A Spiritual Cover

The monastic Sangha does not exist in isolation from the world, and leaders can have enormous influence over which type of teachings and teachers are promoted, and which are repressed. Therefore, the recent military coup in Myanmar should not be seen as opposing Buddhism, but rather reshaping and reframing it. Towards this end, sympathetic monks are needed at minimum keep silent and not take an ethical stand, or at best authorize and validate the action. This is where Kovida Vasipake steps in. A monk who claims to practice absolute silence, an embarrassing exchange took place online between him and the wife of General Min Aung Hlaing in which he hinted the coup was “a good deed.” Although the post was soon deleted, screenshots have gone viral among Burmese Buddhists, as they seek to reclaim which renunciates are truly speaking for their safety and freedom, and which are only wearing religious garb while providing spiritual cover for a murderous regime.