Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
When it comes to religion, women also take a back seat. Many people in Myanmar -
women as well as men - believe the birth of a girl indicates less religious merit than the
birth of a boy, and that only males can attain
nibbana
(for a woman to do so, she first has
to come back as a man!). Buddhist shrines, including Mandalay's Mahamuni Paya and
Yangon's Shwedagon Paya, have small areas around the main holy image or stupa that
are off limits to women.
Just as boys between the ages of five and 20 usually undergo a pre-puberty initiation
as temporary novice monks, girls around the same age participate in an initiatory ear-
piercing ceremony (often called 'ear-boring' in Burmese English). Some also become
temporary nuns at this age, but nuns are not as venerated in Myanmar as monks.
Officially Myanmar is 1% animist, 1.5% Hindu, 4% Christian and 4% Muslim; others be-
lieve that non-Buddhists may account for 30% of the population.
Religion & Belief
Faith and superstition go hand in hand in Myanmar. About 89% of the people of Myan-
mar are Buddhist, but many also pay heed to ancient animist beliefs in natural spirits
(nats)
. Locals are proud of their beliefs and keen to discuss them. Knowing something
about Buddhism in particular will help you better understand life in the country.
During the U Nu period, Buddhism functioned as a state religion, as embodied in such
catchphrases as 'the Socialist Way to Nibbana'.
Buddhism
The Mon were the first people in Myanmar to practice Theravada (meaning Doctrine of
the Elders) Buddhism, the oldest and most conservative form of the religion. King
Asoka, the great Indian emperor, is known to have sent missions here (known then as the
'Golden Land') during the 3rd century BC. A second wave is thought to have arrived via
Sinhalese missionaries between the 6th and 10th centuries.
By the 9th century the Pyu of northern Myanmar were combining Theravada with ele-
ments of Mahayana (Great Vehicle) and Tantric Buddhism brought from their homelands
in the Tibetan Plateau. During the early Bagan era (11th century), Bamar king Anawrahta
decided that the Buddhism practised in his realm should be 'purified' from all non-
Theravada elements. It never completely shed Tantric, Hindu and animist elements, but
remains predominately Theravada.
