Honoring my Teachers

After flunking out of college and being readmitted with a warning, I will never forget walking into Bill’s classroom for the first time.  There he was, sitting on top of his desk in a full lotus position, welcoming each student.  I sensed right away that he knew something, and I was determined to know what he knew.  Bill introduced me to the Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu and I was particularly moved by Epigram 47 where it says, “there’s no need to look outside your window for everything you need to know is inside you.”  This was my doorway into meditation.  Deep Bows!

She was my first Vipassana/Insight Meditation teacher and got me on the path of the Dhamma and introduced me to her teacher, Taungpulu Sayadaw. On the first retreat I did with Rina, I experienced a tremendous insight that’s stayed with me to this day.  When I asked her how to work with painful feelings, she said: “Acknowledgement is Knowledge.”  This was a very different approach than my usual reactions of suppression and denial.  I treasure Rina with so much gratitude for her wisdom, kindness, and humor.  Not only was she a great Buddhist scholar and meditation teacher but was also a great cook – yum.  Deep Bows!

Venerable Sayadaw was a very revered and famous meditation master from Burma (Myanmar).  He lived in the forest for many years practicing the 13 ascetic practices (Dhutanghas) and was beloved for his wisdom and kindness.  He was my preceptor when I ordained temporarily as a Theravada Buddhist Monk in his remote forest monastery in 1980, where he named me, U Candima (Angel of the Moon).  Venerable Sayadaw introduced a number of mindfulness meditation practices (including the 32 Parts of the Body Meditation) that I continue to this day. 

I would like to share one story about him.  While I was living at the monastery, many people spoke very highly of him, and because of that I was very shy to approach and talk with him (who am I to talk with such an advanced being?)  After living there for several years, he summoned me one day and wanted to thank me for caring for the monastery.  Ven. Sayadaw also asked how it was for me to be there?  I told him that I had been so shy to talk with him, that people said he was an enlightened master, and he just laughed and laughed and said, come anytime, you can talk with me about anything.  I was so touched.  Deep Bows!

I met Pakokkhu Sayadaw right after I ordained as a forest monk in Burma and he was my everyday meditation teacher.  He was a very serious practitioner who equally had a deep sense of humor – a great combination.  He brought me often to the cemetery to meditate upon death during the middle watch of the night from 10:00 pm-2:00 am.  He taught me the 13 ascetic practices (Dhutanghas) to deepen my practice of humility and contentment.  I will never forget one time in the middle of the night he came to see if I was meditating or not and when he saw I had fallen asleep, he literally jumped on me to wake me up to continue my practice.  I discovered that he could do this anytime, so I learned to stay awake – just in case!  There was never a dull moment when you were with Pakokkhu Sayadaw and I loved and respected him sincerely.  Deep Bows!

He is one of the wisest and kindest people I ever met.  He was very humble and never sought recognition.  It was these qualities that drew me towards him.  Words cannot express how much gratitude I have for Venerable Hlaing Tet Sayadaw.  He was my primary teacher of mahasatipatthana-vipassana (Insight) meditation and Dhamma Father.  I lived with him for 8.5 years at a Buddhist Monastery.  No other teacher has bestowed so much of themselves to me with so much metta (loving kindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (appreciative joy), uppekha (equanimity), and panna (wisdom).  I loved Venerable Hlaing Tet Sayadaw like a father who endowed me with the highest of dana (gifts), the Dhamma. 

Because of the Venerable Hlaing Tet Sayadaw's dhamma dana to me I have had the humble opportunity and privilege of sharing these teachings to support people to live better with stress, pain, and illness.  I have also had the honor of teaching the Dhamma worldwide in every continent to help support the alleviation of suffering.  It is true to say that Venerable Hlaing Tet Sayadaw teachings continues and has touched many people.  May all sentient beings benefit by the sublime, profound and kind teachings of the Dhamma.  Deep bows!