A few weeks ago you may remember in the ‘Candy Crush as a Path to Enlightenment?’ post I mused over Buddhism.
Well, Myanmar is the most seriously Buddhist place we’ve ever been. Makes the monks of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia look like lightweights. So serious indeed, that in Yangon, a young New Zealand national found himself on the wrong side of the law when it comes to the Buddha. He is part owner of a bar that had a sign with the Buddha wearing headphones advertising happy hour. This was not looked upon kindly by the authorities and he’s been convicted and serving 2 years for ‘insulting the Buddha’.
A recent news article that my sister sent me, highlights that Buddhism is not immune from misogyny. Myanmar has been taking heat from the UN for its treatment of the Rohingyas, a heavily persecuted minority. In Myanmar they do not actually have citizen rights and the UN Special Rapporteur cited in a report. A Monk Leader, actively opposing rights for Rohingyas, then referred to her in the press as a ‘whore’ and a ‘bitch’. http://news.yahoo.com/myanmar-monks-u-n-whore-rant-could-hurt-083252006.html
Fortunately these views are not widely held and this monk has been condemned for his statement. This underscores my earlier point that the monks rather than all kumbya and chilled are an integral part of maintaining the social order – even if it as the expense of a minority.
Would we go back? Yes, the people were met were lovely and they really went out their way to ensure we had a positive experience. The world is full of countries with lovely people and terrible governments. If we didn’t travel because of the government or the voice of the more unsavoury elements – we’d never go anywhere.
beaverlogue 