THE HOMEWARD MAIL

London, England

25 April 1908

(page 528)

Buddhist Mission to England.

Clad in the long robes of his order and holding an asthma cigarette in one hand, Bhukkhu Ananda Metteyya, who claims to be the first Buddhist monk to visit England, stepped ashore on April 22 at Tilbury Docks off the s.s. Ava from Rangoon. In an interval of telling his beads, the monk, who is by birth a Scotsman, his real name being Allan Bennett MacGregor, explained that some seven years ago he left England for Ceylon on account of his health. Arrived there he became intensely interested in Buddhism, was ordained in Burma, and has since lived in Rangoon. “I am come to England,” he said, in answer to a question, “in order to set forward the principles of Buddha in this country. Buddhism, in my opinion, is not opposed to any religion at all, but its position as regards Christianity is that it supplements.” Asked what he would do in England, he said: “I shall simply have to live inside the place I am going to. I can’t go out of doors in my robes in this climate—that is obvious.” “You will keep the rules of the order, despite the climate?”—“Yes.” These are very strict, and number between 200 and 300. He was accompanied on the Ava by about thirty other Burmese—most of them destined for the Bar or medicine. On landing the monk was accommodated in a motor-car—the rules of the order forbid the use of horses and other animals—and driven to Barnes. His first lecture will be given before the Royal Asiatic Society on May 6.