Transcript: Episode 11, COVID-19 in Myanmar: Women's Edition
Following is the full transcript for the interviews for the Women’s Edition of the COVID-19 in Myanmar series, which appeared on June 9, 2020. This transcript was made possible by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and has not been checked by any human reader. Because of this, many of the words may not be accurate in this text. This is particularly true of speakers who have a stronger accent, as AI will make more mistakes interpreting and transcribing their words. For that reason, this transcript should not be cited in any article or document without checking the timestamp to confirm the exact words that the guest has really said.
Host 00:01
Hey podcast listeners and meditators. If you like what you're hearing Did you know there is a ton more content in written and video form on our website. If you haven't checked it out yet, take a look at www dot Insight myanmar.org that's Insight Myanmar one word I N si gh t m and m AR dot o RG. In addition to seeing complete information about all of our past podcasts, there are also a variety of blogs, books and videos available. For now enjoy what follows and remember, sharing is caring.
01:04
If we are complacent and don't do really aggressive containment and mitigation, that number could go
01:09
way up many many millions to be isolating patients emphasizing social distancing.
01:16
The Corona virus outbreak is now
01:20
COVID-19 can be characterized as a fundamentally one of the worst affected countries. The pace business supply chains are being disrupted around the globe. This combination of people
01:38
Corona virus outbreak is now happening.
01:43
We realize
01:45
an opportunity situations,
01:48
please make your compassion or kindness
01:51
to the people
01:55
do COVID-19
01:58
become more support and service,
02:04
this time to, to grow down, kick out,
02:09
your negative minds
02:10
become closer to each other, please send in mid to all over the wall all over the universe. See change
02:20
and less, work hard, more and
02:23
more, be more Sandy loving kindness.
Sayalay Piyadassii 02:28
People can help you with whichever thing you do see some
02:34
positive aspects of this Corona crisis. We
02:37
all work. And we see
02:38
that in a sense,
02:40
that brings people also closer together,
02:43
people getting closer together and watching out for each
02:45
other. We have more time for families
02:48
for the community. And time to meditate,
02:52
please make your compassion and loving kindness. It was kind
02:57
of actually very warm and Her hearing kind of
03:02
stabilize their heart.
Sayalay Piyadassii 03:06
This reminder of this uncertainty of life, but we don't know. See what
03:11
we can do and what we cannot do, what we can accomplish
03:15
and what
03:16
we cannot
03:18
remember peace in the face of suffering.
Host 03:22
This is the second special Coronavirus episode we have released. If you haven't heard the first one, we encourage you to go back and take a listen. The onslaught of the Coronavirus is affecting people across the globe, including meditators for whom the Dhamma and inner reflection plays a critical role in life. As the pandemic explodes. The media can scarcely keep up with its impacts on health, politics, culture, economy, as well as the myriad other ways it is transforming life around the world. However, for Yogi's, especially those now sheltering at home in their respective countries, and for whom Burma has a special place in their heart. One issue is a particular issue. hortence yet very challenging to find information about aside from anecdotal encounters or the random Facebook post, that is, how are monastics monasteries and meditation centers in Myanmar faring in these challenging times. There are several areas that this and future podcasts will cover on the topic. They include updates news and information as to how monastic and meditative life in Myanmar has been impacted. personal anecdotes and stories from Yogi's and monastics currently living in Myanmar continued possibilities for practice and retreat in Myanmar as the country responds to the growing pandemic, guidance and advice from the leading teachers and practitioners on the role of mindfulness during the pandemic. Historical studies of how past Burmese monks have responded to crises and disasters in Myanmar, as well as references from the scriptures. a caveat about the podcast production in this new age of social distancing face to face interviews are of course no longer possible. The most obvious consequence of this is taking nicholae none of the guests we interview have access to a professional recording studio. Indeed, as some are living remotely in the Burmese countryside, they have little more than their phone microphone to record and send messages. Our expert sound engineers have done their best to improve and enhance the quality, but there is a limit even to their magic. In a time when even professional news outlets resort to home recorded and melden content, we are also trying to adjust to these new rules and limitations. While we apologize for any difficulty you may experience as you listen to these episodes, we appreciate your understanding of the challenges we face in producing them. We hope you find some light and wisdom and the voices that follow. We are greatly appreciative for the time that they have all generously provided to share their words and perspective. We wish all our listeners to stay safe and mentally sound and to grow more powerfully from this challenging experience. And if you find value in what you hear, a reminder that we have loads more written content on our website as well as videos Insight myanmar.org and one final note in the form of a plug and reminder that we are 100% listener supported. So any financial contribution you make will help us keep the lights on. We have pushed beyond our limited budget and usual schedule to get out these special Coronavirus episodes, and any support to help us continue to produce content will be greatly appreciated.
Zach 06:23
First, we hear from Kayla strange, a British expat who has lived in Mandalay. In addition to her work as a teacher there and in Shan state, she founded the charitable organization holding umbrellas. Through this work, she has conducted several fundraising drives for hospitals, monsters and impoverished communities, invite listeners who are so inspired to consider donating to her mission.
Katie L'Estrange 06:45
Hello, my name is Katie strange. And while my usual full time job is as an English teacher, I am also co founder and chief fundraiser for the holding umbrella foundation and I also work as head counselor. Executive admin on SPM, which is suicide prevention Mima Facebook page, which offers a free mental health messaging service. I've lived in Myanmar for the past nearly eight years. And I recently returned to UK because of the COVID-19 situation just over three weeks ago. Right now I'm talking to you from my beautiful hometown in Wales UK. haven't been back here myself for the past three years also and the time before that, probably about the same three years before that. So what's changed here? Most notably, I've noticed anyway, is the social distancing aspect obviously that's going on everywhere. I mean, everyone is following the rules amicably and Queuing outside shops, you know, big distance between them. No, I haven't seen anyone complaining about I've noticed more and more people who are wearing masks or Though not everyone is doing it. I would say also, the percentage of people wearing masks is much higher in Myanmar. But then I think also availability and normalcy of wearing them, I think has a lot to do with it. I've definitely noticed changes in people's behavior. Admittedly not from everyone, but let's say two or three people out of 10. You know, when I greet them, say hello, either people will maybe turn away or maybe ignore you look down. Or sometimes if you're in the shop, offices only, like two people are allowed in the shop at a time, they might physically turn their backs to you as you pass by, or obviously this is not done in malice. It's not done in a malicious way or anything, I think much more likely, like out of fear out of what the government's putting out, as, you know, stay away from each other, that kind of thing, but I just think it's obviously it's sad, obviously, it's necessary, but the extent to which it's done, it could be And then I can be done while I Oh, hi, sorry, rather than, like, you know, turning your back and not acknowledging someone. I definitely have noticed that I've been really lucky here. I mean, both the people I live with, obviously mine who was my son, but also my grandmother and my brother, and they're both avid gardeners. So I'm really, we're really lucky here to have an amazing space outside, which I know so many people are not in that situation to have an enjoy. So I'm feeling really kind of very grateful for that. So I'm going to talk a little bit about the Gaya foundation and how it was set up. So, my uncle go, a young hotel manager from Mandalay, his royal yacht and Avalon hotel, wanted to help the most vulnerable and desperately needed Mandalay and he was trying to figure out like, What can he do? Who can he work with to do it so he joined forces with his tour. Driving friend, ohana and also a good friend of mine, a lucea nurse from Argentina, who's been in Mandalay since 2017. And with her help, they created a framework for the project and gave Health Training to the volunteers. So currently, they're able to supply food to around 70 families who are suffering from insecurity, food insecurity, which basically includes isn't you know, not only but rickshaw drivers building workers, street food sellers, flower sellers, all the people that basically rely on a daily income for food so they will work that day and then buy the food that they need to eat. So, you know, if I was in Mandalay, I would be of course much more hands on. So I was really grateful and I am so incredibly grateful for the chance to both donate, fundraise and spread the word to be able to help My you know, beloved Mandalay. And then you know other people are doing other things and not only on slightly smaller scale but and there's Veronique CFO, she's the Hilton manager. And she posted something a few days ago about a village in simbin. I'm sorry, a village called simpe in where there was a big fire, you know, we're not just looking at problems because of the virus, but also, everyone's so focused on that the other problems are going on. And, you know, information is not getting out. So she posted something where she said, Yeah, there'd been a fire for 23 homes have burnt down and families have lost everything. So they are collecting donations of clothes, linen, household items, food, you know, all these kind of things. So if anyone has anything spare, you know, you can hand it in at the Hilton hotel or the staff gate on 27th Street. The hotel itself is not open, but there's a small team of volunteers that are collecting items. So I just wanted to note that as well, for those suffering with anxiety, or fear displacement, you know, which to some degree I think, you know, we all fit into at the moment I would say, you know, to try to remember that you aren't alone. I mean, it's easy to say that and not to feel it, but at the moment everyone is going through this situation, you know, connection itself is so key in recovery from basically any mental affliction and, and also to just kind of pull us out of a slump, you know, when we feel down, the best thing that you can do, you know, my experience is to actually help someone else. So, to shift those feelings which are, in fact incredibly selfish, which is basically you know, you saying, I'm going through this problem and it's all about me and I feel this set I feel put upon, I feel attacked. I'm not saying those things don't happen but the ego itself you know, takes over. So even if it's just, you know, the small act of sending a short message to someone you love and telling them that or call someone and ask them how they are, the important thing there is they so you don't you know you try your best to not naturally turn the conversation to talk about yourself and your problems but you know, focus on what you can do to support them. Also, you know, if you're sharing a house with someone and make them a drink that they like them something they that you know, that they like, you know, make them something small, like a card or whatever it is that you know will make them happy. Put a smile on their face and make them feel loved. That's the key here. You know, you're giving to someone the feeling that that you want. So that in itself is basically creating good karma is the idea you know to refocus yourself. The key yeah is to refocus your mind. onto others, and the rest is follows naturally. So you do a good day you give the thing that you want, naturally it comes back to you, and you feel good about doing it not because you want it to come back, but because you see, you know, the effect that that doing that good deed had. Now, you know, I do run a mental health messaging service called suicide prevention, Nima SPN, on Facebook, and for those people that don't have anyone to reach out to or they are surrounded by people, but they just don't feel the connection. You know, we can be that, that connection for them, you know, to just have someone to talk to so if anyone does feel in that way, you know, you can do that. So I really struggled the first few weeks in Wales, just being here, you know, away from home, friends and the country that I love your mom. Obviously, you know, but now that I'm helping to organize and fundraise for those in Back home, I feel much more connected with them and kind of at peace like I'm not like I'm not being useless just by being here and I can't help those everyone's fundraising and collecting donations and handing them out. And I'm kind of, you know, like a third wheel here. I want to help, but I can't. So now that I'm doing that, like remotely, it's been really good for my mental state. There are a few things that I do. Definitely have helped me. Since I've been, you know, seriously practicing Buddhism for the last five years or so. I've tried to remember to do a short coffee meditation each night, which basically is, you know, just thinking about the good deeds I've done that day, whether it be playing with my son and making him laugh, making dinner for the family, or it could be fundraising for some, you know, some donation in the AMA. It really helps me to refocus on that. The good and kind of stress less about the situation or whatever is getting me down. I find it's really easy to dwell on the negatives. I think everyone does really, I mean, however small or large they may be, or however small or large, they may appear to be fought for you, obviously, everyone's different. Something else I do that really helps me with that is I keep a journal, I keep what we call a six day book, which is basically, you know, one day broken up into six times six sections, so there'll be like eight till 1030 1030 to 1230. And to have the digital thrane, three tool 705 and then five to seven. And then I tried to write in there things that I've done, both positive and negative for that day, things that have happened. So basically, just before bed, I will go through these things and select Three things that I need that weren't so good maybe that I need to work on the following day. So that could be for example, something like, maybe losing my temper with someone snapping at someone, it could be something small, like, you know, being stingy with a chocolate bar not sharing it or, you know, could be like feelings of depression and worthlessness, or, you know, things out of my control. And then yeah, that will give me something to focus on the next day. So, obviously, it could, you know, it's directly related, so obviously, losing my temper would become the next day. You know, think about controlling your anger, more, being stingy with the chocolate could be like, you know, try to be more generous give whatever you have, try and give share out. I'm feeling down and depressed could be find someone else do something to make them smile or make them laugh. So that helps me in that sense to improve myself. And so I do that first and then the Second part is the most important. So the second part is to go through and find three things that you that I did that were good that were positive. So you know, that could be, yeah, it could be fundraising, I helped arrange someone to network to arrange fundraising, it could be, you know, doing it flowers to my pain, and, and beating or praying. It could be just, you know, talking with my grandmother about some country she's been to in the past and making a smile and, you know, bring back memories and so she's having really good time. It could be something like that. So I really find that that really helps to refocus me. And it helps me to not get bogged down by the stresses of small things that suddenly take over also at the moment, you know, the big things and the unanswered questions of When can we go home what's happening with work in What about my son's Myanmar language? We're stuck in Wales, you know, these kind of things. So yeah, definitely those things helped me a lot. My personal meditation has been greatly affected by this upheaval, to be honest. Give you a bit of an idea. So when I, when I'm in Yuma, I would normally get up between 430 and 5:30am. Have a drain, wash my face, and then donate water, incense and maybe snacks or fruit or something to my shrine at home. I would then try to do at least 10 to 15 minutes quiet time. I used to do it daily without fail. The last few Well, the last year at least, you know, became more sporadic. So I would say on average between three or four times a week I would do that. And then on Mondays and Wednesdays, I would always do There are three or four vases flowers as me personally on vanilla bone and my son yeah he is Yahoo born. So on other days I would donate maybe seven zoom ganglion whatever is available at that time on string to keep it looking fresh and nice. Always took a lot of pleasure in the flowers I donated for PR more and more so most recently I feel like it really reflected how my outlook on life life I had beauty of the PR then I would see a lot of beauty around me. Both Monday and Wednesday, I would also and also as well and if I was feeling worried or stressed or something I would do beading and praying in the evening, about 1015 minutes or maybe longer depending I felt. So it was definitely a big part of my life. I would try and visit at least once every fortnight every two weeks, sometimes, you know more often, or sometimes less, but preferring nighttime visits, so there's a lot less tourists at that time and request for photos because I will always wear you know, Miramar traditional dress as part of my, like paying respect to power. So but now in contrast, you know, it's very cold here compared to Mandalay, obviously. So I'm getting up or waking up between, let's say seven, like, what is the seven, eight? I see the first few weeks, you know, my body clock was still stuck. So I was still waking up at 445 5am and then a damn cold at that time. So now that my body's realized it's better to get up later. But you know, I still donate without fail on Mondays and Wednesdays to the small Buddha that I managed to bring back with me and I do pray And do beading on those days but I feel very kind of distracted here like, like I'm just visiting or like I'm awaiting notice to leave or something. I mean don't get me wrong, I appreciate being here with my family but I kind of feel like this is not the home for my PR like I'm waiting to take a PR buck and that makes sense. I don't really feel like myself here you know but I'm still in contact with my with my monk via very close friends and family. They're in Myanmar and I feel connected to my family they're still because of that. For me personally. What will I have gained? Well, time with my family is something you know, that I never seen, never seemed to be the right time to come over. either working too hard on on money or, you know, whatever the reason, the last seven, nearly eight years I've spent MMR i've i've manage to come back only twice for like less than two weeks at a time. So, now I'm in my fourth week here with, you know, who knows how long I have been before I get but you know, I'm going to see that as a positive to actually be here and enjoy it. That's definitely been something that I've gained from this. And also for the world, I mean, the environment, you know, the planet itself is able to reset a lot and I was watching on the TV only yesterday about, you know, in London, for example, you can hear so many species of birds and on these sensors you couldn't hear before because of all they didn't come back because of the traffic and pollution is getting less. You can see the Himalayas through, you know, from India now. And you know, very clearly there's no smog because there's no traffic. So, you know, there's definitely you know, these kind of benefits What's going on now I just really hope that people realize the true value of each other. You know, like, let's hope that people can forget petty squabbles between friends and family, you know, and just really know how important we really are to each other. Even that connection of walking in the street saying hello, you know, giving someone a hug these things, you know, without them. It really is true. You don't know what you've, you've got, and it's gone, you know? So I guess, I guess time will tell. And then yeah, let's hope that it's a positive thing. Okay, so what led to my decision to leave Miramar? Well, the truth is, I had zero intention to leave. When nearly all of my work colleagues were booking flights out. You know, I was stood firm and confident in my decision to stay. Then Then came an announcement from our embassy that we were being advised we say to return home, and they were evacuating the embassy staff, which basically translates to, you know, if anything goes wrong, you're on your own, still unperturbed. I call my mother. And to tell her like, I wasn't, I wasn't worried about it, I would be fine. I was going to stay. And let's just say she had immediately had other ideas. You know, I have a contract with a school and international school for June 2020. So what I thought was, well, I go back for a few months, keep everyone happy. And you know, see my family that my son wants to see, obviously, his grandmother and my grandmother, also 91 years old. So, you know, it's always good to come back. within two days, the tickets were bought and we've gone, so I left the whole house full of things, you know, on the understanding of being back in June. Do I regret it? Did the truth is, you know, the first two weeks were really hard for me. I felt like a duck out of water, someone who didn't belong. You no longer fits in here. You know, I was pining for my home back in Mandalay, not just my home, but everything which, you know, from what I'm hearing out things, you know, for example, markets obviously closing and everything is kind of similar to here on restrictions. But obviously, when you leave and those restrictions are not yet in place, it's hard to imagine. You know, that being there and what you miss is not actually there. Now, though, you know, I'm into my fourth week here, and I feel much more settled, mostly knowing, you know, that I'm still connected to Mandalay and Myanmar by mostly by helping with this donation that I'm doing at the moment, as it really helped my mental state. You know, I am resigned. No, no, no, no, let's not say resigned realistic But this situation will not be resolved within the next six months or so. And I'm coming to terms with my decision that landed me here where I am you know, I truly believe actually that I am meant to be here at the moment and it is both my benefit and to those around me for me to actually be here right now, you know, obviously I get the chance to help to take care of my grandmother and be with my younger brother who you know, obviously Miss dearly and my son can can make real connection with you know, his family here so there are definitely pros to being here. I do feel that Paul to go back to get home even though this is you know where my family are, but I really feel like me my is my home and and will be for the foreseeable future. So, but there are also things I can do here that I couldn't do there. Like, I can try and set up some more fundraising A news here. And when this has died down, I can learn to drive which I never managed to do. So, you know, there are definitely reasons to be here which
28:12
which is good.
Katie L'Estrange 28:14
The most promising things that I've experienced in Myanmar, in the wake of this Coronavirus situation is something actually that I already very was very well aware of. But let's just say it cemented my already strong belief. And that is the astounding generosity of the Miramar people. So compared for a second a few weeks ago, as I was hearing the news about Las Vegas and USA, about how, although is nearly all the hotels lay empty, that people were applauding each other for designating a few unused car parks for the homeless people to sleep in. Or, you know, across the pond in the UK here because people needed To isolate for away from their family they were renting rooms at hotels that had since put up their rates. Meanwhile, in Miramar, you know, hotel owners or owners of big buildings have been lining up to donate their buildings for the use of quarantine patients and everyone doing their bit to donate what they can to help those in need from rich to not rich and everyone helping the poor and the needy. So it's just it shows you know, the beauty of Nehemiah and one of the reasons one of the many reasons why I you know, I love it so much.
Host 29:39
C'est la Pia das he comes to us from town g in Shan state, a Lithuanian nun who ordained in Myanmar back in 2013. She talks about how the pandemic has affected her life studies and practice in upper Myanmar.
Sayalay Piyadassii 29:52
One of my friends he said from Russia, but he's stuck in time and on one island together. People here with whom he doesn't have much in common for the his interests in life, whatever meditation, whatever, but now he's saying like it was saying that he feels like kind of apathy, you know, like feeling like in the swamp, and like just diggnation you know, because you're obviously you're kind of locked in. For many people, there is this stagnation, feeling and including myself, you know, about I want to like contrast here is, is is my life in Spain, you know, where you feel like the freedom to do the freedom to, to, to live, how you want to live, to go where you want to go, to meditate to enjoy the nature and everything and now suddenly, well, suddenly, well, I think for a short time, it's still okay but this thing is like going gone on and on and extending and extending And, and you cannot go anywhere you know, like and like really feeling like in prison and or in swamp I don't know it's kind of feeling but it's also interesting to observe it and to look in the mind and why it is like that and how it is and to accept it. What else can you do you know, the only so far the only remedy I found for it is meditation maybe otherwise somehow everything feels a little bit pointless or very pointless. No. I think the only really time when in the evening I can feel that they was not wasted away is when I meditate. And so you know, with the now when you have all this amendment, virtual opportunities which were not available before So, yeah, we actually can do something and read online retreats. I mean, I would have never thought that that can be any way kind of successful or bad live for three days to join online something and actually feel like on a retreat, and really, really benefit. Of course, I think it depends on the teacher a lot, and on the setting and everything. So if everything as well then it can be. It can be very helpful. And then yesterday, you know, yesterday I've joined class with big body. So because he already many for many, many years, every Saturday, he's giving a class and his monastery, reading sutras. And now since sent me this log down current time whatever they opened this classes, they now doing this classes via zoom and so, my, if you don't have to leave in America you don't have to leave there to attend the class who can be me and why, you know, you can just join in it was wonderful. It was wonderful. So I think you know the influx is like that input like that it can be it can be kind of very, I don't know. Something something positive, something positive. Can I see around people I see also you know, how people around how they, how they are dealing with this? Well, one thing they do now, in our place in our university monastery, we're planting a lot. So many trees. I don't know how many like constantly everyday monks including monks, so, no mine, you cannot do this so that then when now you can so, yeah, people working with land, I'm doing something physical. Ah, I think also for the for the for the health of the body for the health of the mind. This is how I haven't been doing great but anyway, there's nothing really Yeah. I think you know for the if I think if I think about what kind of practice you know how I how I practice apart from observing whatever is arising and accepting it which is very powerful, but it is just the first step. I practice I deliberately develop gratitude, I deliberately develop mudita this part because sympathetic joy and other bagmati I think are helping a lot, especially when the mind is dissatisfied. While it really works, like as an antidote, and also I was, I was really surprised, you know, to see how quickly things can be recovered. What I mean, you know, when I went to Spain, I had to practice metta for my line livelihood. Really, it was a question of survival. If you want to survive, you have to have method. So I had to develop it here in Myanmar, because you know, you live kind of you live in a setting when you Don't have to worry about anything. You can do your studies in meditation That's it, you don't have to worry about your livelihood. So, there is no this pressure for you to have met or not have met the NA notice that it actually dropped slowly slowly drop drop drops and really more and this becomes obvious mind when in the mind more and more, you notice this some kind of annoyance dissatisfaction. So now when there was this three day retreat was a math retreat and you know, like just in three days, how much can be kind of gained back. I was really surprised how quickly it's just in the same way as you know, in the past. We have a developed deep concentration and later because of busy life, whatever the Installation is gone again. It doesn't take really long time to recover. when when when the practice so with the methods, the same thing without a plan and more detail more detail about the simple simple things they still still can you know, especially here and when I'm thinking when I think about people in cities locked in their flats you know that Corona for these people that voted for me here. These are helpful. I have one friend in Moscow and she is locked in flat. She was locked in a flat for I don't remember how many weeks so she said like really the the changes in the mind and now she She finally she was able to go out of Moscow and drive quite far away and now stay in, in the nature in her house and nature and so different of course it affects but here we I mean, we have a quite quite a big territory. And like every morning like before breakfast every morning, when I get up I I go to the pagoda and I sit and I meditate. So, I mean to make around here as maybe, I don't know 20 minutes estimate around. So but they they they have closed the university the monastery so properly they put a barbed wire around, you know, so just by seeing barbed wire. I mean it's Not the problem, maybe it's not, it won't be a problem that you cannot go out but it's just this understanding that you cannot go out it actually has a bigger effect than the fact that you cannot go out to a prison. But of course, I mean, we I in prison samsara, we always have been, and so, you know, the bigger prisons, you know, and but that also seeing this barbed wire, it, it, it stirs the mind also scares the mind. It can stir the mind, you know, become dissatisfied and to complain. But it can also serve the mind into that action of like, really understanding that bi in any way. In the room or in either no in the university or in some sign on some Saturday. We will It's been every moment so that's that's an accomplishment also not to waste time because we think the thing bad now but maybe we think so only because they have not got worse yet and they might know million of 1 million or not million but many other things worse can happen and it's gonna get worse. So, yeah this this kind of situation this can be encouraging can be encouraging if the mind doesn't find itself in swamp what we have here in the in samsara we have the are essential objects our attachment so if it's we may be in samsara actually when we are in prison not by the barbed wire we are chained. We are the change I think. So maybe the image is different, but the essence is say cannot go up. locked in. In here we are quite isolated but not I mean it's a little bit funny the way how administration manages things. So the they have announced the lockdown on the first of April. Okay, and so for one month, but now it's extended until the 15th. Maybe they will extend so when they announced it and they bought this barbed wire and everything can very quickly and We cannot go out anywhere but the the donors were still coming in. So they the limited amount of donors that in the group not more than eight. So I felt very funny, of course we depend on these people and for but like, you know, we cannot go out but they can come in That's very interesting. And then maybe two weeks later, or I think maybe two weeks later they asked not to come anybody, so no donors would come anymore. But in the beginning of the lockdown, we had visit from twice from military. So there was one group of four military, they came to disinfect, everything can be sprayed with a tomato chorion. I think we spray sprayed, like all public areas. And then the next day they came again from military but this time Doctors and even funny things but they they measured the temperature and blood pressure and sugar and how they compare for the heart ICG anyway so they did the basic kind of checkup just to see that you're healthy and who had problems and and i at the time I had like a some really concerning problem with my head and so I could consult with them and even one of them came back next day and brought me some medicine. So and we learned from cider that the number of groups of military doctors they're going around like monasteries, all monasteries in bound Jan doing this. Taking people if they look And giving people support. So they're bringing medicine with them and everything and disinfecting. So I thought that, you know, that's nice midway through that, that we're not fighting but they're actually taking care of their surroundings. And so now, since since the first of April, we have not been out at all, so I have no idea how it looks outside. But I know things are closed, mostly. But that's, that's I know, I don't know that I know from from Tascam. I heard how it is in reality before April in the end of March. We didn't we did go out once. And I was very, very surprised to see that everything is happening, as usual. At least at that time. The market on the road was on and another market on people just like anything normal, completely normal. You know? I found it strange at the time. But now I think things are more serious. And there are no coaches between the cities. So no shadow services running. And it's not so easy to to move about. We can stay in your county or in your town, but you cannot really travel much unless it's really necessary. So, yeah, this is how much is known to me. Yeah, but I think things are getting kratom maybe I don't follow the news in the beginning. I did follow the news in the beginning. In February, I went to Shawn. So at the time already in that was in China, thanks for joining in China has not spread yet. Or we didn't know about it being in Europe at the time. So I did go to Sri Lanka and at that time I was I checked the situation and after when I come back and somebody told me all now it's much worse now now it's much worse you don't know you don't go to Europe you don't go and and I was following the news maybe for two or three weeks. I got tired. Tired and I stopped. I just found it pointless. Really cannot change anything and you know, it doesn't really change anything. What is the number for me I'm staying here doesn't change anything. I go My father every week and check on him. And you know, I was going to go to Europe actually I had a flight in my Yes, on my birthday 20 years. I think it was supposed to be it was canceled. So I didn't go I stayed here. And our university actually encouraged us also not to go into stay. When when the saddle gave this encouragement, my rebellion mindset, no, Rocco. You know, I still want to go I have to get my father's a low and I have to go. But then when the air company cancelled the flight and they couldn't do anything, and I had to surrender. It was not easy to surround protests to the past. Only maybe after my father told me that he will feel more. Yeah, he will worry less if I, if I stay where I am and I don't travel then and then became okay. The virus the pandemic, of course, has made the great change already and will continue making and it's including like both, at least we I haven't seen personally but I have seen some pictures. I've heard people so happy about the, you know, the animals coming back and they see Himalayas on the horizon. And it's so inspiring that, you know, that, that, that this changes that with our with ever change, this can happen. And so when we relinquish some things then animals don't have to leave they can be near and the chi can remain clear. And in this station people can learn how to help each other and how to love each other. This help each other point actually. The other day I was talking to my friends, Alinea masala and I was telling her that you know, the NEMA is, is very well prepared is really really well prepared. You know, they keep on saying all the healthcare system was very bad. If this comes then you know, it all will collapse and it's not about health. Care System. I don't think it's about health care system. What is in place in Yemen is mutual support in the time of hardship, they've been through so much, really difficult times, but they learned how to support each other unconditionally, like this help helping your neighbor or really, anybody is in their blood, and they grew up with it. And so in the West, now, people have a chance to learn this, to have a taste for it, and hopefully to adopt it as a practice for future whether there is a disaster or there is no disaster. Doesn't really matter because there is there are always there always beings who need help. And in practice, if we practice long enough, it can be it can get wired in the brain. So, that is my really one of my hope is that people can become closer to each other. And even though in this now we extensively using digital communication, I really hope that this will not become a norm. And I hope people actually will get not sure if it will happen, but I hope that it will, people will get tired of it and when they can actually talk live and do things live, they will do they would rather prefer doing life and maybe even what they were doing before and virtually, they will switch to life. I think this is maybe this hope is a little bit better to say. I don't believe much what I'm saying now. I just hope but I don't. I don't know if that's realistic. Let's say I don't think that's a very realistic hope. But you know, I can dream. So this is my dream feeling. People will become more life and do things more life, because we are now pushed into being so decoteau and doing the keto mec, the keto retreat, and I'm saying how good it is, but it's just because there is no other opportunity
52:31
at the moment
Sayalay Piyadassii 52:34
I wish everybody clean hands and hearts. And basically, clean heart is more important cause and if if those for those who feel drowning now I wish the British the bottom soul and push themselves up factorise see New Horizons apply. Now we should be able to live life mutual support and can now and after they've crossed base heard of that okay.
Zach 53:20
Yeah, that was excellent. The whole last bit was, I think, yeah, really, really nice. Especially the part about me MRV and much more prepared than people were giving it credit for, for being having decades of needing to take care of each other. They've been in crisis almost like as a norm, and they just normalize taking care helping each other and taking care of each other. I think that was a beautiful point. I don't think we hear that from many people. So it's nice to hear
Sayalay Piyadassii 53:54
that for both know even today. Well, I said Where is the no donors until today? There was no donors. I haven't seen any donors for a long time, but today they were donors. Only a few, maybe two or three but whatever the but they brought a lot of different stuff too often, you know, and, and you know, they have masks because this is now what they often are for, like ankle tissue or whatever, and I don't know, they take care, they take care not only of us, shown up on your phones, now I see my side oriented on, like on Facebook, posting pictures, how they're also going around and offering offering offering supporting, supporting other monasteries nunneries or poor people because they're poor quarters, you know. That's what they've been always doing really. Whenever you know, the flood is everything. Yeah.
Zach 55:03
Right. Yeah, great interview. Do you have more to record or should we stop?
Sayalay Piyadassii 55:13
Yes, of course. Yeah.
Host 55:18
Initial funds that allowed us to set up this Insight Myanmar podcast came unexpectedly, and we did our best to stretch them as far as possible. Unfortunately, that generous startup donation could not have predicted the pressing need to cover our exploding health crisis. and meeting the interest and concern many meditators have expressed about the situation at Burmese monasteries and meditation centers. So, if you would like to hear podcasts that address this new content, or assist others in being able to access them, please consider making a donation to fund this work. Most all podcast contributors work entirely as volunteers. And those few receiving remuneration are meditators who have offered 50% or more discount for their professionals. services. Nonetheless, there is still no real way to produce an episode for less than several hundred dollars. Whatever funds we are able to collect now will be used solely for producing these new episodes and any additional donations will allow us to increase our run. Thank you for your support, stay safe and be well. We welcome your contribution in any amount, denomination and transfer method you may give via patreon@patreon.com slash Insight Myanmar via paypal@paypal.me slash Insight Myanmar or by credit card by going to Insight myanmar.org slash donation. In all cases, that's Insight Myanmar one word i en si gh t m YAN m AR. You can also go to the GoFundMe site and search Insight Myanmar to find our present campaign. If you are in Myanmar and would like to give a cash donation, please feel free to get in touch with us.
Zach 56:56
Dominica the strategic a backpack around a gap year from Poland got her first Taste DOM is a volunteer at the Kabbalah center. Shortly after she decided to forego travel a while and learn meditation. She joins us from a remote monastery in Myanmar, were given a chance to return home before lockdown decided to stay on and continue to practice instead.
Dominica Bastrzyc 57:15
So with the stories you have covered started, I think it was in January. And obviously it started in China. And it wasn't growing at the beginning very fast. And the situation wasn't changing very fast. But then yes, we're coming by quickly. So we knew me and my friends because from January I've been in Myanmar. We've been searching the news and checking the situation, how it is how is it changing? So we already knew how many cases are in the world. Where Where is that the worst? And where is the safest place about the covered It was moving from China, actually, I think to Thailand, and there were many cases in Bangkok. So a lot of people from Myanmar wanted to go to Bangkok because it's, there's a huge April and they want to go to other places. But they were very scared to go there because of because of covid.com. In the January I was, I was a volunteer into Barbara into them. And I knew that I will be there for a few months, and I felt they're very saved. And I actually I felt that this tuition doesn't touch me, it doesn't affect me. That's the kind of illusion. And so I knew that whenever would happen if it's going to be worse or it's going to be better, I will stay in the one place and not move around. That was my plan basically. And I think at the beginning of February It was about 60,000 cases. And right now it's 5 million over 5 million. And I really remember when I was checking the news every single day, no, it's you're getting more scared because you only have news and you have no idea what is going on around around the world when you're close in one place and not moving. So the situation was changing. And obviously I was I was checking how it is. But I was really feeling fine. And trying not to panic actually. And I think people in Europe started more panicking about Asia, and then people in Asia actually, and so in January, it was quite fun in February. It was growing. It was really fast growing, but I still wasn't in one place, and I sort of first saved and everything Fine. Then,
1:00:02
in the middle of February, I decided to travel around Myanmar. So I moved on to the north. And
1:00:12
then I felt that I really need to start meditating. And I really need to stay in a monastery. And obviously, this was your source source, okay, and you could travel. But I decided, at the end of February to go to the monastery, and to start meditation. And I think that was the best idea. The best idea in my life actually. I had no idea about meditation about mindfulness awareness. I decided to go to the monastery of ash Asana because I met him before in tomblin, because he had a Dharma talk. And I was listening to that and it was very interesting. It was very, very clear what it is saying. And it was kind of a kind of an opening guys experience. So that time I decided that in the future, I will go to the monastery and start my meditation. The path so at the end of February, wrote a message to actions around that. And he said, Yes, please come every time whenever you want. So I came with no expectations, actually. And I actually I knew that this word, it's not mine word. If I can say like this. It's it wasn't what I would have expected. Actually, I would never choose meditation, I think wasn't really what suits me. So what wasn't very obvious idea. Yes, I will find myself in a monastery and I will find something like an official For me in meditation, which stands for really very weird that we can say, and so I started my meditation. And I was very interested. And the situation was was there were the COVID-19. It was growing. And I think in the middle of March, the situation was was huge. And it was all over the Europe. It was actually I think it was over a million of cases. And I remember my parents told me Please come back home and I, consciously and very aware decided to stay in gamar and not to use net to come back home what was said. And so I just decided to stay in Myanmar and meditate until the situation will be fine, we can say, but right now, it's already made it Really, I mean that really interest tuition what is in the world in the external world because I find myself here in a meditation center, and I really love to be here and I will feel safe and protected because there was a time that no one else, no one from outside to come to the monastery. And that was really a protection for us for for Yogi's, and I feel very lucky and grateful that I can be here and not being scared, if I will get scolded or if I can move or if I can go for fly or I have to be a quarantine or whatever. So actually, there's a kind of upper attics because I closed myself in a monastery before the quarantine started. So yeah, I did it on purpose and I'm very glad about that. We were actually in a country doing it in a monastery of Russians. And we were there since April, I think since April. And we had to change the monastery we had to move to another place. And that was that was a little bit frightening because young Are you there was a switch that you couldn't move Actually, I even think that they look out Yangon. And obviously they therefore Rangers were
1:04:33
were not able to move because they were in younger people were very scared about for years, they felt that we came with the carpet. We started carpet in young one. So yeah, I remember that. They didn't like that, that foreigners are traveling. So we had to move to another monastery and it wasn't really easy. So I think we did it actually. Little bit that secretly. And I also remember that venerable sir asset that we cannot go out of the monasteries. So we already had no choice to go out and change our situation change or change the place. So we had to say in a Muslim monastery and I was absolutely fine with that, actually, I love that idea. And I remember that time my friends who were in barber entangling, working as a volunteer team, they had a last chance to come back home to the countries and almost everyone came back. So I knew that everyone who I know actually in Myanmar, I came back home and I was totally alone. But so I feel very safe about that. And yes, ma'am. Like in Europe, this tuition was very bad, very bad because It moved from Asia to Europe. In Italy, it was very bad. So I remember my parents were panicking kind of begging me to come back home. But I said no. And my sister at that time was in Edinburgh because she was living there. And she couldn't come back home to Poland. And there was no flights on the label. And I remember we were really panicking that she stopped there for off. We have no idea how long they would last. So of course, secretly, she came back to Poland. And it was a huge problem. And she had to come back by car and so on. So I was very scared about about that situation. I was more scared about people in Europe, and people in Asia. And yeah, that was like that and NFS monastery, it was amazing and we really love that place. A lot of Yogi's Of course, and but the second one say that where we are right now is amazing also, and we are far from other people. So actually, I think no one knows we are here. It's it's really it's really amazing. There were some Yogi's at the monastery there, there was one Yogi that really want to move on and go to another place. So another monastery to to change the environment, but but he couldn't, because all other places said said no, no, no more foreigners and no one was allowed to go anywhere. So not everyone was okay with that situation. That was just my point of view that I felt very lucky and grateful. So yeah, there were people who didn't appreciate the situation who didn't like it. In this kind of situation. You cannot change anything. You just, you just have to stay humble. Actually.
1:08:01
I started my meditation. I remember I started with loving kindness. And it's a beautiful practice where you have to actually have a lot of peace and love inside yourself. And it's really hard to stand to have inner peace because you're hearing a lot of news and a lot of bad news about COVID and how the situation is changing. And it's obviously influenced you and influence your meditation. And it's really challenging, you know, it's really challenging to see stable to not be worried about your family, about you about other people about what's going on. And so, yes, it was very hard for me to find my inner peace and not being disturbed being focus, and what is right now, right here and You're trying not to use a smartphone, and try not to connect with the external world, but it's just not possible. Because you can, you cannot really close yourself. and in this situation, you cannot say that, hey, I'm in a monastery, destitute, which doesn't affect me. I don't want to hear any news. I don't care. Because you're not in it around and you're still living in society. And you still have to take care about people. So yeah, this situation strongly influenced us meditators. And it was actually, actually, to be honest, I had a lot of motivation to meditate. Because I knew that I cannot change the word. I cannot use this to which I can change my view, My own view about that. And I can call myself down. And that's that's the best What happened to in the situation? Then I also started to meditate on death and it's changed my perspective about sickness about death about if we're healthy or not. And I really started appreciating the situation that obviously it's it's very bad and people are dying all over the world but we have to appreciate that we still alive that we are healthy that we can do what we are doing right now that even if you're in quarantine and you don't like the situation obviously because no one likes to be locked out in your own house, you know, we have to appreciate that that okay. situation is this like is but yeah, we are we are fine.
1:10:53
That was really opening my eyes
Dominica Bastrzyc 1:10:56
and really changing the view. So I think I find my inner peace. And I find a lot of motivation. And meditation helped me a lot. And I really don't want even to think what I would do if it's not meditation, how I would behave, how I wouldn't be in panic. What would happen? So, yeah, I'm really glad that there is something like meditation. And I really wish that other people could try this out and try it, how amazing it is for you, and how it can all change the views or perspective and our teacher actions or not, I think he was taking care of us and was a big support. He was a massive support and older ones were in the monastery. They will really taking care of us of ourselves.
1:12:00
Dad make me feel very
1:12:03
great actually. And every time if you would have any problem with the carpet or if any of you would like to come back home, everyone would like to talk with you to talk about your situation. And yeah changes. So that time I should start on that was was in the US. And actually I was very worried that if you will not come back to be on board because of the quarantine and because like no one could come to Myanmar. There were people were not allowed to come to this country anymore. So I was very worried he will not come back. But yeah, luckily he's here with us. And yeah, the monks are safe all the Yogi's who I know they're safe, so I'm really glad about that. In the age of 22, I, I finished my university and I decided I will go to Mike up here to Asia, and it was November 19. And I, I thought that this kind of situations like like COVID, like pandemic, whatever, will never ever happen to be. But I think that everyone thinks that those kind of situation would not happen. Because we are so lucky, everything goes smooth get. So I second my traveling around Asia. And, of course, I had so big blast about where I will go, what I will do, if I will see this or dots, and the comments, change everything and change the class and, you know, there's this this kind of joke. So tell the God about your plans. And I was really laughing that we are living in a society where we're planning things when we're thinking about the future and we're not living in the present moment and the situation everything around us can change so quickly. And I would love to tell myself and other people to be in the present moment and not thinking about what will happen in a few months in a few years because you don't know maybe tomorrow that will end up or maybe tomorrow, another competition or another virus will come and you will not be able to move. So, yeah, people like me were backpackers and they're thinking, Wait, we're gonna travel. It's it's now I'm thinking how fool how stupid it is. Because you're, you're like, you're writing to the future. And you're not right now and right here. And I think that's everything what people took for granted suddenly became natural anymore. Even not possible. So maybe we should not take things for granted and be appreciate for every single day what is happening with that we are so safe we are so healthy and be grateful for the situation because we never know how it's going to be.
1:15:19
That's the word is just amazing. And it's everything is an expected
1:15:26
so yeah, I was I was planning to travel to go to Vietnam and to allow and now I'm in Myanmar for I have no idea for how long.
Host 1:15:39
Now we hear from Inga Bergman, a Lithuanian meditator residing in Chicago. While on pilgrimage to Myanmar several years ago, she met a local monastic supporter Meeow meeow, who she has kept in touch with. Through him, she learned that many Burmese monasteries desperately needed food and medical supplies, and has led a fundraising effort to address this dire situation.
Inga Bergman 1:16:01
It was summer of 2007 when I was driving like a maniac to meet this Israeli Russian Vedic astrologer guy who was visiting United States where I was living at the time and still do. So I guess they wanted to know my future. And then I came in after I don't remember it was after our whatever of astrology reading or before he mentioned, you know that you are very, very tense, which was absolutely correct. And he said, You know, there is this meditation in the state you are living which is Illinois. And if you will go there, you know, it might help you it might help you relax because you're extremely tense. And it's even donation based. So it's called the Pastner meditation, check it out, maybe it will actually do good for you. And to this day, that's probably the only thing. Well another couple of small things, but main only thing which I remember from bad conversation. It took
1:17:01
me maybe a few months.
Inga Bergman 1:17:03
I think so because I went for my first course. And I believe October 2007. And that was it. Basically after that course, now I'm 13 years later, and manager at the same meditation Center, which is called dama pagasa. And near Rockford, Illinois, and little town, Becca tonica. And it's still a mystery to me how it all happened. Why did I took this path for so long and the bath, take me off, I took it. Of course, I don't want to diminish my experiences. And perhaps that was a transformational point of during my first course, then actually understood that no matter what's happening outside my tape in the head, which runs the show, and then during the first course, you know, basically you do meditate do listen to the recordings and do other things. But basically there is a minimum input from the outside. But in spite of that, you somehow managed to get sad and mad. And even your neighbor, you know, like, starts bothering you even thought we'd never even said a word to you. But you know, perhaps we're eating too loudly or breathing somehow, wrongly, is like all these things. So you decided not at all? No, that's not for you. It's all nonsense. And you want to just leave. So all these things are happening even further on, there's no input from the outside. And, yes, that's the waldis what's in your head? That becomes very clear. And another thing what was surprising at the time for me, that apparently even my foot sensations, I can just observe them and then they can just arise and pass away and then I might not even know what I was about to film. And apparently that's okay. We will still going on. And after. I just couldn't forget anymore. I couldn't just live differently anymore. So all these things I don't know if at all these things kept me for another 14 years of the staff and the bathroom wall, different things at the beginning it was a little magic. I would come with my eyes wide open and new community, which I desperately wanted to have like I wanted to have home since I was a foreigner I was somewhat having a challenging time adapting to the new society. And this was my home, this was something I would come and just as soon as they would enter the driveway, it would be like everything else was left on that road behind me. And I was in the in the center. It was be like different atmosphere like and just enter some sort of devil land or I don't know divine land or something like that this magic was gone for a while and I would feel how much I get from it and I would give back and I would get even more and they would give back and I would get in so many different ways IT pro people through experiences from I don't know it's just sometimes really it seems like it's a magic thing. But as time continued to go I think this magic turned into something more more realization of just just be the most
Dominica Bastrzyc 1:20:43
well, the bass earner just started seeing things were wavy which maybe not so much magic but just the way they are that's what you put out what that's what do we get back and a lot of time to kindness and and other qualities doesn't have to necessarily come from a high feeling. It just, it's enough to understand it's enough to understand that there is a need, but there is a responsibility. But there is right now something in front of you, which may be needs your help is probably for some reason why this in front of you and that it needs help. And I suddenly started being very, very careful to notice these kind of moments. And I'm sure I missed a lot of these kind of moments. But I try I try to my best. So one of the things will happen not too long ago, maybe right now, it's probably like a week and a half ago. One man from Myanmar contacted me through Facebook asking for help now like a little background to that. Three or four years ago I went to Burma. So that was you know, part of my path in vipassana. I wanted to see the land which kept the tradition going for so many years. I wanted to experience the meditation centers there, I wanted to find other monasteries and just to see how people are living there, how monks are living there. So I went there with two of my other friends and we met Myo Myo. That's the name of this man in Yangon, where he was our guide for a couple of days. And he seemed like a very kind and intelligent person. As I learned later, he was an orphan, I believe since the age of nine. And since then, he lived in different monasteries. One of the interesting thing about the monasteries in Burma is that they are basically like a summer camp for kids. It's an interesting social structure-- kids are just there, like monateries is not something closed from society. Monastery is a part of society. Kids and lay people are coming there and meditators, and things are happening in monasteries there. So this part of society which is somewhat responsible for your spiritual being, and the laypeople, they support ministers because there is a structure that the people who work, they work and make money. People who live in monasteries, that's their job to meditate, to send loving kindness to the world, to bless other people. So there is a symbiois of some sort of in society, and it works! It seems like all monateries were doing pretty well when I was there. And I had the immense pleasure of visiting this country and visiting a few places in fact, to this day especially one place near Mandlaay, it's still in my heart. When I practice loving kindness, I almost always remember that place. So back to Myo Myo, we met him. We had a great time he helped us and now he was texting me through Facebook and trying to tell that due to Coronavirus, monks have a lack of food. Myanmar is still one of the places where monks go out every single day with their bowls to collect food for their day. They don't have a bank account. They don't store too much of things. They live day-by-day and they completely depend on the surrounding. So right now due to Coronavirus, everything is shut down, they cannot go out, they cannot beg for food, lay people cannot come in and bring their food. And suddenly we're in this weird situation where their life is basically stopped. And they're not prepared for that. Myo Myo actually never asked for me anything before. His call to me was somewhat of an equivalent to a monk coming to my door with his bowl. And I thought actually in some way even honored because of that and of course, I thought 'what can I do?' Right now, since I'm a manager at the vipassana center, my stipend is not that large. Of course, I can donate some amount, but I thought, you know, is that going to be enough? So I decided, you know, why not to give that merit to more people, since actually in the tradition it's not even so much for the monks that they receive food, of course, they do receive food and they are grateful. But it's also for people who give them food. They receive a merit for that. So I thought maybe my friends also want to get merits, why to deprive them from that? And so I made this little GoFundMe campaign where everybody can, you know, donate as much as we can, actually, which was pretty successful. I was surprised how many people were so kind. And of course, I have a lot of meditators who, in my friend list, which were pretty active in this campaign, but even not meditators! I was happy to see that people have such an open mind, especially since probably many Westerners don't exactly understand that concept of day-to-day living. Even myself, I didn't understand that well, because when I wanted to transfer money, I asked the monastery has a bank account, and Myo Myo started laughing. He said, 'No, of course we don't how would we? I don't have account also, like I've never done that before it's just right now this type of situation happened.' So it is a concept which is somewhat foreign for us Westerners. And maybe a lot of people would think, well, 'what kind of cause is that?' I'm happy that a lot of people actually did understand. So yeah, the campaign actually went well. And it's, it's still open, we will be sending money pretty soon. And I hope, I hope somehow it will become better for the monasteries in Myanmar. And it seems like a great opportunity for all of us who perhaps are not exposed to this kind of merit giving to the monks. To be able to participate and donate even from far away. That's probably a good part for our global living these days and having information and accessibility to things through internet. And again, I feel fortunate that this possibility came my way and made it beneficial to givers and receivers. May all be happy
Host 1:28:31
You have been listening to the Insight Myanmar podcast, we would appreciate it very much if you would be willing to rate review and or share this podcast, every little bit of feedback helps. If you are interested, you can subscribe to the Insight Myanmar podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Also, please check out our website for a list of our complete episodes including additional text videos and other information available at www Got Insight Myanmar one word dot o RG. If you cannot find our feed on your podcast player, please let us know and we will ensure it can be offered there. There was certainly a lot to talk about in this episode and we'd like to encourage listeners to keep the discussion going. You can make a post suggested guests request specific questions and join in on discussions on our Insight Myanmar podcast Facebook group. You are also most welcome to follow our Facebook and Instagram accounts by the same name. If you're not on Facebook, you can also message us directly at Burma dama@gmail.com that's one word. B you are ma DHAM ma@gmail.com. Or if you'd like to start up a discussion group on another platform, let us know and we can share that forum here. We would also like to take this time to thank everyone who made this podcast possible especially our two sound engineers, Martin combs and Thorn gay. There's of course Zach hustler content collaborator and part time co host. Ken pranskey helps with editing, drag co spend DITA and Andre Francoise make our sketches. GPU does our Burmese translation. Herrmann, Perez, Santiago, Hadar, and mirasol. Do our Spanish translations, and a special Mongolian volunteer who was asked to remain anonymous does our social media templates we'd also like to thank everyone who assisted us in arranging for the guests we have interviewed so far. And of course, we send a big thank you to the guests themselves, for agreeing to come and share such powerful personal stories. Finally, we're immensely grateful for the donors who made this entire thing possible in the first place. We also remind our listeners that the opinions expressed by our guests are their own and not necessarily reflective of the host or other podcast contributors. Also, this recording is the exclusive right of Insight Myanmar podcast. It is meant for personal listing only and cannot be used without the Express written permission of the podcast. donor. This includes any video, audio written transcript, or excerpt of any episode. That said we are open for collaboration. So if you have a particular idea in mind for sharing any of our podcast or a podcast related information, please feel free to contact us with your proposal. Finally, we welcome your contribution in any amount the nomination or transfer method you may give via patreon@www.patreon.com slash Insight Myanmar via paypal@www.paypal.me slash Insight Myanmar or by credit card by going to www dot Insight Myanmar dot o RG slash donation. In all cases that's Insight Myanmar one word AI n si gh t m y A and M AR. If you'd like to give a specially to support our new run of Coronavirus episodes, please go to the GoFundMe site and search for Insight Myanmar to find our case. campaign there. If you are in Myanmar and would like to give a cash donation, please feel free to get in touch with us. With that, thank you for listening, and we welcome back next show. I know for a lot of podcast listeners, as soon as the fundraising requests start up, you kind of just zone out or skip ahead until it's over. But I ask that if you're taking the time to listen to our full podcast that you also take the time to consider our schpeel. Some may assume that producing a 90 minute episode wouldn't take much more time than the conversation itself. But there's so much more that goes into it. Several days in advance our content team reviews the biography and any works of the upcoming guests and discusses the best way to use our limited time together. Our logistics department coordinates transportation for the guest to the studio, and then after the interview, the raw audio file is sent to our sound engineer. 190 minute episode can take him up to two days of solid work, which is carefully coordinated with our content team to ensure Smooth listening. More work is then done recording the introduction of the guest and other segments, particularly the post interview reflection and then mixing them back together to upload to the hosting site delivering the podcast that our listeners eventually hear. We hope each one provides you a solid hour plus of inspirational and informative dama content and if so, we also hope that you can consider supporting our mission and if you would like to do so we welcome your contribution you may give via patreon@www.patreon.com slash Insight Myanmar one word as well as via paypal@www.paypal.me slash Insight Myanmar one word that's i n s ni ght MYANM ar if you are in Myanmar and would like to give a cash donation, please feel free to get in touch with us.