Donation to monasteries and nunneries in the Sagaing Hills
As the Burmese military continues its assault on its own people, one of the growing casualties rarely discussed in media reports are those spiritual renunciates at monasteries, nunneries, and meditation centers. In some cases, such as in Mogok, monasteries were actually raided with tear gas, while at other times soldiers have requisitioned monastic buildings and other religious halls as places to stage violent operations.
However, even in those Buddhist sites that have as yet managed to avoid military engagement, many are now running entirely out of food supplies. The challenges are many. Not only do donors have far less to give in terms of money— after all, the country has been entirely shut down for two months with no salaries to be collected— but there are also added challenges. For example, many are unable to access what money they do have in the bank due to closures, and even with those who have cash in hand, many markets are closed. To make matters worse, even if one has managed to go to an open market and pay with cash, the roads have become so dangerous, with soldiers killing people in the streets for no reason, that even venturing outside can be a grave risk to life.
Concerned how many of these monasteries and nunneries are now starting to run out of food, we allocated some of your donation towards 20 monastic sites in the Sagaing Hills. Our volunteers purchased onions, dried fish, beans, oil, and more— thankfully, most of these still have a good supply of rice. The volunteers then safely visited each of these sites and formally offered the donation you have provided to the monastics.
The Sagaing Hills have a special place in the hearts of vipassana meditators everywhere, as they are the historic region where serious monastic practitioners would retreat fo extended periods of near-isolated practice. We are so grateful that your donation has allowed the present-day generation of monks and nuns to be a bit more at ease during these times of abject terror.
