Somasiri Alakolanga (Harispaththuwe Somananda Thera) explains why he became monk

Somasiri Alakolanga (Harispaththuwe Somananda Thera) explains why he became monk

The piece of news where well-known actor Somasiri Alakolanga entered into monkhood was an incident which happened to be a much talked about matter last week. News that he who entered into the clergy under the name Harispaththuwe Somananda Thera had turned back the media without divulging his personal matters also was

reported. However, on much compulsion Somananda Thera has come forward to talk about further information a few days ago.

"Actually after realising worldly spirituality I decided to enter priesthood. From a long time ago I was bent on spirituality ... was hoping to become a monk from a long time ago. Really it was not with the intention of participating in almsgiving etcetera. I shaved my head to meditate and to develop the mind. I didn't enter monkhood because it's difficult to live or for being depressed. I finished my responsibilities to everybody in the family and it was with their permission that I became a monk. I shaved my head not just to wait loke a monk ... to continue with meditation.

Even at the time I was engaged in acting I was involved in meditation activities. I realised that more than lay life it is easier to meditate in priestly life. I don't know whether there was a samsara calling to become a monk. At the beginning it was to a forest hermitage that I went for meditation. I know a certain monk living in America thirty years ago and it was he who directed me to this vihara. This is a very conducive location for meditation purposes ... a location with a good environment for meditation. So I became a monk here.

Other than members of my family, nobody else knew about i becoming a monk. From about 30 or 40 years I don't eat any meat and neither do I drink alcohol. I get up at 3 early morning. After that I engage in meditation. At 5.30 I engage in Buddha worship. With my knowledge I impart English knowledge to monks at the temple. I do an English class for children in the village, as a matter of service. In the evening I engage in Buddha worship. It's mostly sermons and meditation activities that I am involved in. What I have now achieved is a hope which was there for a long period of time. I have attended meditation classes. It was artistes such as Ediriweera Sarathchandra and Henry Jayasena who were my mentors when I was involved in the Arts. I got that fortunate opportunity from my youth. Actually I worked with distinguished people. I am not an artiste who hastened my journey in the Arts field as such. I engaged in acting in a way that it did not clash with my employment.

It was in the year 1965 that I stepped on to public stage-plays during Peradeniya University period. It was in the drama 'Elova gihin melova aawa' of Ediriweerea Sarathchandra that I acted in. From 65 onwards upto 2015 I have engaged myself in acting. Though I acted as a pastime ... I didn't  just act. It's an insult for this field".

Galle: Lalith Chaminda and S.K. Kaluaarachchi (Divaina)