Why Burmese Monks are not going on Alms Rounds
The alms round is a central tradition in Myanmar’s Buddhist communities, where monks walk barefoot through villages and cities to receive daily offerings of food. This practice connects laypeople to the Sangha, providing monks with sustenance and giving donors the opportunity to make merit. However, this longheld custom is now under threat. In the following report from our local leader on the ground, we share how local alms charities, once essential in providing for monks across the country, are struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the military coup. Security concerns and economic hardship have led to a sharp decline in donations, leaving monks, particularly in rural areas, without regular, nutritious meals. What follows is a reflection on this growing crisis and a call to action for those who wish to help restore this vital practice, by offering a donation earmarked to supporting the Sangha.
I have become increasingly concerned about the decreasing number of the local charities that offer 'Rounds of Alms' in different communities across our country, such as quarter-wide or township-wide associations receiving the donations from the local community members after COVID and especially after the coup.
We have witnessed that these small local alms charities were very helpful to the Sangha in different areas across Myanmar, but the tragic thing is that they disappeared or stopped or paused their noble charity works due to security issues, as they had to gather in the early mornings to organize the alms, which attracted the attention of the junta, and some were even arrested!
Another main reason is that the economic crisis has led to the stoppage or disappearance of this kind of 'Community Alms-rounds Charities (လှူဒါနး္စတုရ်အဝတ္ထြာအလှူ)' because many people in the country have faced the hardship to offer the allocation of the costs.
As individual alms-round donors are also having economic hardship to offer alms regularly as before, the decrease of local alms donors has also been greatly diminished, and thus, we have noticed that the monks do not attain the nutritional meals daily as they did before; they just get the vegetables and rice only sometimes in some poor areas. It is really tragic to learn this for me.
To give an example of what we learned: the donors who used to offer meat once a week can only offer vegetable curries, and sometimes only rice! In many communities, as far as we have seen, the monks are not getting a square meal at all.
Especially the monks and nuns in the rural areas or the outskirts of the cities where the monasteries and nunneries are typically situated, and many lay supporters tend to live. Nowadays, the unemployment rate has also increased so dramatically, and the loss of youth resources in almost every sector (due to the factors of the political instability, such as conscription law that young people above 18 and under 35 are forced for military service) leads to further economic fall for many families in my country.
Hence, we will start a campaign to help the local alms rounds charities to resume their noble works to help the monastics, such as by contributing the main allocation of the costs for the monastics to attain a healthy menu so they have the nourishment.
Personally, my family has prepared for the alms round donation this week, and we will offer alms to the monks and novices. This is part of our family's regular donation, which we offer alms every Monday (as my father, my wife, and I are Monday-borns).
In conclusion, the tradition of the alms round struggles in the wake of Myanmar’s ongoing crisis, the monks who depend on these offerings for their daily meals are being left without the nourishment they need. Oh it is so tragic to know this! I know that for many foreign meditators, these Burmese monastics represent the heart of spiritual practice, embodying the Dhamma that has inspired countless people around the world. Now, they need your help. We ask those who feel connected to Myanmar's Buddhist heritage to consider donating, specifically to support the restoration of community alms-rounds. Your contributions will help ensure that monks across Myanmar can continue their practice without the worry of hunger, and that this important tradition remains alive. If you wish to donate to this cause, please, send us a message expressing your intention so that we can direct it in the right way.
Thank you to all who have read my message from afar. Your support has meant so much to us. We hope we can repay it when freedom returns to our country.
