by Dr. Dennis Augustine
Mandalay, once known as the City of Gold, shone with glittering pagodas and deep Buddhist traditions. Among its treasures was Kyaswa Monastery in Wachet, a sanctuary where I spent a month each year between 2005 and 2010 in silent Vipassana meditation and touring. Thanks to my teachers, Steve Smith and Michele Macdonald, the monastery opened its doors to Western retreatants, fostering a deep connection between foreign seekers and the local community.
Beyond meditation, we contributed to impoverished nunneries caring for orphaned children, offering donations to support their ascetic lives. A single dollar stretched far in Myanmar. We also helped fund school uniforms, bringing joy to children who could now attend class with dignity. Some friendships spanned continents—Maybelle and her daughter, Michelle, whom I’ve known since she was six, and her husband, JJ, thankfully found new opportunities in the U.S.
Thankfully—because on March 28, 2025, a devastating 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar, its epicenter near the Sagaing Hills, just miles from their childhood homes in Mandalay. The tremors reduced ancient structures to rubble, and the historic Ava Bridge collapsed into the Irrawaddy River. Wachet Jivitadana Hospital was severely damaged, and Thit Seint Nunnery, where nuns once chanted loving-kindness verses to us each evening, was irreparably destroyed. Roads buckled, buildings flattened—Mandalay was left in ruins.
The military junta, which seized power in 2021, declared a state of emergency, with Min Aung Hlaing making a rare appeal for international aid. Yet, as always, the resilience of the Burmese people shone through. Monks, laypeople, and entire communities came together to clear debris, tend to the wounded, and mourn the lost. But the weight of political instability makes the path to recovery even harder.
Buddhist teachings remind us of impermanence, and this tragedy has laid that truth bare. In the face of such sorrow, the bonds forged in years past must become a source of collective strength. Cecile and I will do our share by supporting the Metta-Dana Project to aid those in need. Note: Last two photos are basic food support for 150 people in front of our friend Maybelle's home in Mandalay.