‘Back to Chowringhee. Had very bad coffee at the New Cathay. Looked in Kashmir Emporium, then in various handicraft shops in Esplanade. Bought ivory Buddha, table mats…. Spent hour looking round Khadi Emporium. Found fine figure of Amitayus and asked for it to be put aside.’

Diary, Monday 2 January 1967

Paramartha recalls how Sangharakshita once said that had he known then what he knew now about the ivory trade, he would never have purchased something made of ivory.