Gratitude to our Donors

The aftermath of the military coup in Myanmar has posed significant challenges for monastics. To understand this, it is helpful to look at traditional Burmese Buddhist society in more detail. While monastics provide spiritual guidance, education, and support to the community, the laity offers material sustenance and assistance. This reciprocal relationship holds deep cultural and religious significance in Myanmar, and providing for the needs of monastics is considered a noble act.

Unfortunately, since the coup, not only has the safety of lay people has been compromised, the economy has all but collapsed. There has been an acute shortage of resources, which has frequently resulted in there not being enough food for the laity to sustain their monastic communities. For the Burmese people, the inability to properly feed monastics is a source of deep pain and embarrassment. This has further complicated the overall stress and frustration of the country’s political turmoil.

In the midst of this difficult situation, our generous donors provided a glimmer of hope with their generous donations, which have enabled our ground team to provide basic food supplies to many monastics throughout the country. Our most recent event focused on supporting nuns in the Bagan region. In Burma, female renunciates are often overlooked and neglected in comparison to their male counterparts, and fewer resources are provided for their well-being. This initiative aimed to address this disparity and extend support to the nuns who are essential members of the monastic community.

The impact of this donation evoked gratitude and joy in both the monastics and their lay supporters. It enabled the former to continue to carry out their monastic responsibilities amidst challenging circumstances, while the latter found solace in knowing that despite all the hardship, their monastic community would not go unsupported.

Beyond addressing the pressing need for food aid, the result of this caring act serves as a poignant reminder of the deep interconnectedness and resilience in Burmese society, even in the face of strong adversity. And the origin of this donation bring from beyond Burma's borders amplifies the sense of interconnectedness even further! The generous support from Buddhist Global Relief bears witness to the compassion and solidarity of the global community, and the shared humanity that unites us all. During a time marred by crisis and uncertainty, all these collective efforts from distant places have bridged geographical gaps, offering hope and sustenance to the monastic communities in Myanmar.

The following words are from our team leader, who organized the event on the ground:

"We recently held a donation event to support the nuns residing in 17 monastic sites across Bagan and Nyaung-U. This contribution will have a profound impact on these nunneries, providing essential sustenance for a period of at least 2-3 months. Among the recipients of our donation are young nuns hailing from Pariyatti nunneries, where they diligently study Buddhist scripture. The abbess of one such nunnery expressed her gratitude, informing us that she no longer has to worry, as this donation will ensure that the nuns under her care are well-fed now. This act of generosity is deeply appreciated and will serve as invaluable support for both the nunneries and the dedicated nuns residing there.

During our visit, we encountered nuns of varying ages, some even in their 80s. Their joy was palpable as they approached us, eager to express their heartfelt appreciation. One elderly nun, aged 74, shared her story with me. She explained that she resided alone for many years in a monastery that housed a meditation center. The residing monk had graciously provided her with nourishment throughout her time there, and she had always felt a sense of indebtedness. Though she could only contribute physically by helping in the monastery's kitchen, our donation now granted her the ability to cover her own needs without further straining the monastery during this difficult time. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she extended her thanks to all the donors and volunteers, emphasizing the significance of being remembered. She wished us prosperity in the material world and ultimate liberation in the spiritual realm.

It also is worth noting that some of the nuns we supported hailed from the Tant Kyi Daung area, situated on the western bank of Ayeyarwady River in the Magwe Region. Unfortunately, this area has recently become marred by violence due to the presence of several military bases nearby. Consequently, the nuns from this area were forced to relocate to Bagan. Although I am saddened by the circumstances that led to their displacement from their original secluded nunneries nestled within the forests away from densely populated areas, I am really grateful that we could extend our donation to these resilient nuns in their time of need.

To commemorate the donation, we invited a respected monk to deliver a speech. In his remarks, he highlighted the rarity of such donation events exclusively benefiting nuns, as donations to monks are more commonplace. He emphasized the unfortunate reality that female monastics are often overlooked and face financial hardships. We extend our deepest appreciation to those who generously contributed, making this exceptional event possible.”