Theos-Talk Archives (October 2004 Message tt00203)

In Galle, Sri Lanka, I was taken to the Wijayanada
Buddhist Temple and compound, for an interview with
the Head Monk. He showed me a number of books from his
library about Olcott, both in English and Sighalese,
including Prothero's "White Buddhist", the Howard
Murphet's biography (with its revised title of "Yankee
Beacon of Buddhist Light") plus, of course, "Old Diary
Leaves".

There is a statue of Olcott in the central area of the
town. I noticed a feeling of great warmth and
affection for the Colonel here.

I was then taken to the hall in the old building
(1867) where the Founders of the TS, HPB and HSO, took
Panchasila and became Buddhists on 19th May 1880 (and
not 1881, as I had mentioned earlier). There is a bust
of Olcott in an alcove, and below it a reproduction of
his own handwriting attesting to have taken Panchasila
together with HPB in that hall.

I was also taken to the temple in which there is a
large and dignified statue of Lord Buddha. Among the
many paintings on its walls, depicting episodes in the
Buddha's life as well as some of the Jataka Tales, one
caught my eye: it shows HPB and HSO sitting on the
floor, with hands joined at their chest, before four
Buddhist elders. It depicts the moment in which they
actually took Panchasila. It was a tad too much for a
South-American heart.

I caught myself saying wordlessly to myself: "The guys
were here. The guys were here."

When the time came for me to leave the compound I
thanked the Head Monk for his kindness and hospitality
(we had a sumptuous lunch). As the van I was
travelling went through the gates I was left with a
lump in the throat.


Pedro
(From Colombo)





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