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Burma

Burma. Like Thailand, most scholars have concentrated on politics and the state. Long relationship between Cakkavatti and the sangha . Alternative source of power— weikza (like Somdet To), but unlike Thailand, much greater lay leadership.

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Burma

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  1. Burma • Like Thailand, most scholars have concentrated on politics and the state. • Long relationship between Cakkavatti and the sangha. • Alternative source of power—weikza (like Somdet To), but unlike Thailand, much greater lay leadership. • I will talk about politics, but not just centered in state and sangha.

  2. Brief History Older than Tai kingdoms 1057 royal support and text copying under Anawrahta and monk Shin Arahan. Pagan built up and sangha expanded.

  3. Regionalism, Language and Ethnicity • Great diversity of language families (Tai/Shan, Wa, Arakanese, Burmese, Mon, Karen, etc.) • Dhammathat influenced by Mon, Vinaya standardization, narrative texts influenced by Shan, Arakanese style Buddhas

  4. The Burmese Kings and Buddhism from the 1500s-late 1800s • Tabinshweti and Bayinnaung brought monks from Chiang Mai and Mon areas near Kanchanaburi • Mindon helped build up Mandalay and text and arts • Bodawpaya created kingdom wide sangha organization • 1871 synod organized canon and examinations.

  5. British and Buddhism • Crisis of non cakkavatti. • Xian missionaries Karen and Kachin. • Saya San (1930), magic, tattoos, Minlaung . Hung. Also U Ottama (boycott), U Wisara (fasted to death) • Right of monks to wear robes in prison.

  6. Luang Po Uttama • Regional Buddhisms • Mon • Wangwiwek • funeral

  7. Shan Buddhists • Phra That Lampang Luang • Thao Mahaphrom • Shan rebellion • Forestry workers and British • Independent schools and textual tradition

  8. Independence • 1946-1954 (Aung San and U Nu), Ministry of Religion, synod and University/Celibate • Fight over nat. religion lead to dissension and downfall. • Ne Win monks used to promote anti-ethnic movements against Shan, Khoen, Leu, and Arakanese.

  9. Burmese Gov’t and Buddhism 1988-2007 • 8888 Uprising of students, professionals and monks against SLORC/Thabeik Hmauk • Many monks killed, 1990 election ignored • Monasteries monitored • But rise of thilashin in Sagaing and lay meditation, Shan and Khoen Buddhism, YMBA

  10. Aung San Suu Kyi • Educated in Burma, India, Nepal, England, and worked in U.S. and married M.Aris • Elected in 1990, mostly in house arrest since then, not allowed to visit family • Gave food to monks in 2007 • Yettaw and election rigged. • Released 13 November 2010 • SPDC Thein Sein’s policy same as Than Shwe

  11. State Buddhism since 1988 • Created state relic pilgrimage sites and new capital of Naypiadaw • Televised merit-making for nation • Chinese tooth relic • Sangha Council controlled • Int. Theravada Buddhist Missionary University

  12. Buddhists Fighting Government • August to October 2007-Saffron Revolution in Burma • Started because of fuel prices rising almost 100% • Thousands killed or “disappeared” • U Gambira arrested

  13. Saffron Revolution

  14. Beyond Politics • Temple festivals, Abhisekhi image rituals, yantra writing, alms, kammavaca, drama and puppets, dance, monastic schools are flourishing (local languages taught) • Not just Shwegin Nikaya, but many local nikayas (officially 9), nuns, and weikza

  15. Weikza • “Esoteric” • Mediums, astrologers, antinomian, magic, yantra • Lay and monk wizards • Long-life • Mysterious, but everyone knows them and have huge following

  16. Vipassana and Mass Lay Meditation • Ledi Sayadaw (d.1923) made lay teachers masters like Thet Gyi, Ba Khin, and Goenka Ji (global centers and office workers) • Mahasi Sayadaw (d. 1982)-sangha exams, mainstream, U Nu set up meditation course, spread to 1 million people, even Barre)

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