By Elke Kuijper. From Monday 7 until Friday 11 June 2010, Ashin Kovida was special guest at the yearly project week of Sekundar Schule Remisberg in Kreuzlingen. He told us what it entailed and we spoke to the teacher and some of the students. The Best Friend in action in Switzerland!

Ashin Kovida and 14 students in the ages of 13 to 16 years – under the guidance of teacher Iris Schmid – had a busy schedule that week: they were immersed in stories about Burmese culture and traditions, watched a film about Burma, learned about Buddhism and practised meditation, visited a Tibetan temple and cooked Asian food. The Remisberg school in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland closes off its school year with a project week. This week has a new theme every year and students learn more about this particular subject during the week. Ashin Kovida had been a guest before: two years ago he attended a project week and due to its success, he was invited back again.

Teacher Iris Schmid

Iris Schmidt teaches languages: German, French and English. Prior to meeting U Kovida, she did not know anything about Burma. She talks about how they met.
“We met on the train. There was an empty seat next to him and I sat down there. We talked about Burma. I did not know much about his country and the situation there. We exchanged addresses and I invited him to visit my home. He visited our school later, to teach English. This is about three years ago. Two years ago, he attended our project week for the first time. It was about Buddhism and Burma at the time. This year, we chose a broader theme: Asia.”

“I believe Ashin Kovida’s visits have been a big enrichment for our school. Many students wanted to attend this year’s courses with him. Everybody loves his humor, he is a very kind human being. They are also curious because he is a monk and they do not know much about his country and background. But mostly, they just love his personality.”

“Many students told us after his first visits: ‘we love him! Why does he have to leave? Just give him a job here in our school, we want him to stay here!’ It’s his personal story they love. He’s human and he’s happy. When he left, he told us: ‘I prepare for the worst but I hope for the best.’ This goodbye impressed us all very much.”

“Ashin Kovida is very courageous. He has no fear. He smiles. He smiles. He’s a special human being.”

“This week we did many things. We showed the students a movie. He told them about youth, culture, tradition, politics in Burma. Because we had a broader theme this year – Asia – he also talked about the life of a monk and Buddhism. It was not only about politics. I think Ashin Kovida wanted to speak about politics more. We wanted it to be a bit more general this time, though.
During his meditation class, the students were very concentrated. He led them very well. We were quite surprised. The meditation class was in the class room. We told the students: ‘go with the flow this week, many things will be new to you.’ They did this very well.
Ashin Kovida also told them about Buddhism. How there are different streams, about the Dalai Lama and how in Theravada Buddhism there is no clear hierarchy. He told them about Buddha’s life, the life of monks. We also distributed a leaflet about world religions.”

“He also talked to the students about the differences in life in Burma and in Switzerland. He talked about his life here as a monk, about how he was a teacher in Burma and ran libraries. The students were very interested: they did not know it was forbidden to read books in Burma. I understand Switzerland is not his country and I respect the fact that in spite of all the dangers, he follows this road. He is a courageous man.”

“The students noticed that not all monks are the same, when we visited a Tibetan monastery. The monk there, invited the students for a meditation session. But he did not invite Ashin Kovida. He did not great him either. The students thought this was very strange. And so did I. I guess monks are people, too, and not everybody is the same.”

Ashin Kovida talked to the students about his organization The Best Friend. He said they should visit the website and handed them a brochure. The Best Friend finds education important, but I don’t think it is really clear to the students here what education in Burma is like. They know the students in Burma have books and that there is not much electricity and that the roads are bad. And that there is a dictatorship.”

Ashin Kovida was a teacher himself in Burma. What kind of teacher does Swiss teacher Iris Schmid think he is?

“I think he is a strict teacher! He has very clear ideas. But mixed with his special humor. I think he has a lot of authority. Great knowledge and a great personality. He told us how some of his students landed in prison. That makes me believe, he must have had a big influence on them. I think he is strict, but he has a natural authority. He loves people and is very social. I’m sure his students must miss him a lot. They will be happy to see him again.”

“Ashin Kovida came, told his story. The Burmese story, about his people. Most people here were very impressed. Whenever he visits the school, there is always a very positive atmosphere in the building.
When people are present to hear somebody tell such a story, it touches them. Last time, the students were very interested in Burma. The more people know about it, the better!”

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