The Amarapura Mahâgandâyone Sayadaw said, "One monastery in each village is fine. Just one is sufficient to be neat and sublime." Being deeply involved with the Sâsana in Myanmar, the Mahâgandâyone Sayadaw pointed out a great many necessary improvements. If the reforms he advocated were to be carried out, the benefits for both the nation and the Sâsana would surely be great.

In ancient times, the Myanmar people had a great penchant for constructing pagodas. It certainly remains that way these days. It seems like it's going to continue in the future, as well. "Four million, four hundred and forty-six thousand, seven hundred and thirty-three are the pagodas of Pagan," it is said. Though not numerous as ancient Pagan, other cities have their share, as well.

Its good to construct just as many pagodas are necessary for a certain place. When its getting excessive, it gives one pause for consideration. We do have to endeavor so that there are no places lacking pagodas. However, some are convinced that constructing pagodas is the propagation of the Sâsana and go about building pagodas indiscriminately all over the place.

The Shwe Taung Gon Sayadaw has met a great many who declare that in building pagodas, they are propagating the Sâsana. He usually replies like this, "We are also building pagodas. The pagodas we build are Dhamma pagodas indeed. We are working to help people establish the Buddha-Dhamma in their hearts. We are helping them build Dhamma pagodas.

The pagodas that most people are building, if they are built with no need or in places where they are not needed, are not very beneficial. The Dhamma pagodas we are helping construct are needed everywhere. They need to be built in every human heart.

Not all of the pagodas most people are building are valuable. With these Dhamma pagodas, however, the more you build, the better. The more you build, the greater the benefit. There is great benefit for the Sâsana, and great benefit for yourself. Each and every Buddhist needs to endeavor to construct a Dhamma pagoda in their own heart. Where these Dhamma pagodas endure, so the Sâsana endures. Where these Dhamma pagodas do not endure, neither does the Sâsana endure. As Dhamma pagodas disappear, so does the Sâsana. In the hearts of those who haven't established Dhamma pagodas, the Sâsana is absent. So that the Sâsana does not disappear, we need to construct a Dhamma pagodas in each of our hearts, inside each of us."

This is a really good point to remember. It's a wake-up call for those who believe they are expanding the Sâsana by constructing pagodas indiscriminately all over the place. Only build pagodas where they are needed and only as many are needed. But

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