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Bago (Myanmar )

Bec
2004-09-18 17:16:55

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the Burmans in 1757. It was rediscovered 1880 and restored again several times to bring it to this condition.

In the same area stands the Mahazedi Paya which I did not visit for it was too late by the time I got there.

Originally built in 1560, it was destroyed in 1757 during the sack of Bago, rebuilt in 1860 and destroyed again by an earthquake in 1930. This current reconstruction dates only from 1982.

I stayed overnight in Bago and the next morning, went to visit the huge Kha Khat Wain monastery before going back to Yangon.

It is interesting to see how eloquent body language can be. Just compare the easy, relaxed stance of the three younger monks with the crossed arms gesture and closed countenance of the older one.

I roamed all over the place and I must say, was met with more smiles that frowns. Maybe they felt intuitively that I consider Therevada Buddhism less obnoxious than other religions because everyone seeks his own salvation without bothering to convince anyone of their particular beliefs. Mahayana Buddhism on the other hand is heavily involved with the salvation of all mankind and is therefore much more social and political, becoming theocratic in its extreme Lamaist expression.

Below on the left, that's how they get that clean and pure look. On the right, we could not understand each other's words but we exchanged smiles and the vibrations were good.

A big gong is rung and the monks line up for the midday meal which is the only one they will have until the following midday.

Food was simple, a large helping of rice with some boiled greens washed down with tea.

All males spend periods of their lives in a monastery that can vary from weeks to years. All those here appeared to be quite content. When you consider the hardship of life outside, they had reason to be for here they were fed, clothed, washed, sheltered and made feel secure in their beliefs.

The Abbot's meal was more elaborate and he was waited on by a personal servant but he had to eat alone to maintain the distance of authority.

Meanwhile, life outside continues to be a struggle with poverty, infantile mortality, inadequate medical services and a life expectancy at birth of only 58 years.

As I see it, the "sacred" dimension of their lives must help them overcome the hardships of everyday reality, otherwise, they would not expend such an important part of their limited resources to maintain the religious fiction...

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