Question: Hi Sayadaw! How about the person with the right mind that comes but he/she is carrying the virus without symptoms and then comes to the hospital, do good deeds? While we have many patients with very poor health and that can easily get infected!

– “Nothing is sure so we cannot say that it’s gonna happen for sure. We cannot say it will not happen for sure also. In the beginning of the virus’s arrival in Myanmar, I already teach to the people here: accept to be affected by the virus. In this way, no need to worry about being affected by the virus because it is difficult to know whether we are affected by the virus or not. That’s why to solve the problems of the mind, we should accept that we can be affected by the virus; in this way, we don’t need to worry. Another thing is we should accept that: we are sure to die because of the virus; in this way we may not be afraid of death. We should accept ourselves we are going to die because of the virus. This is to keep it in the mind not to attach, not to worry, not to scare. In this way we can accept whatever happens. In this way, we can be stable peaceful to die. This is the way I use to solve the fear of the virus among the people here. That’s why they can understand my teaching and they will not go away, they will not go home even if they can; they will stay here together with me and even if the worst situation happens, they will die together here in this center. That’s the way I solve the problem. Not to worry like the people in the society.

Question: So how are you planning, Sayadaw, to educate the people here to become more aware of the necessity of having more hygiene and cleanliness? This is the key to prevent the virus from spreading. Also, keeping a safe distance between each other; not touching anyone; never touch your face; and so on… Thank you Sayadaw!

– “I have explained about cleaning the hand whenever they touch the others or in public-use and then to stay about 3 feet away. I have already explained to them because that is necessary, I understand! But some people understand and some people may not. Because of the weather so some of the mental patients they cannot control themselves. They are doing what they want, they may go out so for this center it is difficult to control everyone. Many volunteers are taking care of them; that’s why we will try to control the mind.

For example, I may remain my handset in one of the places. When I remember, I worry, whether someone will take it or not. In that condition, I will try to control the mind not to worry, not to hurry. I’m doing good deeds I’m not taking the belongings of the others for many years. That’s why I don’t need to worry. My belongings may not be taken easily by the others. Even if someone took it, I can accept it. So whatever happens I can accept both: get it back or lose it. In this way, I will not hurry to go and take it. I will do what I must do and when I’m free I will go and see. If I find it, I take it.

I have some experience like this. I haven’t lost it! This is the way of controlling the mind, not controlling the belongings what already lost. In this way I’m lucky. I can be what I want because I can control the mind not to be worry. That’s why I’m get good results. I teach others to do like this. If you can lose it you may not lose. If you cannot lose it you are 90% sure to lose it. So in this virus condition if you are afraid of the virus you are sure to be affected by the virus. This is concerned with most of the people in the society. Many people affected by the virus and many people die because of the virus so I may be affected and I may die. So that is not strange. If we can accept it, we may not lose the mind and the mind will be healthy and wealthy; and with the power of a healthy and wealthy mind we can be safe, we can alive. That is the surest way to solve this problem.

I have been using this method to solve all the problems; there were many problems. Concerned with the finance, not enough volunteer not enough place, accommodation but I will not accept it. I will try to detach it. I will continue doing good deeds in the most difficult condition. When there is the right time we can get what we want. For over 6 years from the beginning of the center – 2008, we have been making new buildings all the time but never enough, always full; but we don’t give up, we accept it. And then we tried to make new buildings. But presently because of the stray dogs, we have to use more money for the dogs. And also because of no good business in the world so not much donation, not much supports so we have to pay about for 100,000 USD of debt until now. I don’t give up nut many constructions have already stoped. Now because of the virus, we can do nothing, but I’m sure this problem of finance will also be solved. We are donated more and more monasteries. These are ready to use; in this way, we can use more buildings for Thabarwa Center and then we can solve the problems of accommodation also.

Nothing is permanent that’s why all the problems will not be permanent. This is true, I believe in this theory that’s why I can solve this virus problem and also the financial problems and volunteer’s leader problems – not enough leaders at the moment also but more and more people in the society are willing to support, to help Thabarwa Center. We just need to continue and the condition will be better and better for sure.

The virus is destroying the belongings and human beings that’s why the virus is not keeping precepts; but we are keeping precepts. That’s why we are different so we can not be together. For those who are breaking precepts, they are dangerous. They are together so they will fight each other. This is a meditation center, a volunteering center; the virus is not volunteering so we are opposite. That’s why we cannot meet each other easily for sure. We don’t need to fight each other. Only the Business people may fight each other. Only the boxers or the athletics will be competing with each other. We don’t need to do that. Because of the different views, different activities. As long as we are doing good deeds we can be safe. But we need to do good deeds seriously, accurately. If we are skillful in doing good deeds, we are safe, we are sure to get good results. We cannot get bad results or serious problems. The earthquake, typhoon, forest fire… destroy a lot. So the virus is also one of the powerful evil of ignorance and attachment. Greed, anger and delusion create this virus. We don’t create this virus. We are not accepting anger, greed, delusion. We are trying to reduce all these evil things; that’s why we don’t need to worry.

Most of the people here are not skillful to wear the mask or to wash their hand; they are not used to do like this, they are not skillful. Besides, they may not separate from others, they are together because they cannot survive by themselves, they need to rely on someone. It is difficult for most of the people here to follow the guidance of scientists. But they are doing good deeds as much as they can. That’s why they will continue doing good deeds to overcome this difficulty. If their mind is good, they are safe; because the virus is created by the evil mind, not by the right view, not by detachment – different attitudes; so in this way we can be free from the virus.

The virus is selfish. It thinks only for itself. It wants to survive in the human beings. Humans also want to survive as much as we can. They also think only for ourselves. But humans are fighting the virus as soon as possible. That’s why the virus is also attacking as much as it can. The virus is trying to spread around the world. So people are also trying to destroy the virus and the virus is also trying to destroy the people. There is fighting between the virus and humans. But we are not fighting the virus, we are not killing. That’s why we are not enemies of the virus. If we are afraid of death or losing our belongings and life; it will be the same mind as the virus. Business people are working with each other because they are greedy for the success of their own business. That’s why they are competing. We do not do like that, we don’t need to fight. So the virus will never visit meditation centers for sure.

But we need to be careful not to deal with the people who are doing business; not to be affected by them. If you are working for money, you are sure not to be here. You want to do good deeds, we are also doing good deeds, that’s why we can be together. So we not much need to worry. I will arrange for the new volunteers to stay together by themself. So for the old volunteer if you want to deal with them you can go. If you don’t want to you don’t go. It’s up to you and up to them. If you are satisfied, it’s ok. I will go to teach them also.

Same for the Vietnamese, most of them believe in themselves. They are not Westerners. That’s why they are much friendly with the Westerners, so they will learn by themselves at my office. They are friendly with each other. On my side I will try to fulfil the mind. In my experience, everyone is different from each other, even the same person may be different from time to time. So if you think that obeying science is safe; try to obey the science. For those who think doing good deeds is safe; they just keep on doing good deeds. We should keep what we believe. It may not be the same but It’s okay! This is cooperation, different people, different protections. If the mind is safe, it is ok! The mind is the most important on my side.”