CONTENTS
Editorial
Investigation of Mental Objects – By Hilda Collins
Irene Lewis – An Appreciation – Pannavaddho Bhikkhu
The Seven Factors of Enlightenment – By Piyadassi Thera
News, Notes and Comments – By Pannavaddho Bhikkhu
EDITORIAL
Since the last issue of Sangha, two important events totally different in kind have taken place within our family.
The first of these was the passing of our Secretary, Irene Lewis, who was known personally to most members of the English Sangha Association. Her quiet yet most capable discharge of the numerous duties which fell to her lot as Secretary, were always carried out with the utmost cheerfulness and efficiency.
Many members of the Association may not have had the pleasure of a personal knowledge of Irene as indeed I had not, until sitting on the monthly Committee Meetings with her. Since so doing, I had the opportunity of seeing a true exponent of the Buddha Dhamma, in the way in which she met and faced all the problems involved in her position.
That she may arise in “a good bourne” to continue on her path to Enlightenment is, I am sure’, the sincere wish of US all. We are indeed fortunate as an Association to have found in Mr. Ovemell a successor to the Secretaryship of the English Sangha Association.
The second event of great moment for the English Sangha was the ordination on Saturday, March 7th of a new English Samanera, Jivako, known to us previously as Laurence Mills. The actual Pabbajja ceremony was conducted by the Yen. Sadha-tissa Mahã Thera of the London Vihara, with our own President Ven. Pannãvaddho Bhikkhu, and Bhikkhus Vimalo and Dhammiko and Upasika Jhanananda in attendance. As the candidate was personally known to most of those present, I am sure they felt as moved as I was by the simple dignity of the ceremony.
The Importance of this event for the West as 80 aptly pointed out by the Ven. Sadhatissa is that if the Dhamma is to spread in this country, an important factor is that we should have our own Bhikkhus. He also mentioned that although Westerners were always welcome to the East, and that several great ones had made excellent written contributions In order to disseminate the teachings of the Buddha in the West, only the practical and living expounding of the Dhamma by Western Bhikkhus could really justify anyone saying that Buddhism was spreading in Europe.
We feel this is an important statement, for the practice of Buddhism by many individuals working on their own – and their number we know not – has not the same dynamism as when practised under the guidance of a Bhikkhu, as many of those who have experienced a Meditation week will readily testify.
How grateful we must all be therefore that yet another young Westerner has taken the Robe, thereby adding to the nucleus of the formation of a complete Western Sangha.