The Two Meditators who were Spies
The following quote is from a podcast conversation with Ariya, a Swiss meditation teacher and nun who spent time in Burma. It describes an incident that occurred many years ago at a meditation center where Ariya was staying. The quote highlights the tension between the military regime and their general suspicions of outsiders. It also highlights the use of meditation centers as a means of gathering information or keeping an eye on individuals who were deemed potentially problematic by the government. For those who are interested in meditation and Buddhism, the quote serves as a reminder of the potential for spiritual practices to be co-opted or used for political purposes, which is certainly true of the current military regime. For those interested in the political situation in Burma, the quote also provides insight into the ways in which the government has tried to monitor and control outside influence or dissent.
“It’s easier to observe others than to observe what is going on in your body and mind.”
An American woman came to the center to practice meditation for five days. She had said that she was a journalist, and that she had the permission from the Burmese government, the military, to travel around in Burma. So, we settled her in, gave her instructions. So she meditated. Sayadaw then told us later that on the same day, two Burmese men came also to the center in order to meditate. But somehow, the Sayadaw knew that these two Burmese meditators were spies.
They had come to observe this American journalist. And so they had to follow the schedule, get up at 3:30 am and meditate all day long, sitting, walking, sitting, walking, and so on. And apparently, in one of the interviews, one of the Burmese men had said, ‘Oh, in the sitting meditation, there is so much pain; the back hurts and the knee hurts. And ah, so difficult.’
And apparently the Sayadaw, he just made a comment, something like ‘Oh, well. You know, it's easier to observe others than to observe what is going on in your body and mind.’ Then when the American journalist left, of course, these two men also left on the same day.”