Introduction
Buddhism entails religious teaching spearheaded by the Buddha and his followers. Religion asserts that by eliminating hatred, greed, and delusion that are deemed to cause suffering, humans can achieve perfect enlightenment. Many people in Myanmar practice Theravada Buddhism. Buddhism originated from Northern India and traces its traditional origin to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha. The philosophy of Buddhism revolves around the reality of life and social life other than the invisible creator. The essay describes some key points in the article “Between Controversy and Ecumenism: Intra-Buddhist Relationships” by Peter Harvey and reflects on them in the context of Myanmar Buddhism.
Features of Myanmar Buddhism
Myanmar followed the Theravada of Mons because they were impressed by the simplicity of its doctrine. Theravada is preferred to the sophisticated court religion. The major features of this religion are centered on the following traditions. Firstly, the formation of a Buddha through the ritual performance by placing and identifying within a person’s body the traits of the Buddha that, in turn, become the Buddha. The application of sacred language blended with microcosm to macrocosm recognition. Sacred phrases or syllables are employed to depict a larger group. Groups of syllables of a given number depict other important groups of a similar number. This application of sacred language comprises the utilization of heart phrases related to mantras, Mahayana, and yantras. Esoteric interpretations of objects, words, and myths that have a standard exoteric purpose or meaning in Myanmar Buddhism. Finally, there is the need for initiation before the performance of a practice or ritual.
Consequently, based on the features described, Theravada Buddhists mainly proposed to be relieved from the cycle of Samsara, and suffering and to attain nirvana. It shows that the people of Myanmar believe that to accomplish success in the world and enhance enlightenment in subsequent rebirths, they should establish positive merit or karma. Buddhists in Myanmar search for enlightenment when somebody mentions Buddha; people who are listening typically imagine a chubby person meditating under a fig tree. The real name of Buddha is Siddhartha Gautama, whose father kept in the palace to hide the truth of suffering in this world. However, when he flees and experiences pain in the world, he begins to look for enlightenment.
Further, a unique factor of Myanmar Buddhism is the expansion of meditation movements among the population. Conventionally, meditation rituals were reserved for monastic elites, and people’s religious rituals were mostly comprised of making offerings to monks who went on alms rounds. Nonetheless, meditation has been taught to most laypeople in big numbers, especially under British colonialism, and this continues up to now. In addition, prominent meditation teachers in Myanmar have influenced the Buddhist practice across Europe and America, specifically in the meditation style referred to as insight meditation or vipassana. Burmese meditations possess a wide range of practices and techniques.
Buddhism and Leadership
The Buddhists in Myanmar are trying to deny themselves through different other ways such as nature, even though their satisfaction is high. They have learned many things from the monks and Buddha through meditation, the path of self-denial via pain, bearing and suffering that pain, and also by living thirsty and hungry all day. They learned that Buddha washed all the pictures in his mind and emptied his mind for meditation. After meditation, Buddha, through their efforts, came back into himself again in the end. It has formed the main basis for the Buddhists in Myanmar. They believe that humans can achieve enlightenment and become arahants or arhats and be liberated from their sufferings. Through meditation, laypeople can place and recognize within their bodies the qualities of the Buddha. For example, the Myanmar leader imagines herself or himself a Buddhist dhammaraja and a Buddhist Ecumene leader. Dhammaraja has duties to herself to be Buddhist and to govern based on Buddhist sensibilities. In addition, they have to offer a Buddhist space for their subjects to practice Buddhist rituals.
Buddhism and Politics
However, Buddhist or Buddhism technologies, for example, patronage (dāna) and meditation, are merely considered mechanisms applied by those jockeying for influence. A Myanmar leader may appeal to be a dhammaraja, although only to get the support of the people. Buddhism in Myanmar was employed as a rallying cry for nationalist movements; however, it is dismissed that Buddhism is the central aspect of politics. In addition, there are different possibilities for the origin of the traditions; all of the terms are in Pali and its basic ideas are Theravada: the influence of Hinduism, Mahayana Buddhism, or Abhayagiri Nikaya, or the Sarvastivada. Buddhists’ monastic order often practices and follows the rituals and norms of the people in the past.
Conclusion
Myanmar Buddhism is unique because of the growth of the meditation movement among its people. Traditionally, the ritual was reserved mainly for monastic elites; however, many people in big numbers are practicing meditation practices that continue up to now. This practice is spreading across the world, particularly in Europe and America. Buddhists believe that through meditation in the image of Buddha, they can achieve enlightenment and be liberated from their sufferings in this world.