Meditation in warfare
Recently we shared news of an attack near a meditation monastery in Sagaing division, which resulted in two villages being burned to the ground. As information continues to trickle out of the region, we will keep our readership informed so long as no one is put at risk. Following is one rather unbelievable anecdote which was recently relayed to us. Reading this, I cannot help but think of the stories of Saya Thet Gyi transforming bomb shelters around Shwedagon Pagoda into meditation cells after World War II. Of course in the stories that follow, the nun is continuing to meditate not after, but during, this terror. Such fortitude and dedication to practice is almost unimaginable for so many of us. As we are continuing to send funds to support their community, a contribution of any size is greatly appreciated!
“I was just talking to an English speaking nun who had been a yogi for more than one year. Two days ago, she asked permission from Sayadaw to become a volunteer. She was meditating silently in her kuti when the bombings started overhead from the Burmese air force.
Nobody told her what was going or informed her to take shelter. Wow, now this is really the hard core U Pandita/Mahasi way of meditation practice that is taught at this monastery! Keep on observing the rising and fall of the abdomen until you die! No bombs should keep you from fighting with the kilesa defilements!!!
The next morning she went on alms round in [Redacted] village. She was surprised to find five houses had been burned down, dead animals all over the place, and nobody to open the doors and make her offerings.
The village had been deserted!”