Meditation in a Burmese Jail
This is an excerpt from the second volume of Alan Clement’s monumental new work, Burma’s Voices of Freedom. I spoke with Alan about it earlier in the year, and encourage anyone interested to check out our conversation in full. His interviews in this book give a dynamic inside view to the courage that so many Burmese had while living in the most trying of times. The following talk is with U Aye Win, Aung San Suu Kyi’s cousin and one of her closest colleagues in the National League for Democracy (NLD). U Aye Win managed Aung San Suu Kyi’s foreign press engagements and worked as her secretary and aide. The topic of political prisoners using their time in incarceration to meditate is surprisingly common in Myanmar, which Swe Win goes into much detail on in my earlier interview with him as well.
Alan Clements: How did you occupy yourself in prison? Were you allowed books? Could you write?
U Aye Win: No, no one was allowed to read or write. But I was an exception. I was allowed a Buddhist book to read, but nobody else was given that facility. I could at least read a religious magazine, but it was an exception given to me. But what I did was meditate—my teacher was U Win Htein, because I had no experience at that time. He gave me advice, and then I read a few books on meditation that were sent by my family.
Alan Clements: Who was the author of the books?
U Aye Win: My school of meditation is Mogok. My wife sent the books, by Mogok Sayadaw. They were very clear.
Alan Clements: Did you have lights to read by in prison?
U Aye Win: Funny you should ask. They were on 24 hours a day! (Laughs).
Alan Clements: Oh, my!
U Aye Win: They wanted to look into our cells at any time and see if there was something going on.
Alan Clements: Did you have windows in your cell?
U Aye Win: Yes, there was the main door and a single window very high up. But you couldn’t see out.
Alan Clements: Could you hear anything from outside the window?
U Aye Win: No, but you can hear your cell mates in other cells close by. We often talked, U Win Htein and I. Later, he was sent to the main prison but for two months we stayed together, and we talked about everything, including you. But if it was a faraway cell you couldn't hear or communicate.
Alan Clements: How disappointing. How mean. He came as your dear friend and then they took him away. Human behavior can be so despicable. If only more people in power would understand the Dhamma.
U Aye Win: Yes, of course. The whole cell block was a sort of transit. We were never transferred, but when people were arrested, they were brought there and then transferred to wherever else.