Reporting on Monastics

We all know that the military coup has been a disaster for so many people. Thousands have been killed, tortured, or imprisoned. Families have been destroyed. But in all the stories that have come out about the coup, one community has not yet been covered, internationally at least, in much detail: the Buddhist monastics. This may in part be due to the fact that the monastic life is one of seclusion and study, and monks and nuns are not supposed to get involved in politics.

Buddhist monastics have been impacted in a number of ways. Many have been arrested, forcibly disrobed, tortured, or even killed. Monasteries have been raided, and monks and nuns have been forced to flee. Some monasteries have also been transformed into urgent refugee centers to house those escaping assaults elsewhere by the Tatmadaw. The military has imposed other kinds of restrictions on the monastic community as well. Monasteries are now required to register with the government, and monks and nuns are not allowed to travel without permission. And overall, many monks and nuns are simply not receiving proper nutrition as local supporters are no longer able to make offerings as before. Even those who have not been directly impacted have been left traumatized by the events of the past year.

This is a grave situation for the monastics in Burma and for Buddhism in general. The monks are the custodians of the Dhamma and they have a vital role to play in preserving and transmitting the Buddha's teachings.

It is because of these concerns that we have continued to report on how the monasteries and nunneries are faring throughout Myanmar, and have endeavored to collect donations from foreign allies and yogis, to support those now in critical need. Indeed, the photo accompanying this text was taken from a donation trip our local contact took recently, made possible by funds earmarked towards monastics.

In a country where Buddhism is the dominant religion, monastics are a vital part of society. They provide religious and spiritual guidance to the people, and many lay supporters see their very presence in society as a moral support. For this reason, it is essential that their stories be told, and that their voices be heard.

We at Better Burma are committed to standing with the monastics in this time of crisis. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide support to those who are struggling. We urge all those who care about Burma to do the same.

We will continue to provide updates as we receive them. In the meantime, we urge all meditators around the world to keep the people of Burma in their thoughts and prayers. We also thank all those who have given generously to allow us to purchase and deliver various food and medicine items to those monastics who we find in need.