"Pitiduwe Siridhamma thero has not achieved arahant status -- he's an 'anda baala' human being -- these days there are no arahants on earth!"

"Pitiduwe Siridhamma thero has not achieved arahant status -- he's an 'anda baala' human being -- these days there are no arahants on earth!"

Kiribathgoda Gnananada thero who is touring Europe these days has engaged in an interview with a weekend newspaper in London and on that occasion he has responded to the dialogue which circulated in the social media between the thero and Pitiduwe thero. Published below is his reply. 

Q: Can't arahants live these days?

A: There are no arahants on earth these days. That I can vouch for. There may be in the worlds of the brahmas. After Lord Buddha established bhikshuni sanghaya, he said that his sasana would remain

intact for five hundred years. We should accept his teaching and delve into history to check whether it is correct. That exactly has happened. It is stated in Mahavamsha that the Buddha sasana would be established in Sri Lanka. That also is true. There is a force that continuously prevents the being from escaping 'bhavaya' and thus binds him. Lord Buddha called it 'Maraya'. It manipulates sin of the human being to achieve its own end. Lord Buddha defeated Maraya and attained Buddhahood. Though the sasana existed for 500 years, Maraya will not permit to achieve the position of arahant after 500 years. There is a name given to someone who has overcome all sin ... a person who overcomes Maraya. Maraya will not permit that. But 'sovan, sakrudaami pala' can dawn.

Q: Why are you subjected to many accusations and blame? 

A; It is to the tree that bears produce that is stoned ... is it not? Now look ... even the media attacked Dolakande thero. Even monks attacked him. Today neither that thero nor the tree is there. 

Till Dharmapala was living ... he was attacked. He ultimately cursed the Sinhalese and went away from the island. But after he died ... his statues were erected and lavishly praised. What Dharmapala said was that if one intends to face scoldings from them. Some people ask me, "don't you get mentally disturbed when someone reprimands you?" I do not get mentally upset ... the reason is, I reflect on Lord Buddha's teachings. While some people reprimand me ... there are others who praise me. Not only insults ... I get praises too. Not only losses ... I get profits also. Not only sorrow ... I reap happiness too. I get from all directions of 'Ashtaloka dharma'. If others think that they get from all aspects of 'Ashtaloka dharma' ... then it is their fault. 

Q: An outstanding thero has invited you to a public debate.

A: I like to tell a word about Pitiduwe Siridhamma. What I wanted was not to go into a debate with him. He has not attained the position of arahant ... only to prove that he is an 'anda baala' human being. I did not have to exhaust myself to a big extent as such. I uttered only two words. First I said 'rahath ranga peetaya'. The moment I said so, he got disturbed. Thinking of arousing him a little bit more ... I did so a second time. I have now proved and finished that he is an 'anda baalaya'. 

Q: That fruit pooja you carried out in Seruwila ... isn't that a wastage of fruits?

A: Not at all. It is a tradition of ours to offer some fruit growing in our yard. So we told to bring any fruit growing in one's own garden and offer it to 'Lallata dhatunvahanse'. The volume of fruits brought actually went beyond our expectations. There were fruits which I had never seen in my life. Some had even brought clusters of bananas because of their devotion. But none of those went astray. But since it is not favourable after twelve in the afternoon, all that was taken for consumption. Nothing was wasted as such. 

Q: Was there a system of of offering like that during Lord Buddha's time?

A: No. there was no such offering during Lord Buddha's time. To God Katharagama of course devotees offer lakhs and lakhs of fruits. Not that we did this on a daily basis ... not everywhere either. I must mention another thing. That person used to lose his temper time back when offered to Lord Buddha. When offerings are made to him ... he would not get into a temper. Years back ... rays were emanating from Buddha statues. People began to worship. I cannot remember the year. At that time I was in India. Then this person attended a rupavahini programme and said, "let not anyone of you get deceived. When trying to elevate the Buddha ... he goes against it. What he said was that Lord Buddha does not emit rays. He emanated digital rays for himself. Actually t is useless to answer questions of this person. Must understand that this person is an 'anda baala' human being to whom we are to answer. 

Q: There is an accusation aimed at you for having offered dirty water of Seetha Gangula for the pooja offered at the recent Ran Koth Vihara. 

A: An absolutely misleading accusation. It was from the commencement of Seetha Gangula where there is no human settlement that pure water was taken for the poojawa. 

Q: Than offering a poojawa of water to Ran Koth Vihara, there is an argument asking whether pure water for kidney patients living in Plonnaruwa where the said vihara is situated ... would be even better. 

A: Before pointing a finger at us, what must be inquired into is what we have done on behalf of kidney patients. We have launched a water-filter project which gives pure water. Not only for Polonnaruwa district, but for Trincomalee district as well. A project offering water-filter machines project costs a sum of about Rs. 20 lakhs. We have already launched about twenty such projects. We have given lakhs of people pure water ... before this poojawa.

Q: There are allegations that some Buddha statues at your 'asapuvas' take on a female form.

A: There are statues of this nature in Thailand also. If someone was to pay a visit to Banares Museum in India and note the Buddhist statues there ... you would be surprised. It is from India that we have acquired the structure of our statues. If one looks at Aukana Buddha statue in a squint-eyed manner, accusations could be targetted at that too. Earlier, gold colour has been used on the Samadhi statue in Anuradhapura and even gems have been embedded in the eyes. 

Discussion -- Sujeewa Nivunhella from London; Sunday Divaina