Pure Inspiration

23
My Spiritual Father
Ayoma Wickramsinghe
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa
The Most Venerable Ñāṇavimala Thero was one of my dearly
beloved Teachers who sadly passed away in 2005. My first guru
was the Most Venerable Webu Sayadaw of Burma. In my close
observation and association of both of them, I was convinced, in
fact, I know, they had completed their journey in this most
miserable, horrifying, and endless saṁsāra. They were Heroes
who purified themselves fully with great wisdom and
indefatigable and never ending endeavour. How very lucky they
are! How I wish, and wish, I could emulate them fully. How
wonderful it must be to have Complete Peace within, with no
āsavas (mental defilements) hammering away!
The very first encounter with that Great Being, Venerable
Ñāṇavimala Thero, really astonished me. It was just a few minutes
past twelve noon in Hawa Eliya district, near Nuwara Eliya. The
bhikkhu (monk) was walking with his bowl slung over his shoulder.
The first time I saw him (I had already been told about him by my
dear friend Geeta Sri Nissanka), nobody told me it was him, but I
knew it instantly. I told my husband to kindly stop the car and having
gone to a nearby shop and purchased some food, I raced back and
offered it to the bhikkhu. Very sternly, he refused the food and said:
‘Bhikkhus do not accept food after twelve noon’. I was amazed that,
even without a watch, he knew the exact time, when it was perhaps,
only a few minutes past noon.