I imagine I'm hearing the words which Sayadaw has often said since the beginning of the building process of the Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha in Yangon. "When you are starting to build a new space, everything is needed. You need everything from reed mats to plates and cups. Everything is put to use.

Indeed, the devotees are very smart. Without even have to say what is needed, they look to see what is lacked and make donations after their own fashion."

The supporter who made the foundational gift at the beginning of the building process of the Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha, is Daw Than, called 'Mother Than' by most. Daw Than made a donation of twenty-seven million kyat, about two-hundred and seventy thousand dollars at that time. I hardly even need to mention the monastery donors, U Tha Tun Aung, Daw Ni, and family. That's because everybody knows how incredibly good to the center these benefactors have been. There were many who came and offered as much as they could. It was on the ninth day of the waxing moon of Bitinkyut, 1352 (1991), that we first arrived. "We" was U Ñanujjotâbhivamsa, U Sa?varâlinkâra, U Khamâcâra and the author. When we came, U Khamâcâra went on almsrounds all alone. U ?ânujjotâbhivamsa and the author went after breakfast to the Maòiratnâ Nunnery to give lessons to the NePâli nuns, and we ate lunch there. On Upossatha day, since we rested from lessons, we just ate at the Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha.

Back then, one of the breakfast and lunch donors at the Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha was the family of U Win Aung and Daw Tin Aye. They were the main donors, in fact. Their home is two houses south of the Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha. The sons and daughters of U Win Aung and Daw Tin Aye have participated in the Buddhist Culture Course, so they are familiar with the Sâsana Yeiktha. I you were to compare the time when the Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha was just starting up to the way it is now, it's like having a roof versus the bare ground. Since everything was not as complete at the beginning as it is now, we had a hard time. As long as I live, I cannot forget the meals U Win Aung and Daw Tin Tin Aye donated while we were suffering like that. Back then, the family of U Maung Maung Aye and Daw Khin Khin Kyi from Hlaing took turns offering meals, too. The little things like fish sauce they offered back then are more unforgettable than the excellent stuff these days like pork and chicken.

I remember my answer to U Samvarâla?kâra (now Kyaikksan Dhammapiya Sâsana Yeiktha Sayadaw) just before we moved from the Mahasi Sâsana Yeiktha.

"For someone with lots of food, a mouthful of rice is not that beneficial, they don't really value it or feel a lot of gratitude. For someone in need of food, though, a mouthful of rice is very beneficial, valuable and cause for great gratitude. Now my teacher (the Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha Sayadaw-to-be) is in need of strength.

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