A Journey to Myingyan – Part Three by Junior Win

The grey of the morning had passed, and the sun was now high over us. After paying homage to the SunlunSayadaw, and offering yellow robes, towels, candles, incenses, and the fruits I brought from Rangoon, we would back to the place where our things rested.

I looked around in the monastery ground, and saw some shop sold T-shirts on which ‘Soonloon Medtation Centre Myingyan Myanmar’, and ‘Touch-Awareness-Mindfulness’ printed, and there also was a drawing of parrots which reminded me the story of Sunlun Sayadaw U Kivi as during the time of Kassapa Buddha, he had been born as a parrot on one of his past existence, offering Him with some fruit as a parrot, and he had made a wish before Him, and as a result of that wish he won Path Knowledge now. I bought T-shirts as soon as I saw them, and also bought some native foods there.

You might think it seemed like a ‘coat of arms’, but not really it was. It honored the past existence of Sunlun Sayadaw U Kivi.

 (Photo left)-The mark which was actually drawn on the post of the Myingyan pagoda, and (photo right) -I seemed was proud of myself to wear this T-shirt.

The monastery we stayed was two storey building, and now we were on the upper floor. It was large and comfortable to all of us. The wind blew from every doors and windows. Although the weather was so hot, we felt cool and at ease. Before having lunch, I changed my heavy clothes and put on my new T-shirt I bought recently. I felt comfortable. When I entered into the hall, I noticed some of the people looked at my T-shirt with interest. Some asked me where I get this T-shirt. They were interested in it because of the design. I was proud of myself being wearing this.

After having lunch, I saw some people were hiring a car to go around Myingyan. At that time, I wanted to shop and see around the town. But I could not have any acquaintance here. I asked my uncle and my aunt to hire a car as somebody did. They said it was no use, because they too had no friend here. So, I gave up my idea, and was lying on the floor. I became comfortable, and thought I did not want to go anywhere. I liked to rest here, and was pleased. I noticed only a few people left including us in the hall. The weather here was so hot and dry.

I was wakened by my aunt, I guessed I must had been sleeping soundly then. She said the head of our group came and called us to visit the place called Maung Yin Paw ravine where we had never been before. She also said that he (the head of our group) now hired a three-wheel carrier which was for 12 persons comfortably sat inside, and we would have to gather there right away.

I was very excited to see the new sights on the way we were going to now …