Kanduboda Siyane International Insight Meditation Center

The Siyane Vipassana Meditation Centre at Kanduboda came into being in 1956, as the Buddhist world marked 2,500 years since the Buddha. A Sri Lankan lay society, with help from the government, asked the Thathana Yeiktha centre in Burma (Myanmar) to send teachers, and Mahasi Sayadaw agreed. A delegation of four Burmese monks arrived on 28 July 1955, and under their guidance the centre was built in about six months. It opened on 8 January 1956, with Ven. Kahatapitiye Sumathipala as chief instructor. The centre teaches insight meditation in the style of Mahasi Sayadaw and can take up to 70 meditators at a time. Its programmes are designed for stays of a number of weeks or months. Teaching, accommodation, meals and services are free of charge, and the centre is funded by donations. Kanduboda is about 25 km (16 miles) from Colombo, near Delgoda. Bus 224 (Colombo to Pugoda) from Colombo's central bus stand takes one to one and a half hours. There is no direct bus from Katunayake airport; a taxi takes about an hour from the airport or half an hour from Colombo. The centre's photo gallery shows its shrine room, sīmā hall, dāna hall, meditation huts (kuṭis) and footpaths.

How to apply

Apply to each centre directly. Panditarama Lumbini asks you to read its guidelines and then contact it to agree your dates; IBMC Kathmandu wants a signed form at least a week ahead.

What is taught here

Mahasi Sayadaw's method of noting the rise and fall of the abdomen and whatever else arises, practised in silent retreats in Myanmar, Nepal and beyond. Read about Mahasi noting.