112 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
“16. Brethren, there are these four wonderful and
marvellous qualities in Ananda.
If, brethren, a number of the brethren of the Order should
come to visit Ananda, they are filled with joy on beholding
him; and if Ananda should then preach the truth to them,
they are filled with joy at the discourse; while the company
of brethren is ill at ease, brethren, when Ananda is silent.
If brethren, a number of the sisters of the Order................
or of devout men, ..................... or of devout women, should
behold him; and if Ananda should then preach the truth to
them, they are filled with joy at the discourse; while the
company of sisters is ill at ease, brethren, when Ananda
is silent.”
From this it is clear that it was usual for Ananda to meet women, not only sisters but devout women who were not members of the Order. He used to see them, meet them and talk to them. Why then should Ananda have asked such a question ? The Buddha knew that the women used to meet Ananda. He raised no objection before. Why should he have thought of interdicting and forbidding all contact with women ? The whole passage is so unnatural that it must be regarded as a later monastic interpolation.
There is another instance in the life of Ananda which stands in stark contrast with the passage in the Mahaparinibbana Sutra. As is well known, in the first Sangiti (Council) five complaints were made against Ananda. They were :—
(1) that he failed to ask which parts of the Vinaya were in the opinion of the Buddha the lesser parts for which he gave authority to the Sangha to alter and amend;
(2) that he stepped on the Robe of the Lord during retreat when sewing it;
(3) that he caused the body of the departed Lord to be saluted first by women so that it was soiled by their tears ;