Burma - Journey of the Monk Magnet: Part 2 (2012)

Why the Monk Magnet? During this trip I travelled with a friend of mine, Coralyne. Towards the end of the trip when we were following another Monk that had invited us somewhere, Coralyne looked at me and commented ‘If I turn my back for more than 10 seconds you are talking to yet another Monk, you are the Monk Magnet’. We were fortunate enough to have some amazing and truly unique experiences.

Kyaukme and Shan State

'We would like to get very remote.’ We have found a guide in Kyaukme and are finalising details about exploring the Shan State. The following day we are on the motorbikes and after a rough 5 hours up dirt tracks into the mountains, we are exploring a village were many of the people have never seen a foreigner. And so we begin our 4 day hike.

You have been looking for a teacher and I have been looking for a student….. not at all what I expected to hear from a monk who has just walked straight up to me in a tiny village up in the mountains. We begin to speak and he invites us back to his monastery a little further along the valley so that we may learn meditation from him. With excitement we agree and follow him as he nimbly heads off down the steep mountain path. After some exertion, on our behalf, we have a view of the beautiful timber monastery framed on the right by palm trees and a striking blue sky in the background. With what I would describe as excited impatience he welcomes us into the monastery and we settle down on the floor and fall into deep conversation, with the monk imparting some wisdom to us.

My body shivers as I am slowly brought out of my first ever meditation. The ache in my legs that slowly comes back reminds me that I have just walked for 9 hours through the mountains. But during the mediation I was somewhere else and as I open my eyes, the monk looks at me and says I still need to work at it but I am not too far from Nirvana.

 The air, the air, the air. The monk invited us to spend the night at the monastery and everyone has gone to bed but I remain up being taught by him. I now listen to his voice as he guides me deeper into the meditation. The air, the air, the air.

Ngaug Shwe and Around

Our aim had been the lake but we took a wrong turn and so now we are blissfully ‘lost’ in the countryside enjoying the hospitality of the locals.

Inle Lake

I hear water glide past the canoe; I feel water glide past the canoe, as a local shows us his village floating on Inle Lake. There is a peace out here on the water and I lean back and try to soak it all in.

Smiles: they are uplifting, they are infectious.

Mawlamyine and Around

We are leaving a small village and I turn for one last farewell. I give a heartfelt wave to the 20 or so locals we just shared our stroll through the village with. The children jump up and down waving, still excited over the laughs we have shared. Profound is all I can think.

A long line of monks file down an alleyway and ever inquisitive we follow. The number of monks continues to increase and by the time we are in front of the temple, the street is full. Not wanting to intrude we stand, watching from a distance. An elderly monk approaches me and gestures we should follow. Up the stairs and into the temple and to the right we are led. We approach a circle of elderly men sitting on the floor and it is obvious they are of some importance. To our surprise we are asked to join the circle and while no one speaks English we sit enjoying each other’s company, eating a little food and sipping at some tea. ‘Hello’ I hear a soft voice from behind me and turn to see a monk with a radiating smile. He is invited to join the circle and it is alive with chatter, as he struggles to keep up the translation. He explains to us that we are sitting with the Elders of the area and we are at a festival. After chatting for some time we are invited to explore the temple and the overwhelming smiles of all the monks.

While I may not have realised it, I arrived in Burma with my bowl out and it has been filled to overbrimming with the joy, warmth and kindness of the locals. I have been fortunate.