Religion & Culture

Transcription

1 Religion & Culture Myanmar's religions are: Buddhism (89.5 % ), Christianity (4.9 % ), Muslims (3.8 % ), Hindus (0.05 % ), and Animism (1 3 % ) Religious intolerance or discrimination is non-existence in the Union of Myanmar as it has been throughout its long history. Buddhism in Myanmar Buddhism has been thriving in Myanmar since the 11 century, or pehaps even earlier. Even with this knowledge, a first time visitor will be surprised by the large number of temples and pagodas all over the country. In fact every hill top seems to have a pagoda on it. In the morning, long lines of monks can be seen in the towns and villages making their alms rounds, receiving whatever food offered by the people. The pagodas are an important part of life. At the pagodas, there are always worshippers young and old, offering flowers, and counting prayers on wooden beads. How come the people devote so much time to religion? A family meal at a pagoda. After food, a sleep is always a good thing. Visitors from abroad are also puzzled and even amazed to see gold-encrusted pagodas and donation boxes full of money, when it is well-known that the average income level is quite low. Why doesn't all this treasure disappear, get stolen? And how can such large amounts of money be collected as donations? Also, why are stray dogs and cats fed, while pests such as plant eating snails are not killed off? What could account for such seemingly inexplicable behaviour? It is because Buddhism, a deeply rooted way of life is strictly adhered to by the majority of Myanmars. The Buddhism of Myanmar is Theravada Buddhism. Other countries such as Thailand, Laos, Sri Lanka and Cambodia also have large numbers of Theravada Buddhists. Theravada Buddhists believe that the Theravada tradition most closely adheres to the original teachings of the Buddha. Theravada Buddhism is also known as Hinayana

2 Buddhism, but this term is regarded as derogatory and not used by Theravada followers because it means "Small Vehicle" in contrast to Mahayana, the "Great Vehicle". Among the faithful in Myanmar, the teachings of the Buddha are known as the Dhamma, and the disseminators of these teachings are the monks who, as a group, are known as the Sangha. The Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha are together known as the Triple Gems (or Yadana thanbah), a term of great reverence. Enjoying a moment's relaxation. Time for the second meal of the day. Like Buddhists elsewhere, the Buddhists in Myanmar believe that all living beings are subject to: the sufferings of birth, disease, old age and death, the pain of separation from loved ones and the pain of being together with those one does not love. No existence is ever free of these ills and pains. And because of attachment, greed, anger and the illusion of a distinct self, beings are reborn again and again in an endless cycle of existences, known as Samsara, going from one existence to another with each rebirth. Buddhists in Myanmar believe that there are 31 planes of existence, made up of the lower planes of ghosts, animals and unhappy beings, the human plane and the celestial planes above it. This belief in rebirth is particularly stronge among the more traditional Buddhists. Thus, it is quite common for some notable characteristics in children or animals to prompt such comments as, "so and so must have been in his previous life." For example, a child who loves to play with toy guns or swords might be thought to have been a soldier in his former life. Or, animals which display some human-like emotions might be construed to have been a human being in previous lives, having become animals due to some bad Karma. Thus Buddhists are seldom cruel to animals, and devout Buddhists will even refuse to swat a fly or a mosquito. Lots of Myanmar Buddhists also like to observe vegetarian days either during the Buddhist lent, or on the day of the week they were born. They will eat vegetarian meals every Monday or every Tuesday and so on, throughout the year. And of course, there are innumerable stories about rebirth. Such as a person reborn as another person being able to recollect what happened in his or her former life. Even as one goes through so many existences, a true Buddhist is supposed to realise that no existence is worth being attached to, because one has to experience the same sufferings over and over, regardless of the possibility that one might be born a king or a queen, or very, very rich.

3 To free oneself from this endless cycle and reach a state of supreme peace known as Nibbana, after which there will be no more rebirth, one has to accumulate charity (Dana) morality (Sila) and insight or wisdom (Bhavana). Charity is believed to be the easiest of the three to accumulate, and the result accruing from charity is believed to be the gaining of riches. When giving donations, the amount is believed to be less significant than the state of mind in which it is given. Thus Myanmars are usually eager to be charitable, willingly giving amounts large and small to all kinds of charities, from donations to pagoda maintenance funds to relief for disaster victims. MERITS Before one can reach Nibbana however, one must acquire as much good Karma, or merits (Ku Tho) as possible through good deeds. Merits are the positive result that accrues from thoughts, words and deeds based on good intentions. Myanmar Buddhists believe deeply in merits and will go to great lengths to acquire them. Merits are believed to be accruable at some future time or even in some future existence, though one doesn't know when that will be. While travelling in Myanmar, you may encounter caged birds or fish in tanks being sold. The birds are for releasing in the air, and the fish, for freeing into a lake or river, the purpose here being to obtain merit. It would seem that the person who catches the birds or the fish so that others can release them, is at the bad Karma end of the process. But, his bad Karma is somewhat lessened since ultimately the animals are released. PRECEPTS Refraining from evil words and deeds also brings merits, and there are precepts which define various acts a good Buddhist should refrain from. The basic Five Precepts that should always be observed are: refraining from killing living creatures, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and consumption of intoxicants. There are also Eight Percepts which may be observed on important days on the Buddhist calender. They are the above five, with abstinence from sexual misconduct extended to celibacy, plus three additional precepts: abstinence from food after 12 noon, abstinence from sleeping on extra-comfortable luxurious beds and abstinence from entertainment and adomment or decoration of the body. The last one includes the use of make-up, perfumes, luxurious clothes and hair omaments. Observance of the basic Five Precepts mean that a large number of Myanmars are teetotallers. Social drinking is widespread only among the more educated, and generally those exposed to westem and Chinese cultures. As among other Asian Buddhists, consumption of alcoholic beverages, which one should, strictly speaking, refrain from, is nevertheless regarded with some tolerance particularly during the Water Festival. Having been expressly told since child hood that the Five Precepts should be observed as strictly as possible, Buddhists are generally reluctant to break these precepts. So when they cannot avoid breaking them, it seems that they will be sure to follow up with meritorious deeds. For example, the kings of Myanmar were known for their cruelty towards their

4 subjects, but were also famous for their great merit-making activities such as the building of large numbers of pagodas, their assistance to the Sangha, the body of monks, and construction of reservoirs and lakes. BUDDHISM IN EVERYDAY LIFE From birth to death, a Myanmar Buddhist stays in touch with his religion. A Buddhist child wakes up each day to the sound of grandparents at prayer at the break of dawn, reciting the scriptures aloud for many minutes. Early in the moming, mother cooks rice and other foods to offer to the monks on their alms rounds. Long lines of monks in brown or orange robes (the elder monks prefer darker robes but the colour has not much significance otherwise), holding their alms bowls, heads bowed, humbly receive whatever food is offered to sustain them in the tasks of showing and helping lay people the way to Nibbana. At night, children must pay their respects to the Triple Gems, as well as to their parents and teachers. When he reaches his teens, or sometimes earlier, a boy will become a novice during the school holidays, for periods ranging from a few days to a week or more. In some cases he will never leave the order again. He will shave off his hair, wear a robe, live in the monastery and learn whatever scriptures he can. Parents and grandparents take pride in being able to hold a great feast after the novitiation ceremony. Many girls, too, will enter meditation centres or shave off their hair and become young nuns in a nunnery during their school holidays. When a Buddhist marries, a feast may again be held for the attending monks. Another feast may be held each time a child is born. And when a person dies, there will also be many offerings to the monks and scriptures recited in a ceremony organised by the remaining family and relatives to help the deceased on the way to another existence. In the Buddhist home, there is always a shrine either in the front living room or upstairs if the home has two storeys. The shrine may be on a shelfhigh up on one wall, or a tall cupboard in which a Buddha image is kept. This is usually the family's own Buddha image handed down from earlier generations, and may be made of dried flowers, wood, or stone. It is usually gilded with gold leaf (gold beaten to paper thinness) or gold paint. There will also be images or photos of other Buddha images, or monks. When one enters the shrine room, footwear must be removed, in the same way as when one goes to the pagoda or monastery, as a sign of respect. Everyday, votive water in little cups and small portions of food are offered and removed at noon. Flowers and candles are also offered. This type of devotion has led some critics to claim that Buddhism involves idol worship. However, the chief aim in having a shrine in the home is to focus the mind on Buddha, the Dhazma, and the Sangha. According to Buddhist teaching, one can only rely on one's good Karma or deeds in order to achieve health, wealth, happiness and success. Strictly speaking, one should not ask the Buddha for wishes to be fulfilled. Nevertheless, there are innumerable wishfulfilling Buddhas and pagodas in Myanmar! Of course, Myanmars all have wishes they want fulfilled like everybody else, and it is quite common for them to make wishes in front of the home shrine or at the pagodas. NORMS OF BEHAVIOUR Given the Buddhist teachlng of non-violence toward all creatures. animals and even insects as well as humans, tolerance becomes second nature, and the Myanmars are usually quite forgiving

5 in their attitude toward others. They are generally not inclined toward vindictiveness or vengeance. Such a trait has resulted in norms of behaviour that visitors, too, should ob serve if they want to communicate more effectively with the locals during their stay in Myanmar. Monks are at the top of the social ranking of people deemed worthy of respect. Next come elders, high officials and the well educated. These people should be deferred to and never contradicted directly, in order to avoid awkward situations from developing, however unwittingly. Monks are forbidden from physical con tact with females because of their vow of celibacy. So they will not shake hands with a woman, or, for the matter, with anyone else, as the proper way to greet them is to bow or prostrate oneself before them, after removing shoes or slippers. Will he bargain or accept the price. Ready for a big day at the market place. When shopping, visitors can bargain as long as this is done in a good natured way, rather than aggressively. One ought not to lose one's temper since it is a kind of game, and the seller would agree to your price if he or she can. It is better to start a bit lower than you are prepared to pay, so that you can go up a bit and then neither party would lose face. Any tipping will be appreciated because of the goodwill behind this action, quite apart from the tip itself. The person who tips will be perceived as kind and generous, and remember, visitors are almost always perceived as being wealthier! Through all the years of the country's slow economic development, Buddhism has provided strength and solace for its resilient people. No matter how busy they may be, devotees can be seen meditating or praying. Myanmar's meditation centres are, in fact, known worldwide and more centres have been opening all over the country. Foreigners are also enrolled at these centres. The Myanmar people are known for their gentle friendliness and unspoilt charm which are due, to a considerable degree, to their Buddhist heritage. With the opening up of the country and increased contact with other cultures, there is some concern that the gentle Buddhist way of life will become less prevalent. But one hopes that the essential goodness of Buddhism will continue to flourish in this land of pagodas.