Episode 18: COVID-19 in Myanmar, Thabarwa Edition
This is the sixth episode in our “COVID-19 in Myanmar” series, and for this one, we’re changing things up a bit and trying something new.
Past episodes have featured voices from several different groups: local Burmese, women, monastics, expats who left the country, and expats who stayed. Taken together, these shows are a powerful archival testament of the range of responses from meditators and monastics as the coronavirus swept the world. From reflections on death, to vulnerably sharing fears about infection, from seeking protection in sīla and sutta recitations, to finding a safe place of practice, our guests have shared openly and honestly what they did, how they felt, and how their meditation informed their views, which was in turn impacted by the pandemic’s spread.
One of our motivations in producing this series was a desire to use this platform to share words of wisdom during a particularly troubling time. However, now a good half-year into whatever this “new normal” is, the reality of having to live with this pandemic has transformed from those early initial shock waves to a kind of uneasy settling in. For that reason, after this episode, we are taking a pause to figure out how to best proceed with this series, so that it remains relevant, and continues to reflect the lived reality of practitioners as they adjust to changing conditions.
Which brings us back to this current episode, the “Thabarwa Edition.” As the title indicates, this is the first show in this series in which all the voices are from a single place—in this case, Thabarwa Monastery in Than Lyin. This episode departs from others in more ways than this, however. As some of the interviews were collected right as the world began to shut down because of COVID-19, we realized that while not that long ago in time, they seem eons ago in other ways, as so much has happened since then. So besides their original talk, you’ll hear some updates from guests on how and what they’re doing now. This “before-and-after” approach allows the listener to follow their journey across time and see how their practice and mind have adjusted as the ground continues to shift under their feet.
We hope that you have found some value and insight in this run of “COVID-19 in Myanmar” episodes. It is a scary and unsettling time for many of us, and the words of the Buddha can surely be an aid as we look for firm footing. Thank you for joining us on this journey, and we hope you keep safe and healthy, with a genuine wish for all beings to be happy. The guests include:
Thabawa Sayadaw, from an April talk given to foreign meditators on how to overcome accusations and misunderstandings through continuously doing good deeds.
Awbur Nyan, a musician and lay supporter of Thabarwa Monastery, on how Yangon has fared through the coronavirus and how Sayadaw’s teachings have helped her.
Bhikkhu Varrapanyo on his decision to remain at the monastery throughout the pandemic, and how he is applying meditation instructions from his teacher.
Khema Cari, currently residing at the Thabarwa center in Italy, on how centers around the world have managed.