...I imagine that the irrational outburst of popular anger against the Sangha is symptomatic of a fairly widespread unpopularity of the bhikkhus in Ceylon on account of their unseemly and worldly behaviour (which cannot be denied). But if the laity continue to use the Sangha as a rubbish bin for their unwanted offspring can they expect it not to smell a little? (There is in this village one particular small boy who is extraordinarily badly behaved and quite beyond his parents' control, and I suspect that an attempt is being made to get rid of him by having me ordain him. Needless to say, this will not be successful; but it is typical of the current attitude.) Mr. P. tells me that some local bhikkhus are going without dāna, but I have in no way been affected, and I am glad to hear that you have not. But no bhikkhu who still has the use of his legs has any ground for complaint that dāna is not brought to his monastery. I suspect that hardly any bhikkhu would be short of food if he took the trouble to go piṇḍapāta for it. As for bhikkhus being shouted at in the street, that is a very salutary experience for them, and I almost say that it should be encouraged. But the whole affair will be forgotten in a week.
My Vas (thank you for asking) has been intestinally disturbed by the local colitis that is common in the dry weather. It answers quickly enough to Entero-Vioform, but since it resembles an aggravation of my usual intestinal state I was slow to recognize it and delayed treatment. And once the guts get disturbed they take long to settle down again, and I am still not quite back to my normal state of ill-health.
...If you have the leisure, I should be glad of a précis translation of M. 47 (Vīmamsaka Sutta), which is beyond the range of both the Ven. Buddhadatta's Dictionary and my Pali.
_________________________________________________
