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U Dhammâjîva replied, "It's true, Bhante. It's good to hear. Please continue."
"Do you really understand my Myanmar?"
"I understand it, Bhante."
"I'll tell you about an experience I had at the Mahasi Sâsana Yeiktha. What Sayadaw said there was so extraordinary that I still remember it.
There was a meeting of monks about a certain issue. Sayadaw was speaking with the other elders. The other elders started speaking to Sayadaw with a bit of anger in their voices. While those elders were speaking like that, Sayadaw was just grinning. I couldn't see any anger in his expression. When the other elders had finished all they wanted to say, he said, "If I am talked to with anger like that, I set my own face in a smile. If I speak, I try to speak with a smile, too."
"Oh." U Dhammâjîva was surprised when he heard Sayadaw's words. He really appreciated them, saying, "Really great, really great."
"You've probably heard these words of the Buddha, U Dhammâjîva. 'Akkodhena Jîne Kodha?: With non-aversion, triumph over an angry person'"
"I have heard that, I've heard it before."
"Sayadaw was showing how he practices in accord with those words of the Buddha."
"In his Dhamma talks, Sayadaw often talks about the Bodissatta (Buddha-to-be in his life as the) Monkey King who patiently worked for the benefit of others. Have you heard about that monkey, U Dhammâjîva?"
"Tell me, Bhante."
"I have even written a poem about that Bodhisatta monkey king, because he's so admirable."
"You write poetry, Bhante?"
"Just a bit"
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