Tuesday, May 18, 2021

BUDDHISM IN RAKHAIN : PRACTICE AND PERCEPTS

 

Bhikkhu Sumanapal 

(The Rakhine people or Arakanese people are a Southeast Asian ethnic group. We do not have any particular data about their number; most probably they constitute 5.53% or more of Myanmer's total population.) They also dwell in Bangladesh particularly in Chittagong and Barishal Division. We can also find Rakhain people in Tripura. In North East India Arakanese people are known as Maghs. 

(The Rakhain people are predominantly Tharavada Buddhists. Due to its close proximity with the Indian subcontinent Arakense culture shows a very strong Indian influence. The Arakanese language is closely connected with Burmese language.

The ancient city of Dhanyawadi is now completely in ruins. During the period 580 B.C.to 326 A.D. the Buddha makes his first appearance in Dhanyawadi. The period During the reign of King Nga Tone Mun the civilization Dhanyawadi reached its peak. It was at the zenith of its glory and had trade relation with many foreign countries. 

In Arakan there were three Golden Maruk periods. The first one started in the year 1430 and lasted till 1530, the second started in the year 1531 and lasted upto 1638 and the final period started in 1638 and continued till 1784. The second golden period in which Rakhain attained supremacy in the field of national integration and became the supreme in the adjoining areas.

In Marak U we find many archaeological remains such as inscriptions, Buddha images, and his footprints, and great pagodas, and these remind us of the Gupta age of India. All these things exerted a great spiritual influence in the people of that country. 

Among the historical relics of that period we may mention coins, inscriptions, Buddha image etc..

In Arakanese coins we find the image of the ruler on one side and the logo of the sun and the moon on the other. One such coin made during the reign of king Niti chandra in 8th century can be seen in British Museum. 

The.famous archaeologist Forchhammer discovered a stone inscription written in Nagari character. 

It was a hilly region and according to Burmese tradition the Buddha himself had visited the place some 2500 years ago. Apart from this archeologists have also discovered a Buddha image in the dharma chakra mudra, relef sculpture made in 4th century A.D, red sandstone slabs, etc.

From these testimonies it is conclusively proved that Buddhism entered Burma in the ancient period. 

It was King Dvan Chandra who founded the city of Vesali, during 327 A.D. King Dvan Chandra carved a Buddha image in 327A D and on it a Pali incription can be found. If it is translated into English it will be like this, "Of these dhammas which arise from cause/ The Tathagata has declared causes/ Lord Buddha preached about the causes and that which is the ceasing of them /And that which is the ceasing of them, Nirawada Thitesa/ This the great ascetic declares. This verse shows that when it was composed theravada Buddhism was at its zenith in Burma."

There were also many stone inscriptions in different scripts and languages. Scholars like Dr E.H.Johnston have made an analysis in which we are provided with a list of kings. Those many of the pagodas and inscriptions are now in ruins they amply prove that Buddhism in those days was highly popular among the masses in Burma.

Now we can discuss the Buddhist Councils that took place in Rakhain. It happened in 638 under the joint venture of Ceylon and Rakhain. The council was organized by king Dhamnawizaya who was its chief patron. Hundreds of monks from Ceylon and Rakhain took part in the council.  

To commemorate the occasion pagodas, statues and inscriptions were made, the Tripitaka was inscribed. Another Budhist Council was organized by King Mim Yin Phru in the year 847 A.D The Council was attended by 800 arhats. The practice and development of Buddhism was never hampered and there was no lack of royal patronage.

In architectural style this region shows influence of India, particularly that of east India. Dr. Forchhammer claims that "in durability, architectural skill, and ornamentation the Maruk.U temples far surpass those on the banks of Arrawaddy". 

The Vesali kings started making coins around the fifth century A.D. On one side of the coin we find the name of the ruler during whose rule the coins were made and on the other side we find inscriptions written in Persian and Nagari language.

Various foreign powers like the Mongols, Mon, Bamar and Poruguese invaded this country. In the year1784 the crown prince of the Konbaung dynasty attacked western Yoma (Arakan Mountains) and then annexed Rakhaine. The Rakhain people fought for decades and their leader was Nga ThannDe and Chin Byan.

In the year 1826 Rakhine was annexed by the British and Sittwe or Akyab became its new capital. In 1852 Rakhain became a part of lower Burma. Some monks like U Ottama and U Seinda became the leaders in the freedom struggle against the British. 

During the Second World War Arakan Defence force turned to the allies and fought against the Japanese. After became independent Rakhine was made a division within the Union of Burma.)

Though in 1974 the Ne Wins government gave Rakhine Division state status it was useless in effect. We find a group of Rakhain people living in the coastal areas like Cox's Bazar, Borguna, and Patuakhali. Before the two countries Myanmar and Bangladesh were formed they had migrated from Myanmar to Bangladesh. In 2020 there are 16000 members in their community. 

History says that the Rakhains migrated from Myanmar during the eighteenth century and Cox's Bazar and Patuakhali district. When Arakan was annexed by Burma in 1784 the refugees went to Cox Bazar for shelter. The place received its name from Captain Hiram Cox who was entrusted with the task of allotting land to the refugees.  The Rakhain people and the local Bengali population communicate in a very unique dialect. The Rakhains managed to keep intact their culture, religion, and language to a great extent. Schools imparting instructions in Rakhain language used to exist in that area till the year 1998 but they had to be closed down due to lack of funds.

 

Myanmar is predominantly Buddhist country where the faith of the Buddha is practised by nearly 90% of the population. Most of the citizens of the country belong to the Theravada tradition. Various tribes like the dominant Bamar people, Shan, Rakhain, Mon, Karen, and Chinese are well integrated into Burmese society. Among them the Rakhains are a South East Asian ethnic group in the country who form the majority community along the coastal region of present day Rakhaine state (formerly officially called Arakan.) (The Arakains are approximately 5.53% of the total population of Myanmar but we cannot be certain as there is no accurate census figure. Rakhaines are among the four principal ethnic groups of Burma and they claim to be one of the earliest groups who started following the ideals of the Buddha in South East Asia.  Though Rakhaine culture is predominantly Buddhist it shows some Indian elements because it is not very far from the Indian subcontinent. The music, literature and culture of Rakhaine are strongly influenced by their Indian counterparts. The people of Rakhaine practise Theravada Buddhism like most other tribes in Myanmar along with nat worship which means worshipping spirits that are believed to be in control of the worldly affairs of the people.

For the devout Buddhists of Rakhaine as well as for the Buddhists of Myanmar there are two very popular practices, namely merit making, and Vipassana. For the Buddhists of Rakhaine the most common path adopted is the path of merit making. Merit making chiefly consists of the following five precepts and doing good deeds like charity and dana. The main objective of these acts is to ensure rebirth in a favourable condition. On the other hand Vipassana meditation which became popular around the early twentieth century. According to popular belief, by participating in vipassana meditation enlightenment can be attained.

Like the Buddhist of the other parts of the country the Buddhists of Rakhain are devout in their belief and practice and the influence of this religion is all pervasive over there. It was king Anawratha who founded first Burmese empire in the 11th century. He took significant steps for the simplification of the spiritual and religious beliefs of the country. But he was unable to get rid of the animistic ideas held fast by his countrymen and as a result of it the worship of countless gods and goddesses or nats is still continuing among the masses. We can find the image of at least one nat in every Burmese Buddhist temple.

The efforts of the missionary monk Shin Arahan is primarily responsible for the establishment of Buddhism as the state religion. His achievement becomes more creditable when we consider the fact that it was the period in which it was declining in other parts of Asia. Like the Buddhists of the other parts of Myanmar, the Buddhist of Rakhaine, monks and householder alike, recites three times a day, ‘The Three Jewels’ or the Triratna or in other words taking refuge to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.  The formula of the triple gem offers solace and peace to the Buddhists, this recitation gives them strength. Besides, there is also the understanding of the Four Noble Truths which teaches them the following: 1.There is always an element of suffering in life. 2. Desire is the cause of suffering 3. If we can give up desire and attachment all our suffering will come to an end. 4. If we can follow the Noble Eight Fold Path all our suffering will come to an end.  By Noble Eight Fold Path we mean right view, right intent, right conduct, right speech, right livelihood, right endeavour, right mindfulness, and right meditation. These Eight Noble means can be divided into three categories namely wisdom, morality and mental discipline. Right view and right intent come under the category of wisdom, speech, conduct or action and livelihood are included within morality, and endeavour, mindfulness and meditation are the qualities which originate from mental discipline.

Now we can mention some Buddhist terms that are used in Rakhaine

Gyo daing: Small Buddha shrines found in temples.

Kyaung: A Buddhist monastery

Pagoda: A Burmese Buddhist temple.

Parabaik: folded palm leaf manuscript

Paya: generic form of a Buddhist temple

Pahto: another word for a temple generally referred to the hollow Indian style temples (with minor shrines as opposed to temples constructed around a solid stupa.

Pongyi: a Buddhist monk. Pyat -that multi roofed pavilions, usually made of wood,

Samsara: cycle of birth and death (rebirth)

Sayadaw:

Tazaung: A Buddhist shrine

Thabeik:

Thilashin: a Buddhist nun

Zedi: a stupa

 

The monks provide the people of Rakhaine the way to salvation by playing a model for them. Most of them are novices or students who become monks only for a stipulated period of time. The monks has to vow for abandoning all material possessions except the following items: three robes, a razor for shaving, a needle for sewing, a strainer to ensure that no living being is swallowed , a belt, an arms bowl. Secondly, the monk takes the vow not to kill any living being or to injure anyone. Finally, the monk has to observe complete sexual celibacy throughout his life. The monk makes his livelihood through begging from door to door. The food collected from house to house is the only source of food for the monk.

A Buddhist is not considered civilized until and unless he undergoes the ceremony shin-pyu which is the ceremony by which he is  initiated into the order of the monks. Here the Buddha is his ideal because he left his family in search of spiritual life and enlightenment. Before the night of shin-pyu a grand feast is organized in which all the monks of the monastery as well as the young boy participates. In the weeks before the ceremonies, the boy would have been familiarized with the language and behaviour befitting a monk. During the initiation ceremony the novice prostrates himself three times, and then he is accepted in the community that originated with the Buddha. During his time in the monastery, his parents must address him in honorific terms. He will call them Upasaka-Upasika, which is not applicable to his fellow monks in the order.

 

 

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