| Dos & Don't
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| Religion
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The Myanmar are a religious
people and hold all persons, places or things associated with
religion in much veneration. This is true of Buddhists as well
as Christians. Since you tour will take you to many places
Buddhist and Christian it is necessary to be informed of modes
of dress and behavior which might cause displeasure or
surprise and so should be avoided. On the other hand there is
much appreciation when a foreign person is seen to be
observing the proper form.
REMOVE
FOOTWEAR BEFORE ENTERING PAGODA PRECINCTS-
Footwear
must be removed before entering the pagoda grounds. In some
places, in some countries, footwear may be permitted up to the
building in which the Buddha image is enshrined, footwear being removed only
when the shrine building is entered. In Myanmar, it is
considered essential to remove footwear before entering the
compound in which the pagoda or shrine is sited. The question
of footwear in pagoda precincts was a crunch issue during the
colonial period. There was an uproar in the country when the
British rulers claimed the right to wear shoes in pagoda
precincts and an armed rebellion almost ensued. The shoe
question gave impetus to Myanmar's struggle for in dependence
and was the beginning of the end for British colonial rule.
Another question: "After shedding the shoes, should one keep
the socks on?" The short answer: What you wear on the foot is
footwear. Right? It is more comfortable to be barefoot in
those places. And you don't want to start a war, do you?
REMOVE
FOOTWEAR BEFORE ENTERING MONASTERY PRECINCTS-
The
same rule of removing footwear applies before entering
monastery precincts. But in some cases there can be a
relaxation of the rule. The presiding monk, with the consent
of the resident monks may permit footwear in the monastery
precincts. An example is the Hermitage of Maha-Si in
Yangon where footwear is permitted. The grounds of the
Hermitage are extensive and many foreigners come to meditate
or to visit. However there are many more monasteries where the
rule is followed.
How do you know what to do? Observe
others. If the locals keep their footwear on, you may do so.
If you meet no one, it is better to remove the footwear until
someone tells you that you may have them on.
Monks and
novices remove their footwear when on their morning rounds to
accept merit food.
WEAR
DECENT CLOTHES TO THE PAGODA OR MONASTERY-
Don't go dressed to
the pagoda or monastery as you would to the beach in loose
blouse, semi see-through or short shorts. The role against
short pants, apply to men too. Pagodas and monasteries are
centers of Buddhist veneration. and Buddhism teaches that the
cause of all suffering is desire. In this instance, though the
dress may not be an embarrassment to oneself. it is better not
to be an embarrassment to others. Wear decent clothes when
going to the pagoda or monastery.
BEHAVE
IN A PROPER MANNER-
The pagoda or temple is a
place of worship and spiritual development, and as such is
worthy of proper behavior. Avoid rowdiness, shouting or
laughing and making fun. At the Shwe Dagon Pagoda in
Yangon, music is not permitted on the Pagoda platform. Music
troupes who usually accompany novice-to-be processions to the
Pagoda leave their instruments at the foot of the 326 feet
(99.4 meters) Pagoda Hill. Some monasteries do not permit
music on their grounds; some do. Pagoda festivals have
theatres and music halls built on sites set aside for them.
AVOID
BEING A NUISANCE WHEN TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS-
Some
pagodas and temples such as the Shwe Dagon Pagoda at
Yangon and the temples in the archaeological zone at
Bagan require the payment of a fee to take photographs.
A few such as the Myinkaba Gupyauk-kyi at Bagan
do not permit photography altogether in order not to affect
the murals. So don't take photographs if not
allowed.
Avoid lewd or funny postures with pagodas or
Buddha images as background. Don't lean on Buddha images or
otherwise use them as props.
Monks do not like to be
photographed. No show of annoyance on his part only means that
he is being forbearing. It is proper to ask permission first.
DON'T
SIT WITH BACK AGAINST BUDDHA IMAGE-
 You may have occasion to sit or
rest in a prayer pavilion or shrine which houses a Buddha
image or images. Or you may form a conversation circle with
your companions in these places. If you do so, don't sit with
your back against a Buddha image. It is obviously a sign of
disrespect or ill-manners.
Even if you are outside the
prayer pavilion you may still be on the pagoda terrace or
platform. At the Shwe Dagon Pagoda in Yangon, you would
be on the platform with the Pagoda looming over you. If you
sit on the platform it is better not to sit with the Pagoda at
your back.
TUCK
AWAY YOUR FEET-
When you sit on the floor, as you
will do, in a prayer pavilion, on the pagoda platform or in a
monastery building do sit neatly or modestly. The legs should
not be stretched out. The feet should be tucked away, the
skirt pulled over the knees. It is better if the tucked away
feet are not toward the Buddha image or pagoda.
DON'T
SHOW SEXUAL AFFECTIONS AT THE PAGODA-
It should be
clear without p0rompting or reminder that a pagoda, temple or
monastery is a place of worship or reverence and that
indulgence in or exhibition of sexual affection is not proper
there. Show of sexual affection is hugging, teasing or
kissing. Simple holding of hands might pass but why do even
that when there are other occasions and places to do it.
DON'T
DISTURB PEOPLE PRAYING OR MEDITATING-
 People praying or meditating
can be disturbed by loud talk, laughter or movements beside
them. Avoid loud talk or laughter near those people. When
going up to a Buddha image or a planetary prayer post or
passing through a prayer pavilion, take care not to step on or
brush against them, especially when the prayer pavilion or
terrace is crowded.
DON'T
HANDLE BUDDHA IMAGES OR SACRED OBJECTS WITH
DISRESPECT-
You may forget that Buddha images or
statuettes are sacred, and wily-ninny leave them on the floor,
at the foot of the bed, or more seriously, throw them among
the shoes. You may even wrap them with women's underwear to
pack them in the bag. Avoid doing these. The same advice goes
for statuettes of gods, photographs of pagodas, Buddha images
or monasteries and books with pagodas on the cover. Do not
take such books to read in the bathroom or leave them there.
DON'T
KEEP BUDDHA IMAGES OR SACRED OBJECTS IN INAPPROPRIATE
PLACES-
 Keep Buddha images, statuettes of
areas or gods, photographs of pagodas and books with pagodas
on the cover or books on Buddhism on tables or desks at the
head-end of the bed, not at the foot of the stairs or even on
a table in the hall or lobby if the flight of stairs goes over
them. Don't keep them on the floor in the parlor or
drawing-room; put them at least on a table or pedestal.
LEAVE
A DONATION-
You will find little glass cases with a
slit opening on top and money inside or booths accepting
donations for upkeep, illumination, gilding, of the pagoda and
for the nine functions. It is not essential that you do it but
you will feel good to leave a small donation. If you donate at
the booth, you will get a receipt.
SHOW
RESPECT TO MONKS, NOVICES AND NUNS-
 A monk observes the 227 rules
of the Discipline, studies the Doctrine, practices meditation,
is celibate, does not eat after noon, leads a life of
abstinence and minimum wants. He is worthy of respect and
reverence. The young boy in yellow robes observes much fewer
rules but the discipline is equally strict, He is dedicated to
becoming a monk and is waiting to reach the permissible age of
ordination. He is equally worthy of respect. The female
religious on in light-yellow robes and clean shaven head is a
nun who is equally dedicated to a life of discipline and the
study and practice of the Doctrine. She is only a nun because
the lineage has been broken and there is now no Order of
Bikkhuni (female monks).
DON'T
OFFER TO SHAKE HANDS WITH A MONK-
However friendly
you may feel and however cordial he may appear to be, don't
offer to shake hands with a monk. That would be disrespect.
You can raise your hands with palms pressed together in a
gesture of reverence. This is the action of gadaw. about which
more earlier.
OFFER
ARTICLES WITH BOTH HANDS-
When offering a gift
to a monk, do so with both hands. Whether standing or sitting
you should approach him to within comfortable reach of bend
forward. If the presentation is not within comfortable reach,
the act of giving is not accomplished and he will give away
the article.
SIT
LOWER THAN A MONK-
Don't sit higher than or at
a level with a monk. Place him on a chair or platform so that
you will be at a lower level. If there is no platform or chair
available, he will sit on a thin cloth cushion which is laid
out. By this means he raises himself that much from the floor
on which you sit directly and saves you the act of disrespect.
WHAT
TO DO WHEN OFFERING A MONEY DONATION-
A monk is not
allowed to handle money. But in an economy where virtually
everything is magnetized it is impossible to live without
money. The monastery needs money for upkeep, repair and
development, for the feeding of monks and novices, and for the
"nine functions". If you wish to help by donating money, you
should put the money in an envelope or a fold of paper and
request the monk to designate a lay person to accept the
donation. When he does so you can hand over the money to that
person. The money will be entered into an account held in
trust, and used for the "nine functions". The monk may ask for
donations to be paid out of that fund to other monasteries,
pagodas or charities.
DON'T
OFFER FOOD AFTER NOON-
The rules of the
Discipline does not permit a monk to eat after twelve o'clock
noon. A novice and a nun also abstain from eating after that
tome. However, they may accept a drink of lemon juice or other
fruit juice free of pulp or substance. They will not take milk
or tea or coffee. The next food accepted will be the earliest
at dawn.
DON'T
STAMP ON A MONK'S SHADOW-
If you meet or overtake a
monk whose shadow is cast towards you, step aside, not only to
avoid brushing up against him but also to avoid stepping on
his shadow. A monk's shadow is as much a part of him and to
step on it, especially the shadow of the head, is a sure sign
of disrespect.
A
WOMAN SHOULD NOT TOUCH A MONK-
The rules of the
Discipline does not permit a monk to touch anything female,
let alone a woman.  To be touched by a woman is an
infraction of the rule. Also, it is disrespect on the part of
the woman. To let him avoid the consequence of breading a rule
and also as a matter on respect. a woman should not touch a
monk. She should avoid the possibility in a crowd or
conveyance for the monk to be pushed to brush up against her
by moving aside. Myanmar women follow this behavior.
BUDDHISM
BACKGROUND-
The Buddhism of Myanmar is
Theravada Buddhism, the Doctrine of the Elders, which
is the Buddhism of the original preaching of Buddha. As such,
it is different from Tibetan or Japanese Buddhism, Mahayana
or Greater Vehicle, which contains later developments.
The essence of Buddhism is the self-reliance and
self-effort in the great endeavor for liberation from the
cycle of rebirths.
Buddha was born about the middle of
the sixth century B.C. at Lumbini in present Nepal on the
border as Prince Siddattha, son of king Suddhodana. Foretold
that He would one day renounce the princely life, the king had
him sheltered from the world. However, He saw a sick man, an
old man, a corpse and an ascetic. Prince Siddattha thought:
"Though I am well now. this body is liable to sickness; though
I am young and strong now, this body will soon become weak
with old age; though I am now alive, this body will surely
come to death. Perhaps the way of life of an ascetic may
enable Me to understand the world."
One day, He
renounced the princely life and practised the austerities, but
at the end of six years He realized that giving pain to the
body did not develop the mind. So He practised meditation and
finally purified His mind, and attained
Enlightenment.
All things are transient. Transient
things do not follow your desires. Hence, there is suffering.
Desire is the root cause of suffering. there is a way to end
this suffering. It is the Middle Way of morality,
concentration of mind and liberating knowledge. The wheel of
Samsara is broken and Nirvana attained.
Buddha's
last words were: "Transient are all compounded things. Strive
on with mindfulness."
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