My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so this was a return to Southeast Asia that I looked forward to. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning a bit about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy some of what I learned and see some of what I saw.
Nuns’ Robes are a Brilliant Pink |
There are about 30,000 Nuns in modern Burma. They’re called Sila-Rhan meaning “owners of virtue.” While all male Buddists become either novice monks when they’re children or monks when they are adults, not all females are compelled to enter the monastery, even for a brief period.
On this day, I was in a market and the Nuns came through singing with their begging bowls. I contributed 50Kyat (pronounced CHAT) to their bowl and snapped a picture. I wish I had the singing to share. It was a beautiful chant.
Burma is all about Color, Even in Nun Robes |
Young Nun Shopping |
Answer to M
T 1. Mandalay was the last royal capital in Burma. (When the British took over Burma, they exiled King Thibaw and Queen Supayalat. There would never be another royal capital in Burma after November 1885.)
T 2. Mandaly was occupied by the Japanese for three years following a heavy air assault on the city. (The Japanese destroyed over half of the homes in Mandalay and sent people fleeing into the countryside. The conquerors remained in control from 1941 to 1945.)
NOW what do you know about nuns in Burma?
T/F 1. All women in Burma are required to become nuns and follow the tradition of what is called the bhikkhunis.
T/F 2. Nuns have an equal status with monks.
Answers tomorrow.