Come to our programs when you visit Sri Lanka

English Meditation program in Colombo

Even if you are just visiting Sri Lanka for a short time, we would love to have you learn about Buddhism and meditation with us. Our activities are a great way for you to meet and learn from people who have been practicing the Buddha’s teachings in a Buddhist culture. Find out what to expect when you come to our activities.

You don’t need to worry about accidentally offending anyone. Colombo is a growing international city and folks here are accustomed to visitors from other cultures. The fact that you have an interest in Buddhism and meditation is so wonderful, we are happy to be patient and helpful.

There is no need to wear special clothes to our events, although it would be great if you could keep shoulders and knees covered. This is not a hard and fast rule, but it will help you blend in to the culture. Traditionally people often wear white clothes to Buddhist activities, but again it is optional.

You should always feel free to ask questions about anything that doesn’t make sense, either in the teachings or just the customs and traditions you observe.

Colombo Dhamma Friends is part of the Mahamevnawa (maha MAY oo NAA wa) network of monasteries. Our organization has over 60 branches in Sri Lanka and over 25 around the world. Some of our branches in Sri Lanka are especially well suited to visitors. Many are located close to popular tourist and religious sites. You can learn more about them on the monastery visit page of our main website. Many of the monks who teach at our English activities have lived abroad so you can feel free to ask them about our monasteries in your home country.

Practical Considerations

  • You are welcome to bring your luggage with you. We believe that your belongings should be safe at the back of the meeting hall, but as always you should keep passport and valuables with you at all times.
  • If you have a Sri Lankan sim card, you can drop the +94 to dial. Feel free to text or call. This may get you a quicker response.
  • Although we do let people register for events, registration is not required. Just show up at a scheduled event and people will be happy to see you.
  • Food at our activities is prepared by volunteers and may contain animal products. Feel free to ask about ingredients, but if you have strict health/diet requirements it may be best to bring your own food.
  • If you like to stay at our monasteries while you are in Sri Lanka, please go to our organization’s website and apply.
  • If you would like to make a day-visit to one of our monasteries, there is a list of monasteries that are especially suitable with visitor information. The closest monasteries to Colombo, where our events are held, are Kaduwela and Malambe. They have a good selection of our English Buddhist books.

Index

9 Buddha Qualities, abandon suffering, aggregates~khanda, alcohol, anger, animal world, anuttaropurisadammasarati quality, araham quality, Aṅgulimāla Arahant, bad association, bhagava quality, buddhanussati meditation, Buddhism, Buddhist, Buddhist etiquette, chanting, Chattamanavaka Gatha, compassion, confidence~saddhā, courage, craving, Culla Kammavibhanga Sutta, death, Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, dharma classes near me, Enlightenment, evil deeds, first noble truth, Four Noble Truths, friendship, ghost world, giving~dāna, good actions, gratitude, greed, guided meditation, heaven, ignorance, impermanence~anicca, jataka, jealousy, karma, Katina, Katina Clothing, kids dhamma school, killing, life of Buddha, Life of Buddha with English Subtitles, Load Buddha, lokavidu quality, losing loved ones, loving-kindness~mettā, lying, Maha Satipatthana Sutta, Mangala Sutta, marks of a great man, meditation, merit~puññā, Mihintale, mindfulness~sati, Mora Paritta, Mundane Right View, nibbāna, Noble Eightfold Path, noble truth of suffering, non-attachment, Offering Katina Robes, online dhamma school, ordination, origin of suffering, parents, paritta, patience, pilgrimage, practice, precepts, psychic powers, pujas, Pāli, rains retreat, Rainy season, rare human birth, Ratana Sutta, respect, right speech, right view, sacred places, Sakka God, sammasambuddho quality, samsara, Sangha, Second Noble Truth, sexual misconduct, similes, Sri Lanka, Story of Buddha, stress, Suprime Buddha, Sāriputta Arahant, Taking advice, Third Noble Truth, Triple Gems, uposatha, Vas Season, Venerable Maha Moggalana, Vesak, vijjacaranasampanno quality, virtue~sīla, wisdom, Work, worldly conditions, wrong view