Abhidhaja Sayadaw: An example of honesty

The following reflection was written by Ashin Visuta, and provides insight into the life and journey of a young Burmese monk as he tries to gain access into the more prestigious Buddhist universities that his country has to offer.

“Yesterday I visited Bahan Pali University in Nyaungdon where my brother monk is studying. In fact, the university was once home to the most reverend Abhidhaja Sayadaw Ven. Sobhana. When I first met him, there were no brick buildings like there are now. He was the abbot, but he lived in a one-story wooden building.

The visit was short, but it brought back memories of Sayadaw during my short stay at the monastery back when I first met him, just like the photographs taken. Who I was at that time, more than 20 years ago, could not truly understand the Sayadaw’s activities but after so many years, my experience tells me he is a very unusual (and special) person. Recalling those days made me miss him and his small wooden home. 

Twenty years ago, many young monks dreamed of studying at Bahan Pali University’s Naungdon Monastery. I was one such monk, and without much knowledge of the place I came from Yangon at the invitation of an acquaintance.

Yet for me, achieving this dream was difficult because I had no recommendations from any prestigious teachers in Yangon. Neither did I have any lay sponsors who could support me. A young monk with no sponsors could only dream of getting a chance to live and study at such a prestigious monastery.

Senior monks would ask me if I had a teacher who would recommend me or a sponsor who would support me, but the answer was always “no.” However, I had the firm belief that I could gain a spot if I was able to write out every basic lesson required for entrance and if I expressed my sincere eagerness to learn. This belief was not very realistic at most prestigious monasteries.

However, when I met with the Sayadaw and requested to stay and study at his monastery, he asked to come back the next day to chant the basic lessons. As I had already studied every lesson thoroughly, I was able to chant them properly, and was given a chance to study at the monastery. I thought, this is a monastery where the abbot will admit a young monk without a recommendation from a teacher or a lay sponsor.

Another clear memory of the venerable Sayadaw is that despite his advanced age, he went on alms rounds almost every single day, standing at the front of the line with all the junior monks to receive his breakfast and lunch, in rain or shine. Although the student monks went on alms rounds only twice a week, the venerable master did so almost every day to collect food for the other monastics. I wonder how many abbots of monasteries with 200-300 monks would go on alms rounds like him. Probably very few.

I noticed another virtue of the venerable master when I took the entrance exam for Sitagu International Buddhist College. When I told the abbot I wanted to study there and asked for a recommendation letter (required to enter Sitagu), he praised my desire to study and promised me a letter. With his recommendation in hand, I took the entrance exam and passed.

The last time I met him was before left for Sagaing to attend Sitagu Academy. At the time, a friend who was a monk at the same rural monastery I had come from, arrived in Yangon with nowhere to stay, no teacher recommendation, and no lay sponsor. Just like me, he wanted to live and study at Nyaungdon. When I met with the venerable master to tell him I was leaving for the Sagaing Hills, I asked him if my friend could stay in my place. The Sayadaw agreed and asked to meet him. The next day I brought my friend and he was granted the chance to live and study there, just like me. Thanks to this opportunity, this friend, who once had nowhere to live or study in Yangon, is a scholar of the “Two Baskets” of the Buddhist canon.

These stories may seem like nothing special, but for young student monks who were having a difficult time, we were truly fortunate to meet with such a good-natured, honest and compassionate master who joyfully followed the Buddha’s teachings. I am sure there are many other monks, like my friend and I, who were fortunate enough to be given the chance to further their education and better themselves.

As I recall these stories, the quiet and simple image of Abhidhaja Sayadaw comes before my eyes. (“Abhidhaja” is an abbreviation of the title of Abhidhaja Mahā Rattha Guru, or the great master of the state.) He is a fine example of the virtues of honesty and true love for the Sāsanā.”