Update from Ingyinbin

The following update came from a local team leader who has been in touch with Ashin Mandala at Webu Sayadaw Monastery in Ingyinbin.

Sadly, Ashin Mandala informed me how hard it had been to obtain enough alms-food for the monastics of his monastery, which include 64 novices who were ordained in the last year's ordination of 100 novices, due to the instability in and around the region. In order for these young monastics to survive, he must now travel from village to village asking for support, going wherever he is invited by laypeople or religious associations, where there is not conflict.

In addition to his noble service to the Sāsanā and educating these young monastics, he is working with a council of village leaders to build new residences to accommodate the novices. He strongly believes that he, as a disciple of the Buddha, must do whatever he can during this difficult time for his people, while the disciples of the evil Māra are destroying lives with the destructive power of anger, ignorance and delusion. Despite the actions of people who have been taken over by evil influences, he believes in the power of Dhamma to bring enlightenment to humankind through the Four Brahmaviharas -- Metta (loving kindness), Karuna (compassion), Mudita (sympathetic joy) and Uppekha (equanimity) -- and is determined to bring relief to the people. 

Due to the instability and fighting in the region, many villagers have come to the birthplace of the revered arahant Webu Sayadaw to take refuge. U Mandala teaches meditation to these troubled refugees who have come to stay at his monastery, to help ease their feelings of grief, hatred and worry. Now that so many young children and other people are taking refuge in his monastery, he is looking to the future with faith in Dhamma, planning to build a new Dhamma Hall that could fit hundreds of Vipassanā meditators. The hall is to be 120 feet long and 70 feet wide. He also sees this meditation hall as a place that could serve large numbers of refugees from different villages if needed.

In closing, he is grateful to every donor who has offered a donation to his monastery, which support the people in this sacred region. The contributions we collect will provide the robes, alms bowls and other requisites of a novice as they enter this noble Sāsanā.