| More than 85% of the population of Myanmar is
Buddhist. The most prevalent form of Buddhism is Theravada Buddhism. This
was the form originally practised by the Mon people, who were converted
to Buddhism by missionaries from India in the 3rd century A.D. Between
the 6th and 10th centuries, another wave of missionaries from Sri Lanka
arrived.
Buddhism does not involve a belief in a god or gods. It is based on the teachings of the Indian Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who lived in the 6th century B.C. and became the Buddha or Enlightened One. He taught that suffering arises from desire, and that people can free themselves from suffering only by freeing themselves from desire. The eightfold path is a way to this goal. It consists of right speech, right action, right livelihood, right execution, right attentiveness, right concentration, right thoughts and right understanding. Buddhism also emphasizes compassion, equanimity and wisdom. The Buddha also taught that life is a cycle of births, and that nirvana (the liberation from suffering) comes only at the end of this cycle. |
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| Over the centuries, two schools of Buddhist thought
have developed. Theravada Buddhists believe that each individual must work
to bring about his or her own nirvana. Mahayana Buddhists believe
that individuals cannot achieve their own nirvana, but can only
approach this state. They believe that nirvana will come only when all
people are ready for salvation. Most Buddhists in Myanmar are Theravada
Buddhists.
Buddhists gain merit in life through worship, meditation, charity, pilgrimages, sponsoring the construction of a pagoda or becoming a monk. Buddhists ring a bell to let people know when they have performed a meritorious act. In Myanmar, every male is expected to spend some time in a pongyi kyaung (monastery) as a child and later as an adult. First-born sons quite often become monks. |
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Myanmar Buddhism is blended with elements of nat
worship, a traditional religion from pre-Buddhist times. Nat worship
is belief in spirits. Some nats are the spirits of important people
who have died. Others are associated with particular places. Some nats
protect people; others are destructive, possessing humans who then become
outcasts. To ensure safety, people make offerings to the nats. They
may also ask a Buddhist monk to exorcise someone who is suffering from
spirit possession.
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