SRI LANKA, Day 4
The Dambulla Cave Temple in Sri Lanka was constructed during the reigns of kings from the 1st to the 8th century BCE. These vast caves became a place of practice for many monks and Arahants. The cave walls are adorned with paintings depicting the life of the Buddha, using natural pigments made from flowers, leaves, and tree bark.
From the foot of the mountain, as we ascended through the cave temples, the Dhammacetiya delegation had the opportunity to pay homage, make offerings, and visit the sacred site. Here, the Most Venerable Ratanaguṇa Bửu Đức, the Most Venerable Wimalakitti, and Venerable Paññākāra Tuệ Nhân respectfully expressed to the Saṅgha their request to receive the Buddha’s relics for the 2026 Vesak Celebration in Texas.

After hearing the request and learning about the Dhammacetiya Project, the resident Sangha expressed great joy and considered it an honor to be invited to take part in this noble mission of spreading the Dhamma through the construction of the Ancient Sacred Buddhist Scripture Stupas – Dhammacetiya.

The results will be announced later!

Part 2
In the afternoon, the delegation visited Mihintale, a sacred mountain where Venerable Mahinda first set foot after arriving from India. Located 12 kilometers east of the ruins of the great ancient city of Anuradhapura, Mihintale is regarded as the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
It was here that Venerable Mahinda delivered the Dhamma to King Devanampiya Tissa and his people. Before beginning the sermon, Venerable Mahinda recited the verse of invitation to the Deities (Sagge kāme…), inviting the celestial beings to descend and listen to the Dhamma. Since then, this has become the tradition of Therāvada Buddhism to recite this verse before chanting, preaching, or performing ceremonies.
The delegation made a shared vow to climb to the summit of Mihintale, inviting the deities to rejoice in the wholesome aspirations of building the Ancient Sacred Buddhist Scripture Stupas Dhammacetiya, as well as in the upcoming ceremonies of 2026.

After the chanting of the Invitation to Deities and the Metta Sutta, a sudden gust of wind swept through, bringing a refreshing coolness to the entire group, filling everyone with a profound and uplifting sense of joy.

Sādhu! Sādhu! Sādhu!

Part 3
That evening, the delegation arrived at the majestic Mirisawetiya Stupa in the city of Anuradhapura, considered the most sacred and serene stupa in Sri Lanka. During the day, devotees from all directions gather here to chant, pray, pay homage, and make offerings. However, from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., the gates are closed to the public — a sacred time reserved solely for the devas to pay homage and offer veneration to the Sacred Relics.

The delegation paid homage to the Most Venerable Abbot and respectfully explained the purpose of our visit. He expressed great joy at the noble aspiration to propagate the Dhamma and to establish such a profoundly meaningful Dhammacetiya complex. With a heart of great virtue and deep admiration, he offered a relic stupa — one that had been blessed by years of sutta recitation — to be enshrined in the Dhammacetiya project.
The Most Venerable advised: “Bring the Relic Stupa to the Great Stupa to make offerings, recite suttas, and practice meditation to receive the wondrous blessings of the Dhamma.” With the Relic Stupa in my hands, and joined by my teacher, the Saṅgha, and the lay devotees, we circumambulated the Great Stupa — chanting and meditating, our hearts overflowing with indescribable joy.

May the merit from this sacred mission be shared equally with all monks, nuns, and lay devotees everywhere. May you always dwell in peace under the radiant light of the Blessed One.

Namo Buddhāya!

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