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Late
Venerable M M Mahaweera Maha Nayaka Thero started the Sunday
Dhamma classes for the propagation of the Buddha's
teachings. He adopted the syllabi set by the Young Men's
Buddhist Association of Sri Lanka.
The
response was encouraging. People of all ages from teenagers
to retirees came to register for the Dhamma classes. The
students took up the challenge of taking the YMBA
Examination. There were candidates for the Preliminary,
Junior and Senior Examinations. They did very well and won
the Saduwardane Challenge Shield*.
Subsequently, 3 students sat for the Higher Stage
Certificate Examination and all of them passed well to form
the nucleus of qualified teachers. Over the years, the
dedication and efforts of the Dhamma teachers were reflected
in the good results of the examination. In fact, the whole
Dhamma education programme at Mangala Vihara Buddhist Temple
was well-maintained under the guidance of the late Venerable
M M Mahaweera Maha Nayaka Thero and are greatly supported by
temple members and devotees who generously donated their
time and services to keep the classes going. It is through
their generous support that these Dhamma classes continue to
be provided at no charge to the students up to today.
In 1980 two
students sat for the Diploma in Dhamma Examination and
passed. Since then, none of the candidates have failed.
To run the
Dhamma classes smoothly and effciently, a simple system was
instituted whereby a Dhamma Supervisor is appointed by the
Management Committee to coordinate the activities of the
Dhamma classes. Qualified Dhamma teachers are invited to
conduct the classes for all levels - Kindergarten,
Preliminary, Junior, Senior and Higher Certificate and
Diploma. A monthly teachers' meeting is held to discuss
routine problems and to look into suggestions for the
welfare and betterment of the Dhamma students.
Presently,
there are about two hundred qualified Dhamma teachers of
Mangala Vihara Sunday Dhamma Class. With the blessings of
our late founder, some teachers have also been appointed to
conduct Dhamma Classes at other Buddhist temples.
*Saduwardane
Challenge Shield - Given to schools in recognition of the
highest percentage of passes throughout the world |
