|
compassion, yogis often say, "Sayadaw, only Sayadaw". They are incomparably grateful. They point to him as their great benefactor.
I have heard one monk who has meditated with Sayadaw, Shwebo Sayadaw U Nanda, say, "On special occasions, Sayadaw comes in in the morning to sit with the yogis. He comes in a little late. After looking around to see which yogis come to the sitting and which do not, he sits down to meditate. When he stands up, he stands behind the yogis. Then, in the interviews, he gives little inspirational illustrations and explains them. If it is a yogi who is really making effort in their meditation, he gives them great inspiration. He exhorts them to keep noting even the whole night without sleeping when the practice is strong. If it is a yogi who is not making effort, he is usually firm and does not show favor towards them."
U Nanda continued, "There are two things for which I am most grateful to Sayadaw. One happened when I was meditating during the rainy season. My robes would get wet and I hadn't any extra robes to change into. Sayadaw got an inkling of this, so he gave me a good set of robes from his place which he had worn himself. In those days, receiving a good pair of robes was greater cause to be delighted and grateful than it is these days."
"The other one was that he had me practice mettâ at the end of the three month rainy season retreat. I don't know, perhaps it's because I am Saturday-born. I'm high-strung and stubborn. I am aversive by nature. If something's not true, I don't intend to accept it. I had the kind of disposition just to kill someone without hesitating. That's how strong my aversive nature is. When I practiced mettâ as Sayadaw had me do, that aversive nature decreased to the point of being almost gone. I became able to be patient and accepting with whatever is happening. I have gained great benefit from being able to live with that noble mindset. So I am exceedingly grateful to Sayadaw. I have not yet been able to repay my debt of gratitude to Sayadaw for these two gifts," he said.
Just as there are many different types of novices and monks, of various levels of spiritual attainment, among those who have practiced with Sayadaw, there are also lay people of every type, level of spiritual attainment, and stratum of society. Among them, there are some very attained beings, some at an intermediate level, and some who have fallen to a low level. There are people of other religions, and there are those without religion. There are locals and there are foreigners. Sayadaw wanted them all to experience the taste of the Dhamma in the way he did. There have been some yogis who wondered, "Is he just treating us to this taste? Does he really partake of this great taste himself?".
He is not like a stereo turned on only for the benefit of another; neither is he like a detergent vendor who just sells his cleanser to others; nor is he like a rancher who does not taste the products of his cattle, these yogis realize profoundly when they study him. When they go and peek at Sayadaw, they see that he is just noting. Morning, noon, and night, whenever he's free, he seems to be noting. In the morning, he makes a regular practice of getting up very early and meditating. Sayadaw has a little lump, on his buttock, I think. He makes a practice of noting to master all of the associated physical
|
|