"Surely, the military doesn’t believe in Buddhism!"
It was fascinating to learn about what led up to the 2007 Saffron Revolution in Myanmar, especially from a monk who played such a central role. U Gambira spoke with us about that pivotal event in a recent Insight Myanmar podcast episode.
U Gambira describes how a Buddhist understanding was applied to the organization and mobilization of monks, and how careful they were to ensure that the protests unfolded in a non-violent way. In particular, the symbolic ‘patta nikkujjam kamma’ (overturned alms bowl) was employed as a stern rebuke against those who mistreat monks. This was also an act which emphasized the ethical role that the Saṅgha is seen within Burmese Buddhist society.
It's also tragic to recall the violence and brutality that was inflicted on monks during that time. It's a reminder of the great sacrifices have been made—and continue to be made— in the country’s long struggle for democracy and human rights.
Overall, the story of the 2007 Saffron Revolution highlights the power of grassroots movements and the importance of standing up for what you believe in, even in the face of oppression and violence.
“We announced that we are against the military government, that we would make the ‘patta nikkujjam kamma’ [overturning the alms bowl] if the military government will not apologize to the beaten monks.”
“According to the teachings of Buddha, if somebody—a lay man or lay woman—beats or kicks, scolds or swears at a monk, then the monks have to make a punishment. That’s called patta nikkujjam kamma. We announced the statement via the media and radio.
At that time, many people would be listening to the radio every day, every night in Burma. We didn’t have good Internet in 2007. We made the media in Burma; we made the media in Mandalay. And we called it, we founded, the All-Burma Monks’ Union Alliance [ABMA umbrella for local Sangha Dutas & Federation of Young Monks Unions]. We announced that we are against the military government, that we would make the patta nikkujjam kamma [overturning the alms bowl] if the military government will not apologize to the beaten monks.
It was very surprising for me. I did not know the military government, the army, the police, they would be rude like that! Why? I thought like that before. But they, the military, the police, the army, they are very rude. They are wild! It made me surprised about that. Surely, they military doesn’t believe in Buddhism [kamma]. They believe about personal interest and power. They don’t care about Buddhism. They don’t care about religion!
That day, I was in Mandalay, I had arrived in Mandalay. And I made meetings every day and every night, with the monks, with the nuns in Mandalay. I answered the interviews from the radio stations, BBC, VOA, DVB, RFA in those days. Many, many monks and nuns and lay people protested on the roads, in each city, each township in Burma in those times. Hundreds and thousands of monks and nuns and lay people. It grew.”