There is a gross misunderstanding that some Mahayana Buddhists have about Theravidin Buddhists, claiming that Theravadin Buddhism is focused on individual attaining his or her own personal liberation (and forsaking the well-being of all). This misunderstanding was amply illustrated in my last conversation with the Venerable Sayadaw U Thila Wanta in Burma in December 2006.
At that time I had spent almost two weeks near his monastery coming over with two other students to meditate on the grounds once a day and share in the daily meal offered to Sayadaw (which he then passed on to his 40 or so meditating cats and then to the Western visitors — in that order ‘Better meditators than you!’ he sometimes said). But all in all, very little appeared to be happening. Truth be told I was a bit disappointed; I guess I kept expecting some kind of lightening bolt, a profound teaching from him to come out of the blue. But every day he just sent us off to eat his (and the cats’) leftovers…
On the final morning, as the taxi to the airport waited down below, we went up for a final goodbye. At this point I remembered that I had promised Bodhinanda (Ven. Sonam Senge, who had been ordained as bhikkhu by Sayadaw 25 years before) that I would pass on his best wishes to Sayadaw and specifically his wish that Sayadaw have a long life (Sayadaw was already 94 or so). Smiling and expecting a simple exchange of pleasantries I repeated Bodhinanda’s request: ‘Sayadaw, Bodhinanda asked me to wish you a long life.’ I was blindsided by Sayadaw’s response.
There was a pause as the translator passed on the message — and then Sayadaw’s frown deepened and suddenly he spat in his spitoon and he barked out (half in English and half in Mon, via the translator): ‘Long life not important! Ha!’ He waved his hand dismissively, ‘If want liberation for one person, for you, alone, then — short life good enough!’ Spitting again, he repeated, ‘Short Life good enough—Ha!’ A pause, and then a long stare into my eyes ‘Long life only if wish liberation for all beings!’. ‘If, if want help all beings, then… OK… Long life. OK.’
‘Ha!’
Banner Image: The builders, and the Builder
Photo Credit: Vickie Hall
Completion of construction, August 1982 — with Brian McLeod, Rab Wilkie, Suzanne O’Meara, Sayadaw U Thila Wunta, Grant Wickland, Malcolm Boswell, Michael Klahn and Hersh Kline?.