn in the celestial realms.

  His teacher highly praised him, describing him as:

  “A living encyclopaedia of the Dhamma. We brought him down from the Brahma realm.”

📑 Core Teachings and Characteristics of His Practice

The life of the Most Venerable Na Uyana Ariyadhamma Mahāthera was a profound example of the harmony between strict moral discipline (Sīla) and meditation practice (Bhāvanā). His teachings and practice can be summarised through the following aspects:

Strict Observance of Vinaya Discipline

The Most Venerable Mahāthera was deeply learned in the Pāli Tipiṭaka and upheld the Vinaya with exceptional dedication. He was respected as a guardian of the Buddha’s teachings and was regarded as a model of monastic discipline within contemporary Theravāda Buddhism.

Loving-Kindness and Forbearance

In his autobiography, the Most Venerable Mahāthera shared that throughout his life he had never committed an action requiring confession, never blamed others, and constantly maintained a mind established in profound loving-kindness (Mettā). In his interactions with others, he continuously cultivated patience and forbearance.

Reviving the Meetirigala Monastery

In 2011, despite his advanced age, the Most Venerable Mahāthera moved to
Meetirigala Dharmayatanaya, a historic meditation centre, where he devoted himself wholeheartedly to reviving it as a centre of Buddhist study and rigorous meditation practice.

Spreading Meditation Practice

The Most Venerable Mahāthera guided countless disciples from Sri Lanka and abroad in the practice of Samatha and Vipassanā meditation. He frequently travelled to countries such as Taiwan and Malaysia to teach the Dhamma.

His teachings often guided practitioners to overcome conceit and develop insight
through contemplations such as reflections on the five daily recollections and on the
thirty-two parts of the body, leading towards the realisation of Nibbāna.

The life of the Most Venerable Na Uyana Ariyadhamma Mahāthera is not only a living example of the modern forest tradition of Buddhist practice, but also an invaluable guide for those seeking to understand the Buddha’s authentic teachings and walk the path towards liberation.