Traditional Theme
Traditional Belief & Customs of Myanmar (Burma)

Buddhist way of Life Myanmar

In Myanmar, majority of population are Buddhist. Buddhism has been thriving in Myanmar since the 11th century, or perhaps even earlier. Buddhism can be classified into two types categories. There are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. Theravada Buddhists believe that the Theravada tradition most closely adheres to the original teaching of the Buddha.

What do Buddhist depend on?
                  Buddhism is depended on the law of Karma of law of Cause and Effect. Karma means all actions. Good karma has good results and karma has bad results. If a man does a good deed of thinks a good thought, the effect upon him is to increase the tendencies tower goodness in him.
                  Fundamentally, Myanmar Buddhist takes refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. They observed the Five Precepts, Eight precepts. The five precepts are refraining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and consumption of intoxicants. Eight Precepts, which may be observed on is portent says on the Buddhist calendar. In Myanmar Buddhism, Buddhist are practising give up part of their possession, there are called "Dana" (Charity) and "Silla" (morality). A well known of ten quoted Buddhists saving runs, Dana leads to wealth, silla to happiness and Havana to Nibbana. Nibbana is the dying of the karmic force. To an average Buddhist, the act of Dana is the easiest for him to practice because much depends on the attitude of the mind. In every Buddhist household has a special corner, usually higher than the flooring, reserved for the shrine. They placed the one or the more images of the Buddhist makes an offering flowers, candles and water at least once a day and recites some devotional verses in Pali and Burmese.
                  Buddhists offer monks a morsel of rice, a spoonful. Others are pots, coconut shall, or tin cans with handles are exposed as water booths. Donators of water booths firmly believe that making an offering of even water brings him various kind of blessing. At the pagoda, must be taken off slippers. They formulated the seven days merit associations. Every day member of these associations, do sweeping and cleaning on the platform.
                    Can see the donation boxes, donation centres. Pilgrims donate their money for conservation of Pagoda, for supply electricity and for reservation of Pagoda. They believe to get merits and rich for their future life. After recoiling prayers pilgrims go to the triagonal Gong Post and strike it, others are going to the Bell post and hammed it. The Pilgrims foxing to the planetary post and they are offering water, flowers, paper umbrellas, candle according to the instruction of Astrologers. They believe to get merit and take over their problems. On Sabbath day the old age of Pilgrims wear white shirt, brown sarong and brown shawls located on their shoulders and willingly go to their respective abbot’s monasteries.
                    There are more fifty kinds of Mudra (the hand gestures of the Buddha). Among them eight kinds of Mudra are significant in Myanmar images. In the seated position mostly Bumiphassa Mudra, the right hand rests on the knee with palm inside and the fingers touching the earth. While the left palm turning upwards rests on the lap. This posture represents when Buddha meditated under the Bo tree the "Mara" an evil one and his troops, challenged the Buddha to occupy the seat. Then the lord Buddha called on the goddess of mother earth "Wathom-daray" to testify his mentorious deed in former existence. Suddenly the "Wathondaray" appeared from the earth and squeezed her hair. Allegro amount of water came out from her hair and the "Mara" and his troops run away. So this posture is called Bumiphassa Mudra.
                    In standing position Mahagarun Mudra, the left or right hand is raised up to the middle of the chest and the palm turning inwards is folded. The other hand hangs down by the side of the body pointing fingers downwards, this posture stands for the assurance of tenderness to all creatures as his own offspring and love to all . In reclining position Buddha is lying on the right palm. This posture represents Buddha is preaching the law to celestial beings. In another reclining figure, the head is directed towards north and rested on the pillow and the right hand is laid infront of the pillow, and feet are lappet on each other. This posture represents Buddha is entering Nibbana or final liberation.
                     The most significant differences between the early image and later images are the earlobes of the early Buddha images do not touch the shoulders. But in the later images the earlobe touch the shoulders. That is first point in note and second one is robe of the right shoulder are uncovered. The nipple of the Buddha can be seen in early images whereas it cannot be seen in later ones. As a third point the fingers of early images are not the same in length. They are actually like human beings fingers. In the later images the fingers are even in length. Finally the faces of the ancient images are elongated and sharp. In the later images the faces are oval shaped. The eye of the early Buddha images are down cast eye and strength forwards eye in later image.
                     The Buddhist people are worshipping in front of Buddha images and offering the flowers, candles increase sticks and alms foods (soon) to the Buddha images. They are not worshipping the image or buildings. Just worship or respect the "Nine supreme qualities of Buddha", carve the image of Buddha as just a monument of attributes of the Buddha images. They realised the teaching of Buddha. That why Buddhist pay respect and offer something in front of the Buddha images in order to attain merit. Buddhists pay a create respect to lord Buddha images.

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