U Thet lived a peaceful, contented family life until a cholera epidemic struck his village. A son and daughter as well as many friends and family members died. Deeply affected, he left his home in search of a solution to the sufferings of life. U Thet came across Ledi Sayadaw and stayed with him for seven years. Ledi Sayadaw encouraged him to teach. He returned to his village, set up a simple meditation centre and, as a rare lay teacher, taught thousands of students from all strata of society for the final thirty years of his life.