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The lady answered easily. "Of course I lived with him. I was eight years older than Maung Mya Han, so we ate and played together, of course."
"What was Maung Mya Han like when he was young? Can you tell me about your younger cousin?"
"Yes I can, Bhante. Maung Mya Han was smiled a lot. He was calm. He didn't speak much. He was well-behaved and kind. He didn't do things to make others feel badly."
"Calm…didn't speak much…well-behaved…kind…didn't do things to make others feel badly." One can see these characteristics in the seventy-five-year-old Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha Sayadaw to this day. All of a piece, Sayadaw had had these characteristics from an early age.
"I'm surprised to hear you say Maung Mya Han smiled a lot."
"Why's that, Bhante?" The elderly lady, who had been speaking with her head bent down, lifted her head to look directly at the author when she asked this.
"Your cousin isn't like that now. He's very serious."
"That, Bhante; must be due to his samâdhi and his Dhamma." Grandmother seemed to respect and revere her cousin's training and concentration very much. Her answer was great. During this exchange, Daw Thein's companions, Daw Ngway Yee, Daw Khin Htway and Daw Pu Sein, came in. Supporting the other two of the three university students from Intago, Ma Nyo Me Hline and Ma Khine Win Thanda. Ma Nyo Me Hline is Ma Omma Hline's older sister and Ma Khine Win Thanda is her younger cousin. With so many arrivals joining Daw Thein, the gathering became more like a party.
"Grandmother, how many brothers and sisters did Sayadaw have? Can you tell me their names?"
"There were ten, Bhante. Maung Mya Han was the ninth. Daw Tin Nyunt, who is still living, was the tenth and youngest. They two are the only ones still alive. The other eight have all gone, Bhante."
"Grandmother…where did they go?"
"To the next life of course. To the kingdom of death."
"Oh…so they've died. Please tell me the names of those who've gone."
"Ma Hsait, Ma Thane, Ma Thee…"
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