Day One : 7th January 2006

8.22　　CKS Airport

Cloudy, cold day. A violent start to the morning, dad throwing abuse and blames left and right. Such delusion and hatred, such misunderstanding and biases and unwillingness to see through things!

Of course, everyone has that, some just more than others. But I don’t blame him. “Let barking dogs bark” as someone once said to me. I’ve made it this far on the journey, nothing more can stop me now from flying higher and flying away.

…
Pity, compassion, understanding. Trying to explain. I’ve done my best to deal with the situation; now to leave, and leave with a clear, untroubled conscience. What will happen will happen. I can’t see, can’t know until I return home again. Even then, I won’t be able to see or know all. So let things be. But I’ll be sure to send my compassion and metta home, to the dear ones I care about.

Nothing more now. Nothing. About to board AE837 to Rangoon (Yangon). A new experience awaits me.

8.44
Two simple words:保重！(take care！) But they brought tears to my eyes.

9.30 On AE837
It’s all behind me now. Soaring, soaring higher and higher. All behind me now. What clear blue there always is to be liberated above dense cloud cover! All behind me now.

May they be happy, harmonious and peaceful.

18.10 Hmawbi centre
Arrived in Yagon safely and was greeted by a contact from the meditation centre. Extremely friendly people and sayadaws (teachers) lead me further to find my way.

Managed to end up somewhere in the forest, not as I had exactly planned. But the accommodation is good: a kuti (forest wooden hut) with toilet and shower. Bare necessities of raised wooden planks for the bed. But more I couldn’t ask for.

Been led around the place; it’s quite a big centre. Humid though, and hot, so it seems I have the wrong clothes and sleepware! Will start life of a yogi (meditatior) tomorrow, and train in the Four Foundations (of Mindfulness), as well as different methods of meditation.

First impressions about Myanmar: dirty, rough, hot and parched. But like Indonesia, it has its charms.

19.47
Occassional power outages now and then. It’s been years since I experienced that, but will get used to it in time.

Saw the first little snake!! Fear consumed me momentarily. Puppies, six of them, followed me home from a stroll in the evening. Sweet.

And this boy who lives here, helped me put on my longyi (traditional dress which is a long version of a kilt) properly. When in Myanmar, dress as the locals do. Time for bed, as tomorrow the training begins.