Sri Lankan Buddhist community dedicates temple, meditation center in Akron

Alan Ashworth, Akron Beacon Journal
·3 min read
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Dancers in traditional costumes lead the Procession of Maha Sangha to the dedication ceremony for the Cleveland Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Akron on Saturday.
Dancers in traditional costumes lead the Procession of Maha Sangha to the dedication ceremony for the Cleveland Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Akron on Saturday.

The Akron area’s Sri Lankan community on Saturday dedicated its first Buddhist temple in Northeast Ohio, marking the event with a parade, speeches by the Sri Lankan ambassador to the U.S. and Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, and traditional rituals offering the temple to monks clothed in monastic robes.

Nilantha Samarasekera, president of the board of the Cleveland Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center, said the Vernon Odom Boulevard property will serve as a center for Sri Lankan and local Buddhists to practice the teachings of Theravada Buddhism.

Samarasekera said the Sri Lankan community in Northeast Ohio is relatively small compared to those in Chicago and New York, estimating about 150-200 people live in the area. The temple, he said, will be open to anyone interested in practicing or learning about the principles of Buddhism, but is especially significant to his community.

“We never had a temple,” he said. “We would do programs out of our houses.”

Water is poured over the hands of the monks during the water ritual at the Cleveland Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Akron.
Water is poured over the hands of the monks during the water ritual at the Cleveland Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Akron.

Akron site 'lends itself to a meditative environment'

Saturday’s dedication was a colorful mix of ritual and celebration, with a parade led by dancers in traditional Sri Lankan attire. The island nation, formerly known as Ceylon, is located off the southern coast of India and is home to about 22 million citizens.

Gamini Samaranayake, secretary of the Cleveland Buddhist Vihara, said the organization searched for a Northeast Ohio location with adequate land to allow for growth.

Children prepare to march with their Buddhist flags before the dedication ceremony in Akron.
Children prepare to march with their Buddhist flags before the dedication ceremony in Akron.

“It is a central location for many states and communities in Northeast Ohio,” Samaranayake said. “We wanted to have a secluded property.”

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The 2-acre site on Vernon Odom Boulevard, located next to Primo’s Deli, came with an existing home, which will house resident monk Bhante Buddhadattha, and a substantial wooded area. There, Samaranayake said, his organization hopes to add kutis, or small huts, for monks or practitioners to meditate. The property will become a center, he said, to practice mindfulness and mediation.

Those in attendance touch the ceremonial cloth before it is presented to the monks Saturday.
Those in attendance touch the ceremonial cloth before it is presented to the monks Saturday.

The airiness and space of the site offer a setting consistent with practicing Buddhist beliefs and teachings, he said.

“It lends itself to a meditative environment,” he said. “… nine-tenths of the property is a wooded area.”

Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the U.S. attends Akron ceremony

As testament to the significance of the event, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the U.S., Mahinda Samarasinghe, attended, offering remarks on the importance of the dedication.

Mahinda Samarasinghe, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the U.S., prays during the ceremony.
Mahinda Samarasinghe, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the U.S., prays during the ceremony.

“When I talk about America, I like to talk about the tolerance you have shown,” the ambassador told a crowd of more than 100.

He congratulated the local Sri Lankan community on the opening of the center and its dedication to Sri Lankan culture.

“They live here, but they have not forgotten their heritage,” he said.

Samarasinghe also complimented Akron for its reputation for welcoming immigrants to the city.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to the U.S. Mahinda Samarasinghe presents the Buddhist monks with a ceremonial cloth.
Sri Lankan Ambassador to the U.S. Mahinda Samarasinghe presents the Buddhist monks with a ceremonial cloth.

“You have a great friend in the mayor,” he said. “I can only wish you the very best.”

In his remarks, Horrigan said the temple was a welcome addition to the city.

“I’m glad — in fact, I’m very glad — you chose Akron for the location,” he said.

Bob Mileti, owner of Primo’s Deli, was included among the list of dignitaries for the dedication, and said the organization and monks have been ideal neighbors.

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, left, and Sri Lanka's ambassador to the U.S., Mahinda Samarasinghe, join the Procession of Maha Sangha leading to the dedication ceremony for the new Akron center.
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, left, and Sri Lanka's ambassador to the U.S., Mahinda Samarasinghe, join the Procession of Maha Sangha leading to the dedication ceremony for the new Akron center.

“They are nice, very laid-back and mellow and kind,” he said. “They are great people.”

Samarasekera said the organization purchased the property last year and made renovations.

“It was run down,” he said. “We fixed it up ourselves.”

Twelve monks from area temples, including the Pittsburgh Buddhist Center, attended Saturday’s ceremony.

Bhante Kamalasiri, from left, Bhante Sankichcha, Bhante Pemaratana, the head monk of the Cleveland Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center, and Bhante Shantha stand in the meditation room of the center in Akron.
Bhante Kamalasiri, from left, Bhante Sankichcha, Bhante Pemaratana, the head monk of the Cleveland Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center, and Bhante Shantha stand in the meditation room of the center in Akron.

“The monks, they are very educated,” Samarasekera said. “The head monk has a Ph.D.”

The temple offers programs every Saturday and is open to all, he said.

For more information, go to clevelandbuddhistvihara.org/.

Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Northeast Ohio Sri Lankan Buddhist community dedicates temple in Akron