It happened while Sayadaw was at the Hse Main Gon Panditârâma Forest Center. After eating lunch, while he was checking out the kitchen, a car pulled in and a lady devotee got out. Seeing Sayadaw, she was overjoyed. It was an unexpected meeting. The author's thought was that they had know Sayadaw was coming on Saturday, and that's why they came. It was not so. I was wrong. She was speaking with glad words. She had brought two wall clocks, three umbrellas, and three sets of sandals to donate.

"It's so ideal that we got to see you, Sayadaw," she said.

Sayadaw was amiable, too. "I looked over at your house when we passed by," Sayadaw said. Though Sayadaw was speaking in an intimate manner with her, the author had never met that lady. I know a great many of the devotees with whom Sayadaw is intimate. I came to know her only later. Her name is Daw Tin Tin Aye.

Sayadaw went up to the upper story of the Dhamma hall. The lady and her group went, too. The group consisted of the lady's son, grandson, daughter, and a future son-in-law. Since the lady had told Sayadaw about all of them, he knew who they were.

"This daughter's health is not very good, Bhante. Believe it or not, she is said to have been a guardian spirit (of wealth) before taking birth as a human, Bhante. Shouldn't get married. If she does, she will be called back to the land of the spirits. They say she should stay single and support the Sâsana. She had a first marriage. He died. This kid is her fiancée. It is difficult to marry a second time. Her past is not implausible. These kind of things happen."

The lady's faith was evidently strong. He words were intelligent and concise, too. Her words continued to flow without a pause. Sayadaw was listening quietly.

"I am now fifty years old," she said, "When I was about thirty, people said that I, too, had come from the life of a guardian spirit. When they said that I would be called back, I just went to a meditation center and practiced. Nothing has happened yet. So my daughter will also enter this meditation center and practice. She won't be able to help being upset, though."

The time had come for Sayadaw to speak. It was evident that the lady had pretty much finished what she wanted to say. She paused. How would Sayadaw respond to talk of guardian spirits (of wealth)? What would he say? What would his decision be? The author was eager to know Sayadaw's reaction, his words, and his decision. I was straining my ears to hear what Sayadaw would say. This is what Sayadaw said,

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