"People only appreciate Sayadaw's good discipline when they themselves become authority figures. They understand the difference between using and wasting water and electricity. Knowing how expensive it is to use up water and electricity one couldn't not conserve it anymore. One comes to conserve it. One's not comfortable wasting," he said.

I was glad but surprised to here this from the one who said it. I definitely didn't expect to hear these kind of words from him. When I came to his place and he said that to me, he had a bit of a grin. Though I can't say exactly what he was thinking, I found myself imagining the circumstances of his past. He liked to be a bit contrary. It was back when we lived together at the Mahasi Sâsana Yeiktha. He still had only about seven vâssa then, I think. I can't say if it was because he was young that he was so contrary. Back then he was living in a room in the wooden meditation building. An old, experienced monk lived in the room next to him. That monk would remind him not to leave the light on in the shower and leave water running. Just to be contrary, he would leave the light on and the water running. Since he has become an authority figure himself, I think his view towards that old monk must have changed. I say this because he has become the supervisor of a center. In vâssa, as well, he is no longer young. He has about fifteen vâssa now. 'He' is U Sa?varâlinkâra. He has become the Sayadaw of the Thingan Island, Kyaikksan Dhammapiya Sâsana Yeiktha, a branch of the Shwe Taung Sâsana Yeiktha.

He lived at the Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha for about three years. While he was here, too, Sayadaw gave him a lot of constructive criticism. Over and over, Sayadaw gave admonishments not to him, but to everyone in general, concerning habits in using water and electricity. Perhaps he though back then that he was already more than in compliance with Sayadaw's admonishments. I still remember what Sayadaw said when he heard that U Sa?varâlinkâra and the other young monks were using the phone a lot, and gave them some constructive criticism on the issue. Since there is a phone at his monastery, I would think he has come to appreciate well Sayadaw's advice about use of the phone. It seems like he follows Sayadaw's advice and puts it into practice himself and urges others to do the same. Since he is already following it, it is easy to remember.

Thinking of his situation, the story of Ajâtasattu comes to mind. Before he had a little son of his own, Ajâtasattu could not understand his father, Bimbisâra's fatherly mettâ (lovingkindness) for him. After a son by the name of 'Udayabhadda' was born to him, fatherly mettâ filled his heart. He really loved his son so. Feeling this great love, he wanted to know, "Did my own father really love me like this?" When he asked his mother he came to know how he had been loved.

Now U Sa?varâlinkâra has himself become a 'father'. Thus, he has come to appreciate his 'father', the Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha Sayadaw's discipline, lov

Back to Contents

Continue