Bomaluwa Hela Gama

Hela Village Around the Bodhi-tree

Hela is the science of living in unison with the cycles of Nature.

The development of Bomaluwa Hela Gama is the long lasting solution for healing the Siri Sambodhiya which is in the heart of the village. In addition, the development of Bomaluwa Gama will serve to heal the surrounding area, the Earth, wildlife, and biodiversity around the Siri Sambodhiya. This initiative is supported by our efforts to reestablish the natural environment in this area using the Hela science and Hela lifestyle that existed 3800 years ago during the time that Gotama Buddha walked on these exact lands. We want to build a Hela village by the support, donations, and ideas of the Hela people for the benefit of the Hela people and our future Hela generations/children. We aim to show that this lifestyle is practical and fulfilling as it creates a community of people whose minds are free and peaceful. In addition, this village will help to establish peoples’ freedom from monetary dependence as it fosters one’s self-sufficiency within a sustainable society. A similar concept exists in a village called Aureville, India that was developed in 1970, however Bomaluwa Gama is different in that our main focus is to help people attain Nibbana (complete mental happiness). To fulfill this vision, Buddha Dhamma is the core foundation of Bomaluwa Gama and we will ensure that the necessary conditions are provided to produce a society that upholds the necessary conditions for right livelihood to help one progress on the path to attain Arahathhood.

The Hela lifestyle and the Hela view of life is created with a deep study and understanding of the rhythm of Nature and Nature’s theories. It is a lifestyle that creates balance between humans and Nature as it is created on the basis of Nature’s Laws. In this kind of society, one only uses the minimum quantity of natural resources necessary to meet one’s basic needs in order to reduce the impact on Nature, maintain harmony among living creatures, and ensure we respect the right for all sentient beings to live. This lifestyle helps people develop the quality of deep respect for plant life which we depend on for our sustenance and for the animals who are part of the ecosystem.

In our past Hela lifestyle, the King and the people all worked together diligently to produce all their necessary needs (not wants) without importing products. Any needs they could not produce on their own were traded with adjacent villages. All people and all villages therefore were self-sufficient. This independent lifestyle started to fade starting in the 1500s under various foreign influences. Consequently, more and more people wanted to gather resources without working diligently, money was created and regarded as valuable, and the middleman sales people emerged; this all lended to the rise in people’s selfish qualities and people searching for external material happiness. The Hela lifestyle is different as it is a system that helps people seek mental happiness, which is the main expectation of Hela people. Within a Hela lifestyle, Hela people were not focused on earning money, but rather their efforts were to do their duties and complete their moral commitments such as caring for parents, children, and respecting nature, etc. They knew these key steps were important to aid their progress on the path to Nibbana. By completing one’s duties, one is paying off Sansaric depths, and collecting merits. In this way, selfish intentions to conquer and collect resources for one’s liking are eliminated, as these would create barriers to happiness and result in negative karmic consequences. Here there is no need for conventional laws, as people are guided with their awareness of the Universe’s/Nature’s Laws. Even monks, medical practitioners, teachers, and other service suppliers did not work for money, but only for acquiring merits to help them on their path to Nibbana. Consequently, people are not valued by money related titles, as no one feels one is greater or better than another; there is no competition and no boss vs servant as we are all paying off past depths for our previous actions and people only want to acquire merits to progress on the path to become an Arahath (one who is in a state of complete mental happiness).

the truth is bitter – please read with an open mind – discretion advised

With the sword in one hand and the cross in the other, came the Western invasions starting in 1505 ACE causing change and deterioration of the Hela science and lifestyle. The Western influencers were unaware of the knowledge of the East, such as the cycle of rebirth, living in balance with Nature to reduce bad consequences, and Nibbana/how to achieve complete mental happiness and stop the rebirth cycle. They only had a linear view of how the world and life works, such as going to heaven or hell after death, and so they generally believe all the Earth’s resources are free for their taking and for their consumption. They were unaware of the cyclical chain of consequences for one’s each and every action; for example, if we act without respecting the interdependence of all living beings/nature and are not honest to Nature’s truth, it can result in dire consequences/pandemics/destruction. With their linear blind views, these Portugees colonizers tried to invade and influence their ways on the Hela system. Then in 1815, a weakened Hela system was further suppressed and forcefully changed to uphold the Western views during the British colonization. Consequently, a system based on their God structure and hierarchies which they felt was superior was established, because they believed that the Hela system was not materially lavish.

Due to their ignorance in knowledge about rebirth and unseen spiritual theories/energy, the invaders felt it was better to stop these mind-based Hela practices. A few of these mind-based practices include paying off debts we brings from our long sansaric (rebirth) journey by transferring merits, growing a separate area of crops for birds/animals, not using chemicals to increase crop yields as it harms wildlife and nature, techniques of using the sense of touch to assess and treat ailments, and identifying the patients’ mental imbalances to treat illnesses, etc. Since they could not grasp the Hela mind-based/unseen energy practices, the westerners had no knowledge to understand the broad vision and knowledge of Hela life. Further the Hela lifestyle and methods did not support their trades and commercialism ideology. Therefore they started to forcefully destroy the Hela systems systematically by killing Hela experts, burning ancient texts and libraries, banning native martial arts (anagampora), and banning Kansa weed and Mee tree etc. Instead, they implemented new systems and their western mindsets that have many artificial components and materials, and an attractive outer appearance. This new system has led to many people living in a constant state of mental fire. People’s continuous grasping for their likes by implementing a modern commercial, economic, materialistic, disposable, and large/mass-scale agricultural/industrial global system, has also resulted in many global level imbalances and consequences such as World War I, World War II, HIV, Coronaviruses, Ebola, allergies, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, other non-communicable diseases, and spread of various communicable diseases, etc. The highly selfish human behaviors that started in the 1600 century have continued to result in destructive consequences until this day. These consequences can simply be explained as Kamma Vipaka in the Hela language; what one experiences now is a result of one’s past actions and generally speaking when one goes against the Laws of Nature (Dhamma), negative consequences result.

It must be noted that Hela experts (Risi) used their mind (the natural supercomputer) directly to understand the root causes and effects of an event (Law of Nature), not machines, however the materialistic world requires machines/tests that have a margin of error/standard error as an intermediate to try to understand the Laws of Nature (Dhamma).

A simple example of the current state of the material world, is where people try to find a materialistic solution (mass vaccination champagnes) for a problem (global virus pandemic). In this case, we need to ask, will this provide a final solution? Will this prevent future (virus) problems? No, this is not a final solution. We need to understand the real root cause/reason for the problem because a problem does not randomly present to each of us if one does not have a reason to be affected by the problem. Nature does not consequence each of us randomly without cause. We need to understand how to remove the causes to remedy the problem. If the mind is unclean, no matter how much medication is taken and material solutions are used, problems will perpetuate now and into the future. Therefore, to cure the current problems, pandemic, and current destruction, the only solution is to remove one’s greed (Lobha) and defiled energy saved with defiled characteristics/memory (Āsavā) and live according to the principles of right livelihood and Nature’s Laws.

One has to consider, why do I want to collect and control something and hold onto a view that is by its nature cannot be controlled or maintained to one’s liking or as one wishes? If there is no way to sustain my likes, is there any value to hold onto it as it’s mine and my. The Hele lifestyle lives according to these views so there is no mental and physical struggle to control, collect, and maintain that which cannot be controlled, collected, and maintained. Instead of giving value to money, this Hela village will be built on valuing mental wisdom, mental peace, and spiritual progress. A peaceful mind that resonates with nature is required to absorb the Buddha Dhamma. When there are too many material ‘likes’ around, the mind and body are too consumed to maintain and control these material components, therefore it is difficult to find the mental balance required for one’s mind to directly absorb the Dhamma and the Buddha Dhamma. Ariyakammattana aims to return this lost Hela lifestyle that lives in harmony with Nature and promotes mental peace.

We will not be selling any crops grown in the village for money. All crops will be freely available for the villagers in Bomaluwa Gama. We will also not harm or deter any wildlife that comes to eat the crops, as the crops that grow on this Mother Earth are part of a larger natural system that we do not own; all living beings should have equal access to food. From a nature perspective, we cannot own the oxygen in the air, water, and minerals on the Earth nor should one patent a wild plant/tree for business/personal ownership, as profiting from that which does not solely belong to one will result in consequences.

To reestablish the Hela lifestyle and heal the lands around the Siri Sambodhiya, Ariyakammattana has already started to acquire the lands around the Siri Sambodhiya to lay the foundation for Bomaluwa Gama.

We are taking responsibility to carry out the following activities.
  • Protecting the Siri Sambodhiya
  • Healing and revitalizing the land around the Siri Sambodhiya using Hela planting techniques and the concept of natural farming and permaculture to create a food forest
  • Creating an environment that gives children the freedom to grow, develop, and collaborate in a natural environment and developing a forest school model for teaching the Hela education
  • Supplying the needs to establish a Hela medicine house (veda gedara)
  • Having a Dansala every day of the year
  • Developing an Angampora site (angampitia)
  • Building a dormitory for volunteers (ambalama)
  • Having a produce stall to share surplus fruits and vegetables with villagers
  • Supplying water and natural food for wild elephants, birds, and wild animals

The above mentioned activities are intended to restore the mental views and develop an environment that existed during the time of Gotama Buddha. Bowmaluwa Gama will also provide the necessary lifestyle conditions required to understand the Buddha Dhamma and complete one’s Nibbana. This village is for the people who have a strong determination and mental strength to respect this cycle of nature and live in equilibrium with Nature. Effort to live in this type of natural lifestyle village comes from understanding the consequences/problems associated with living according to the Western views (as discussed above) and from the effort to seek Nibbana (ultimate mental happiness by ceasing this long rebirth cycle).

People at Bomaluwa Gama

The people who are selected to live in this Gama will see the problems of the Western views and lifestyle, and want to reconnect with the simple yet sophisticated Hela lifestyle. One’s with this strong determination for right effort and those with their primary goal being to achieve Nibbana are those who will be living in the Gama. As long as interested people abide by these principles and goals, one will not be turned away based on gender, age, or societal constructs. People who live here will have to be responsible for the protection of the Siri Sambodhiya and the Nature around the area, and in return we will be responsible to the people who live and serve Bomaluwa Gama by giving them wisdom and teaching the Hela and Buddha Dhamma knowledge.

Note, Helayo (Hela+yo) are the people who live along the four Hela (Siw+Hela) mountain slopes down towards sea level, has views that she/he is dependent on the mountain and nature, takes the water that has been filtered through the mountain slope, does not cut trees on the mountain slopes, respects nature, lives with nature, and sees the cycles of Natures’ theories, therefore their minds are quite free and peaceful, and then they search further for ultimate mental happiness in their own rebirth cycle by seeking the Buddha Dhamma.

Dress code

As per the traditional way of our Hela ancestors, clothing will be simple and practical, and men will not be covering their upper body. One reason is to comply with living in simplicity and not to fill the mind with material thoughts, such as clothes and fashion. Another reason is to stimulate people’s views about the reality of their bodies by not using fashionable clothes to cover up the truth (viprimana state) of the body, which changes in ways one does not like, gets old, and sick. This is the method of our Hela ancestors; living life with the knowledge that we cannot keep anything to the state we like because it is a result of our kamma and conditions. Our Hela ancestors made clothes from comfortable cotton cloth. They worked in the fields and rice paddy fields wearing an amuda (a cotton underwear made by a piece of cloth tied up to the waist so as not to get the cloth wet with mud and water during farming). Clothing served a practical purpose.

Ownership of property and assets

Within Bomaluwa Gama no lands can be owned by a single person. In principle, the Gama is under the protection and common ownership of all the people living in Bomaluwa Gama. People, plants, and the animals have equal rights to live and protect this land according to the Hela structure and guidance of the Buddha Dhamma. However, as it is necessary to have legal documentation in the current standard legal framework, the Ariyakammattana Organization has legal rights to the land ownership.

Houses, buildings, household items

Only natural materials that will easily compost back into the natural environment will be used to build houses, buildings, and household items. No nonperishable items and plastics will be used. Only compostable and biodegradable materials and products will be used with greater effort to use compostable materials. Therefore clay and wood will be used to build houses and buildings, and roofs will be built using coconut leaves, staw (pung), and tall grasses (iluk). Household items will be constructed from wood and natural materials. When necessary, solar power will be used to get the most minimal household electrical power.

Kanneta, kareneta, kaiyata: Three concepts in Hela agriculture – Broad knowledge, specific understanding, collaboration.

The farming practices used at Bomaluwa Gama will be based on traditional Hela agricultural methods which are kanneta, kareneta, and kaiyata.

Kanneta can be interpreted as having a broad knowledge of the seasons.

Kareneta is to select the most optimum day and time to plant each type/variety of plant by analyzing the effects from the sun, moon, and other planets (a broad scientific knowledge about the universe). It also includes an in-depth understanding and knowledge of rain patterns, lightning, and the behavior of wildlife. With this understanding, Hela villagers can do their agricultural practices with very minimal to no harmful effects to wildlife and the universe.

Kaiyata can be interpreted as villagers supporting each other voluntarily and collaborating together using Hela agricultural techniques to initiate land preparation, plant seeds and crops, and maintain the growth and harvest of crops. Accordingly, there is no “my job and your job”, but rather Hela villagers work together, think together, and share in the responsibilities to achieve unified Hela goals. Note, the Kaiyata concept applies to all the villagers for all activities that need to be done with assistance in the village, such as roof re-building of homes, cooking meals, house repairs, and farming, etc. Also, if someone is not able to pull water from the well, any other capable villager will assist. In this Kaiyata manner, everyone works together in collaboration and helps each other as needed.

We will take the advice and guidance of Hela agricultural experts to help us understand how to grow according to the traditional Hela practices of kanneta, keraneta, kaiyata. Guided by the advice of these wise Hela elders, we will search throughout the Island and in Sri Lanka’s wilderness areas to obtain native and wild seeds for rice, fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens. Growing of these native wild plants, trees, and fungi will ensure villagers’ foods are more nutritionally dense (despite smaller fruit/crop sizes), more potent, and have greater healing medicinal properties than cultivated varieties. With the guidance of our Hela agricultural experts, we will work together with our local villagers to sow these diverse native wild seed species according to the traditional Hela practices. These seeds will also be shared with surrounding local villagers. Synthetic chemicals, pesticides, weedicides, and chemical fertilizers will not be used in any aspect of our Hela agricultural practices. Only manual tools will be used; machines and tools operated by gasoline and battery will not be used. When working in the paddy fields, traditional Hela methods will be used to harvest and extract the rice. People working in the paddy fields will wear an amuda; no sunglasses, caps, T-shirts, shorts, boots will be worn as these do not let people’s mind and body connect with the Earth and Nature from which we have actually been created and that we have created previously.

As a result of previous conventional commercial farming in the Bomaluwa area that had used chemicals, the Earth has been polluted and the natural balance of organisms have been destroyed. Consequently, we will have to reestablish soil health and create an inviting environment for microorganisms to reenter the soil. Nava Dalu which is nine species of plants will be grown to invite and reestablish a balanced diversity of insect species. Currently the water sources are polluted with chemicals that have accumulated over time therefore various native water plants will be grown in streams to filter and clean the water. Since much of the land has been polluted and destroyed, we are making a strong determination to give the opportunity for the young villagers to learn the Hela methods to heal the land and for long term preservation of Mother Earth.

Living life with a minimal carbon footprint heals and reactivates the surrounding Nature. For example, by living in a way that is supportive of nature (not using plastic and synthetic chemicals etc), by encouraging nature to thrive (not cutting trees and plants, and not unnecessarily burning vegetation etc), and by only using the most minimum amount of natural resources to sustain our basic needs we reduce our carbon footprint. Such actions will consequently result in reestablishing the natural flow of water and encourage the reestablishment of diversity within the six biological kingdoms at Bomaluwa Gama and surrounding areas. Living in equilibrium with Mother Nature helps to reconnect one’s mind and body with Nature, and to respect and understand the very Nature that gave sustenance for the growth of our bodies. Living in oneness with Nature can also help one to realize our own life cycle within the greater world and experience a sense of eutierria.

Supplying water and natural food for wild elephants, birds, and wild animals

In Bomaluwa Gama, we will be planting specific trees and plants needed for the health and wellbeing of wild animals and birds that live in the surrounding area. In addition to this, specifically for wild elephants, we will take and place food crops inside the forest such as kithul tree trunks and coconut leaves.

Water ponds will be built in the forest in order for wild elephants and animals to quench their thirst during dry seasons. If these ponds dry up, we have planned to supply water into the ponds or may consider drilling a groundwater well. Within Bomaluwa Gama, there will be areas to feed the birds and we will build environments for birds to make their nests. Providing the basic needs for water and food will radiate a metta energy and support to build a respectful relationship and harmony between humans and the wild animals who freely roam on these lands.

Electricity and power generation

Solar power will be used to supply basic electricity needs. Food will be cooked using natural wood fires. Cabins and buildings will be lit with oil lamps in the night.

Prohibitions in Bomaluwa Gama
  1. It is prohibited to kill, harm, and scare any animal.
  2. It is prohibited to bring any plastic containing products.
  3. It is prohibited to bring and plant genetically modified, hybrid, and non-native plants.
  4. It is prohibited to use synthetic chemicals products, and synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
  5. It is prohibited to use any licit substances/drugs (example caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine based products) and illicit substances/drugs (example cocaine, meth, heroin, etc). Smoking is prohibited. Medicinal cannabis (kansa) may be used for health reasons.
  6. It is prohibited to cook and eat meat, fish, and eggs.
  7. It is prohibited to set fires to the forest.