Praveen, who abandoned his robotic engineering profession and entered monastic life at the forest monastery.

In a modern competitive society chasing after material comforts, endless desires, and the highest educational qualifications, news was heard from the Bandarawela area about a remarkable young man who abandoned all of it to seek eternal peace. Having obtained the highest degrees from several local and foreign universities in the world's latest science and technology, as well as robotic engineering, he realized that all worldly pleasures are an empty illusion and embraced the Buddhist robe, bringing tears to everyone's eyes.

The young man who thus bid farewell to lay life and entered monastic life was 29-year-old Kuruwita Arachchilage Praveen Nisal Senaratne, a resident of Pelawatta, Battaramulla.

This noble ordination ceremony was held in a very simple manner on the last Binara Full Moon Poya Day at Rathmal Kanda Aranya Senasanaya, a serene forest monastery located in Kithalella, Bandarawela. It was conducted under the tutelage of the Chief Incumbent of that monastery, Kamatahan Acharya Venerable Madawala Upali Thero. Praveen's mother and other family relatives, as well as a large number of local residents, gathered to witness this meritorious event, which was fully organized by the temple's Dayaka Sabha (patrons' association). It was a poignant moment that moved everyone's hearts that his father, an engineer by profession, did not attend the event, stating that his heart was not strong enough to witness with his own eyes the emotional sight of his beloved son, whom he loved dearly, entering the monastic order.

The educational background of this young man, Praveen Nisal Senaratne, is exceptionally distinguished, almost unattainable for an ordinary person. He received his primary education from a leading school in this country and subsequently completed his higher education in several foreign countries. Having abandoned lay life and entered the monastic order under the noble monastic name Narada of Battaramulla, he expressed his thoughts on his past and lay life as follows.

"I studied at Royal College, Colombo. For further education, I went to Vietnam and obtained a Science and Technology degree from HANO University. After that, I went to Australia to pursue my Master's and studied to become a Robotic Engineer (MSc in Cyber Security) at the University of South Australia. During this time, I associated with many friends and had a lot of fun. But realizing that all these things are impermanent, and that this journey has no end, I entered monastic life to seek eternal peace," said Kuruwita Arachchilage Praveen Nisal Senaratne, who was ordained as Narada of Battaramulla.

In the final moments of his lay life, this handsome 29-year-old, dressed in white long trousers and a vest, knelt before his beloved mother and sought her permission, a sight that moved the entire Dhamma hall. That emotional moment brought tears to the eyes of the family relatives present, as well as the male and female devotees observing precepts. However, that courageous mother, who bore everything with equanimity, caressed her son's head with a smiling face and blessed him for his monastic life.

Subsequently, the Chief Incumbent of Rathmal Kanda Aranya Senasanaya, Venerable Madawala Upali Thero, commenced the ordination rituals by chanting Seth Pirith and Gathas. After cutting a lock of Praveen's beautiful hair, who loudly recited the Gathas spoken by Upali Thero, marking the beginning of the monastic customs, he was led to a special chamber, had his head shaved, was adorned with the saffron robe, and then brought back to the Dhamma hall. This was as Venerable Narada Thero of Battaramulla. Afterwards, Madawala Upali Thero addressed the assembled crowd with the following remarks.

"This young man came to me and expressed his desire to ordain. It's not possible to ordain just by coming and going. I told him, 'Let's consider ordination after you stay here, meditate, and obtain your parents' consent.' Accordingly, he meditated for about 2 months. I observed characteristics in him such as seeking and studying profound Dhamma. For a long time, educated and intelligent foreigners have been coming to this forest monastery to ordain. Among them are doctors, engineers, professors, and wealthy young men and women from various countries who have become disillusioned with life despite having excessive comforts. But among these ordination ceremonies, this one is special," His Reverence said.

Venerable Narada Thero of Battaramulla, who had just entered monastic life, described his journey and experiences as follows.

"I had a desire to ordain since childhood, but I never got the opportunity. After passing my engineering exams, I went to Australia for my Master's degree at my parents' request. My sister lives in Adelaide, and even while doing my Master's there, my heart was set on becoming a monk. While I was there, I came to Sri Lanka. First, I went to a meditation center in Arankale. After meditating there for a few days, I learned about Upali Thero. When I found out that our Thero had studied in the science stream, worked as a lecturer at the University of Peradeniya, resigned from that position to ordain, and is a monk who engages in meditation, environmental studies, technology, and various research to create innovations, I resolved that one day I must ordain under Upali Thero, my guru. Accordingly, I came to Rathmal Kanda Aranya Senasanaya," His Reverence said.

Mrs. Ashoka Egodawatta, a resident of Pelawatta, Battaramulla, and the mother of Venerable Narada Thero, commented on her beloved son's noble decision as follows.

"Today is a very happy day for me. My son had the inclination to become a monk since he was 4 years old. When he said he wanted to ordain even while doing his A/Ls, my husband didn't agree. He didn't come to this meritorious event, saying it's difficult and sad to witness these scenes. He can't bear emotional things. My husband is an engineer. I am a retired director from the Department of Census and Statistics. My daughter, Nisansala, is a CYBERSECURITY CONSULTANT in Australia. My husband had a great hope of making our son the world's best engineer, but I feel that my son has chosen the right path," Mrs. Ashoka said emotionally.

As that courageous mother offered the Atapirikara (eight requisites of a monk) and worshipped her beloved son's feet, bringing tears to everyone's eyes, the entire Dhamma hall was filled with the resounding "Sadhu" (well done) chants of the assembled crowd. The noble journey that Venerable Narada Thero began as a son of the Buddha, abandoning all worldly comforts in the modern world, succeeded in generating a profound sense of Dhamma-emotion in everyone's hearts.