Rice to Monks and Nuns at a Critical Time
The following donation report is from our local team leader, who was bringing donations to various monasteries and nunneries at the requests of foreign meditators who had contributed. We gratefully appreciate their generosity, and continue to remind our readers that no contribution is too little!
Today I had the privilege of fulfilling the wishes of meditators who sought to offer food to monks and nuns facing adversity. Due to the military coup, the usual support from lay followers has diminished, making it all the more crucial for us to assist the monastics during these challenging times. Engaging in Veyyāvacca Dāna, the act of selfless service, has brought me immense joy and fulfillment. This act of compassion aimed to alleviate the dire need for almsfood among the monastic community. As I carried out these duties, I couldn't help but reflect on the Tabawa-Sāsanā, a passage from the biography of Venerable Mogok Sayadawgyi, which highlights the importance of mindful and wise individuals striving for personal and societal wisdom, even in times of great adversity.
Our contributions were directed to the following five monasteries, each with its unique circumstances and challenges:
Mahā Dhammā-yone Pali University Monastery, a beacon of the town, has opened its doors to refugees who have been displaced from their homes in various villages. The revered abbot, an 86-year-old native of Myaung Township, appealed to me to extend assistance to other monasteries in the area that are now under martial law.
Ledi Parami Forestry Monastery, known for its impressive duplicate of the Shwedagon Pagoda, constructed in 2016. Prior to the pandemic, this monastery regularly hosted meditation retreats thrice a year.
Ledi Dhamma-kathika, where Ashin Aloka has been residing in seclusion atop a hill since before the pandemic. Each day, he embarks on a challenging journey, trekking down rocky hills for over a mile to receive alms in the nearest village at the hill's base. Recently, we learned that he had fallen ill for a week, preventing him from going on his alms-round. During this time, he resorted to cooking raw alms-rice, which he had received long ago during a pagoda festival. Our donations will provide assurance that he and the other monks at this monastery will have enough sustenance to endure for a little longer.
Aung Myay Loka Monastery, whose abbot has relocated young novices to a branch monastery due to the frequent armed conflicts in the vicinity. Approximately 20 novices are currently studying at the branch monastery, with four of them visiting our home every morning for alms. They shared with us the presence of an unexploded artillery bomb in the pond near their former monastery, as well as a palm tree pierced by shrapnel. Though the abbot couldn't be present to receive our alms-rice today, the assistant monk from the first monastery will ensure its delivery.
Se-gyi Monastery, which also houses around 20 novices. In light of the children in the urban quarters being unable to attend school at this time, the abbot of this monastery has taken on the responsibility of teaching them Buddhist literature, literacy basics, and some essential subjects.
We gratefully offer Anumodāna, expressing our appreciation for the merits earned by all the generous donors. Sādhu. Sādhu. Sādhu.
