Pure Inspiration

Ven. K. Pemasiri – 10
in the day I saw him again, still walking, and that night he
turned up at the temple where I was staying. This was long
before he developed a hip condition from his continuous
walking trips (cārikā). Almost every place I stayed, I would meet
him, in Gampola, Kurunegala Anuradhapura, Kanduboda or in
Colombo. In himself, he had no connection to anybody,
anywhere. After leaving Germany, Ven. Ñāṇavimala never
returned there. Eventually, he was given citizenship in Ceylon.
If he had already returned from his alms round and someone
placed more food in his bowl, he would not like it. Sometimes
people put a complete papaya fruit in his bowl, but he would not
show his displeasure. However, on one occasion a lady put too
much chocolate in his alms bowl and he told her in future not to
do things like that.
There was no way you could give Ven. Ñāṇavimala in excess of
what he needed. An extra robe would definitely not be accepted.
If there was a patch on his robe, it was a genuine patch, not like
the modern trend of wearing patched robes just to simulate
austerity. Once, I offered Ven. Ñāṇavimala a new robe, which
he refused saying, “I already have a robe. What if I take this and
I pass away before the old robe is worn out, it won’t serve any
purpose”. Having seen his example, I have no doubt about what
standard of moderation and sense contentment monks should
have. Even what he said in declining that offer, he said in the
most gentle, pleasant way possible. I recall with veneration that I
knew a person like this. It was a privilege. This fewness of