Bringing Rice and Goodwill to Yetagun Mountain

Our local team leader provides this update as to our recent donation effort by those communities impacted by the unseasonal flooding:

We have been working to provide urgent relief aid to the monks and nuns who reside in the forestry solitude monastic sites on the Yetagun Mountains. Last month, the villages and the surrounding paddy fields at the bottom of the mountains were flooded due to the rising water level in the dam and the breach of the canal in some places after the heavy rain. Since around 400 people from 100 households were displaced and affected by the floods, the compassionate monks did not go alms round in these villages for a few weeks, as there were no resources of any kind available. Also, it affected the Samanera University at the foot of the Yankin Hill where 432 novices and monks are residing and studying the Buddhist monastic Samanera (novicehood) education. [Yankin Hill is also known as “Nga-Yant-Min Hill (meaning the King Fish Hill)” and it is believed that the Bodhisatta (Buddha-to-be) was a fish and it lived in the cave at the hill.] But very fortunately we were able to provide the donation to the aged and forest monks living on the Yetagun mountains and the Pariyatti monasteries and nunneries (traditional Buddhist monastic schools) at the feet of Yankin Hill.

The outlet of Sedawgyi Dam had breaches in some parts and the water flooded the nearby areas and destroyed acres of rice fields. According to the monk who came along with us to the last three monastic and nunnery sites, the lay sponsors solely from his monastery village had the loss of about 800-900 Tins of rice (equivalent to 26 tons)!

It's true. We saw the dirt roads are truly poor-conditioned and some concrete roads were also washed away by the flooded water. It is so tragic For the 80 forest monks of 50 monasteries and 20 nuns from one Pariyatti nunnery at the bottom of Yetagun Mountain, we invited them to a monastery, the gathering point at the bottom of the mountains where we could travel by car, and donated the rice sacks and cooking oil to them in the morning. We continued our donation program in the afternoon for the two Pariyatti monasteries and one Pariyatti nunnery at the bottom of Yankin Hill and we donated the rice sacks only at the sites. The road to Samanera University at the forested feet of Yankin Hill is really bad and narrow between the trees and bushes. It has 432 monks and novices. Another monastery has over 200 monastics and the nunnery has 275 nuns. The nunnery has produced a couple of nuns who are outstanding at the Buddhist monastic education such as Thamane-kyaw course awards!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the generous donors who have already contributed to support our efforts in providing urgent relief aid to the monks and nuns affected by the recent floods in the Yetagun Mountains. Your compassion has made a significant impact, allowing us to reach out to those in need and offer essential supplies to alleviate their suffering. However, the extent of the devastation is vast, and there is still more relief needed to rebuild the lives of the monks, novices, and nuns who have faced immense challenges. We humbly call on your continued support and kindness to help us extend our reach and provide further assistance to the affected communities. Together, we can make a difference and bring hope to those who have endured the hardships caused by the floods. Your ongoing donations will contribute to the rebuilding process and ensure that these resilient communities can once again thrive. Thank you for standing with us in this time of need, and we sincerely appreciate your continued support.