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When he dines, Sayadaw eats only suitable things. Though he might want to, he doesn't follow his taste buds' craving and avoids unhealthy things. Since Sayadaw is rather plump, he avoids rich, oily food. Sayadaw often says he has to avoid those things because they are too good. The people who work in the dining hall make a habit of arranging to have foods which are good for Sayadaw and which he likes. They make a practice of putting the things Sayadaw usually eats near his place to so can reach them easily. When Sayadaw goes out with other monks to eat outside the center, he's apt to wait to finish eating so as not to finish before the other monks. The younger monks are often afraid of eating with Sayadaw outside the center. I think it's because of the imposing figure he cuts. It is evident that not only the younger monks, but also the Nâyaka Sayadaws (senior teachers) are afraid. Sayadaw definitely does cut an imposing figure. Evidently, Sayadaw has figured this out. He often says, "Go ahead and eat, you all. Eat until you're full. The donors have arranged to have everything here because they wanted you to eat. So try a taste of everything."
There are not as many dishes at Sayadaw's table as there are at the tables of the 'working monks'. The number of monks at the table is not the same, either. With Kyauktan Sayadaw and Bilin Sayadaw, there are just three people at Sayadaw's table. There are about five or six at each of the working monks' tables. That's probably one reason why there are more dishes at those tables. Sayadaw doesn't like more than necessary. He doesn't want to be wasteful. If Sayadaw hears noisiness while he's eating, he asks someone to remind whoever it is not to be noisy, to talk quietly. He doesn't want to hear the sound of forks and spoons. He doesn't want people's voices to be noisy either. They must stay quiet. Before anyone eats, one of the monks announces over the loudspeaker the name of the meal donor, their address, and the dedication. Everyone listens quietly with their palms together at their chests. Then we call "Sâdhu! Sâdhu! Sâdhu!" three times and begin eating. After that sound, there should be no loud sounds. We must eat quietly, continuing our noting. Rice grains and drops of curry should not be dropped. If they are, they should be cleaned up. Sayadaw doesn't like it if there's a single grain of rice left in your bowl when you're done eating. Just one handful of rice will be multiplied. With a handful from one person and a handful from another, when you put all the handfuls together, inevitably a huge amount goes to waste, he says. That's how Sayadaw reckons it. It is precisely the case.
If people hack up phlegm, spit, blow their nose, or burp while they are eating, Sayadaw gives them a reminder. It's not right to disgust others. Some people are used to washing their hands after they eat in the bowl they ate out of. One mustn't do that. It's disgusting. When one is finished with a dish, one must pass it to the person next to one. Some reach for things well out of their reach. That's not pleasing to the eye, either. One shouldn't put one's banana peel in the wash bowl or the dish you ate out of. One must put it one the dish for peels.
Outside, some monks squat while they are eating. That's not pleasant to the eye. Those are note pleasant to see. There are also those who eat with one knee up. Those are not pleasant to see, either. It doesn't seem that they respect the words of the Buddha, "A monk must eat without making a slurping noise." They make slurping noises while eating soup and such. Some monks even eat with their tongue sticking out. They don't
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