Beyond Rangoon Page #3

Excuse me.

They gave you a hard time.

They need to remind us that

they are strong and we are weak.

It is the way Burmese soldiers are.

And, if all men were monks at one time,

then you must have been one, too?

Oh yes, I lived as a monk not far from here

when I was a boy.

Can we go there?

That would be difficult.

Why is that?

Are women not allowed in the monasteries?

No, no. That's no problem. In Burma,

women are completely equal with men.

But I'm concerned about getting you

back to Rangoon by nightfall.

Let's risk it.

We will need to make an offering.

What kind of offering?

That would depend on how much

good karma you want for your next life.

Hm. Well, I can't plan that far ahead.

Then some fresh fruit from the market will do.

Did you say completely equal?

Oh yes. A woman can

even become a buddha.

But for that she must first

come back as a man.

Ah, there's always a catch.

I was here as a boy,

such a long time ago.

It seems... very small.

Here. You do it.

Please?

At the time, what they were doing

seemed like what I was doing:

Shutting life out.

Was that it?

Don't fall in love.

Don't have kids.

That way you can't get hurt.

Well, if there's no god in Buddhism,

then who are they praying to?

They were not praying.

They were meditating.

They meditate to settle the mind.

And when the mind is calm,

only then can it receive wisdom.

Is your mind calm?

At present, my mind is most agitated!

I'm afraid it's the water pump.

It's been giving me trouble for some days now.

So, what are you telling me, that we're stuck

out here in the middle of nowhere, is that it?

Well, all is not necessarily lost.

Please come to the car.

I have some friends who might be able to help,

and they live not very far from here.

And, fortunately, it is downhill most of the way.

What about the parts that aren't downhill?

Perhaps we will gather sufficient speed going down

to help us up those parts which are up.

Aren't you going to stop?

If we stop,

we stop for good!

I think we can make it now.

Mm-hm, it's okay.

These are the friends we were trying to reach!

Miss, get in the car with the professor.

Like so. Burmese dress becomes you very much!

I will show you how to tie it.

It's necessary to be born here

to tie it so it stay tight!

Buddha said, spiritual life is noble friendship,

and never let a meal go by without sharing it.

So, let us drink to the professor in English style!

Three cheers for the professor!

Hip-hip! Hurray! Hip-hip! Hurray! Hip-hip! Hurray!

And may he live a long life!

We were all his students at Rangoon University.

-He was best professor.

-Yes, he was.

Why don't you teach anymore?

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