Donation Report: A nunnery in the Ayeyarwaddy Division

The following report comes from our donation leader, updating and thanking donors for the support that has been provided to help those in need. As we are still collecting further funds for upcoming donation trips, a contribution of any size will be so greatly appreciated!

“Last week we organized a donation of alms-food to needy monasteries and nunneries in the Ayeyarwady Region. We visited one nunnery which is famous for being the home to many elderly nuns. The elderly nuns reside in the eastern part of the nunery, where they perform Buddhist services and practice Vipassanā Dhura meditation. The young nuns live in the western part, where they study Pariyatti (Buddhist texts). The arrangement is similar to that of the Ingyin Bin Monastery in the native village of the reverend Webu Sayadaw, which is also divided into two parts: one part for Pariyatti and another for meditation. 

The head of the nunnery said that the elderly nuns that live in the eastern section cannot go on alms-round for rice because of the recent heavy rains, which causes the streets to fill with mud. And if they get wet in the rain, they risk getting sick, which is dangerous at their age. The Ayeyarwady Region is a delta where there are countless streams and riverlets. For alms-food, the nuns have to cross these to reach the villages where most farmers live and work. The villagers not only contribute rice but also give vegetables like eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers. During the rainy season, it is hard to travel from one place to another, especially in rural areas. The elderly nuns were happy to receive the donations sent by our foreign donors, and sent metta to all the donors and volunteers, hoping they would gain happiness, good health and insight from this good karma. Now they can meditate in peace and not have to worry about damaging their health going on alms-rounds in difficult circumstances.”