Solitary Meditation Retreat: 3 years, 3 months and 3 days retreat by Mong Pong Sayadaw

Buddhist devotees across Myanmar have been gathering around Mong Kyet Village in Mong Sat of Shan State (East) to pay homage to Mong Pong Sayadaw.

Mong Pong Sayadaw Bhadanda Nyana Sanwara observes the solitary meditation retreat for 3 years, 3 months and 3 days at Mong Kyet Cave since 28th April 2019, and will complete the retreat on July 31st.

Mong Pong Sayadaw came into the Buddhist order at the young age of 11, and since then, Sayadaw use to have vegetarian foods during three-month Buddhist Lent. Sayadaw always observed his three months rains-retreat in a cave in solitude in Myanmar, Thailand and Bhutan.

In April 2010, the Sayadaw practiced a 3 years, 3 months and 3 days solitary retreat for the first time in the Rajagrha cave in Lampang Province of northern Thailand.

Missionary Sayadaw, Thu Khameinna, Lwe Tein Kham Monastery, Muse said "This is the second time of solitary meditation retreat by Mong Pong Sayadaw for 3 years, 3 months and 3 days period. He sends a written message of wellness once a month to the disciples. I translate the message from Shan language to Burmese, and posted it online."

Well-wishers also provide accommodation and foods for the devotees who are waiting for the coming out of the Sayadaw from the cave.

Moreover, health clinic is also set up to provide free health treatment to all comers.

Leader, Maha Wong, Mong Kyet Religious Area Executive Committee said "We make arrangements to accommodate for about 200,000 people. We have enough provisions for them, including foods, water supply, electricity, etc."

The devotees have been arriving in Mong Kyet since early July, and around 100,000 pilgrims are expected to arrive till the date of completing Sayadaw’s retreat.