Pure Inspiration

Ven. Pannipitiye Upasama and Nimal Sonnadara – 116
he was in a coma from 9:30 am to 3 pm. After that he said he was
okay. I asked ‘What were you doing during that time?’ and he replied
he was observing his mind. This gave us a hint that the trained mind
could do miracles when one’s health is in crisis.
On the open veranda of a kuṭi overlooking the lagoon of Ratgama,
Bhante was seated in a reclining chair. He asked me, ‘Can you see the
far end of the lagoon?’ It looked really beautiful with the borders of
coconut trees etc. Then he continued, ‘although all the things of the
scenery looked really beautiful, among what you see are the houses in
which people are living. These people could never escape old age,
sickness and death. So one should not be pleased or displeased about
what you see, and you should not cling to it.’
Ven. Ñāṇavimala always stressed the importance of piṇḍapāta
(walking for almsround). In 1999, Kshanaka was ordained and became
Ven. Ñāṇāloka of Bambalapitiya. At that time, Parappaduwa Island
(the nun's island) was vacant. Buveneka suggested that Ven.
Ñāṇavimala move to Parappaduwa along with the newly ordained
Ven. Ñāṇāloka. There, they could have the practice of piṇḍapāta
(almsround), as at Island Hermitage, the lay supporters brought alms
(dāna) daily. With the support of many lay people, we soon got
Parappaduva Island ready with a couple of kuṭis with the surrounding
suitable enough for Ven. Ñāṇavimala. We shifted then from Island
Hermitage and the piṇḍapāta practice was started.
The dāna was entirely supported from piṇḍapāta by Ven. Ñāṇāloka,
and Buveneka went behind as an assistant lay supporter observing ten
precepts. Once, when Buveneka was away to settle things at home for
a few days, I also had the opportunity to walk behind Ven. Ñāṇāloka