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The Sayadaw-to-be U Pandita was very punctual. When the time came to pay homage to the Buddha, he was there. He offered flowers, water and rice at the scheduled time. He took his vow to remain under the tree and meditated with the beads punctually. He was on time for classes. He studied and read according to the schedule. He was on time for recitations. He did his work quite regularly."
"Devotee, are you getting tired?"
"It's all right, Bhante," the layman replied. He continued, "Sayadaw U Pandita once told me that he never asked his sponsors for so much as a box of matches."
"Our most venerable Sayadaw U Kelâtha cautioned us like this. When we ask for something, the person we ask may become angry. If the person we ask doesn't give us the item requested, we may become angry. Sayadaw-gyi told us that in the olden days there was a monk who lived alone in a certain grove. The birds would go to a pond by day to get their food and by night would return to stay in this grove. As the noise of the birds disturbed the monk's meditation, he went to the Buddha and told him of the situation. The Buddha said, 'If you want the birds to leave, ask them for one of their feathers each day.'
As the Buddha advised, the monk made this request of the birds during the first, second and third watches of the night. The birds could not tolerate the burden of the monk's requests, so they all together flew away to a distant place. After telling us that even animals don't like demands, Sayadaw-gyi warned us not to make excessive requests of our lay supporters."
"Sayadaw must have refrained from making requests of lay devotees because of Sayadaw U Kelâtha's exhortation. I'm very happy to hear this account."
From the time Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha was started, there have been many needs. But Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha Sayadaw doesn't ask anybody for anything. Just as he didn't make requests when he was young, he doesn't now that he has become older, either. Sayadaw admonished his disciples that without his asking for anything or even saying what was needed, donors have made offerings. Sayadaw said, "We don't lack for donors. Sometimes the donors even give more than what we need. On our side, we monks and novices need to do our work. Monks should only do the jobs of a monk. Those jobs are sîla, samâdhi and pa?ña. If we do these jobs, we experience the peace of purity, the peace of freedom from kilesas. When we are free of kilesas the donors benefit greatly. That is why we should do our work," he said.
Sayadaw has met good teachers and lives in a good place because of his past good deeds. Coming to a good place and meeting good teachers because of his past
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