Lessons from Khun Yea: Wisdom in Everyday Life : หน้า 66/105

her best to make the job less unappealing. The paper floated on top of the spittoon, so that people would not have to see the dirty tissues below. Dhammaprasit House was a large building housing many people, but having only one bathroom. Whenever Khun Yea used the bathroom, she would leave the floor completely dry. Again, I asked her why she did that. She replied that many old people hurt themselves by slipping on wet bathroom floors, she did not want to be one of those people, "If the floor is dry" she said, it can be assured that even if you live for a hundred years, you won't slip and fall in that bathroom. Sometimes the younger students would do something wrong, but Khun Yea would rarely scold them. She would say that she had already scolded them once or twice today, if they were scolded more, they would grow tired of this, and they will not remember why she scolded them in the first place. She always knew when, where, and how to talk to her students. She would often remark that once you pass the age 50, you had to watch what you say. Many people of advanced age think they already know everything, but if old people speak too often, then their grandchildren and young relatives will become annoyed by this, and perhaps even resentful and leave such old people alone. As you can see, being close to your elders and preceptor will allow you to learn many beneficial lessons about life.