Saya Thetgyi: Anecdotes

by S.N. Goenka

The Farmer Teacher

_In a village across the river from Rangoon lived a farmer by the name of U Thet (Mr. Thet). Every year, after harvesting his crop, this farmer travelled up and down the country in search of someone to teach him meditation. Finally he found a teacher who showed him how to concentrate the mind by observing respiration (Anapana). For seven years he went to this teacher, spending months at a time with him. He achieved great mastery in concentration. Then he went in search of someone to teach him Vipassana, and fortunately he encountered Ledi Sayadaw. This well-respected monk found him to be a worthy pupil, and taught him the technique. For another seven years U Thet kept going to Ledi Sayadaw, and attained proficiency in insight as well. Now he could not resist teaching what he had learned to others. With the permission of Ledi Sayadaw, he returned to his village and offered to show the technique to others.

At first, however, no one would come to him. "What can this man know about the Dhamma?" people scoffed. "He is a layman like us. His head is not shaven, and he does not wear the yellow robe of a monk. What can he know about Vipassana?"

Saya Thetgyi (respected teacher Thet) was not disconcerted. On his farm were some hired labourers. He called them and said, "Ordinarily you work in the fields, but if you are willing, I will give you the same wages for working in my house."

"As you like, sir. It's all the same to us so long as we are paid." Saya Thetgyi led them to a curtained room. "All right, now," he told them, "Sit down, close your eyes, and focus your attention on your breath."

The men were astonished. "Is this the work we have to do here?" They thought to themselves, "Our master has gone crazy! He says that he will pay and feed us just to watch our breath! Well, if that is what he wants us to do, we'll do it!" And so they followed the instructions of Saya Thetgyi. These men passed through the process of Vipassana and emerged smiling and happy. Whether one is an illiterate labourer or a highly educated professor, the technique works for one and all.

After the course the labourers began to tell others, "Our master can teach a wonderful technique of meditation that brings real peace of mind!" But others would not listen to them, thinking that U Thetgyi had paid his workers to sing his praises, in an effort to lure students to him.

After a few months, however, it became clear to the whole village that a big change had come to the workers of U Thetgyi. Many of them had been rough and rowdy characters, always drinking and fighting, but now they were mild-mannered and peaceable. Becoming curious, the villagers began to ask these men, "What was it that your master taught you?" The men explained as best they could, and the villagers could not help but be impressed: "Well, that is what the Buddhist scriptures say. Perhaps this man really does know something. Let us go to him just to see what he teaches."

Whatever the motives that bring people to courses, if they work in the proper way they are bound to get results. So the renown of Saya Thetgyi began to spread, and he became the foremost disciple of Ledi Sayadaw.

Playing With Fire

Among those who came to learn meditation from Saya Thetgyi was a Buddhist scholar, a very learned man. Unfortunately he seemed to be more interested in the theory of Vipassana than in experiencing it himself. Still, he completed his ten-day course successfully, and left well-pleased with what he had accomplished.

A few months later this man returned to visit Saya Thetgyi, and respectfully placed before him one or two volumes. "Sir," he said, "I have written a book explaining how to meditate, and I have dedicated it to you as my teacher."

Saya Thetgyi asked, "Are only these copies that you brought here dedicated to me?"

"Oh no, sir! All contain the dedication."

"Well, if you wish to dedicate them all to me, bring all the copies of your book here." The scholar happily agreed to do so, thinking perhaps that Saya Thetgyi would perform a ceremony to bless his work. After a few days he returned with a cartload of books.

"Are these all the copies of your book?" asked Saya Thetgyi.

"Yes, sir," the man replied proudly.

"Very well," said Saya Thetgyi, "Put them in the fallow field over there." The scholar did as Saya Thet directed, arranging the books in a neat pile.

"Now," said the teacher, "Go the kitchen and get a bottle of kerosene and some matches."

"Kerosene, sir? Matches?" The man was bewildered. What use could Saya Thetgyi have for these in the ceremony?

"Yes, kerosene and matches." Once again the scholar did as he was told, though somewhat reluctantly. When he returned with the bottle and matches, Saya Thetgyi said, "Good! Now sprinkle the kerosene over the books and set them alight."

The scholar could restrain himself no longer. "What, sir! You must be joking! I have laboured so many months to write this book."

Saya Thetgyi replied, "You would have better used your time to meditate. How can you explain meditation to others unless you have meditated deeply yourself? And even if you yourself had understood it properly, how could you expect others to learn meditation from a book? They would only burn themselves as surely as children playing with fire. Better to burn the books!"

In a Buddhist country, from the time the mother gives birth, and one becomes a human being, the Buddhists have faith in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. Since childhood one repeats "Buddham saranam gacchami. Dhammam saranam gacchami. Sangham saranam gacchami." - I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the Dhamma. I take refuge in the Sangha. This is the Triple Gem. Of the Triple Gem, the primary importance is that of the Gem of Dhamma.

- Sayagyi U Ba Khin