Vishva Niketan International Peace & Meditation Centre

08/07/2026

08/07/2026

Mindful Daily Routine and Beyond – A Compassionate Flavour

How we begin and end each day shapes not only our habits but also our thoughts, emotions, relationships, and the way we respond to the world around us. With this understanding, Vishva Niketan conducted "Mindful Daily Routine and Beyond – A Compassionate Flavour", a transformative mindfulness and wellbeing programme for the teenage girls of the Sarvodaya Suwasetha Ma Sevana Child Development Centre.

The programme encouraged participants to pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves, with others, and with nature. Through a series of interactive and experiential sessions, they explored the meaning of happiness, health, and wellbeing, examined their daily routines, and discovered how mindfulness can transform ordinary moments into opportunities for awareness, gratitude, and self-compassion.

Moving beyond the practice of mindful routines, the programme introduced the compassionate flavour of everyday living—cultivating kindness towards oneself, family members, friends, the wider community, and the natural environment. Participants explored the interconnectedness of all life through the Chain of Life session, learned healthy coping strategies for managing emotions and life's challenges, reflected on meaningful life goals, and developed their own mindful and compassionate daily routines to support lifelong wellbeing. The programme concluded with mindful yoga exercises, bringing together body, mind, and heart in a spirit of balance and inner peace.

The sessions were facilitated by Mr. Jagath Gunawardane, Meditation Teacher at Vishva Niketan, and Dr. Charika Marasinghe, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Teacher. Participants also benefited from an insightful session on mental health, emotional wellbeing, and healthy coping strategies conducted by Dr. Charith Kodithuwakku, Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Moratuwa, and Consultant Psychiatrist, Teaching Hospital, Kalutara.

By nurturing mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude, and kindness, the programme sought to equip these young girls with lifelong skills to heal, grow, and flourish. At Vishva Niketan, we believe that a mindful daily routine becomes truly transformative when it is infused with compassion—creating not only healthier individuals but also more caring families, resilient communities, and a more peaceful world.

Healing the Mind • Healing Society • Healing the Environment


This version aligns much more closely with your programme philosophy. It emphasizes that mindful daily routines are the foundation, while compassion is the deeper quality that gives those routines meaning—which is exactly what your title, "Mindful Daily Routine and Beyond – A Compassionate Flavour," conveys. It also reflects Vishva Niketan's broader mission of healing the mind, healing society, and healing the environment.

05/07/2026

Honouring a Legacy that Continues to Inspire the World

“I came with Korean religious leaders to help them discover Sri Lanka. I believe that they cannot truly discover Sri Lanka without knowing Sarvodaya."

These profound words, shared by Most Venerable Pomnyun Sunim as he concluded his visit to Vishva Niketan today, beautifully captured the significance of the occasion.

Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, a longstanding friend of Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, visited Vishva Niketan together with a delegation of eminent Korean religious leaders and members of the Jungto Society. His intention was to introduce them to the inspiring life, vision, and legacy of Dr. Ariyaratne, whose philosophy of the Awakening of All continues to inspire people across the world.

The visit began with offerings at the Sacred Bodhi Tree and the Sacred Relic Chambers, followed by a tour of the curated exhibition and Peace Museum, where the delegation traced the remarkable journey of Dr. Ariyaratne and the Sarvodaya Movement. Through historical archives, photographs, and personal stories, they witnessed how one individual's compassionate vision blossomed into one of the world's largest people-centred movements for peace and holistic development.

The visit concluded with a documentary screening and an engaging discussion on Dr. Ariyaratne's lifelong peace initiatives, offering an opportunity to reflect on the timeless relevance of compassion, nonviolence, mindful living, and selfless service in addressing the challenges of our contemporary world.

Venerable Pomnyun Sunim is one of Korea's most respected Seon (Zen) masters, an internationally acclaimed author, and a social activist. Through the Jungto Society, he has inspired a global community of volunteers to put the Buddha's teachings into practice by addressing suffering through compassion, dialogue, environmental stewardship, humanitarian service, and peaceful coexistence.

We are deeply honoured to have welcomed Venerable Pomnyun Sunim and the distinguished Korean delegation to Vishva Niketan. Their visit reaffirmed the enduring friendship between the Sarvodaya and Jungto communities and reminded us that lasting peace begins with the awakening of the human heart.

"When hearts awaken, societies transform. When compassion transcends borders, peace becomes a shared journey."

02/07/2026

Building Compassionate Leaders in Disaster Management

As part of the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sector Disaster Management (Batch 14 – 2026) offered by the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, eight postgraduate students visited Vishva Niketan International Peace and Meditation Centre. The visit was organised in collaboration with the Sarvodaya Institute of Higher Learning.

During their visit, the participants explored the "Astounding Vision of a Luminary" curated exhibition, the Ariyaabhimanee Peace Museum, the Ahinsa Peace Library, and the Sarva Udaya Archives, gaining deeper insights into the philosophy, history, and humanitarian work of the Sarvodaya Movement.

Following the guided tour, Dr. Charika Marasinghe, Trustee of Vishva Niketan, delivered a presentation on the psychosocial interventions implemented by Sarvodaya and Vishva Niketan in response to both natural and human-made disasters. Drawing on decades of experience, she highlighted the importance of integrating compassion, mindfulness, and psychosocial care into disaster response.

The session encouraged participants to reflect on a vital lesson: academic qualifications alone are not sufficient to support survivors of disasters. Those engaged in disaster response must also cultivate the ability to understand the pain and suffering of affected people with empathy and compassion. It is only when responders connect with both the hearts and minds of survivors that their interventions can truly foster psychological healing, emotional recovery, resilience, and hope.

At Vishva Niketan, we remain committed to nurturing compassionate professionals who combine knowledge with humanity in serving individuals and communities during times of crisis.

28/06/2026

🌿 Nature Meditation in the Water Garden 🌿

Surrounded by the lush greenery, vibrant colours, and serene beauty of the Water Garden, students embarked on a mindful journey of awakening through nature.

Through guided nature meditation, they mindfully opened their six senses to the sights, sounds, scents, textures, tastes, and experiences offered by the natural environment. As they immersed themselves in nature, they discovered how all forms of life coexist in harmony and interdependence.

The students reflected on the profound truth that both our bodies and the natural world are composed of the same elements, and that everything we consume and depend upon originates from nature. They also learned how trees and plants sustain life by providing fresh air, absorbing toxins, and nurturing the delicate balance of our ecosystem.

Observing the rich diversity within nature, the students witnessed how large trees protect and support the smaller ones, reminding us of the importance of compassion, interconnectedness, and caring relationships in our own lives.

Most importantly, the experience introduced the students to the art of healing the mind, healing the heart, and healing the body through immersion in nature.

🍃 When we slow down, pay attention, and reconnect with nature, we rediscover that we are not separate from the Earth—we are part of it.

27/06/2026

Mind Sky | සිත් අහස - 06

Mind Sky | සිත් අහස - 06

27/06/2026

Walking in the footsteps of the Dhamma……..