The temple as a working community
Sri Lanka’s famous ruins can give the impression that Buddhism is mainly a matter of the past. In most villages and towns, however, the local temple, usually called a vihara or pansala, is a working community. It houses monks, perhaps novices, and often serves as a place for teaching, ceremonies and gatherings. This article describes typical patterns in the Theravada tradition on the island. Routines differ between monasteries, orders and regions, so treat the following as a general picture.
Who lives in a temple
A village temple may be home to only a few monks, sometimes just one with a young novice. Larger monasteries and city temples can have many more. Sri Lankan monks belong to ordination lineages, often called nikayas, which have their own histories and administrative traditions. Monks follow the Vinaya, the monastic code preserved in the Pali scriptures, which governs matters such as possessions, meals and conduct. For the wider ideas behind this, see the articles on the monastic community and on monastic education.
Some monks live in towns and engage heavily with the community; others prefer quieter, more remote settings, including forest hermitages. Different monks give different emphasis to study, meditation or ritual services, and no one pattern is the right one.
A typical day
Routines vary, but a day in a Theravada monastery often looks something like this.
- Early rising, followed by chanting and meditation, sometimes before dawn.
- Sweeping the grounds and other chores, often shared with novices.
- A morning meal, which in the Vinaya tradition is taken before noon. Food is often provided by lay donors.
- Study of Pali texts, teaching novices, or counselling visitors in the late morning and afternoon.
- Evening chanting and meditation, with some monasteries holding a short communal session.
Monks traditionally do not eat after midday, though they may have permitted drinks. The details depend on the monastery and the individual monk’s health and responsibilities. More detail about the general shape of monastery daily life can be found elsewhere on this site.
How laypeople relate to the temple
The relationship is one of mutual support. Laypeople provide food, robes, medicine and repairs. In return monks offer teaching, blessings and ritual services, and serve as guides for community values. This exchange is often described in terms of merit, the idea that generous and virtuous acts bring good results. Understanding merit helps to explain much of what a visitor sees, from offerings of flowers to the donation of a meal.
Common lay activities include:
- Bringing flowers, incense or oil lamps to the shrine room and the Bodhi tree.
- Offering a meal (dana) to the monks, either at the temple or at home.
- Attending sermons, known as bana, which may be chanted or explained in Sinhala.
- Observing the five precepts, and on special days the eight precepts.
- Taking part in ceremonies for the dead, house blessings and similar occasions.
Poya days and the calendar
The monthly Poya full moon days are the main rhythm of lay devotion. Many people visit the temple, dress in white, and keep additional precepts for the day. Some stay overnight. The Poya full moon days also have particular names and associations, and some are linked to events in the Buddha’s life or to the history of Buddhism on the island. The Vesak festival is the best known, with lanterns and decorations across the country. Dates follow the lunar calendar and are published each year, so check an up-to-date calendar rather than relying on general rules.
Beyond the Theravada core
Many Sri Lankan temples include a separate shrine room, called a devale, for deities such as Vishnu, Kataragama or Natha, which devotees approach for worldly help. Monks do not typically lead devale rites, which are handled by a lay officiant known as a kapurala. The coexistence reflects the island’s long religious history and is not regarded as contradictory by most worshippers.
Visiting a working temple
Because it is a place of living practice, a few cautions apply. Dress modestly, remove shoes, speak quietly and keep your back to no image. Women should not touch monks or hand things directly to them. If you wish to give something, ask the temple how, and consider the approach described in the notes on giving alms respectfully. Do not enter private monastic quarters without invitation, and ask before photographing monks or ceremonies. Customs vary, and local guidance comes first.
Temple routines, including meal times and visitor access, can change, so there are no fixed rules a traveller can rely on. Ask politely, and accept a refusal graciously.