Theos-Talk Archives (January 2006 Message tt00146)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Bhikshuni Ariya 
<arhat_buddhism@y...> wrote:

> I am here, Pedro. 

Hello. It is now almost ten years since I last saw you in India. Hope 
you are well. I was in Colombo in December and had the great privilege 
of meeting a Mahathero (Head Monk), 96 years old, who is the head of 
the Pirivena (temple) founded by Ven. Sumangala, the one who welcomed 
Olcott in Galle, in 1880. I was told I could ask him some questions, 
which I did. One of them was 'why did the Buddha remain silent during 
the questions asked by Vachagotta (regarding the existence or non 
existence of a permanent self in man). The Mahathero smiled and said, 
through an interpreter: "If HE was silent, who am I to say anything!" 
 
Best wishes,

pedro