|
Then Maung Mya Han replied, "What is it you're writing that we won't understand? Show me." U Nyan was dumbfounded. Maung Mya Han did not give up easily, he always had a comeback. At that time he would probably have been about twelve or thirteen.
Maung Mya Han respected his elders but he was not afraid of anyone, neither his elders nor those his own age. He was sharp academically. He was fierce, too. One time, there was a funeral in Kyaukyetwin Village. By then, Sayadaw was a monk studying at Kaikksan study monastery. He came back to Kyaukyetwin Village for the occasion. At the funeral, he saw U Nyan. Going up to him, he asked, "Devotee, do you remember me? Do you remember what you said?"
"Of course I remember you, Bhante," said U Nyan. "Good," said Sayadaw. Not having seen U Nyan since he spoke to him as a child, Maung Mya Han was just then seeing him again. After U Nyan's dismissal, Maung Mya Han had avoided him. Wherever U Nyan was, he stayed away. Only now, as a monk, did he see him again."
Then the author asked, "How do you all address Sayadaw now?"
"Before, we just called him "U Zin (young monk)". Even when he was living at the Mahasi Sâsana Yeiktha, we still called him "U Zin". Only now, since he has come to the Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha have we switched to calling him "Poun Gyi (elder monk)".
"What for, Devotee?"
"The engineers who are our supervisors and our department head were all calling him, "Sayadaw, Sayadaw (Noble Teacher)" so it would have been inappropriate if we didn't change. That's why we stopped calling him "U Zin" and switched to calling him "Poun Gyi".
"When you all come on Sayadaw's birthday, what does he say to you? What does he say about your chewing betel?"
"He tells me not to chew betel. Even now, he asks me, are you still chewing betel? After he says that, I refrain from chewing it for about two or three days. After that, I can't quit, so I always go back to chewing it. Every time his birthday comes around he gives me good advice."
"What advice is that?"
|
|