Talalla’s Buddhist temple is situated approximately 1km inland and stands ‘secretly’ in the midst of the village, surrounded by palms and foliage. The serene environment is intoxicated with a certain stillness and calm. Although not directly effected by the tsunami it is to here that the majority of panicked villagers fled. At the pinnacle of catastrophe they sourced their temple for protection. It is here, and not some government establishment, where they were fed, sheltered and cared for during the first few days before more adequately available aid reached them, the monks did the best that they could.
The temple serves as a community venue where meetings, ceremonies and Sunday school take place. Although charming and idyllic, in what they stand for, the grounds and resources are limited to serve the community and its requirements entirely.
There are three buildings and a small makeshift kitchen on the grounds. Buildings are used respectively for prayer, teaching and discussion amongst the groups that use them.
We recently visited the temple on a Sunday morning. Kindly, the teachers were happy for us to stay despite the bemused reactions of the children who were fascinated with our pale skin and camera. At 11am they have a ‘tea time’ break where drinks and snacks are prepared in the small kitchen area. Pots and cooking stoves are utilized in the open air or just within a palm leaf covering that the teachers have secured themselves. Observing the children in their innocent play and the calmness of their surroundings it seems the weight of the world and present circumstances are forgotten. Here they are happy, the ambience is pleasant and secure.
Seven hundred children from the area attend, from 5 – 16 years. They’ve grown here, learning the fundamentals to advanced levels of Buddhist teaching. Most children wear uniforms that they’d wear to school, or variations of this for those families who can afford. We were not asked for help, despite their obvious needs, but simply welcomed to enjoy and observe.
The buildings and resources are sparse. Children learn outside, when the weather permits or now, as the monsoon period has encroached, they’re huddled into a darkened room, not large enough to properly house them all or provide adequate reading light.
The villagers use the temple well; it’s their sanctuary. We realize with funding some small developments could serve them properly as a community. To improve this area would mean everything to them and the monks who wish to maintain a place of security and comfort for the people of Talalla.
Kitchen improvements would allow women to meet and cook together, fishermen, with an appropriate room, could hold livelihood meetings and the children, who rarely complain, would have more resources to add comfort to their Sunday morning lessons. Traditional ceremonies, so very well maintained in this culture, could be conducted in the glory that they are deserved. With improvements to the current buildings or even to build new and improved versions would allow Talalla and its people a harmonious area to hone their skills and learn new ones and to reinforce the close sense of community, which is already evident.
