A Sad Day in Ledi Sayadaw's Hometown
Yesterday I made a post in the morning, Myanmar time, of several meditators and monks sitting in a Dhamma Hall at Ledi Mu Monastery in Monywa, shared from a monk there who is my friend, highlighting the powerful fact that meditation is still going on. I think this is an important reminder that the Dhamma can still be practiced at this time, however I was worried from reading some of the comments that it encouraged spiritual bypassing; that whatever was going on outside, inside the monastery meditation was still the most important activity to take place, and that this could happen unhindered.
Unfortunately, this is not true, and the very monk who shared the picture was himself recoiling in horror by the day's end. That's because Monywa was invaded by the No. 33 Army Division of the Military Terrorists. Residents knew they were coming hours in advance, and simple villagers, monastic supporters, and other residents banded together to do what they could to protect their town from the onslaught now on the way. Can you even imagine what you and your neighbors would do if you learned an organized terrorist group was on their way to your community?
I was up all night last night (as I am often am these days) writing with a friend who shared these images below, pleading with me to tell his story if a day of horror really went down. He updated me with live images and videos showing makeshift barricades being constructed with rocks, logs, vehicles, bikes, wood, and dirt. They knew this would not stop the approach of the terrorist army, but it would at least buy them time.
While many of the men did this, women cooked up large meals for hundreds of these volunteers to eat throughout the hot day-- don't forget, this Chindwin River Valley area is known for its scorching heat. Still others went out protesting, and had a sit-in. Unafraid. Or perhaps very afraid, but still showing up anyway.
Road blocks were set on all the streets leading to Monywa, although of course that couldn't stop the terrorist approach. They came not in uniforms this time, but in plain clothes, and they were indiscriminate with beating, arresting, and even killing anyone on their path, and according to my friend, taking students away to the Na Ma Kha Monywa military base in groups. "They are beating humans like dogs now," he wrote me at 4 am my time. "Such a shameful view. How cruel they are!"
My monk friend who shared the original photo yesterday speaks English and regularly welcomes all foreigners who come to pay respects to the great Ledi, often waking them up at 4 am and encouraging them to meditate with him up in the caves on the hill. "So sad for Monywa" was all he could share by the day's end.
I know it's hard to read these words, but I am honoring both their wishes, and the outspoken hopes of so many, that the one thing we can continue to do is know about their struggle, and support them emotionally in any way we can. This is the momentum can keep their hope alive and find a way to carry them forward.
