equanimity

[Ben]

Hi Ed,

Very briefly...
My experience was that it was seen as an incredibly beneficial thing by the Burmese when I disclosed that I was in the country to participate in a long meditation course. On my first day in Myanmar I went to Botataung Paya with four senior american assistant teachers - it contains a hair-relic of the Buddha. I remember paying respects to a Buddharupa and a young Burmese couple were pointing at me with delightful curiosity, talking quietly to each other and smiling. I think Burmese people are genuinely very eager to share their culture and the Dhamma with sincere practitioners from abroad. It was very easy for me to get a 'pilgrimage letter' from VMC Dhammajoti which indicated that I was also on pilgrimage and it allowed me free entry into most of the places of interest inc. Shwedagon, Mandalay Hill, Mahamuni temple &etc. When I showed the pilgrimage letter there was usually a conversation about what I had seen, where I was going and the meditation course I was on. Within the community of the U Ba Khin and Goenka 'tradition', my intention to be in the country to sit a long course and do a short yatra - it just seemed to open doors for me.

Figures such as Sayagi U Ba Khin, "The Anagamin" Saya Thetgyi, and Ledi Sayadaw are very well known. SN Goenka is well known, but doesn't yet have the stellar reputation of his predecessors. He has established eighteen centres in Myanmar and there are three separate and concurrent prison programs in operation which have produced incredible results.

Perhaps it was that document that you shared with me on mental culture and the politics of crisis management in Burma that mentioned that Ledi Sayadaw was supported and became popular with the court of King Mindon in Mandalay. I wish I had finished reading it before I went to Burma, but...time (or lack of it)!
kind regards

Ben

[PeterB]

Ben, you shine like a beacon in a naughty world.


metta

[Ben]

Ben, you shine like a beacon in a naughty world.


metta

Thank you Peter! That made me smile.
Really, I am just an ordinary guy.

[christopher:::]

Really, I am just an ordinary guy.

The world could use more ordinary guys like you, Ben.

*A Special Message From Mother Sayama And Saya U Chit Tin*


While in Sydney for the auspicious Water Festival course in April
1981, Mother Sayama and Saya U Chit Tin were requested to give a message
on Dhamma practise to the students in Australia. This is the message:

"Regarding the training in //Sila//, //Samadhi// and //Panna// our
message is to lay emphasis on Samadhi. Sayagyi U Ba Khin had said: "For a
good experience of Anicca (Impermanence), Samadhi must be good. If Samadhi
is excellent, awareness of Anicca will also be excellent." Sayagyi's
Teacher, Saya Thetgyi, recounted: "My Teacher, Ledi Sayadaw, frequently
reminded me, 'Maung Thet, work on your Samadhi diligently. If the Samadhi
Sasana (teachings of Tranquility) is well established, then the Panna
Sasana (teachings on Insight) will also become established.'"

Ledi Sayadaw was a Burmese monk and a Pali scholar who was known to
scholars of many western countries and perhaps one of the outstanding
Buddhist figures of this age. Saya Thetgyi, therefore, worked earnestly on
Anapana for 7 years and then Vipassana for another 7 years. Finally he was
praised by his Teacher, who authorised him to teach meditation beginning
with a course at the Ledi-Tawya-Taik Monastery of his Teacher. The monk
scholars of his Teacher were among the students of the first batch of his
disciples.

Buddha said, "Develop your Samadhi. If Samadhi is developed then you
see things in their true perspective."...

"The Path must be trodden by each individual; Buddhas do but point
the way".

*Keep Coming back to Anapana-Sati (watching over in- and out-
breathing)*, for, if developed and frequently practised, this will bring
you high reward and great advantage.

When Samadhi (concentration) is established and developed,
contemplation of sensation on the Body will be easy and almost
instantaneous. You will dwell with full energy, clearly conscious,
attentive and fully engrossed, with the understanding and awareness of
Anicca (impermanence), Dukkha (suffering or ill) and Anatta (egolessness
or soullessness).

Sayagyi U Ba Khin summed up thus: "This will give us the "Peace
within" and enable us to share it with all others. We will then radiate
such powerful and purified mental forces as will successfully counteract
the evil forces which are all around us. Just as the light of a single
candle has the power to dispel darkness in a room, so also the light
developed in one man can help dispel darkness in several others."

May all beings be happy

May they be liberated and win the Deathless.

Thanks for this!