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U Chandramani Foundation
7/7/2007
As a result of the activities started by Ashin Dhammaloka, five more young Nepalese arrived at Kushinagar and Saradawpharagree blessed them and ordained them as novices; their names were' Sakyananda, Subawga, Amittananda, Mahapannaka and Sulapannaka', respectively: Then more women came who were named `Dhammapali, Saghapali, Ratanapali, Dhammanandi, Silasari, Upekkha, Sanghamitta, Karuna, Mudita, Mahanandi, Parrami, Brahmanandi, Uttarar, Khaemarsari, Wiwaekasari, Darna, Sila, Wipathana, Marnawi, and they became nuns blessed by Saradawpharagree. In order to have more impact on and show the effectiveness of his work, Saradawgree organised an association called `Dhammawdayasaba Association'. As President, Saradawpharagree himself headed this association.
Nepalese Bhikkhus, nuns and laymen worked hard to develop and prosper Theravada Buddhism in their country under the umbrella of the Dhammawdayasaba Association. Many people were worried that their own traditional beliefs might disappear and were against establishing Theravada Buddhism in their country. They started to spread rumours that the Dhammawdayasaba organization was in fact an underground political association and it should not be allowed to exist in Nepal. They also wrote many letters to the Government about this matter.
One day all the Nepalese Buddhist Bhikkhus and Nuns were taken to court, and they were made to line up and a Judge asked them questions. They all replied that U Chandramani, the Head of the Kushinagar Temple, Kushinagar, UP, India was their religious leader and he was also the President of their Dhammawdayasaba Association.
The Judge ordered that no more than five of them might gather at any one time and they should not discuss Theravada Buddhism with anyone; they had to swear and sign those undertakings and were ordered to behave. They all refused to obey. They were told that if they did not sign they would have to revert to wearing ordinary clothing; to that, they also refused. The Judge ordered that they would all have to leave the country within three days if they did not obey the law.
That happened during the rain-retreat period. The Bhikkhus explained that their religion prohibited them from travelling during the Waso period and also the rain would make it very difficult to travel and they requested the Judge to allow them to travel after the rain-retreat. As the Nuns were women, the Judge allowed them to travel but not the Bhikkhu men. In spite of the rain-retreat period, the Bhikkhus had to leave the country immediately and they went to Kushinagar.
Saradawpharagree U Chandramani was very upset that the Government of Nepal had no consideration for Buddhist Bhikkhus and Nuns and had driven them out of their own country even during the period of the rain-retreat. Saradawpharagree informed the Government of India about this treatment, and also wrote to the Myanmar Government, which was then exiled temporarily in Simla City, India because of the Second World War, the Hindu Mahasaba Association and other similar organizations, as well as the national newspapers throughout India. The newspapers took up Saradawpharagree's story and vigorously protested to the Nepalese Government about their action.
Title: Buddhist Missionary Association
Author: U Chandramani Foundation
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Date: 7/7/2007
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