Buddhism in Burma - general
Websites/Multiple Documents
| Title: | | Buddhism in Burma |
| Description/subject: | | "Buddhism in Burma (also known as Myanmar) is predominantly of the Theravada tradition, practised by 89% of the country's population. It is the most religious Buddhist country in terms of the proportion of monks in the population and proportion of income spent on religion. Adherents are most likely found among the dominant ethnic Bamar (or Burmans), Shan, Rakhine (Arakanese), Mon, Karen, and Chinese who are well integrated into Burmese society. Monks, collectively known as the Sangha, are venerated members of Burmese society. Among many ethnic groups in Myanmar, including the Bamar and Shan, Theravada Buddhism is practiced in conjunction with nat worship, which involves the placation of spirits who can intercede in worldly affairs....Contents:
1 History...
2 Traditions:
2.1 Veneration;
2.2 Shinbyu;
2.3 Buddhist holidays;
2.4 Buddhist lent;
2.5 Buddhist education...
3 Monasticism...
4 Politics:
4.1 Saffron Revolution...
5 See also...
6 Further reading...
7 References...
8 External links. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Wikipedia |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 14 August 2012 |
|
Individual Documents
| Title: | | Mental Culture in Burmese Crisis Politics |
| Date of publication: | | 29 March 1999 |
| Description/subject: | | "This book deals with the Buddhist dimensions underlying the politics of Aung San Suu Kyi and the
Burmese democracy movement in general. Today, Aung San Suu Kyi is identified in the
international arena as an icon of democracy hemmed in by conservative military forces. Within the
country, however, the military manipulates this �foreign� sentiment as a welcome addition to its
propaganda armoury. It portrays Aung San Suu Kyi as a puppet, an honorary ambassador of the
foreigner who is driven by foreign interests in disregard of her own native traditions. This book
argues that neither the international image of her, nor the military misuse of her international image
within the country come to terms with Burmese political values as expressed in the Burmese
language.
Gustaaf Houtman analyses military politics as a politics of authority (ana) and confinement that
emphasises the local delineation of boundaries under the guise of benevolence, using the discourse
of culture, archaeology and race, and the threat of imprisonment. By contrast, he analyses the
democracy movement as a politics of influence (awza) that aims to transcend these boundaries. This
elaborates on political terminology in terms of Buddhist mental culture leading to �non-self� (anatta),
promising freedom from imprisonment and confinement. The ideals of the four byama-so tay� � in
particular loving-kindness (metta) and compassion (karuna) � stand for democracy, just as they
have stood for ideal true socialist government. The senior NLD leaders all closely identify with this
and with the practice of Buddhist mental culture in general. Furthermore, though the lower forms of
magic are more common amongst the military, many retired military responsible for imprisoning and
disqualifying the NLD from office also proclaim to be engaged in the practice of mental culture and
patronise the same Buddhist meditation centres. Mental culture, while strongly represented as
democracy politics, thus plays a role as a conciliatory third force in Burmese politics.
The author decodes the present political situation in terms of continuities with past colonial politics
and assesses commonalties between the two sides. The book argues that, through association with
Buddhist ideas emphasising substantive commonalties in all forms of life, Burmese political
vocabulary itself has the promise within it to promote reconciliation in this divided polity..." (from the Press Release) |
| Author/creator: | | Gustaaf Houtman |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Tokyo University of Foreign Studies |
| Format/size: | | PDF (2600K), or browse chapters (html) from the Copntents page |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://homepages.tesco.net/~ghoutman/final.htm |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 June 2003 |
|
| Title: | | The Soul of a People |
| Date of publication: | | 1902 |
| Description/subject: | | First published in 1899..."This book is about Burma, seen through the eyes of an English gentleman during and after the conquering of Upper Burma by the British towards the end of the 19th century. It describes his impressions of the Burmese people and particularly their religion, Buddhism, which explains so much their strange customs and ways.
Written in the excellent English, in choice of words and prose, lost in modern times, that typified the Victorian period".....CONTENTS:
LIVING BELIEFS;
HE WHO FOUND THE LIGHT—I;
HE WHO FOUND THE LIGHT—II;
THE WAY TO THE GREAT PEACE;
WAR—I;
WAR—II;
GOVERNMENT;
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT;
HAPPINESS;
THE MONKHOOD I;
THE MONKHOOD II;
PRAYER;
FESTIVALS;
WOMEN—I;
WOMEN—II;
WOMEN III;
DIVORCE;
MANNERS;
'NOBLESSE OBLIGE';
ALL LIFE IS ONE;
DEATH, THE DELIVERER;
THE POTTER'S WHEEL;
THE FOREST OF TIME.....
The Alternate URL has a link to the openlibrary page which offers several editions, in various formats. The OBL link is to the 1902 edition, with the insertion of the first page of the Contents, omitted from the openlibrary 1902 version. |
| Author/creator: | | Harold Fielding Hall |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Macmillan & Co. via openlibrary.org |
| Format/size: | | pdf (2.9MB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://openlibrary.org/works/OL1104253W/The_soul_of_a_people |
| Date of entry/update: | | 23 September 2010 |
|
| Title: | | The Burmese Empire a Hundred Years Ago |
| Date of publication: | | 1893 |
| Description/subject: | | First published: 1833....CONTENTS: INTRODUCTION;
LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL WORKS REFERRED TO;
PREFACE BY MR. JARDINE;
PREFACE BY CARDINAL WISEMAN;
DESCRIPTION OF THE BURMESE EMPIRE...
BURMESE COSMOGRAPHY:
I. Of the Measures and Divisions of Time commonly used in
the Sacred Burmese Books;
II. Of the World and its Parts;
III. Of the Beings that live in this World, of their Felicity or
Misery, and of the Duration of their Life;
IV. Of the States of Punishment;
V. Of the Destruction and Reproduction of the World;
VI. Of the Inhabitants of the Burmese Empire....
BURMESE HISTORY:
VII. Origin of the Burmese Nation and Monarchy;
VIII. Abridgment of the Burmese Annals, called Maharazven;
IX. Of the present Royal Family, and of the Principal Events
that have taken place under the Reigning Dynasty....
CONSTITUTION OF THE BURMESE EMPIRE:
X. Of the Emperor, and of his White Elephants;
XI. Officers of State and of the Household, Tribunals, and
Administration of Justice;
XII. Revenue and Taxes;
XIII. Army and Military Discipline....
RELIGION OF THE BURMESE:
XIV. The Laws of Godama;
XV. Of the Talapoins;
XVI. The Sermons of Godama;
XVII. Superstitions of the Burmese....
MORAL AND PHYSICAL CONSTITUTION OF THE
BURMESE EMPIRE:
XVIII. Character of the Burmese;
XIX. Manners and Customs of the Burmese;
XX. Literature and Sciences of the Burmese;
XXI. Natural Productions of the Burmese Empire;
XXII. Calendar of the Burmese. Climate and Seasons of the
Burmese Empire;
XXIII. Of the Currency and Commerce of the Burmese Empire....
BURMESE CODE:
XXIV. Abstract of the Burmese Code entitled Damasat; or the
Golden Rule |
| Author/creator: | | Father Vincenzo Sangermano |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Archibald Constable & Co. |
| Format/size: | | pdf (8.2MB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://ia341340.us.archive.org/0/items/cu31924023243904/cu31924023243904.pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 21 September 2010 |
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