All the villagers in this area committed themselves to refrain from eating meat and killing. Concerned with the education of the people he set up a middle and an elementary school which he continues to support. The majority of the pilgrims are women who look for spiritual enrichment, relaxing from their daily burden and for the Sayadaw's blessing for them and their beloved ones. Although most of them are very poor thousands of Kyats are daily donated to this venerated monk. It is obvious that in Burma Buddhism plays a significant part in everydays live of a woman.
Women offer alms to the monks, prepare the meals in the temples and take care in the monasteries.
But while their support is crucial for the very existence of the male Buddhist Sangha, they play a marginalized role in Buddhist society. Like in other Theravada-Buddhist countries they are not allowed to be full ordained as a Bhikkhuni. There is little written account about women living a religious life in Burma. According to the Ministry for Religious Affairs there are around 20,000 Thilashins in Burma. And those are hardly to count.