Often, a trivial event serves as the catalyst. This particular time, the sound of sticky pages was the cause when I reached for a weathered book placed too near the window pane. It's a common result of humidity. I found myself hesitating for a long moment, carefully detaching the sheets individually, and in that stillness, his name reappeared unprompted.
There’s something strange about respected figures like him. You don’t actually see them very much. If seen at all, it is typically from a remote perspective, filtered through stories, recollections, half-remembered quotes which are difficult to attribute exactly. In the case of Tharmanay Kyaw Sayadaw, I perceive him through his voids. Without grandiosity, without speed, and without the need for clarification. Such silences communicate more than a multitude of words.
I once remember posing a question to someone regarding his character. In a casual, non-formal tone. Only an offhand query, no different from asking about the rain. The person gave a nod and a faint smile, then remarked “Ah, Sayadaw… he possesses great steadiness.” That was all—no further commentary was provided. At the time, I felt slightly disappointed. Looking back, I realize the answer was ideal.
It is now mid-afternoon where I sit. The illumination is flat, lacking any golden or theatrical quality—it is simply light. I’m sitting on the floor instead of the chair for no real reason. It could be that my back was looking for a different sensation this afternoon. I am reflecting on the nature of steadiness and how seldom it is found. Wisdom is often praised, but steadiness feels like the more arduous path. It is easy to admire wisdom from a distance. Steadiness, however, must be embodied in one's daily existence.
Tharmanay Kyaw Sayadaw navigated a lifetime of constant change Changes in politics and society, the gradual decay and rapid reconstruction that characterizes the modern history of Burma. Despite this, when he is mentioned, it is not for his click here political or personal opinions Instead, they highlight his unwavering nature. It was as though he remained a stable anchor while the world shifted around him. I am uncertain how such stability can be achieved without becoming dogmatic. Achieving that equilibrium seems nearly unachievable.
There’s a small moment I keep replaying, although I am not certain the event occurred exactly as I recall. A bhikkhu meticulously and slowly adjusting his attire, as if he were entirely free from any sense of urgency. That might not even have been Tharmanay Kyaw Sayadaw. People are often blurred together in the landscape of memory. However, the emotion associated with it persisted. That feeling of being unhurried by the expectations of the world.
I often ask myself what the cost of that specific character might be. Not in a grand sense, but in the mundane daily sacrifices. The subtle sacrifices that appear unremarkable to others. Missing conversations you could have had. Letting misunderstandings stand. Allowing people to see in you whatever they require I cannot say if he ever pondered these things. Perhaps he was free of such concerns, and maybe that's the key.
My hands have become dusty from handling the book. I clean my hands in an unthinking manner. Composing this reflection feels somewhat gratuitous, but in a good way. Not all reflections need to serve a specific purpose. On occasion, it is sufficient simply to recognize. that certain lives leave an imprint without ever trying to explain themselves. Tharmanay Kyaw Sayadaw feels very much like that to me. An aura that is sensed rather than understood, and perhaps intended to remain so.