star behind the sky

The post, Simple Loss of Faith, published by Thway Ni on http://bbwob.blogspot.com/ saddened me. I was wondering that the author was trying to say losing of faith in Burma, or in some people of Burma. It is different.

As a Buddhist and a Burmese, the scandal about Shwe Da Gon is totally miserable, and also a shame: although nobody can prove or deny it so far. Despite there was a denial in an interview with one of the members of Shwe Da Gon Pagoda Committee, the Burmese are still in doubt because all what he was saying could not be reliable. The first time I read about that story, I was in doubt, then felt sad, and marked it as one of the bad things we need to change. After that, I tried not to think about. I skipped almost all the news for it, except reading the title to consider for going details, and deleted all kinds of forwarded emails concern with it. I did not want to mass my mind up. I know - what we are, how we live, which are the real properties belong to the Burmese, how we are getting bad by the situations, and which are the sources of all these happenings.

People start wondering about our nation on the factor relating to Buddhism. In September 2007, several numbers of Monk were beaten, shot dead, put into the jail, and were treated everything that we never even imagine in our thoughts. It becomes a main stimulation for reconsidering about Buddhism in Burma, a well known country for its' world best and the truest Theravada.

Many Burmese are questioned - unsurprisingly also done by themselves - that why the government, believed as a Buddhist by international, had behaved like that. They also ask about if Burma is a Buddhist country, or, if majorities in Burma are Buddhist. There may be several kinds of answers, but surely all will not be good.

To the people who are in confusion, I want to give an answer; which is not the one from me, it is from the Lord Buddha.

Once, Buddha was saying -

"One will be very close to a Buddha, only if who knows, and practices the Dhamma. Even though one is holding His robe, who will be very far away from Him unless practices it."

It is now obvious that someone can be said as a Buddhist only when he or she practices the Dhamma of Buddha. Otherwise, one - no matter how much paying respect to the Buddha, or, no matter how much he or she chants the scriptures, and prays to the Buddha - will be a so-called Buddhist.

So, the question is: does the Government of Burma or majorities of the people of Burma close to the Buddha? Sadly, the answer is 'NO'. On the other words, they are not true Buddhist. They do not know, nor interest, about the true Dhamma of Buddha. As the outcome, all these kinds of shameful stories come out. (There is also no doubt that there are people and monks who are real Buddhist.)

Beside, there are good and bad in every society. Especially, in this period of dark years in Burma, it is not a surprise or not for losing faith, if some people are full of dishonest, or if corruptions and lies clouding over the country. Instead, we have to aware of the evil behaviours, and have to change it when we get a chance to do. Until now, I can say exactly that most Burmese in Burma are still honest, helpful, kind, generous, happy-typed, and soft-minded people.

I understand the feeling - happens when we know the terrible stories of our country - and realize how bad it is. But think about that they have been living continuously under the undeveloped and worse governments for several years. Within those years, there was only a small period and few chances to change it, but failed. Honesty, Discipline, Morality, and Unity all are getting damage. I do agree all this things and accept what is happening in these days to us.

So finally, I want to urge you all not to lose faith in Burma and in the people. We have to accept what is happening, but we have to see thoroughly and deny to lose faith.

NattSoe

18 Feb 2009

*[update for learning English: put some commas, dashes, semi-colons, colons, and little changes for better reading.
12Mar2009