On Uyana Aranya

A complex of ancient cave dwellings with inscriptions on Brahmi , as well as the ruins of a small stupa were found in Na Uyan, and date back to the 3rd century BC. A new stupa of the monastery was built on the site of this complex. One scripture says that King Uttia donated his walking grove to the Sangha here . Based on the fact that Uttia was the successor to King Devanampy Tiss, during the reign of which Buddhism fell on Sri Lanka, the ancient monastery of Na Uyana was most likely one of the first in the country to be created outside Anuradhapura County.

The ancient monastery was reopened by St. Vigoda Bodhirakhita Thera in 1954. Sayado U Nandavamsa and Sayado U Yavana, the oldest Burmese disciples of Mahashi Sayado , visited the monastery in 1956. ^[one]

Rev. Angulgamuwe Aryananda Tera moved to Na Uyana in 1997 with a group of monks, starting the revival of the monastery, which made it the largest monastery in Yogasrama Samatha. The monastery is also one of the main international monasteries in Sri Lanka, with about 25 foreign monks. Rev. Nauyan Ariyadhamma Mahathara, the spiritual director of Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samatha, also lives in Na Uyan.

Uyana has 4 main sections: Pansyagama (or Kurunegala), 'Mountain', Matale and Aandagala, each about 30 minutes walk from each other. Pansyagama is an ancient monastery in the Iron Forest, and contains a hall for Uposatha , a hall for meditation, a refectory, a library and office space in addition to about 80 kuti (monastic houses). 'Mountain' is a newly developed site on the main hill of the monastery, which has about 80 kuti and has a main hall for meditation. In this area, the forest is being restored. The Matale section, which has about 20 kuti and a small meditation hall, is located among green hills with less forest cover. Aandagala is a remote, densely wooded area in the monastery, which is not intended for direct contact with other residents of the monastery, in which the most severe ascetic practices live. There are 4 dugouts in this area, and the inhabitants should go for alms to nearby villages. Meals are provided separately for the first three sections, although some monks themselves prefer to go for alms.

Na Uyana is one of the two main meditation monasteries of Yogasram Samath, along with Nissaran Vanai. The main method of meditation here is the Pa-auk of Sayado and Vipassana , and the senior teacher of meditation is Rev. Aryananda Thera. Previously, one could interview here from the Rev. Aryadhamma Mahathara before he passed away. Practitioners can join a group of monks meditating in the two main meditation halls, or practice independently in their own personal kuti.

Rev. Pa Auk Tavya Sayado held a long-term personal retreat in Na Uyang in 2007, remaining in seclusion and pausing his study schedule for the whole year. ^[2]

Arriving on the Kurunegala - Dambulla road, get off at Melsiripura, there take the bus to Pansiyagama, from which you can walk to the monastery for half an hour. The instructor in meditation is dost. Ariyananda Thera, who speaks good English and is well versed in the techniques of Samatha Pa-auk Sayado and Vipassana.

• Nauyane Ariyadhamma Mahathera
• Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha
• Nissarana vanaya

• Nyanatusita, Bhikkhu, Buddhist Forest Monasteries and Meditation Centers in Sri Lanka , Buddhist Publication Society , < http://www.bps.lk/library-search-select.php?id=mi008 >  
• Ranatunga, DC . Serenity amidst a canopy of green , Sunday Times (May 22, 2005). Date of appeal October 15, 2010.
• Buddhist Meditation Centers for Tourists , Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority , < http://www.sltda.gov.lk/node/321 > . Retrieved October 12, 2010.  

• [1] On Uyana Aranya Official Website
• [2] Pa-Auk Forest Monastery - International Contact