A Violent Buddha
"This actually kind of looks like our current leader, Min Aung Hlaing..."
The recent cartoon by the Burmese artist JMP depicts a Buddha image holding a weapon, with a comment suggesting it resembles the current Burmese military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. This image is a powerful and controversial statement in the context of Myanmar's recent history, where certain leaders have intertwined their images with religious iconography, and it reflects the troubling intersection of military power and religious symbolism in the country.
Historically, past Burmese leaders like Ne Win and Than Shwe have been known to create Buddha images with their likeness or to manipulate religious symbols and rituals to maintain and legitimize their power. Ne Win, who was a military commander and the President of Burma, ruled the country from 1962 to 1981 and was known for his superstitious beliefs, which culminated in the construction of Maha Wizaya Pagoda, near Shwedagon. Than Shwe, another military leader who ruled from 1992 to 2011, was also known for his superstitious practices and had a jade Buddha statue resembling himself. This statue faced criticism and was eventually ordered to be fixed or removed due to its controversial resemblance to the former dictator.
These practices are not just limited to the past. The current military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, has been building a significant Buddha image known as the Maravijaya Buddha image, in Nay Pyi Daw. This image, which has received donations from former generals and current military leaders, is often associated with the leader's attempt to consolidate power and seek religious legitimacy. The building of this image has been criticized as an attempt to gain merit and religious standing amidst the political turmoil and violent crackdowns following the military coup.
The cartoon's depiction of a Buddha image with a weapon is a stark juxtaposition to the traditional representation of the Buddha, who is a symbol of peace and non-violence. It is a direct critique of the military's claim to protect Buddhism while engaging in violent actions against its citizens. The image also touches on the military's use of superstition and religious symbolism to legitimize their authority and deflect misfortune, as seen in the various yadaya rituals performed by Min Aung Hlaing. These rituals, often involving astrology and magical practices, are aimed at maintaining the regime's power and averting threats to their rule.
JMP's work serves as a somber reflection of the current state of affairs in Myanmar, where the military's grip on power is reinforced through a blend of superstition, ritual, and the co-optation of religious imagery. This fusion of the military with religious icons in a bid to secure power is a distressing trend, and the inclusion of a weapon in the Buddha's hands in the cartoon underscores the tragic irony of the military's actions in a country where Buddhism is deeply revered. The artwork is not just a critique but a call to remember the core values of peace and compassion that Buddhism espouses, values which stand in stark contrast to the violence and oppression currently witnessed in Myanmar.