Letter 1.27

…Well, the package finally got here, complete with all items, which is more than I expected. That, however, is probably why it did happen. The mandel bread was very good and enjoyed by all. The Maha Thera enjoyed it also (Maha Thera means, literally, 'Great Elder' and is a term properly used toward any monk with 20 years or more standing from his higher ordination. In common usage, however, it refers to the chief resident monk - the 'abbot'. In fact, there are two 'Maha Theras' here, but only one of them is referred to as 'the Maha Thera'. The other one is known as the 'crazy monk', because he is insane.) I've now read the Razor's Edge, and think it worth the reading, though there is a lot wrong with it. (Esthetically and structurally, I mean - to hope for philosophical accuracy or relevance from Maugham would be absurd.) It mentions, at the end, that Larry's book consists of essays about the same length as Lytton Strachey's Eminent Victorians. By one of those odd coincidences, Eminent Victorians was the book I read immediately before reading the Maugham, and I found it to be one of the most enjoyable and best written I've read in a long time. It obviously has nothing to do with the Buddha's Teaching, so I can safely recommend it to you without fear of being considered a 'missionary'…

Journal 27

December 12 - This record is becoming rather un-contemporaneous. I'll try to catch up. I spent a day at Opata, where there is some formidable jungle (lions, bears, tigers, etc., I'm told). There are some caves, I was informed, half a mile into the jungle, but it takes over 2 hours to reach them. This sounds like formidable jungle, indeed. There was a pleasant fast river where I spent the afternoon, and the evening I spent talking with the villagers, most of whom are very ignorant, but not at all stupid - their questions were on a very basic level and showed only t e slightest acquaintance with the Dhamma, but the questions had the incomparable advantage of being relevant to their own lives. Unfortunately, they have not, and will not, receive the proper guidance from the resident monks, who seem uninterested in anything but their own finances. Still, it is a promising location for one who wants to live alone in the jungle, the main doubt being whether support would continue on a permanent basis, which would depend largely, but not entirely, on the monk…

Letter 1.26

…The package has arrived in Colombo, and from the looks of things seems likely to remain there, I am now - as they say - 'in communication with the Authorities', which is always a frustrating business. It is useless to use logic with them, since they follow only their Regulations, which are not logical. Every time I'm forced to deal with the government I find myself more and more in agreement with Thoreau - not only his statement that that government is best which governs not at all, but also his remark that no person had ever caused him serious harm nor given him much difficulty, except those people who represented the State…

Journal 26

I continued on my way, reaching the village of Opata about 4:00. Fantastic reception: everyone came to stare at me. But it was very friendly, and I have been told of some good jungle nearby. Also was told that there is not an arañña at Morawahea, where I had been heading in the belief that there was: change of plans, then; which makes my travels shorter by some days. Therefore I decided to stay the next day – today - here and look over the jungle, mostly because a friend at Island Hermitage is looking for a place to live alone, and this seems promising for him: good jungle, friendly people, not too big, the richest village in the area, etc. Some disadvantages discovered as well. But that's for Ñánasiha to decide; if he's interested. Spent the night at the local temple, which seems to have its share of corruptions of both practice - assuming there is any practice at all here - and 'doctrine', but not, apparently, more than its share. This part of Ceylon seems, in fact, rather benighted - possibly because of the many estates in foreign - i.e. English - hands, which take no interest in developing the area. Perhaps other reasons as well. I find the more important things that are happening now are internal, not external, and much more difficult to pin down. Entries will probably become shorter, but a summary of internal events at the end will be attempted…